I'm a mid-40s bloke (old) who just ordered something by debit card on-line for the first time. Should I...?

Question

.....be nervous?

Answer 1

Relax dude, should be ok, but would recommend credit card in future, and you are not old!

Answer 2

It is safe to use it online at places you trust that is secure. However, I do not recommend auto recurring bill payments attach to the any card. It is very hard to cancel those if not impossible.

Atm-Debit Cards do have protection but you need to notify bank faster than you would with a credit card.

If it has a Visa or MasterCard symbol on the card. It is currently protected under the Visa and MasterCard zero liability policy.

This is for the United States. Other Countries have different rules.

I use it all the time and had no fraudulent activity in my checking account.

The key is to keep an eye on your checking account. I check it every two days by phone. The reason is 2 day is the Maximum you can be held libel for is $50. 3 to 60 days the maximum is $500 unless your number was comprised then you have don't have any liability until after 60 days. Most banks will waive the $50 or $500 dollars.

Some people say get a credit card. Actual I would rather use a debit card then worrying about having to pay at the end of the month when you may not have any money but that is my opinion. I really do not trust credit card companies even through I have two cards.

Answer 3

Well, seeing as it's your first time it's not surprising if you're a bit nervous. People have already made the main points:
1. If people want to they can nick your card number pretty easily (i.e. waiters, shopkeepers etc.)
2. As long as you use a reputable site it'll be hard for anyone to hack in and get your details.
3. People do it all the time. If it was really unsafe then you'd hear about it, and everyone would stop doing it.
4. If someone does nick your details, then as long as you ntoice and inform your bank it normally gets sorted out.

Answer 4

Not neccesay unless you used an un-encrypted & unknown platform-site for online shopping.

Some advice for avoiding credit-card fraud:

• Never send your credit-card information or Social Security number over e-mail. (You may legitimately be asked to submit these identifiers while registering at a site using secure pages, but never do so over e-mail.)

• Never use a debit card online — it's directly linked to your bank account. Instead, get a credit card with a low credit limit to use for online purchases.

• Find out your credit-card company's policy for online fraud. Some have a zero-liability guarantee for online purchases, such as Visa. (For more information, go to usa.visa.com/personal/secure_with_visa/zero_liability.html)

• When e-shopping, look for the little padlock on the side of the screen that distinguishes secure pages, and check the merchant's privacy policy. Some offer a guarantee against fraud, such as Amazon.com. (For more information, go to www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/537868//104-0753646-2964723.)

• Buy through secure Web sites only. When you buy something online or try to sign in to view your credit or bank accounts, your browser frame should have a small lock symbol near the bottom right-hand corner. This means the site scrambles your purchase information before sending it over the Internet. The Federal Trade Commission reports, however, that some such security symbols can be faked, so be sure to practice other safe buying habits as well. No lock? Place your order over the phone instead.

• Put your online purchases on a single credit card. Internet security is fallible, so this way you can limit the damage if your credit-card information is stolen. Choose a card that has extra precautions for online purchases, including password protection and zero liability in case of fraud. Some credit-card companies may also offer temporary numbers, which allow you to use a "disposable" number for a single online purchase. After that, the number will expire.

• Stick to stores you know. The FTC recommends that you thoroughly check out any little-known company before making an online purchase. Call the company to ask for a paper catalog or brochure.

• Never e-mail financial information. Reputable retailers will never ask that you e-mail your credit-card number or other financial information. If you receive an e-mail asking for verification of such information, call the company instead.

• Pay for online auctions through a reliable third source. Never give the seller your financial information. You might sign up for an online payment service such as PayPal (www.paypal.com) or CheckFree (www.checkfree.com). If you're buying a valuable or otherwise big-ticket item, choose a reputable escrow service.

Answer 5

I agree with the other answers here...BUT...I can tell you positively that eBay IS having problems with fraud and counterfeiting. People are buying things and then they never get them or they are not in the condition they are promised to be. Then when they try to contact the company....they are not available or they don't exist. So I would be careful with that. I do know that you can check on the history of the person that a person buys from but I don't think the people who are being ripped off are checking first before they buy.

Answer 6

I`ve never had a problem I just stick to well known firms Ordered something from Phoenix.com a month ago goods delivered following day money did`nt come out of my account till 2 days later. Just keep a copy of order and ref. details the firm gives you

Answer 7

Nah it will be fine. I was a bit wierd about it at first but when the order turns up safe and sound you will wonder what you were worried about. Like someone else said. You wouldnt think twice about giving your card to a waiter would you?

Answer 8

Depends who you ordered it with. Did if have a lock icon on the bottom when you were putting in your details? That indicates a secure site.

I use my credit card all the time for purchases and have never had a problem

You'll be OK.

Answer 9

No. Don't worry. :)

I've been buying things on-line for a few years and I've never had any problems. Sites that offer payment by card have encryption.. which means that transactions can't be intercepted.
Also, if you do your banking on-line, you can easily check the amounts that you have been charged.
Also, a lot of banks now-adays offer insurance for on-line purchases.

Dont' worry, its safe. ;)

Answer 10

As long as you used a secure website you should be okay. You can tell if the site is secure golden padlock will appear bottom right of screen and internet address will change from http to https.

Glad to help you.

Answer 11

Was the site a well-known e-commerce brand such as eBay, Ocado or Amazon? if so then it's fine. Also look out for security accreditation like Verisign or a respectable payment method such as Pay Pal.