atm card

matas

Golden Member
Aug 8, 2005
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I wanted to get my own credit card that I could use to buy stuff online. well, im only 16 and I can't have debit card really yet.. So my mom and I went to the bank and asked few questions about the credit cards. I asked what is the difference between atm and debit card, since I could only get an atm. She said nothing. I was like what do u mean, so why can't I get the debit card if it's the same thing..she was like because your not 18. I thought wow.. So I applied for this "ATM card" and i got in it in the mail few days later. I opened the letter, atm card was there. But there was no 3 digit security code like u usually need to buy stuff online. Next day I went back to the bank and said to her, it's a big difference between atm and debit card. I can't buy stuff online with atm, its only when you buy things in-store.. And this other lady said certain websites allow the usage of atm card when buying online.
Maybe there is some? but i dont see how because it's not visa or master card or any of those, it just says my bank's name..
 

Safeway

Lifer
Jun 22, 2004
12,075
11
81
Back in the day, ATM cards were ONLY for ATMs. That is, you could only use the ATM card to get cash out of an ATM or deposit money into an ATM. You could not use it to buy anything, anywhere. Maybe that is what you have.
 

bsobel

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Dec 9, 2001
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<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: matas
I wanted to get my own credit card that I could use to buy stuff online. well, im only 16 and I can't have debit card really yet.. So my mom and I went to the bank and asked few questions about the credit cards. I asked what is the difference between atm and debit card, since I could only get an atm. She said nothing. I was like what do u mean, so why can't I get the debit card if it's the same thing..she was like because your not 18. I thought wow.. So I applied for this "ATM card" and i got in it in the mail few days later. I opened the letter, atm card was there. But there was no 3 digit security code like u usually need to buy stuff online. Next day I went back to the bank and said to her, it's a big difference between atm and debit card. I can't buy stuff online with atm, its only when you buy things in-store.. And this other lady said certain websites allow the usage of atm card when buying online.
Maybe there is some? but i dont see how because it's not visa or master card or any of those, it just says my bank's name..</end quote></div>

It's not that hard. Your under 18 they won't let you get a debit card. Legally you could go spend a lot of money and then simply claim you werent' old enough to enter into a legal contract. So, your stuck asking mom to but your stuff online for the next 2 years. Or you could look into some of the student/teen credit card programs banks have. They are usually an extension of your parents account so they have audit and control (and legal responsibility) for the usage.



 

Parasitic

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2002
4,000
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You can't use that ATM card anywhere besides the ATM.
I remember getting a checking account with BoA when I was 16. Not because I like BoA but because they were the only bank willing to offer me a checking account in conjunction with a savings account when I was only 16.

In short, go back to the bank and ask again. You might be able to get checks and a Visa debit card with a checking account if you had enough money. I had a part time job with direct deposit so they offered me the "MyAccess" checking account.
 

matas

Golden Member
Aug 8, 2005
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good point. My mom wanted at first to put her name on my debit card as a second owner of it I guess u can say and be responsible for if i overspend it. But I dont know why didnt we do that. I'm very good with money and I'd never take out too.
 

matas

Golden Member
Aug 8, 2005
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I have savings account to, i got like 1000bucks on there.
And I have $500 on ATM. Maybe I could get that checking account?
 

UncleWai

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2001
5,701
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You can't overspend on a debit card. You can technically, it's overdraft, and BOA will rape you a new hole for it.
 

compuwiz1

Admin Emeritus Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
27,112
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The key to being able to purchase online, is to get a Visa or Mastercard ATM/Debit card. Then you have the option of using it to purchase face to face with a pin, or to use it like a credit card, swipe and charge it, or go online and order with it.

Couldn't your mom have opened a joint account with you and gotten you a "Visa" debit card?
 

alimoalem

Diamond Member
Sep 22, 2005
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Originally posted by: matas
good point. My mom wanted at first to put her name on my debit card as a second owner of it I guess u can say and be responsible for if i overspend it. But I dont know why didnt we do that. I'm very good with money and I'd never take out too.

yea if you don't need to hide your purchases get your mom in on it as a cosigner. i had a checking account AND savings account with a debit card from wells fargo at 15 and BofA at 16. my mom was cosigned on ONLY the BofA account. i'm not sure if we had her on it because i couldn't have the account otherwise or because if she was on it my account would be a branch off of my parent's account, making me get better features/rates for my savings account.

either way, when i was 17, i went inside a wells fargo bank and the teller asked if i wanted my mom off my account. i said sure but i kept her on the savings account cause i did get a higher interest rate with her on it.

CLIFFS:
- at 15, i got a wells fargo debit (not ATM) card, checking and savings accounts
- at 16, i got a BofA debit card, checking and savings accounts
- at 17, i got my mom off my wells fargo checking account.

for those that need help, YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE 18 to get a checking account with a debit card.
 

compbuilder00

Senior member
Jul 27, 2006
628
3
81
Back in February, I started a checking account with the help of my Mom and with the opening of the account I got a Visa Check Card. I can use it like a normal credit card but it is linked to checking account which I can monitor from the internet. I have the account with Sovereign Bank and they seemed to have good customer service when I called them.
 

Flammable

Platinum Member
Mar 3, 2007
2,602
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Originally posted by: UncleWai
You can't overspend on a debit card. You can technically, it's overdraft, and BOA will rape you a new hole for it.

its near the knee right? :p
 

alimoalem

Diamond Member
Sep 22, 2005
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i forgot to say, i'm pretty sure you can use ATM cards at some locations. my friend had an ATM card and he's like i can use that at mcdonald's. i didn't believe him so we went and it did work. i'm not sure but i THINK he was able to use it at safeway.
 

matas

Golden Member
Aug 8, 2005
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my mom is currently on a vacation. But when she comes back what should I do about the card?
 

compuwiz1

Admin Emeritus Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: matas
my mom is currently on a vacation. But when she comes back what should I do about the card?

Go back to the bank with your Mom and tell them you need a Visa check card. See what your options are. If you asked for an ATM card, you got a plain ATM card.

 

mrSHEiK124

Lifer
Mar 6, 2004
11,488
2
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I'm 16, I opened a checking account with BofA, and they gave me a checkbook and a Visa debit card.
 

Dulanic

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2000
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Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
I'm 16, I opened a checking account with BofA, and they gave me a checkbook and a Visa debit card.

I believe it varies state to state too.