In message , at 22:51:07 on Thu, 18
Sep 2014, Michael R N Dolbear remarked:
Some accounts simply don't allow an overdraft - or to go beyond an
agreed
limit, full stop. Perhaps the bank just forwards your details and the
vendor has to recover the money some other way though whether it
would be
worth the effort for a few quid is another matter.

Sounds like a good definition for an unauthorised overdraft to me!

Well not really. The bank doesn't release any money and the account isn't
debited. Its the vendor thats lost out.

If the card was, eg, Visa or MC branded the bank would have to pay up.

If they didn't want to pay they shouldn't have issued it.

OTOH the "online only" cards would have some other branding and, if
contactless, might be at vendor's risk.

Whether they are online or not, all cards need to be plumbed into the
global merchant services system, so the vendor can ask for payment. Are
there any apart from Visa/MC/Amex and a handful of Far Eastern ones?
--
Roland Perry