debit card for internet shopping

[DanielJames]

Morning all

My dad had his account hacked or something recently and its been a bit of a stress getting his money back.

He's asked me to look at getting an account just for internet use that he can transfer money from his other account.

He's asked me to do it because I work in IT and he presumes I would know but I haven't got the first clue with finances

Does such an account exist? An online only current account he could use?

any advice appreciated

Dan

[CoolC]

PayPal?

[bigandclever]

Why not just get a credit card, with all its associated protection, and use it as the only 'internet' card?

[DanielJames]

Paypal isnt always accepted but the credit card is a good shout I guess

I haven't really researched it as I'm not sure what to look at

[Jakg]

Why not get a cashback credit card?

All the protection of a credit card (inc the fact they are jointly liable) and he'll get some % back as well.

[CDP]

If he doesn't want a credit card he could always get a pre-paid Master or Visa card:

http://cash.orange.co.uk/what/

There's quite a few of these on the market now.

[DanielJames]

I'm going to sound really dumb now, I guess my parents wont need to ask this but I do

Never having had a CC before, can someone please explain how you pay off the credit?

[RicksAlfas]

You get a bill once a month and you pay it either with a cheque, direct debit or online bank transfer.
If you don't exceed their payment due date you don't incur any additional charges and you could earn cashback.

[DanielJames]

CDP said:

If he doesn't want a credit card he could always get a pre-paid Master or Visa card:

http://cash.orange.co.uk/what/

There's quite a few of these on the market now.

That looks good, if I could transfer money to it online that would be perfect

Dads a bit lazy lol

[bigandclever]

Pre-paid cards have been described as an expensive way to spend your own money

[DanielJames]

I see that.

Trying to get my head around credit cards, forget the OP for a second

Lets say I want to buy something for £200, and it's online, if I use the Credit Card for that £200 transaction, then log into my credit card account and instantly pay it off with my debit account, I'll not get charged any interest?

and if then, some scrote at the other end, decides to run up a bill on the card, I'll be protected?

[CDP]

bigandclever said:

Pre-paid cards have been described as an expensive way to spend your own money

True but they have to be paid for somehow and the ability to firewall your account is really worth having if travelling or using less well known websites.

[RicksAlfas]

DanielJames said:

I see that.

Trying to get my head around credit cards, forget the OP for a second

Lets say I want to buy something for £200, and it's online, if I use the Credit Card for that £200 transaction, then log into my credit card account and instantly pay it off with my debit account, I'll not get charged any interest?

and if then, some scrote at the other end, decides to run up a bill on the card, I'll be protected?

You won't get charged any interest until a set period AFTER you have received your monthly bill.
There's no rush. My credit card bill arrived at the weekend. If I use it today, the bill won't come for another 30 days or so, and then I will have until around the middle of the following month to pay it. That period of "credit" doesn't cost me anything. If I return the item during that time my card is refunded so at the end of the month I would owe nothing.

[bigandclever]

CDP said:

bigandclever said:

Pre-paid cards have been described as an expensive way to spend your own money

True but they have to be paid for somehow and the ability to firewall your account is really worth having if travelling or using less well known websites.

Personally, if someone tried to nick some money off my card I would rather they did it with the credit card companies money than mine. Pre-paid, of course, has its uses.

[CDP]

bigandclever said:

Personally, if someone tried to nick some money off my card I would rather they did it with the credit card companies money than mine. Pre-paid, of course, has its uses.

True but the trick is to keep the account balance as close to zero as reasonably possible.

[bigandclever]

Yeah, but I'm lazy And they're more of a pain for 'impulse' purchases (not necessarily a bad thing for some!).

[TheD]

What's wrong with Visa Debit card from his bank. I was told if the Debit card had the Visa logo it was as good as a credit card for getting the money back.

Saying that I might be wrong.........Needs checking

[bigandclever]

TheD said:

What's wrong with Visa Debit card from his bank. I was told if the Debit card had the Visa logo it was as good as a credit card for getting the money back.

Saying that I might be wrong.........Needs checking

The main difference is that, by law, you are protected on credit cards (section 75 Consumer Credit Act). Debit cards don't get that protection, because they're not credit cards... but companies like Visa Europe, and Mastercard, offer similar *voluntary* protection. So in the real world, you'd probably be fine - the devil is in the detail though.

[TheD]

bigandclever said:

TheD said:

What's wrong with Visa Debit card from his bank. I was told if the Debit card had the Visa logo it was as good as a credit card for getting the money back.

Saying that I might be wrong.........Needs checking

The main difference is that, by law, you are protected on credit cards (section 75 Consumer Credit Act). Debit cards don't get that protection, because they're not credit cards... but companies like Visa Europe, and Mastercard, offer similar *voluntary* protection. So in the real world, you'd probably be fine - the devil is in the detail though.

You see........That's why you are Big and Clever .

[GTRStage1]

Why get a debit card when you can get a cashback credit card and set up a direct debit?

This one seems to be the most popular: American Express Cashback Card

Thread here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...