Can You Use a Debit Card With No Money in Your Account?
Reading Time: 3 minutes What happens if you try to use a debit card with no money in your account? It may leave you in a sticky situation because your card will most likely decline.
No, in most cases, you cannot use a debit card if there’s no money in your checking account, but there are some exceptions.
The problem is that a debit card is not a credit card. This article explains what happens when there is no money in your account and you swipe your debit card.
What Is a Debit Card?
A debit card is a card that the bank issues to you after you open and fund a checking account with them. It looks similar to a credit card but the functionality is different since it’s attached to a checking account instead of a line of credit.
As an affiliate partner of various brands and sponsored content, HerPaperRoute may earn commission on qualifying purchases. Disclaimer | Advertise With Us
If there is no cash in the account attached to the debit card, you can’t use it, and the transaction will be declined. That means you will need either an overdraft facility on your checking account, spare cash in your pocket, or a credit card to pay.
A debit card is tied directly to your checking account, so it would be impossible to purchase something if you have no money in it. If you attempt to buy an item with an unfunded card, you may be charged bank fees for inadequate funds.
What is a way around this? Getting a credit card, but that’s a financial decision that you need to consider wholly.
What Is a Credit Card?
A credit card lets you borrow money from the bank against a line of credit. Your credit card limits are typically set when you sign up for the card and can be increased as you build a better relationship with your bank.
It’s good to note that you are charged interest on your purchases but won’t be charged interest on the total amount if you don’t carry your balance over from month to month. Your payment history and credit card balance can affect your credit score, so be aware of that when dealing with this account.
Another thing to note about credit cards is that they have high-interest rates that can build up very quickly if you are not diligent.
What If Your Debit Card Has No Money and the Transaction Goes Through?
If you have made a payment with your debit card with no cash in your account and the sale goes through, one of two things can happen.
Your account will go into a negative balance, which means there will be additional charges from the bank. This often happens with international transactions where you use a payment gateway to conclude a deal.
The other scenario that could occur is that you have an overdraft on your account that you knew nothing about. If that is the case, you need to consider understanding what an overdraft is and learn about the interest rates included with the service.
One of the best things to do is speak to your banker to find out the terms of your account. You can also go through your debit card contract to find out information regarding the service you are using.
It’s best to know everything about your financial status to avoid a predicament like swiping your debit card with no money in your account. You need to remember there is no money on your debit card; it’s just an easy way to use your checking account, nothing more.
Conclusion
Answering the question of, “Can you use a debit card with no money in your account?” is not always easy, but now you have a full understanding of how your debit card is linked to your checking account instead of it being a line of credit.
Ensuring that you always have money in the checking account attached to your debit is a great way to avoid unnecessary bank charges.
Related Articles:
- When You Get a New Debit Card Does the Card Number Change?
- Why Is My Debit Card Declined?
- Debit Card Expired, Now What?
