Are debit card charges instant?

Xionide

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2002
8,679
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I have a washington mutual check card. And I am wondering when I make purchases with it are they instantly charged to my account? I am only askingthis because I went to a terriyaki place today and put a meal on my card and it isnt showing up when I login online. Also I have made purchases at a certain jack in the box and after months I have yet to recieve any charges from that particular jack in the crack. Is my card magically giving me free food? What gives?
 

ironcrotch

Diamond Member
May 11, 2004
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Nothing is free, especially with banks. They will pound you worse than sonz70 will for a video card.
 

MoPHo

Platinum Member
Dec 16, 2003
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Mine show up instantly on my online summary, but when i look at my account it'll say (assuming i had 1000 before the meal and the meal was 20 bucks)

Account Balance: 1,000
Available balance: 9,980

So they don't take it out right away, but in essence, they already did :confused:
 

Xionide

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2002
8,679
2
81
Originally posted by: ironcrotch
Nothing is free, especially with banks. They will pound you worse than sonz70 will for a video card.


Ya but I am not talking about the bank making a mistake. I am talking about the store. Seriosuly I have ate at jitb twice and after MONTHS I have never been charged for it.
 

Nocturnal

Lifer
Jan 8, 2002
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Yes, debit card transactions normally are taken out right away as opposed to a credit transaction where they put a hold on it and then release the hold and then take the money out.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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81
I'm with Wells Fargo, and it shows up instantly as far as I can tell.
 

PetunZ

Senior member
Oct 25, 2004
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Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Yes, debit card transactions normally are taken out right away as opposed to a credit transaction where they put a hold on it and then release the hold and then take the money out.

And bingo was his name-o.
 

vshah

Lifer
Sep 20, 2003
19,003
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81
your ledger balance might show something else though. the ledger balance is updated at the end of each business day...
 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
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81
Originally posted by: MoPHo
Mine show up instantly on my online summary, but when i look at my account it'll say (assuming i had 1000 before the meal and the meal was 20 bucks)

Account Balance: 1,000
Available balance: 9,980

So they don't take it out right away, but in essence, they already did :confused:

Free $8980? I wish my bank could do that.
 

InverseOfNeo

Diamond Member
Nov 17, 2000
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Originally posted by: Xionide
Originally posted by: ironcrotch
Nothing is free, especially with banks. They will pound you worse than sonz70 will for a video card.


Ya but I am not talking about the bank making a mistake. I am talking about the store. Seriosuly I have ate at jitb twice and after MONTHS I have never been charged for it.

Joy in the Butt?:confused:
 

Legendary

Diamond Member
Jan 22, 2002
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When you purchase something with a debit card, a hold is placed on your account for that amount, until the full processing information comes in (that varies by bank.)
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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Originally posted by: InverseOfNeo
Originally posted by: Xionide
Originally posted by: ironcrotch
Nothing is free, especially with banks. They will pound you worse than sonz70 will for a video card.


Ya but I am not talking about the bank making a mistake. I am talking about the store. Seriosuly I have ate at jitb twice and after MONTHS I have never been charged for it.

Joy in the Butt?:confused:
jack in the box? lol

 

FleshLight

Diamond Member
Mar 18, 2004
6,883
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Wamu deducts the amount from my ledger balance instantly then takes it away from my current balance after 2-3 days.
 

spherrod

Diamond Member
Mar 21, 2003
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www.steveherrod.com
Originally posted by: MoPHo
Mine show up instantly on my online summary, but when i look at my account it'll say (assuming i had 1000 before the meal and the meal was 20 bucks)

Account Balance: 1,000
Available balance: 9,980

So they don't take it out right away, but in essence, they already did :confused:

:thumbsup:
 

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
19,582
4
81
Originally posted by: Legendary
When you purchase something with a debit card, a hold is placed on your account for that amount, until the full processing information comes in (that varies by bank.)

usually.

theres still a few places around here that dont see to have kept up with the times, and i know of at least 3 gas stations that dont add any hold or withdrawl to my account, then suddenly 3 or 4 days later the transation shows up without a hold.

seems like there was a couple of mom and pop stores around here that worked the same way. meh.
 

Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
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Whenever I make a purchase where I need my PIN, it shows up instantly...

Digital Credit Union
 

sonoma1993

Diamond Member
May 31, 2004
3,414
21
81
for my bank debit check card, the money is taking out right away but it takes a few days for the bank to post the transaction on my account.
 

allisolm

Elite Member
Administrator
Jan 2, 2001
25,342
5,010
136
Originally posted by: Legendary
When you purchase something with a debit card, a hold is placed on your account for that amount, until the full processing information comes in (that varies by bank.)

And for those of you who live close to the overdrawn line, you might find this article interesting: Beware debit-card 'holds'.

It says that many more companies than before (including gas stations) are putting holds on accounts for non-pin transactions - even as much as a $200 hold for a $25 gas purchase. This can then cause you to be unable to withdraw funds at an ATM or even bounce a check.

Ways to avoid or mitigate the holds are discussed in the article.



 

thirdeye

Platinum Member
Jun 19, 2001
2,610
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www.davewalter.net
Originally posted by: Xionide
Originally posted by: ironcrotch
Nothing is free, especially with banks. They will pound you worse than sonz70 will for a video card.


Ya but I am not talking about the bank making a mistake. I am talking about the store. Seriosuly I have ate at jitb twice and after MONTHS I have never been charged for it.

There's an auto car wash here in town that does the same thing. It will show up on pending transactions in my web banking and then go away for a month or so, and then all of sudden it will show back up after like 2 months. It's quite odd, but I certainly wouldn't count that meal as free.
 

40Hands

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2004
5,042
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Originally posted by: MoPHo
Mine show up instantly on my online summary, but when i look at my account it'll say (assuming i had 1000 before the meal and the meal was 20 bucks)

Account Balance: 1,000
Available balance: 9,980

So they don't take it out right away, but in essence, they already did :confused:

damn man, they credited your account 8,980 dollars...