Be warned when using a debit card with Carnival.

[pomm1972]

Just got back on Sunday.

 

Had all my hold on accounts, fine.

 

Get Carnival charges, which are 500+ more than my final bill. Still have holds, okay.

 

Holds removed everything okay again, but charges still 500+ more than final bill.

 

Then this morning again holds are back. Called my bank, now have to close my account for fraudulent charges. Of course customer care isn't open until 830 this morning, but I can book a cruise now. Anyone had this nightmare before?

 

Lets just say next time I am setting up a cash account.

[CarnivalCruising]

I'm so sorry. I just returned from the Valor, but I have always set up a cash account since I've heard the nightmares about the holds on the debit cards. The morning of debarkation, you will receive a check for the amount that you didn't spend.

[KenMo]

So did the bank tell you what the charges were and these were charges you didn't make?

 

Hope it's straightened out quickly.

[bplazo]

I would never use a debit card when travelling because I do not want anyone having access to my bank account. A credit card is much better.

[luddite]

Always use a credit card. Never, ever use the debit card.

It should be a sticky on these boards.

[BusyFLmom]

I have a seperate debit card that I use for traveling and online purchases. I only deposit what I need and its not attached in any way to my primary account. That way any unauthorized holds will reject. Just last week I made an online purchase and deposited what my total order was. About 2 hrs later...I get an email stating that the card was declined. When I looked at it online I noticed that the merchant put a $1 debit hold on the account and then proceeded to get authorization for the total order. Since I only deposited the order total....it declined because it was $1 more than the balance:mad: When I called the merchant...they told me they always put $1 holds on new accounts. Needless to say...wont be shopping with them again.

 

Im sorry this happened to you. What a pain! Thanks for the heads up. I do plan on setting up a cash account when we cruise.

[pomm1972]

So did the bank tell you what the charges were and these were charges you didn't make?

 

Hope it's straightened out quickly.

 

There were two charges that came out. One for 100, which may have been the FCC charges separately and another charge which was 500+ more. than the final bill I had to to move money around so other charges would go through and not bounce on me. When all was restored this morning I moved my money back again, when the holds were removed sometime between yesterday and 4 am this morning. Then at 530 this morning apparently they ran the charges again. When I saw this I called my bank and they told me I had to file a claim for fraudulent charges. They advised me to call Carnival and dispute the charges. They essentially have 15 days to explain or Carnival has to refund me everything.

 

I've used a debit card in the past with no problem, when I didn't have a money cushion either. Only cash for me. Since I refuse to use credit cards, I will not use a credit card either.

[halos]

I would never use a debit card when travelling because I do not want anyone having access to my bank account. A credit card is much better.

 

Always use a credit card. Never, ever use the debit card.

It should be a sticky on these boards.

 

absolutely!

[elcuchio24]

Credit cards are the best, if not then just use cash. Debit cards should not be used.

[serene56]

Debit cards usually have a daily balance- did the initial 500. charge go through?

 

what is your daily limit coz you may be over and that is why you see it keep hitting

[yst347]

We've never had any issues that weren't easily resolved using a credit card to back our shipboard account.

[spideyfam]

I have one credit card with a requested $500 credit limit that I use for cruises only. I have never gone close to that. I always prepay my tips and have had OBC for my last few cruises. So my S&S is always really small.

[douglinc@msn.com]

We've always used a credit card and so far have had no problems.

 

Doug

[discjoker]

Echoing what others are saying: DON'T USE A DEBIT CARD. You simply don't have the same protections as a credit card. Do you really want to give someone access to your bank account? That's real money. If a mistake is made with the credit card, your money isn't really tied up while things get figured out.

[pomm1972]

Debit cards usually have a daily balance- did the initial 500. charge go through?

 

what is your daily limit coz you may be over and that is why you see it keep hitting

 

Its a Debit card with Visa, a Chase card. It has same protections as a credit card, but is tied to my checking and savings accounts. It has a daily limit for cash w/ds but transactions go through as long as the money is there.

 

I called Carnival and they are going to send me the details of the charges. Some of the charges are after midnight which is why it doesn't match my final bill placed under the door. It still doesn't account for the difference however. The guy I talked to was helpful and I'm sure all will be resolved in time, it just a PITA now. Glitches can happen.

 

Lesson learned, cash or travelers checks only in the future.

[Scottee25]

When I saw this I called my bank and they told me I had to file a claim for fraudulent charges. They advised me to call Carnival and dispute the charges. They essentially have 15 days to explain or Carnival has to refund me everything.

 

I've used a debit card in the past with no problem, when I didn't have a money cushion either. Only cash for me. Since I refuse to use credit cards, I will not use a credit card either.

There is a big difference between fraudulent and disputed charges. Your situation sounds more like a disputed charge and not fraud.

[pomm1972]

Echoing what others are saying: DON'T USE A DEBIT CARD. You simply don't have the same protections as a credit card. Do you really want to give someone access to your bank account? That's real money. If a mistake is made with the credit card, your money isn't really tied up while things get figured out.

 

Ah, I made a rookie mistake, except I'm not a rookie. I used Debit card in past and had no problems before. I've seen all the horror stories but said, nah that will never happen to me. Fortunately I had enough of a cushion in my account that I'm not destitute until it's figured out.

[remharri]

Just got back on Sunday.

 

Had all my hold on accounts, fine.

 

Get Carnival charges, which are 500+ more than my final bill. Still have holds, okay.

 

Holds removed everything okay again, but charges still 500+ more than final bill.

 

Then this morning again holds are back. Called my bank, now have to close my account for fraudulent charges. Of course customer care isn't open until 830 this morning, but I can book a cruise now. Anyone had this nightmare before?

 

Lets just say next time I am setting up a cash account.

 

I like using the FunShip dollar....by calling in and having them use it as on board credit. I think that is the best way to go! Then if I need more I add a credit card to it or more cash.

[buckeyefrank]

Echoing what others are saying: DON'T USE A DEBIT CARD. You simply don't have the same protections as a credit card. Do you really want to give someone access to your bank account? That's real money. If a mistake is made with the credit card, your money isn't really tied up while things get figured out.

 

This is not true. As long as the debit card has a Visa or Mastercard logo on it, the protections are exactly the same as a credit card. Both the Visa and Mastercard websites show their protection policies and it's stated right there.

 

With that said, I wouldn't use a debit card on my main bank account unless you have a cushion to cover the hold for a couple days. I used cash the last time we cruised.

[firefly333]

Iv never had a problem with Carnival and using a debit card.

 

Holds are removed by your bank on your banks schedule.

 

Now if there are charges you didnt make then thats a problem which you never exactly said.

[Scottee25]

Its a Debit card with Visa, a Chase card. It has same protections as a credit card, but is tied to my checking and savings accounts.

That's not true. Disputed charges with a credit card do not accrue interest and do not need to be paid unless they are found to be legitimate charges. Disputed charges with a debit card tie your money up right now and restrict your access to it. You may be protected from fraud by Visa, but there are clear differences when it comes to disputed charges between a credit and a debit card.

[swimmom32]

We always put cash on our sail and sign card...Never use credit cards and certainly not my debit card especially after everything we read on here...Hope you can get it straightened out soon...

[pomm1972]

There is a big difference between fraudulent and disputed charges. Your situation sounds more like a disputed charge and not fraud.

 

I believe it to be a disputed charge also, since I made charges, and do not deny that. Its the amounts in question.

 

Its the guy at Chase that said its considered a fraudulent charge, which is why I have to close the debit card. He said because they resubmitted charges this morning, that it is fraudulent. Even the guy at Carnival said that it is very odd that there would be charges submitted after I left the ship, so something is obviously wrong here.

 

Again I know Carnival will get it corrected, it just may take some time.

[ihibernate]

We used a debt card. No issues for awhile... then we got a call from the bank someone was trying to access our account online. The bank caught them poking around and shut off the account. We had to close that one and open a whole new one. We thought it might be the debit card, but we only used it for the sign and sail, not in port or anything else. Turns out, it might be because my hubby checked our account balance on his laptop through the ship's network. Could be someone on the ship or someone else... but it was monitored in some way. Didn't loose anything but it was a pain!

[pomm1972]

Iv never had a problem with Carnival and using a debit card.

 

Holds are removed by your bank on your banks schedule.

 

Now if there are charges you didnt make then thats a problem which you never exactly said.

 

Sorry if I was unclear. The charges made to my account were about 500 more than my final bill slipped under the door. My S&S balance was high this cruise because I made a lot of purchases; cologne, excursions for 3 people, casino, souvenirs, etc.

 

On top of the charges that were made, there were additional holds still on account. They were removed yesterday and were recharged again this morning when I was not on the ship.