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More precisely: There are two protocols for running a card: "debit" and "credit". "Debit" uses a PIN, and "credit" uses a signature. There are two types of c
by chronomex 16y ago
More precisely:
There are two protocols for running a card: "debit" and "credit". "Debit" uses a PIN, and "credit" uses a signature.
There are two types of cards, "debit card" and "credit card". "Debit card" is tied to a bank account, and "credit card" carries a balance paid off at the end of the month.
There isn't a strong connection between the two, at least in America. But when I was working full-time in retail, people would occasionally hand me their cards and say "it's a debit card". The retailer I worked at only supported the "credit" (signature) protocol, so I nodded and ignored the request.
- baddox 16y agoIt's also possible (common?) for there to literally be no difference (to the cardholder). My credit union's debit card is the credit/debit card like you describe, but there is no actual credit whatsoever. I can only spend the money in my account. For some reason, I always choose to run it as a credit card (mostly because I don't know my pin), which is kind of a dick move since it costs the sellers.
- tempblah7 16y agoI don't think you know what you're talking about. The credit/debit cards that banks issue support the debit (PIN) and credit (signature) based protocols. The credit does not carry a balance, it just uses the MC/Visa network for the transaction. These cards are debit cards and are not credit cards, even though they use the MC/Visa credit networks and "act" like credit cards. In fact, most of these Debit/Credit cards have "Debit" or similar text on them to indicate that even though they may carry the MC/Visa logo they are not credit cards. This is what your customers were talking about - you were just too fucking stupid to understand it. You sir are a smug piece of shit, and I hope your mother dies of cancer. If she is already dead, good.