Debit Card Info

MasterCard Merchant Violations
Credit or Debit: Why you should say "credit" regardless of which card you are using

MasterCard Merchant Violations

In order to accept MasterCard, there are rules merchants must follow. Make yourself aware of your rights as a MasterCard Debit Card holder. If you have an experience where a merchant/retailer violates one of the following rules, make sure to write down their store name and address and then fill out the MasterCard Merchant Violation Report.

• In order to make a MasterCard purchase, the merchant/retailer required a minimum or maximum amount
• The merchant/retailer is adding a charge for using your MasterCard card
• The merchant/retailer required identification
• A merchant/retailer displaying the MasterCard decal in their window refused to accept my MasterCard card

Credit or Debit: Why you should say "credit" regardless of which card you are using

Credit or Debit. If only you had a dollar for every time you were asked that in the checkout line, right?

So what is the correct answer? Well, if you are using your credit card, you have to say, “credit” and sign for the transaction. But if you are using your debit card, you have options.

What they are really asking you is not, “Is that a debit card or credit card,” but actually, “Would you like me to run this transaction so that you can use your PIN (DEBIT) or do you prefer to sign for it (CREDIT)?”

Opting to sign for the transactions gives you better consumer protection because you may not be able to dispute charges made when using your PIN. Signing also makes the transaction more secure, because the cashier should compare your signature to the one on the card.

Now that you know the whole story, you can decide the best way to answer that anticipated question the next time you are out shopping…”Credit or debit?”

Taken from the Allegis Credit Union's Summer 2008 Member Connection Newsletter. Read the entire newsletter...