As long as you’ve got the plastic handy and are comfortable making virtual transactions, it’s a very straightforward process to use a debit card online – but paying with a credit card may be safer.
Is it safe to use a debit card online?
Using a debit card to pay online is generally safe as long as you have a secure connection. In May 2020, online sales accounted for a third of total retail sales in the US. Consequently, the safety infrastructure in place is growing stronger and stronger.
Here’s what you can do to verify security:
Check for the lock. There should be a lock icon in the upper-left corner of the search bar, next to the web address. This indicates that the site holds an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate and that the information you submit will be private.
Monitor your account. Review your account regularly to keep an eye on any suspicious activity, especially after making a debit card purchase online. If you see a transaction you don’t immediately recognise, report it to your bank or card issuer.
Ensure a secure Internet connection. Best practice is to only make online payments when you’re on a secure and private Internet connection, such as a home network. Public Wi-Fi at airports or coffee shops aren’t as safe.
Keep in mind that there are always risks associated with making debit card payments, and it’s likely easier for thieves to intercept your information online than in person. If hackers do get access to your debit card information, they could steal funds from your current account.
The benefits of prepaid cards
Prepaid cards can be both physical and virtual, but they both need to be topped up with cash in advance. The advantage of this is that you can only spend what’s on the card, making them ideal if you want to get better at budgeting.
This also means they can be safer to use than debit cards as there’s no direct link to your bank account. If your card details fall into the wrong hands, only the funds on your card can be spent – although it’s quick and easy to freeze your card as soon as you realise.
What’s more, if you have a virtual prepaid card, some can be reloaded with cash as often as needed, while others can only be loaded up once. These disposable cards can typically only be used for one payment which can be particularly useful if you’re worried about security when shopping online.
Unlike credit and debit cards, there are no credit checks to get a prepaid card either, which means they can be ideal if you have poor credit.
However, be aware that like debit cards, there is no Section 75 purchase protection with a prepaid card.
Get a £20 welcome bonus when you spend your first £20 (T&Cs apply).
If you open an account with Revolut, you’ll be able to create multiple virtual debit cards. Like a traditional bank card, your virtual card has a 16-digit card number, a 3-digit CVV code and an expiry date that you can enter when buying items online. Your card is stored in your app, making it really easy to make payments and track your spending. You can have 1 disposable debit card, where your card details refresh every time you make a payment, making it ideal for online transactions. And you can have 4 multi-use debit cards every 30 days, where your details remain the same, making it ideal for recurring payments.
Pros
Low overseas fees
Quick application
Earn cashback on spending
Set budgets for financial goals
Virtual cards for online purchases
Easy to transfer money internationally
Linked 'Junior' account available for one child
Cons
1% currency conversion charge on weekend spending abroad
Free cash withdrawals in the UK and abroad both limited to £200 per month
Cannot deposit cash or cheques into the account
Charged a fee to receive your bank card
Minimum opening balance
£0
Account fees
£0
Overseas card transactions
0% Mon-Fri (max. £1,000 per month)
Overseas cash withdrawals
0% Mon-Fri (max. £1,000 per month) conversion fee plus cash fee of £0 up to £200 per month
With Monzo, you can have up to 5 active virtual cards at any one time, and you can create up to 100 new cards every 12 months. You can also delete them as soon as you like, which means if you think your card details have been stolen, you can delete your card immediately. You can also set your card to pay directly from one of your Monzo Pots if you’d like to cover household bills and so on, and it’s easy to track all of your spending through the Monzo app.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39% EAR variable.
Pros
Easy to set up
Good for budgeting and categorising spending
Automatic saving feature
Fee-free spending abroad
Slick app with face login
Overdrafts and loans available
Cons
Free ATM withdrawals outside the EEA limited to £200,
£1 fee for depositing cash at PayPoints,
Maximum cash deposit of £1,000 every 6 months
No rewards program
Minimum opening balance
£0
Switch service guarantee
Yes
Account fees
£0
Overseas card transactions
0%
Overseas cash withdrawals
0% conversion fee plus cash fee of 0% on up to £400 per 30 days (3% thereafter)
Your virtual card from Starling is stored in your app and has its own card number, CVV and expiry date. You can create up to 5 cards for each account and choose a different colour for each card. You can use your virtual cards to spend directly from your chosen Savings Space rather than your main account balance, making them ideal for budgeting. As your card will only be linked to that Space, if your card details are stolen, your main account balance can’t be touched and you can delete or lock your card straight away. You’ll receive instant notifications about your spending through the app.
Pros
Free ATM withdrawals and spending anywhere abroad
Can deposit both cash and cheques for free
Spending insights and saving tools
'Settle up' feature to split joint bills
Pays interest on current account balance
Overdrafts and loans available
Cons
Lower ATM withdrawal limit than some other digital challengers
In general, it’s less risky to use a credit card for everyday purchases because credit cards aren’t linked directly to your current account. This means you can cancel a transaction before the money is withdrawn from your personal account.
Credit card companies tend to be more lenient with fraudulent transactions, and some credit card providers also offer extended warranties on purchases. You’ll also have the law on your side if you shop online with your credit card and the items you order are faulty or don’t arrive at all. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes your credit card company assume the same risk as the retailer. In short, this means that if there is a problem with your purchase and it isn’t your fault, you can usually claim a refund from your credit card provider.
If using a debit card is your only option to make a payment online, make sure you’re comfortable with the risks associated.
Considered a credit card?
With Section 75, purchases over £100 are protected
Check your chances of being accepted before you apply
What if someone steals my debit card information online?
Although banks take precautions to protect your information, there is always the possibility of a hack. If you notice any suspicious or unauthorised withdrawals from your account, let your bank know immediately. Some banks give customers the ability to “freeze” their card immediately from within their banking app, thus preventing any further transactions.
How to use a debit card online
You’ll need to reference your physical debit card when using it to make a purchase online. After entering the digital shopping cart on the seller’s website:
Select your payment method. If “debit card” isn’t listed as a payment method, you can typically select “credit card” instead.
Indicate the type of card you’ll be using, be it Visa, Mastercard or other providers.
In some cases, you may be asked to enter your name as listed on the card. You’ll also need to include the billing address associated with your debit card.
Enter the 16-digit number on the front of your card.
Enter the expiration date listed below the 16-digit number.
Flip your card over to find the CVV , which is a three-digit number listed near your authorised signature.
Confirm your payment.
1
Debit card provider
2
16-digit card number
3
Expiration date
4
CVV
Do I have to use my full name when paying with a debit card online?
The name you enter should match your name as it appears on the debit card. Merchants use this to cross-check your information with the credit card provider’s records.
Frequently asked questions on how to use a debit card online
Yes, most prepaid cards can be used to make purchases online. Load money onto the card and enter the information as required at checkout.
No. Unlike in-person transactions, you don’t need to provide a pin when using a debit card to make a purchase online.
List your name exactly as it appears on the debit card.
Yes, you should be able to use your debit card abroad in most instances. Be aware though that there may be some fees associated with such a move. There are some debit cards that are known to have low transaction fees abroad.
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Amy Stoltenberg managed newsletters at Finder, gathering the best articles each week to help subscribers save money and stretch their hard-earned dollars. She also handles the Twitter account, dabbling in Instagram and Facebook too. When she's not on the computer, you can find her exploring Los Angeles with a good book in tow. She studied writing at Savannah College of Art and Design and has been featured on the Zoe Report. See full bio
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