Posted on 03/15/2006 6:12:09 AM PST by Calpernia
ping
So what do I do? Change my pin and then stop using it as a debit card for purchases?
You can use your debit card as a credit card.
Should I change my PIN? (I don't even know how to do that.)
You change your pin by contacting your bank.
I don't want to scare you into changing your pin; but I do know the card fraud is a little more rampant than they are letting on.
If I were you, I would change my pin and I would use the debit card as a credit card.
If you card works like mine, it defaults to the checking first to take the money. It only creates a credit charge if there is no money in the checking.
Go to a branch of your bank. You can change it there.
Most POS (Piece of $*&@) terminals give you the option of processing a check card as either a debit card or credit card. If you have a check card that doubles as a bank debit card, always choose "credit card" when asked by a POS terminal. Only use it as a debit card at an ATM.
bttt
PAY CASH!
Sounds like a plan. I think I'll hit up the bank today. Thanks.
Well, that does make sense.
I'm really bad at carrying cash since I was mugged.
I don't seem to be alone on that one.
Which is why I always carry and use my debit card.
Which is probably also why this scam preyed on the debit cards.
Victim conditioning???
Make sure you read Paleo's post too. He worded it better than I did.
But that is what I was trying to say.
Of course, my bank charges a buck when I do that, but doesn't when I use a PIN.
So because they cannot keep the system secure due to insanely stupid design such as storing PIN numbers, I've got to pay more for transactions. Bloodsuckers.
Use cash to buy a gun
When using a debit card just choose credit. It usually requires a signature. If a merchant runs it as a debit tell them to cancell the transaction and run it as a credit. That will take care of it and it will still 'debit' your account just like when you use the pin pad. I knew it would have to be the merchant's or an employee stealing it. We have a pin pad and I never even knew it stored the data. We specifically made sure our computer does not store numbers. I'll have to go in this morning and see if I can't change the pin pad to NOT store numbers.
Now that is a good point. I missed that.
That would make sense.
I may add it was a weapon that helped me when I was mugged also.
But this is Blue Jersey. We must be victims for entitlement conditioning so we can stop being self reliant.
So no gun for you! (said in soup nazi voice)
bump
I think this may lead either requiring signatures or the use of biometrics such as fingerprint recognition for debit card transactions.
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