🚀 go-pugleaf

John Smith wrote:
> "James Linn" <jlinn@idirect.com> wrote in message 
> news:Rq6dnQ4iluFTkibenZ2dnUVZ_sydnZ2d@look.ca...
> 
>>GregRo wrote:
>>
>>>Debit card question
>>>
>>>In the US.  Do to the lawsuit filled by wal-mart and others.
>>>
>>>Check Cards with a Master card or Visa symbol must be identified as a
>>>debit card.   The money comes from your checking or savings account.
>>>
>>>In the U.S. Merchants have the following choices
>>>Pin purchases only
>>>Signature debit purchases only
>>>Signature credit card purchases only
>>>or all of the above.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>My question
>>>Are they doing this worldwide or just in the US?
>>
>>Canada had greater market penetration of ATMs than the US in the early 80s 
>>and for all Canadian Banks, the ATM card is a debit card. Whether you use 
>>it at an ATM or at a card machine at a retailer, you use a PIN. Debit 
>>cards can access either a chequing or savings account - you get a prompt. 
>>Debit cards in Canada do not have VISA or MC symbols - only the bank's 
>>logo.
>>
>>At a retailler they use the same machine for credit card purchases which 
>>require a signature - the difference is in the form of the receipt.
>>
>>There have been experiments with smart cards with chips but nothing caught 
>>on.
>>
>>I don't know what happens at Walmart in the US - in Canada they were the 
>>last major retailler to go debit, and they offer cashback which can be 
>>handy.
>>
>>Hope that helps.
> 
> 
> Canadian debit cards use the "Interac" network, so your run of the mill 
> American Plus / Cirrus / Maestro ATM card will not work. However Canadian 
> debit cards usually have a cirrus or plus logo, so they can be used in 
> foreign ATMs, but I don't know if they will work at American POS terminals.
> 
> An American debit card with a Visa / MC logo will be rung through like a 
> credit card transaction (signature, not Pin, no cash back available) 

Interac is the common carrier for all the Canadian banks but there are 
cross agreements and I've been using Cirrus and Plus ATMs  in the US for 
20 years. I've rarely had a problem finding one that didn't work.

Never tried to use a debit card at a store though.

James