What does the Internet have against debit cards?

So the other day, I tried to buy a comic from DC's vaunted digital service.*

It all went well until the time came to give them my precious euros - and it turned out the service only accepts credit cards. Since I don't own a credit card, I wasn't able to get anything.

This isn't the first time this has happened. During my stint teaching, I came across quite a few nifty flash programmes that could demonstrate things like opposing muscle pairs and blood flow through the heart, but they all required a credit card to properly obtain, and in the case of the muscle thing, I couldn't find a free version that did the same. Hence, my students missed out and had to make do with a rather dodgy video I found.

I don't want to pirate things, and on all these occasions, I made an honest effort to pay by direct debit. This doesn't seem like something unreasonable; all the site has to do is allow me to select debit card instead of credit card as method of payment, and then the money goes straight into their account rather than passing through a credit card company first. This also means that if I can't afford something, the transaction simply won't go through rather than landing me in debt, so really, everybody wins.

And it's not like the Internet can't process direct debit. Last week, I took the theory test to gain a provisional license*

, and had no problem using my debit card to pay for that online. Now, if a service run by the Irish government can work with a debit card, why can't slick multi-national for-profit companies do the same?

It just doesn't make sense to me.

Ukrainian Red Cross

Companies make more money off credit, rather than debit, as I understand it. Ergo, incentive to make you use credit...

I am now known as Flyboy.

So that's why it wasn't working for me.

edited 1st Oct '11 4:44:29 PM by silver2195

Currently taking a break from the site. See my user page for more information.

I don't understand this. I've used my debit card for lots of transactions but I prefer my credit card because its better insurance against fraud. I've never had a problem since they have the same arrangement of numbers and security codes for my cards.

Very big Daydream Believer. "That's not knowledge, that's a crapshoot!" -Al Murray "Welcome to QI" -Stephen Fry

Some debit cards will work if they are backed by a credit card.

Who watches the watchmen?

I think I'm going to refrain from buying anything online anymoreblah

, but regardless: I use a Debit Card and I don't want a credit card, without a job I think it'd be pretty reckless to get one....I don't know, but the TOS for a credit card was 5 times the size then for the debit card....

Annoyed, too, whenever I can't use a Debit Card, or Paypal further so. Why don't they have as good insurance?

edited 1st Oct '11 5:43:35 PM by occono

Dumbo

Well, I always use a debit card through Paypal - because I'm paranoid and I don't like giving my bank details to all and sundry.

It's just kind of assumed that everyone has a credit card. I don't plan on getting one until I absolutely need to, because why borrow money if you don't have to?

Be not afraid...

Banks charge fees to sellers for accepting debit purchases. It is retarded.

I'm a skeptical squirrel

I don't have a credit card and just use a debit for everything, but it's a Visa backed debit card and can be used anywhere a Visa credit card could be used. I've never even encountered an online paying system where they asked for debit or credit; they just ask for credit, I put down my debit card info, and they process it just fine.

"It takes an idiot to do cool things, that's why it's cool" - Haruhara Haruko

"It is retarded."

Yes.

Oh, wait, that's the whole banking institution!

I am now known as Flyboy.

I think it should be noted that in the US, at least, almost all debit cards these days are connected to Visa or MasterCard, so they can be used as a credit card as well as a debit card. Banks rarely if ever give out plain "ATM" cards anymore; I had one when I first got a checking account in 1995, and it worked in places where I could enter a PIN, but wasn't accepted online pretty much anywhere.

edited 1st Oct '11 7:56:16 PM by lee4hmz

online since 1993 | huge retrocomputing and TV nerd | lee4hmz.info (under construction) | heapershangout.com

I've never had that problem. Sometimes companies will ask for credit card details, but they also mean debit cards too. Those that don't accept debit are retarded.

Requiem ~ September 2010 - October 2011 [Banned 4 Life]

I like debit because I personally don't believe in paying in money I don't have. Isn't one of the reasons the Great Depression happened was because of rampant "credit" use? I don't remember.

Same here. Debit means you're paying your money, instead of borrowing. It keeps your spending habits more accountable in a way.

Debit cards do work in sites like Amazon, so my experience has been that they're accepted if credit cards are. However there was that one time when I tried to make a donation for a relief effort and it was stuck in implementation phase because for some reason my working debit card was rejected.

Now using Trivialis handle.

Ah, I see now. It's an American thing. Well, that's me buggered, guess I have to wait for the reprints.

Oh, and I, too, refuse to own a credit card under any circumstances, for the reasons already given in this thread.

Ukrainian Red Cross

The only downside is you not being able to build credit.