What does it mean to use your debit card as credit?

Question

I went to a clothing store and I gave the cashier my debit card and specifically told her it was debit but she asked me "Do you want to use it as credit?" and I told her again, "No, just debit" and she said "I know but can I put it on credit?". I then told her fine because I wanted to get pay and leave quickly.

But what does that mean? To use your debit card as a credit card?

Also: I am trying to buy stuff on nordstrom.com and apparently they only take credit card? Can I use my debit card?

Answer 1

Debit transactions (PIN required) using a debit card go through the debit network and usually occur immediately. Many merchants do not pay for access to the debit card network.



Credit transactions using a debit card (allowed if a Visa or MasterCard logo is on the front) go through a credit card network and usually take a couple of days to get posted. Most merchants have access to a credit card network.



Either type of transaction will debit your account and you must have funds available to cover the charges if a debit card is used.



From a customers point of view, it doesn't make much difference whether the card is used a a debit or credit transaction. For the merchant, the primary difference is whether the merchant has the network available and the transaction fee that the merchant must pay (usually debit transactions are cheaper).

Answer 2

If you have a debit card, the amount is automatically taken from your checking account at a bank. Sometimes you can run your debit card as credit, but it still is automatically taken out, and the only thing that is different is you sign a signature on the receipt instead of putting your PIN number in on the keypad. A credit card is something you apply for and are approved to have a certain amount of credit. For example, you could apply, and with sufficient credit, get a credit card with a limit of 500 dollars. So, you could take that card, which is NOT connected to checking or savings account, and spend up to 500 dollars worth of stuff. Then you will receive a bill in the mail, or online, from your bank or the credit card company. You will have a minimum payment you will have to pay, including extra interest they charge you for using the card, until the amount is paid off. If you spend all the 500, you cannot use it until you lower your balance again. It's difficult to pay off a credit card if you have a high interest rate, because most of your monthly payment is going towards interest instead of paying down the balance. For example, your bill might be 25 dollars, but 18 dollars is interest, so your balance on your card would still be 493 dollars on your credit card. You will always sign a signature on a receipt for a credit card.

Answer 3

you can use it if it has the visa or mastercard logo. At least you should. If it says specifically No Debit cards, then no you can't use it. But if it just says credit cards you should be able to use it. That is the perk you get by having the card with the logo. You can use it wherever these credit cards are accepted. When they ask this, You say yes put it on credit. You can't enter your pin over the phone. So you use the visa or mastercard logo to be able to complete the transaction as though it were a credit card, yet it all comes from the same place. The cashier just didn't know how to explain this to you, or she didn't get it herself.

Answer 4

Running a credit transaction with your debit card is no big deal. It still takes the money from your bank account, but instead of instantly withdrawing it, it will take a few days just like it takes a few days for a transaction to show up on an actual credit card. I believe your debit card has to have a visa logo or some other credit card logo on it in order to be able to use it for credit transactions. In a store, you wouldn't have to put in your pin number for a credit transaction and you would have to sign the receipt is all.

Answer 5

If you look at your debit card, it probably has a little symbol for a credit card company, like Visa or Mastercard. That means that it can be used as a credit card at stores and websites and whatnot. However, it isn't actually a credit card - it still takes the funds directly from your account, just like debit card purchases.



In retail, the difference between the two is that debit requires you to enter your pin #, while credit may or may not require a signature (depends on store policy). On websites, they usually only accept credit cards, so you can use your debit card as a credit card on that website. No matter what, it still removes funds from your banking account in the same way.

Answer 6

Debit is when you punch in your personal 4 digit code.

Credit ( when you sign your sig) which can take up to 3 days to clear with your bank. IE - one takes longer then the other.

Answer 7

Well, you can't use your debit card as credit when you're purchasing something online.



I don't know how shops work, but if you'd like to ask a expert's opinion about this, check out this website:

http://www.1st-debt.com/

Answer 8

Great answers given

Answer 9

Maybe that's right