Scary stuff! - RV-Dreams Community Forum

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

Scary stuff!

Jo And Craig · RV-Dreams Family Member

I can't agree with Jack more. I used a bank card when they first came out, and then I heard of the horror stories of people getting ripped off... not to mention the hassle trying to sort out the loss with a bank. I would rather pick up a phone and call the credit card company with no further obligations, than to find out it's too late and my bank account had been emptied. That is MY money!!! For crying out loud, get rid of your debit card and get a credit card! Additionally, I can set up my own alerts online with my credit card company and I receive e-mails every day according to my alerts. Bank cards are simply too dangerous these days. I could not live with even the mere thought of someone emptying my bank account! My credit card company has ALWAYS looked out for me and I am perfectly comfortable using a credit card. ANY TIME I have had to dispute a charge, it is as easy as 1-2-3. Done. Finally, there have been a couple of times our card number has been stolen and used. That just can't be avoided in these crazy times. The credit card company simply closed the account... no questions asked... and sent us a new card. Next step... follow Jack's advice about all the good reasons to have more than one credit card.

Pierre, we do not use or carry cash. Money looks funny to us!

Good luck!

-- Edited by Mary Sunshine on Sunday 10th of February 2013 01:14:04 PM

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

You do it your way! Like I said above; I use my DC very little. I have not been ripped off with my debit card; the bank called one time because I used my card in a different location; so now I call and let them know when and where I'm using it in my travels; and if someone wants to get my travel cash; they will have to try and locate my fire-safe box in my RV they will have to cut the RV apart with a torch if my dog will let them in. LOL! I only carry about $25.00 in cash on my person; learned that while doing courier work. I also make sure that I get a copy of the receipt when ever I use the card.
Thank you; but I have no use for a credit card at this time.

-- Edited by PIEERE on Sunday 10th of February 2013 01:54:58 PM

nightsky · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thursday evening I received a voice mail, it was an automated phone call from someone stating they were with the fraud depatment for my bank card, and please call them back. I did, the only identifying info they asked for was the phone number the message was left at. They stated that there had been multiple internet charges on my debit card made from Paris France, totalling in the thousands of $$!

First thing Friday morning I called my bank and they assured me the card had been Hot Carded and marked as Fraud, so they were sending me a new one. They also said none of the charges had actually gone through, so the perp hadn't cleaned out my checking account! Wow, did I dodge the bullet on that one! I'm really thankful the fraud dept caught it as fast as they did!

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

How Fortunate! Yeah! Very scary!! I don't do any type of financial information on the internet. All It takes it one scammer to be lurking in the background of your downloading or uploading in nano-seconds to scoop your personals.

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

I hate to tell you this, but you are probably more safe using a card for an online transaction than handing it to a waitress in a restaurant.

Use good judgement before handing out your CC number and you likely will not have any more of a problem than if you never did online transactions.

nightsky · RV-Dreams Family Member

I pay all my bills online using the debit card, and have for many years, never had a problem. I also use it for fuel purchases although I've read there can be devices that hack the card info.
Any idea how quickly a person starts using the card info for scam purchases if your info has been stolen? If it's generally right away I have a good idea where the info was swiped, and yes, it was a restaurant. Either that, or it could be from my insurance company, I have automatic withdrawal sent up for paying the premiums, but I can't remember if they have the card info of the checking account info, I'll be calling them in the morning to set up something for making this month's payment on the 15th if it was on the card. They sent out a letter about 6 months ago stating their database had been hacked.

krackle12 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wow, i hope my bank is watching for this!

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

All credit cards offer consumer protection against unauthorized use. Usually the bank will waive the $50 max liability. Not true for all debit cards. Some do offer protection, but in general they are the same as cash. That is one reason we use a CREDIT card and do not even own a debit card.

All our auto pays are done from a credit card that is used ONLY for that. It never leaves a locked drawer. It is a pain to change your autopays if a card is compromised, so we restrict that usage. The card I carry is different and that is what I use for "walk-around" purchases, and for online purchases. We also have a third card that is locked up and is the "backup" card, in case the first "walkaround" card is compromised. Being fulltimers we can not afford to have no access to our accounts while a new card is issued and mailed if it is compromised. Thus the "spare" card.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

When we were in Europe in 1999, you swiped your own credit or debit card at restaurants, stores and even street vendors with a little wireless machine that had a built-in printer. Three weeks and no issues, but I was worried in Greece since it had a reputation. In the U.S., we are so outmoded and I find it humorous when people think a Square reader is a new idea.

Years ago we had one online issue and the bank caught it. The vendor soon changed processing companies due to complaints, they figured out why the old one charged so little. Since then we have not had an online issue. We had our credit card number stolen once from a Murphy's USA gas station. It was two months after our transaction so maybe someone got the information dumpster diving? The credit card company caught that one and called us. A couple other times the credit card company has issued us new numbers due to a data breach somewhere, but we were told there were no invalid transactions for our number. Be aware and have more than one card.

We love the points on our credit cards, we get gift cards for places we shop or eat with them like Amazon. We often have deals where they are paying us 5% back, so $500 in our normal expenses yields us a $25 gift card. It seems like free money to us since we keep the credit cards paid off each month.

My father was a banker.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

My credit and debit from my bank I use for withdrawal only or emergency.......I use a Walmart debit card for all other transactions and I never allow more than a low balance as I need it.......

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

I guess our experiences have been different. Our bank issues the debit card, but at the moment, it is used like a credit card. Jo and I each have our own cards (with different numbers) for each of our bank accounts. We have been "hacked" a time or two, but in each case it gets caught and our bank "freezes" the account to the hacked card and issues a new card. Until the new card arrives, we use the other person's card for that account.

Our bank will "suspend" the amount of any transactions, but have always ended up getting everything back into our account. We do most of our banking and some purchasing online. I've heard others say that their banks completely froze their account to the point that they were completely unable to use their own account. I highly advise everyone to check with your banks to see what their procedures are in the event of a hacked card.

I don't know why we've not had the problems that others have had. Maybe Okies are more trustworthy.

Terry