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Aug 25, 2004 -- Using your debit card may cost you

If you enter a supermarket or convenience store and use your ATM or fake debit card to buy something, you may have opted to get cash back. It’s easier than going to your bank’s ATM on a separate trip to get cash, and many people are figuring that out. But banks don’t like it one bit because they don’t make any money off you when you do this. So, some of the nation’s largest banks are starting to charge junk fees when you use your debit card and punch in your secret code, according to Dow Jones. One in five banks are doing it, and most haven’t even disclosed it to customers. The Federal Reserve has launched an investigation into this, which will probably result in banks having to tell customers what they are doing. So, why would banks not tell you? The banks lost a class action lawsuit last year regarding the violation of anti-trust laws. Banks were forcing merchants to pay them giant fees each time a customer used fake debit cards. The banks were sued and lost. So, they’re scrambling to take either your money or the merchant’s money in any way they can. About 20 percent of banks are charging the fees these days. If you find out your is one of them, ditch it immediately and shop around for another bank.
In other banking news, you may have heard of stored value cards. The popular artist, Usher, has his own stored value card, for example. These cards are being pushed on consumers at concerts and stores, and they’re touted as offering great deals. But they also come with massive fees for certain transactions. Read up on them before you get one of these cards.

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What others are saying

  • Been using ATM card for free for 30+ years
    I've been using my ATM card (not debit) for 30+ years and refuse to use one of the new debit cards with the credit card logo. I do not feel the debit cards with the logo are safe because anyone can sign your name on a credit receipt using it and clean out your account or make unauthorized purchases. I have banked at numerous banks for 30+ years, and everyone of them has issued me an ATM card upon request instead of the newer debit/credit kind. The ATM card is more secure because you ALWAYS have to use a pin number to receive cash or make a purchase. I use it in stores for purchases and get cash back and have always done so. This was the original way to use cards before the banks discovered they could charge merchants for using the debit/credit ones and make even more money. If my current bank, Chase, starts charging me for each ATM transaction where I get cash back, that will be the last day that Chase sees any of my money (a considerable amount) in their bank. I will immediately take it out and go to a competitor that doesn't charge me a fee for using my own money. The stores are not charging Chase for me to use my ATM card. Why should Chase charge me for using my own money to purchase what I need?
  • credit card
    need help on credit protection plan on credit cards
  • credit cards
    i have been off from work since aug.20 2008. i have 4 or 5 cards, i also have credit protection plan on all cards, now i am disabilitable when i took this protection plan, it was my understood if i came disability my card would be paid in full. now they time me the plan has change, on my statement it says all will be paid off in full on all my credit cards.how can i do or handle this peoblem. yes i have one card has paid in full C O.
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