Using Debit Card to buy online

[Adam Stone]

Good day all,
Very shortly im not going to have use of my current game payment provider (a.k.a my Dad?s credit card) so am in need of setting up/using some other method of payment. I have a debit card with Woolwich and noticed that if I were to use Paypal, I could use my card details to buy my games? Are there any other options? How does Paypal work if not?

Key Points:
*Im only planning to buy my games etc from videogameplus (which supports Paypal)

*Im only interested in paying with my account, not receiving money

I?ve had a little lookie at the Paypal official website but didn?t really become any more the wiser from it. I was hoping that you wonderful people could enlighten me? and possibly set me in the right direction.
Many thanks in advance

Kind regards
Adam

[Arctic Feather]

You can buy stuff off VG+ using your debit card directly

You have no need to set up a paypal account,pretty much all online stores allow you to pay with a debit or credit card

[wod]

yes for items on uk online stores but i think adam means overseas like usa which wont accept uk debit cards

[Janski]

I used to buy from a variety of online retailers using my debit card, but now I tend to just use my PayPal acc, as it saves me registering my details at loads of sites, almost all game sites can take paypal too; VG+, play-asia and Liksang.

[anephric]

Check what your debit card covers in terms of chargebacks and item insurance; normally it won't come close to what a credit card will provide (most debit cards provide the same amount of coverage against loss as if you had put cash in the post).

I'd never use Paypal for international payment unless I was absolutely desperate and had no choice - their level of coverage and chargeback conditions are so pathetic it's legendary. (28 days for applying for chargeback? pfff, it can take that long before you realise the item isn't actually going to turn up.)

They won't cover against items lost in transit, for example - a credit card will.

[Adam Stone]

Mr Wod, your right that im looking to buy from overseas buddy, but am a little confused concerning the comments made about VG+

Arctic Feather, you mentioned that i can use my Debit Card directly with VG+, however Wod says that overseas retailers wouldn?t accept my UK Debit Card? Im a little confused whether i would be able to use my card with them or not...

Can someone clear this up? Any help is most appreciated. Thanks again for all your comments

Adam

[bowser123]

Adam, there are many types of debit card.
What does it say on it? Solo, switch, etc?

Most overseas places WON'T accept them directly, paypal is a good way around the issue. VG+ only accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Paypal, none of which are types of debit card.

[Adam Stone]

Ah i see... that makes more sense

My card is a "VISA Electron" - 'Debit Card'.

If i cant use this directly, im happy to try Paypal out. However, even after looking at the site, dont really get the jist of how it works... how my money goes through, how i use money in my account etc. Can someone please explain? Thanks again, and sorry for the hassle.

Regards
Adam

[scarredbyvideogames]

Adam - I can only go by my own experience but Ive used PAYPAL for many overseas purchases (and especially Ebay) when Ive needed to (though I always pay directly with visa/debit/nochex if possible)and never had a problem - as long as your using a reputable seller such as VG+ I cant see that you'd have any problems myself.


Especially if your only using it to send rather than receive cash it's really simple - you'l only need a personal account just fill in the form on the Paypal UK site for a new account.

As long as Paypal accept your debit card then you can use Paypal to send money wherever you see the logo - it doesn't matter which kind of debit card/credit card the site normally accept - as long as they take Paypal your laughing.

Dunno which kind of debit card you have or if there are some they dont accept.If you fill in the form you'l find out I guess.

Oh and remember to use PAYPAL UK.
As I recall the numer needed to verify my account came on my next statement so you may have to wait a while before you can use it.

[bowser123]

This is where it gets messy. In theory you SHOULDN'T be able to use electron online. Where it says "electronic use only" on the card means the card can only be used when literally swiped in store by an attendant.
However some places disregard this policy stated by Visa and allow "manual (keyed) swiping"
So VG+ may accept your card. Best thing to do is place an order (card type "Visa" when asked) and cross your fingers. If the order is declined they don't do electron, if they do your in luck.
If your card is declined nothing happens at all, no charges etc.


As for paypal you register your bank account details. You then "load" funds into paypal through the link on the site. It takes 5-7 days to process the money from your bank to paypal, but I think it's free.
With a credit card registered they take the money instantly, again they may accept electron because it's Visa.

That O.K?

[bowser123]

Just looked at paypal and they accept electron

All you do is set up an FREE BASIC account with paypal and register your card details. When it comes to ordering you'll be transferred to paypal where you enter your login and select how you want to pay (electron card), your statement will say something "Paypal-VG+ $70 CAD".

To pay with paypal is free to you, however if you accept payments (sell stuff) then fees become involved.

[Commander Marklar]

Do people get a choice over the type of card they get? I've never had this problem, I can use my card anywhere but is it not possible to request a different kind of card depending on use?

Just a general query really, Electron seems like a fairly pointless card so I'm not sure why so many people have them...

[scarredbyvideogames]

^^

Its just as Bowser says above Adam.

If youv'e registered your debit card with them then when you make a purchase PAYPAL will use that to immediately put funds into the PAYPAL account of VG+ (or whoever) and the purchase will be made straightaway.It costs nothing for you to purchase things this way.

Ive never been in the situation but I imagine if your debit card had been stopped by your bank for whatever reason (unauthorised overdraft or whatever) the payment simply wouldn't be made and the purchase wouldn't go through.

'Course,using a debit card just keep an eye on your bank account - make sure you dont go over your agreed overdraft limit etc or you'l be faced with some nasty bank charges of course....

EDIT:Adam if you go to EBAY's homepage and click on the PAYPAL link below theres lots of info there - paypal's great for buying obscene amounts of videogame tat off ebay - and also you may find the ebay forum ('Community' link on the top of homepage - follow links to 'Community Question and Answer' or whichever) really helpful as I often have.

EDIT:it was mentioned in a previous post that you can 'load' money into your paypal account.Yes you can do this whenever you want.Though since you intend registering your debit card with PAYPAL I dont see why you'd want to really.And you dont need to.

You can though.You can pay money into your PAYPAL account whenever you want using your cards or transferring directly from your bank account and then that money will just sit there in your paypal account to be used whenever you want to send money to any private individual with a PAYPAL account of their own (for example - you could send money to me since I have a paypal account - all you would need to do is type in my email address and specify amount).Or to be used to make PAYPAL purchases from VG+ or whoever.

Like I said I dont see why you'd need to since PAYPAL will just take money from you by way of your debit card but the options there if you want to use it.Sorry to be long-winded - hoiping to make a couple of things a bit clearer for you.

[anephric]

If you order something from abroad, pay by Paypal and it doesn't turn up (for whatever reason: retailer doesn't bother to send it because they know Paypal won't do Jack of the **** (and Jack left town), it gets lost in transit), see how much they help you...

Waste of space: pay by credit card whenever possible.

[Adam Stone]

I uderstand there are some negative experiences surrounding this... but, not being able to use a credit card now, will have to take a risk and give it a shot.

Anyhoo... Many thanks for all the help and warnings guys, is most appreciated.

I?ve just set up a Paypal account, sorted my account details, and will be able to use as soon as I actually get some money in my bank

Thanks again

Kind regards
Adam