Credit card for online purchases?

[paddyhasneeds]

Whilst on the phone to the bank today they mentioned that as I'm fortunate enough to have a healthy balance, I might want to look into getting a credit card to use just for online purchases - apparently a credit card vs. a debit card makes it easier and quicker for me to get the money back should my debit card details fall into the wrong hands.

Whilst I've no doubt they wanted me to have one of their cards, they may have a point as with a credit card the limit is the buffer vs. draining my bank account.

I'd be interested to know if anyone does anything similar?

I do have an amex card but as I'm sure you all know many places are a bit funny about accepting those so these days it's mostly just used for petrol.

[eldar]

Credit card every time. If it gets abused, credit card's problem. If your debit card gets abused, your problem proving the abuse.

[550Hep]

I have a pre-paid Mastercard for "unknown" on-line purchases, the likes of Ocado, Amazon etc I just use my debit card.

[paddyhasneeds]

550Hep said:

I have a pre-paid Mastercard for "unknown" on-line purchases, the likes of Ocado, Amazon etc I just use my debit card.

How do those work once you get down to the last £3.57p or some obscure amount?

[Wing Commander]

Amex for wherever takes it, backed up by an Egg card for everywhere else. Both give cashback which is reason enough to use them. The extra "safety" of having VISA or AMEX on your side is nice too.

Set them both up to pay the full amount by direct debit, and then never think about again Then just receive the cheques at the end of the year for a few hundred in cashback. Hurrah

[ridds]

eldar said:

Credit card every time. If it gets abused, credit card's problem. If your debit card gets abused, your problem proving the abuse.

[g3org3y]

ridds said:

eldar said:

Credit card every time. If it gets abused, credit card's problem. If your debit card gets abused, your problem proving the abuse.

^What he said. Credit card for anything bought online.

[CobolMan]

paddyhasneeds said:

How do those work once you get down to the last £3.57p or some obscure amount?

I believe you can top them up via a debit card or cash. I'll ask Mrs C as she knows about these things.

[paddyhasneeds]

CobolMan said:

I believe you can top them up via a debit card or cash. I'll ask Mrs C as she knows about these things.

Looks like exactly that having done some quick digging. I thought I'd seen the things in Petrol Stations so you just purchased one for £20 on it or whatever amount.

I'd go for a traditional card, I was just curious how the prepaid ones work.

[Piginapoke]

Would just add that, if paying by credit card, you are covered if the supplier goes bust before you receive the goods as its technically a credit agreement. If you pay by Debit Card, join the queue instead.......

[ridds]

And if you want Olympics tickets then you need a Visa card to buy them! Mastercard not accepted due to not being a sponsor.....

Knew that Amex was a bad idea.

[Efbe]

Most debit cards have the same protection as credit cards now.

[YBTurbo]

3V card, top it up like a phone.

[sinizter]

Wing Commander said:

Amex for wherever takes it, backed up by an Egg card for everywhere else. Both give cashback which is reason enough to use them. The extra "safety" of having VISA or AMEX on your side is nice too.

You stole my line. Only difference for me is that my Egg is a Mastercard.

Efbe said:

Most debit cards have the same protection as credit cards now.

Have yet to see a debit card that offers 1%/upto 1.5% cashback.

[hyperblue]

ridds said:

And if you want Olympics tickets then you need a Visa card to buy them! Mastercard not accepted due to not being a sponsor.....

Knew that Amex was a bad idea.

Visa do both debit and credit cards

[s2ooz]

get a credit card, you cant get egg any more, they have just been sold to barclaycard.
mbna are just about start a card with 1.25% cashback for petrol/superstores and 0.75 for everything else.
my stoozing.com site has a list of all the cards you can choose from (unlike many that just list cards that pay commissions to the site.

oh - and your bank manager chap was trying to push the card for exactly that reason - they commission on sales, not necessarily because it was a good financial decision for you.

[kambites]

I believe that Visa also give the same guaranties on their debit and credit cards.

[sinizter]

s2ooz said:

get a credit card, you cant get egg any more, they have just been sold to barclaycard.

Dammit, just found the info. I don't want 2 of my cards with Barclaycard. Egg had such excellent customer service.

Edited by sinizter on Wednesday 16th March 14:31

[gog440]

kambites said:

I believe that Visa also give the same guaranties on their debit and credit cards.

And you can use a visa debit card to buy Olympics tickets

[eldar]

gog440 said:

And you can use a visa debit card to buy Olympics tickets

As long as you don't mind lending them the price of the tickets for a few weeks.