Can I use my debit card as "credit" when there's a positive balance in my bank account, but not enough to...

Question

cover what I need to get? In other words, will it be approved by the credit card reader (I know I can't push "debit" because that's automatically posted) as long as there's a positive balance, and then I can put the money in later? Or will it deny me? :(

I need groceries and it's a few days before payday... sometimes these things happen. (I have no credit cards, by the way. I know they're evil.)
Yes, I know I'm running the risk of getting charged $32 in an overdraft fee, but when your kid needs food... it's worth it, right? I just want to know if, since there is a positive balance, it will go through. (Or, should I just write a check?)

Answer 1

IF it goes through your bank will charge you an overdraft fee. This all depends if they allow it or not. Most of the times they do in what they say is a "convenience" to the customer. And while it is a convenience, it is also a big money maker for them. If you do this be sure to do it in one purchase and not multiple. Because every transaction that occurs while you are overdrawn will incurr the overdraft fee. So it would be better to do 1 transaction for $100 than 2 transactions for $50 each.

BTW it is not true that when you do credit it is never posted right away. It depends on the merchant you are shopping at, and how they process the payments. Some do it "offline" or in "batch" mode and they don't get posted for a day. But most are "real time", especially your major chain stores.

Answer 2

Well, I definitely understand your situation, and the irony is that this would be the ideal time for a credit card. When it's absolutely necessary. Just to clarify something, credit cards are like guns in a sense, they do not cause harm by themselves, only if they happen to fall in the wrong hands. You don't have to use them all the time, but it's good to have them when you NEED them in an emergency. Having said that, on to your question...

Any way you slice it, you're going to run into problems whether you use "credit" or "debit" or your debit card or if you write a check. Reason being is that if you press "debit" you will be declined for anything else higher than what's available, and if you press "credit" the same thing will happen. The main difference between pressing the credit and debit button for debit cards is that your PIN is required and the funds come out immediately as opposed to pushing the credit button and signing the receipt. Depending on your bank, the funds can come out immediately as well. And writing a check may not be a good idea because with the way that the check processing system has changed, now a check can come out just as immediate as if you used your debit card. I know that it sucks to hear this, but I just wanted to give you a heads up to save you any potential embarassment at the grocery store. My suggestion would be to check your balance before you go, and get what you can with that. Maybe with the information that I've given may make you reconsider credit cards.

Answer 3

There is a chance that it will still post (or attempt to post) right away, even if you try to put it through as credit. It depends on the grocery store's credit network. Remember-whenever you make a transaction with a credit card (or a debit card as 'credit') the system should ping your account to authorize the amount of the transaction. It then puts a hold on those funds in your account until the transaction clears. It may approve the transaction and put your account under, or it may deny it altogether. Really the only way to know is to try and see.

Answer 4

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RE:
Can I use my debit card as "credit" when there's a positive balance in my bank account, but not enough to...
cover what I need to get? In other words, will it be approved by the credit card reader (I know I can't push "debit" because that's automatically posted) as long as there's a positive balance, and then I can put the money in later? Or will it deny me? :(

Answer 5

It depends on the issuing bank and whether you also have a savings acct w/ them and have overdraft protection. Some banks' debit cards can only be used to the limit of funds immediately available in checking. If you don't have other accts in the same bank, the likelihood is that the store will reject the purchase.

Answer 6

no..If it goes through you will be charged overdraft fees by your bank. If you must do this, I advise getting a separate credit card. But as you know it's not good to carry a balance on a credit card due to the high interest it charges you.

Answer 7

it depends on who you bank with. if you charge something to your account using debit from the store, it won't post for at least 2 days. by the time it posts, your check should have cleared by then and you will have enough for it to clear (with most banks anyway)...i do this all the time.

Answer 8

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So, which did you attach to Paypal? The bank account or the debit card? If you attached the bank account using the routing number, it uses the bank account. If you attached the debit card, it uses the debit card.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

It won't deny you but oh oh oh the fees that come afterwards because you've gone over are not worth whatever it is that you really want. My advice? Only spend what you have, never buy what you can't afford.