On 19-Mar-12 11:24, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 11:10:46 on Mon, 19 Mar
2012, Stephen Sprunk remarked:
Where the only debit cards not accepted are Solo and Electron (and where
I think the "some also accept..." should really read: "a very few might
also accept...").

The discussion was about Visa debit cards, which supposedly had the
stigma of only being possessed by people who couldn't get a credit card.

Debit cards in general, but especially Solo and Electron debit cards.

What I agree we didn't get to the bottom of is how the card companies
can issue 'normal' VISA debit cards while also promising the cardholder
that they (the cardholder) will not be allowed to overdraw.

A debit card works no differently, from the network's or merchant's
perspective, from a credit card. The merchant requests authorization
for a particular amount, and the issuing bank either accepts or declines
the transaction. If the merchant posts a transaction without
authorization, it may be declined and the merchant may not get paid.

Either card type may be declined if the issuing bank sees the customer
has insufficient funds, whether such funds are drawn from a debit
account or a credit account.

S

--
Stephen Sprunk "God does not play dice." --Albert Einstein
CCIE #3723 "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the
K5SSS dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking