Anybody using a DEBIT card for miles?
Nov 18, 2003 | 10:24 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Baltimore - Hyatt Lifetime Diamond/Courtesy Card, UA 2M
Posts: 993
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by pgary:
1. Some people can't qualify for a miles producing credit card, due to poor or non-existent credit history.
2. Some people know that they will abuse any credit card they have, and so need the discipline of a debit card.
2. Many business accept debit card pin transactions, but do not accept credit cards. (I buy my gasoline at one of these.) The Bank of America debit cards are the only ones I know of that give miles for PIN transactions.
</font>
1. Some people can't qualify for a miles producing credit card, due to poor or non-existent credit history.
2. Some people know that they will abuse any credit card they have, and so need the discipline of a debit card.
2. Many business accept debit card pin transactions, but do not accept credit cards. (I buy my gasoline at one of these.) The Bank of America debit cards are the only ones I know of that give miles for PIN transactions.
</font>
Debit cards are not always great for developing discipline, either. Most banks will allow charges and withdrawals even when there is a negative balance, and then charge a big NSF fee for the favor.
Nov 19, 2003 | 11:28 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Posts: 1,949
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by divaof travel:
Most banks will allow charges and withdrawals even when there is a negative balance, and then charge a big NSF fee for the favor.</font>
Most banks will allow charges and withdrawals even when there is a negative balance, and then charge a big NSF fee for the favor.</font>
Nov 19, 2003 | 12:19 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2003
Location: 1 hour from Khao Yai, Thailand. No longer Bangkok, China, Taiwan , Palm Coast, FL, LA, or Chicago though still exiled, again, from the Bay Area.
Programs: Only the good ones
Posts: 5,572
I know with the Citibank online checking with the AA miles for the debit card that the bonus takes a while to post. I ended up calling twice before it actually posted. Since then, the miles post within 3 days of the closing statement on the account. No problems for the past 2 years.
As far as consumer protection goes, the same rights you receive with the credit card apply to the signature based transactions, as these are MasterCard based.
I prefer not to pay my bills with a pure credit card, instead, use the "credit card" feature of the debit card to rack up miles for the monthly, automatic payment of insurance, phone bills, cell bills, trash billing, water company and just about anything that does not have a transaction fee (like PG&E, mortgage companies, auto loan companies etc.)
Only one time did a I have a situation that the hotel did too high an "authorization" and the bank corrected it immediately. The few times that I have had an incorrect charged amount, the bank corrected it within the same parameters as a pure credit card. Usually, if you call the merchant, they will correct quicker. But that is MasterCard and Citibank, which seem to be more like AMEX in correcting problems, compared to VISA.
As far as consumer protection goes, the same rights you receive with the credit card apply to the signature based transactions, as these are MasterCard based.
I prefer not to pay my bills with a pure credit card, instead, use the "credit card" feature of the debit card to rack up miles for the monthly, automatic payment of insurance, phone bills, cell bills, trash billing, water company and just about anything that does not have a transaction fee (like PG&E, mortgage companies, auto loan companies etc.)
Only one time did a I have a situation that the hotel did too high an "authorization" and the bank corrected it immediately. The few times that I have had an incorrect charged amount, the bank corrected it within the same parameters as a pure credit card. Usually, if you call the merchant, they will correct quicker. But that is MasterCard and Citibank, which seem to be more like AMEX in correcting problems, compared to VISA.
Nov 19, 2003 | 3:03 pm
#19
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: MHT/BOS <--> World
Programs: AA Plat 2.8MM
Posts: 4,629
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by rbAA:
But that is MasterCard and Citibank, which seem to be more like AMEX in correcting problems, compared to VISA.</font>
But that is MasterCard and Citibank, which seem to be more like AMEX in correcting problems, compared to VISA.</font>
Thanks!
Nov 19, 2003 | 5:59 pm
#20
Join Date: May 2003
Location: 1 hour from Khao Yai, Thailand. No longer Bangkok, China, Taiwan , Palm Coast, FL, LA, or Chicago though still exiled, again, from the Bay Area.
Programs: Only the good ones
Posts: 5,572
AMEX has been the best as they immediately stop the charge and seem to push the merchant, making sure they have done everything they are supposed to, if they want to restore the charge. Just more consumer oriented.
VISA is the worst. Only once did I have a dispute and they dragged their feet, 8 months, and they were never helpful and sounded like they just wanted me to sue the merchant if I had any problem. And, the worst part, it was on a non delivered goods issue. It could have been the issuing bank but it seems they are the least consumer oriented.
VISA is the worst. Only once did I have a dispute and they dragged their feet, 8 months, and they were never helpful and sounded like they just wanted me to sue the merchant if I had any problem. And, the worst part, it was on a non delivered goods issue. It could have been the issuing bank but it seems they are the least consumer oriented.
Nov 19, 2003 | 10:07 pm
#21
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Miami/Ft. Lauderdale
Programs: AA 2MM Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,350
I ordered the Citibank debit card and got my 4000 bonus miles. But I cancelled it a short time later. I don't like to carry the card around due to it not having the "consumer protection" as some of you mentioned earlier.
Being a Citigold customer, I get the annual fee waived on the Citibank AAdvantage World Mastercard. I earn miles either with that card or the Starwood Amex card.
Being a Citigold customer, I get the annual fee waived on the Citibank AAdvantage World Mastercard. I earn miles either with that card or the Starwood Amex card.
Nov 20, 2003 | 12:11 am
#22
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: SEA (Transplant from MCO, HNL, and DEN)
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 229
I carry an Alaska Airlines (Bank of America) debit card which earns one mile for each $2 in purchases. Not exactly the greatest deal, but, in my opinion, worth the $30 annual fee.