Debit or Credit?

[laxlove6]

People always wonder if they can use their debit card for their on-board account. Here's a very good reason not to ever use it while travelling.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/former-army-reservist-says-bank-america-left-him-143641676--abc-news-money.html

[drumexpert510]

Also another thing I found out the hard way is if you use a credit card or debit card... and it is in another country... i.e. Nassau, Cozumel, etc... then they charge a foreign transaction fee... it sucks!

[drumexpert510]

I also try to use cash... and I bring a OLD credit card with me for when they say... "we aren't going to charge it... we just need it on file". If the come back and say its no good then I say... thought you wern't going to charge it.

 

We were in Cozumel one time and had the scare of our life. We had rented scooters, enjoyed the day and returned them. They had a card on file... but we payed them in cash... when we got back on the ship we looked at our account and they had "authorized" $2,500.00 and since it was a separate country and it wasn't affiliated with NCL we were told, "your screwed". But luckily the charge dropped off and it never went through.

 

Lesson learned never give a good card, pay in cash so no scares later, and avoid foreign transaction fees.

[MCAT48]

Holy cow that's crazy...I use my bank credit card for my onboard account haven't had any problems but always pay cash in ports....!! I never understood why not to use debit card for inboard acct?

[laxlove6]

You have way more protection with a credit card. Using a debit card is basically giving people access to the money in your bank account. I'm sure on NCL your debit card would be fairly safe but why take the chance.

 

Something is off about that story. He paid $600 for 2 beers just to get out of the club?

[sparks1093]

Holy cow that's crazy...I use my bank credit card for my onboard account haven't had any problems but always pay cash in ports....!! I never understood why not to use debit card for inboard acct?

 

They put holds on your account that may cause your account to overdraw if you don't have enough in the bank to cover it all and it can take a while for the holds to be released.

 

As for the article I'm not sure from reading the article that the use of a credit card would have resulted in that much of a different outcome- they investigated and sided with the merchant.

 

I much prefer paying cash when ashore.

[sparks1093]

You have way more protection with a credit card. Using a debit card is basically giving people access to the money in your bank account. I'm sure on NCL your debit card would be fairly safe but why take the chance.

 

Something is off about that story. He paid $600 for 2 beers just to get out of the club?

 

It was a special "club";);). Even if you don't patronize the, um, entertainment you are still expected to pay for their time. I had a similar incident in Haiti but only had to pay $50 to get out of there (and paid that in cash).

[Journey11]

Also another thing I found out the hard way is if you use a credit card or debit card... and it is in another country... i.e. Nassau, Cozumel, etc... then they charge a foreign transaction fee... it sucks!

 

I only recently learned about "Foreign Transaction Fees" while planning a land based vacation in another country. However, I also learned that not all credit cards charge this fee. If you have several credit cards, you may want to call and find out if any do not charge foreign transaction fees.

[Nalagh]

We use cash all the time now, even on the ship. I load my OBC prior to the trip, and stick to it (for the most part:p). We had a problem on the Pearl with our CC and being double charged for all ship expenses and since then we use cash. The last trip my check out tab was $ 52. The ONLY problem we had was on the Gem they told us we could not gamble in the casino with out a CC:mad: EVEN IF YOU PLAY WITH CASH ONLY. They tried to do a hold on the card and it was refused. We made arrangements that we would call MBNA if we were going to charge anything, BECAUSE LAST TIME WE GOT DOUBLE CHARGED FOR EVERYTHING. So, I gave them another card, and I payed very close attention to charges, and all went well.

 

If it had been a debit card they could have charged me double and have taken it right out of my bank account:eek:. At least with a CC I had time to fix it before it really affected me.

[NMLady]

I also try to use cash... and I bring a OLD credit card with me for when they say... "we aren't going to charge it... we just need it on file". If the come back and say its no good then I say... thought you wern't going to charge it.

 

We were in Cozumel one time and had the scare of our life. We had rented scooters, enjoyed the day and returned them. They had a card on file... but we payed them in cash... when we got back on the ship we looked at our account and they had "authorized" $2,500.00 and since it was a separate country and it wasn't affiliated with NCL we were told, "your screwed". But luckily the charge dropped off and it never went through.

 

Lesson learned never give a good card, pay in cash so no scares later, and avoid foreign transaction fees.

 

The $2500 was probably simply a 'pending' hold, not a charge. Many places put a hold on your credit card to make sure they'll eventually be paid. It is not a charge, however, just a hold that will eventually not be charged if they are paid.

 

We get free casino rooms but even though they're free, a $50 per day HOLD is always put on our credit card and eventually is taken back so it is never actually charged but simply shows as Pending, not as charged.

That is what a hold it. It's not a charge.

[sparks1093]

The $2500 was probably simply a 'pending' hold, not a charge. Many places put a hold on your credit card to make sure they'll eventually be paid. It is not a charge, however, just a hold that will eventually not be charged if they are paid.

 

We get free casino rooms but even though they're free, a $50 per day HOLD is always put on our credit card and eventually is taken back so it is never actually charged but simply shows as Pending, not as charged.

That is what a hold it. It's not a charge.

 

And the hold also verifies that the credit card is a valid one to prevent people from using old cards that aren't active any longer.

[laxlove6]

They difference is the liability. With a credit card you are liable for $50 at the most. With debit if you don't catch and report it fast enough it you could be liable from $500 to whatever amount you have in your account. Also a big difference when your bank account is drained, the bank is in control of reimbursing the charges vs. those charges just sitting on your credit card and you are in control of paying them or not.

 

Never heard of a strip club where you have to pay for just sitting there other then maybe a cover charge to get in. The guy claims he wanted nothing to do with it.

[gra2172]

People always wonder if they can use their debit card for their on-board account. Here's a very good reason not to ever use it while travelling.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/former-army-reservist-says-bank-america-left-him-143641676--abc-news-money.html

 

 

I never use it for anything except groceries. Its an old habit, I know. But I dont like the idea of using my checking account for something that I need credit for. I also dont like that its not covered by any kind of insurance if someone hacks it. My credit card is.

[luddite]

Never, ever use a debit card for shipboard expenses.

[sparks1093]

They difference is the liability. With a credit card you are liable for $50 at the most. With debit if you don't catch and report it fast enough it you could be liable from $500 to whatever amount you have in your account. Also a big difference when your bank account is drained, the bank is in control of reimbursing the charges vs. those charges just sitting on your credit card and you are in control of paying them or not.

 

Never heard of a strip club where you have to pay for just sitting there other then maybe a cover charge to get in. The guy claims he wanted nothing to do with it.

 

You have to remember this didn't happen in the states. There are many places where these "clubs" exist. Refusal to pay what is demanded is met with threats of bodily harm. As I said above, I had a similar run in down in Haiti (it just didn't cost me as much).

[Gngrasso]

... and I bring a OLD credit card with me for when they say... "we aren't going to charge it... we just need it on file".

 

I'd be careful with that strategy. If by "old" you mean expired or cancelled, handing it to them (assuming you know it is expired) is fraud in most states, a serious crime.

[NewEnglandNANA]

I have to ask if anyone knows if you could use a prepaid cc? our bank no longer carries travelers checks but we can load a Visa card up to 750.00. I don't want to carry a lot of cash and do not have a credit card at this time in my life(please don't beat me up about it, some people just don't or can't have cc's.)

I was going to use cash in ports and the card if needed but couldn't find anything or missed it on NCL about using the card on board, shouldn't they treat it like cash?

Thanks in advance

[garycarla]

Prepaid cards are not accepted in lots of places, including NCL.

 

Debit cards give access to your checking account. That same account that m pays many regular bills, mortgage, electric, etc.

 

Debit cards have more serious holds.

 

Credit cards have holds, that do drop off. Not a problem if you have a decent credit line, but can be a problem if you have a low credit line.

 

Using credit cards in "sketchy" places is looking for trouble.

 

We travel plenty - maybe 50 nights a year? We always use credit cards. We always carry multiple cards. Can not remember any serious problems.