On 13/03/2012 21:35, Phil wrote:
"Roger writes:

Other than a few toonies and loonies (Google if you don't know what they
are) in the glove compartment for parking meters and they are not really
required as most meters take credit cards, I never carry cash.
Ironially the machines which take cards are the ones where you pay when
you leave, and have had the opertunity to get some change.

Pay and display, where you pay in advance tend to require coins. There
are schemes to pay by phone, but these tend to require some sort of
registration so are only applicable to regulars.


My newest debit card, arrived yesterday, lets me use it like a credit card
for on-line purchases and like a credit card when travelling outside Canada,
although it still debits my bank account.
How does using a debit card differ to using a credit card, surely the
difference is how much the retailer pays and how you settle the bill?

In my experience using a debit card online is exactly the same as using
a credit card.

Phil


Except that the money on a debit-card transaction is automatically taken
from whatever account it is attached to and there are no interest
charges of any sort. Credit cards, on the other hand, allow you to pay
later and will charge you interest on whatever sum you have racked up in
the month.