NEVER, NEVER,NEVER use a debit card /bank account for ANYTHING..( except to take money from an ATM !!!!! .This is advice any money saver consumer ( or good banker )will tell you. the reason being, #1 You have NO RECOURSE if your purchase is less than perfect, # 2 You give that person access to your ENTIRE BANK ACCOUNT BALANCE. a con artist can change a selling price and literally wipe you out. and #3 if you have over draft protection on your checking account they can ALSO clean out your savings account. Thee is NEVER a reason to use a debit card /bank account... if you do not own a credit card , or think your credit score will have credit card companies deny you , you can start with a "pre paid credit card" which is just a credit card based on a secured bank account that can only have payments taken out of. So an account with $500 in it will give you a credit card with a $500 credit limit, when you reach that balance in purchases , the card is turned down & can not be used till more money is put in the account. AT 40 years old I had plenty of money but had ZERO for a "credit rating" because I used cash or checks , this is what I did and quickly built an excellent credit rating. I never put anything on the card that I currently could not pay off right then, and every month paid my balance In FULL so I never paid 1 penny in interest. Also NEVER set up automatic payments where a company ( even a utility co.) draws the payment from your bank account.....When you set up that type of payment you give them EVERYTHING they need to commit fraud AND use that info for other fraudulent things. Just realize you gave them your name, address, bank name, account number & routing number DIRECTLY TO YOUR ACCOUNT. there is NOTHING ELSE needed by them to transfer any or ALL of your money electronically immediately to an account they own, there is legal recourse , but it is long & drawn out.....Save yourself the grief. just use a credit card, anyone who does business online , including most local govt. offices takes credit cards
