Back from Aruba, great trip but......

[Arubalisa]

Unfortunately, even at home, debit cards must be protected like cash.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/cons...dit/cre04.shtm

Credit, ATM and Debit Cards: What to do if They're Lost or Stolen
"ATM or Debit Card Loss or Fraudulent Transfers (EFTA). Your liability under federal law for unauthorized use of your ATM or debit card depends on how quickly you report the loss. If you report an ATM or debit card missing before it's used without your permission, the EFTA says the card issuer cannot hold you responsible for any unauthorized transfers. If unauthorized use occurs before you report it, your liability under federal law depends on how quickly you report the loss.

For example, if you report the loss within two business days after you realize your card is missing, you will not be responsible for more than $50 for unauthorized use. However, if you don't report the loss within two business days after you discover the loss, you could lose up to $500 because of an unauthorized transfer. You also risk unlimited loss if you fail to report an unauthorized transfer within 60 days after your bank statement containing unauthorized use is mailed to you. That means you could lose all the money in your bank account and the unused portion of your line of credit established for overdrafts. However, for unauthorized transfers involving only your debit card number (not the loss of the card), you are liable only for transfers that occur after 60 days following the mailing of your bank statement containing the unauthorized use and before you report the loss.

If unauthorized transfers show up on your bank statement, report them to the card issuer as quickly as possible. Once you've reported the loss of your ATM or debit card, you cannot be held liable for additional unauthorized transfers that occur after that time."

Our dd will be doing some traveling next spring and we have a "pre-paid' debit card. We can put as much or little cash as we wish on it and replenish as needed. It works like a credit card in stores and such as well as ATM machines. Only thing they are not good for are any transactions where a "hold" would need to be placed upon a portion of your balance, for example, hotel or car rental.

[fattypatty]

that's why i never activated my debit card. i never understood why people use them. it offers no benefits over a credit card. and when sh*t hits the fan, you're actually out of cash in your account while the bank investigates. at least with a credit card, you have all of your cash!

hope the best for ya! let us know how it goes!

[fattypatty]

i got so freaked out by this report (along with someone else who reported card theft a few weeks back) that i pulled up my free credit report. whew....nothing is amiss.

i'd recommend everyone here pull up there's before the year end. a friend of mine wisely told me to use the 3 free annual credit reports from the govt by pulling them up every 4 months thereby getting a 12 month coverage of my credit history for theft.

[DANNYO]

So sorry to hear of that happening to you or anyone of us that may use a debit card on Aruba or anywhere else for that matter.Don't ever use a debit but do use one credit card when on Aruba.Just got our statement and everything was fine.

[islandj]

fattypatty what site or I should say what did you use to get your reports?

[gretch]

I'm so sorry Johny!!!! That is truly shocking that someone would do that. It happened to me last year while I was in NH for a long weekend (I live in Boston). The bank told me my info was probably stolen months before from either a restaurant or gas station, a new card was made up with my info and probably sold for cheap money. The purchases were made in Georgia (while I was in NH). But who knows how it really happened. I feel your pain...good luck!!!!

[fattypatty]

i'm not sure if the forum's rules allow me to link to an outside site. but just google "free annual credit report." it's the one right below the sponsored links (which are not the govt approved sites!!!). it's called the "annualcreditreport"

AnnualCreditReport.com

remember, you only get 1 per year from all 3 companies. so, use 1 every 4 months and you will yearly coverage of your credit.

[Arubalisa]

http://clarkhoward.com/topics/freecreditreportinfo.html

Excellent resource on credit report rights and info put together by consumer advociate Clark Howard- includes info on credit reporting agencies addresses and phone numbers.

[arubamark]

I always thought inquiries on your credit report goes against your credit report. Not sure but I will use my credit card and not my debit. I rather be safe then sorry.

Sorry to hear John! Welcome back!

[Arubalisa]

Originally Posted by arubamark

I always thought inquiries on your credit report goes against your credit report.

TOTAL myth!

http://www.experian.com/
"Checking your own credit report will NOT lower your score"

http://www.myfico.com/CreditEducation/ImproveYourSCore.aspx
"Note that it's OK to request and check your own credit report.
This won't affect your score, as long as you order your credit report directly from the credit reporting agency or through an organization authorized to provide credit reports to consumers."