cdrcos wrote: One warning re: debit cards: Credit cards are protected by law to no more than a $50 charge to you if someone uses it illegally or you lose it. Most companies do not even hold you responsible for the $50 unless you don't report the loss in a timely manner.
The same is not true for debit cards. There is no law protecting those. Someone who gets your debit card could clean out your bank account and you could be out of luck. Be sure to find out what your bank's policy is in reagrd to debit cards.
We only use a debit card for cash and don't carry us with us otherwise. We use a no annual fee credit card for everything and pay it off every month - so no interest charges. Plus we get a 5% rebate for fuel purchases (that's $.20+/gallon), 2% for groceries and 1.25% for all other purchases with our credit card.
GREAT POST, well stated. Many consumer advocates suggest staying away from debit cards for the reasons you stated. We had to be VERY deliberate with our brokerage firm to make them disable the debit card capability of our ATM card. They reimburse all ATM charges in US and Canada so our withdrawals are net.
One warning about doing banking on WiFi.. it is not safe. I would never do any type of banking online or accessing any credit card accounts, purchasing etc on a Wifi. Which means using the RV park, the coffee shop etc is not safe!
The best way to do it is to use an aircard. About $60 per month and you get good coverage and it is safe and secure! We are looking into this option right now and that seems to be the going rate. Radio shack has a deal right now free air card(costs about $200) if you sign a two year agreement.
Pucka1378 wrote: One warning about doing banking on WiFi.. it is not safe. I would never do any type of banking online or accessing any credit card accounts, purchasing etc on a Wifi. Which means using the RV park, the coffee shop etc is not safe!
The best way to do it is to use an aircard. About $60 per month and you get good coverage and it is safe and secure! We are looking into this option right now and that seems to be the going rate. Radio shack has a deal right now free air card(costs about $200) if you sign a two year agreement.
And you base this alarming information on what???
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Pucka1378 wrote: One warning about doing banking on WiFi.. it is not safe. I would never do any type of banking online or accessing any credit card accounts, purchasing etc on a Wifi. Which means using the RV park, the coffee shop etc is not safe!
The best way to do it is to use an aircard. About $60 per month and you get good coverage and it is safe and secure! We are looking into this option right now and that seems to be the going rate. Radio shack has a deal right now free air card(costs about $200) if you sign a two year agreement.
And you base this alarming information on what???
I would not access any of my bank accounts on a public Wifi service. Period.
My basis is that people can and will get your information.
I base this "alarming" information on some basic research on the internet and my wonderful DH whom is a computer forensic investigator. But what does he know
Pucka1378 wrote: One warning about doing banking on WiFi.. it is not safe. I would never do any type of banking online or accessing any credit card accounts, purchasing etc on a Wifi. Which means using the RV park, the coffee shop etc is not safe!
The best way to do it is to use an aircard. About $60 per month and you get good coverage and it is safe and secure! We are looking into this option right now and that seems to be the going rate. Radio shack has a deal right now free air card(costs about $200) if you sign a two year agreement.
And you base this alarming information on what???
Sorry, can't drink your kool-aid. An aircard still sends a signal over the air...
I would not access any of my bank accounts on a public Wifi service. Period.
My basis is that people can and will get your information.
I base this "alarming" information on some basic research on the internet and my wonderful DH whom is a computer forensic investigator. But what does he know
I know that it does but it is more secure. I use wifi in my own house and we have control over how much security is used on it. Using a public wifi you have no control over the security of it!
You don't have to buy into it, but I will not be crying in my cheerios because my bank and CC info was stolen because I used a public wifi!
Pucka1378 wrote: I know that it does but it is more secure. I use wifi in my own house and we have control over how much security is used on it. Using a public wifi you have no control over the security of it!
You don't have to buy into it, but I will not be crying in my cheerios because my bank and CC info was stolen because I used a public wifi!
Been using both for several years with no problems. With the SSL security used by most financial as well as most online businesses the risk is small.
But then nothing is absolutely secure and I promise you will not hear me cry. I do like Cheerios however...
We have been fulltiming and doing everything on line for six years using Bank of America. In my humble opinion they have the best online website and customer service there is. Use BOA ATM's in the states. In Mexico they have a tie in with Santander Serfin who has ATM'S everywhere and there is no use fee on eiher end. Same thing holds true when in Canada use Scotia Bank ATM which also has a no fee arrangement with Bank of America. Have a BOA Mastercard along with 2 checking accounts, 2 savings accounts and an IRA cd and I can transfer from one account to another online. All monthly bills are automatically paid from one designaed checkin accounts. Mastercard can be paid by transferring payment on line from checking account. Have found doctors are not set up to pay online so when we get the paper bill I pay using Mastercard.
If you are a senior, get the Advantage account and have all income electronically deposited to the account you pay from. There are no fees for the Advantage account holder on any of his accounts.
You can check your accounts as often as you want.
Our preferred credit card is American Express and when they email me my monthly statement is available I pay it from BOA account.
When my wife's purse was stolen in Costa Rica I went to an internet cafe and online transferred all but $1 from both our checking accounts to a savings account and the thieves tried to use the cards but there was no money in the accounts to use.
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Trailering Texans wrote: You can set up for your bills to be paid automatically through your credit card. This way your creditors do not have access to your checking account, it is "filtered" through your credit card. If you have access to internet just check your credit card bill online and if all charges seem accurate, pay the bill online. If you are uncomfortable with online then call the credit card company's 800 number near the time your bill is due. They can tell you your balance, recent charges, etc. and then give them your checking acct. routing # and account # and they will pull the money for your bill. But honestly, if you ever give online bill paying a try you will be so happy. You are much more likely to be "ripped off" with a regular check in the mailbox than online. Oh, one more suggestion - chose a bank that has branches around the country.
Make sure to check with your Bank, to find out if the Bank of the same name, in another state is actually part of the same company. An Example, Bank of America is not owned by the same company in all states. We have had occasion where a Bank in NV would not cash our check from BOA in CA, as they are totally separate companies.
However, with a debit card, we could withdraw cash from the ATM in that bank. When we asked the teller why, she said, "we get the money directly, instantly transferred, so we know you have it. Checks can bounce." Then I said, thats crazy, if the card was stolen, you will give out cash, but not pay a check with the same ID...
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Be sure to find out what your bank's policy is in reagrd to debit cards. 
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