Running Your Debit Card as ‘Credit’
When paying with your debit card at the register, there are some great benefits for choosing to run your transaction as ‘credit’ instead of ‘debit’.
Benefits of Selecting ‘Credit’ for your Debit Card Transaction Include:
1) Larger Daily Limit with the ‘Credit’ Option
With ‘debit’ (PIN-based) transactions, your point-of-sale limit is automatically set at $500 a day. With the ‘credit’ option, you have a daily limit of $2000. The ‘credit’ option gives you a much larger limit and if you need slightly more than $2000 you may call us to temporarily raise your limit.
2) Don’t Need Your Personal PIN # with the ‘Credit’ Option
Most ‘Debit’ transactions require use of your personal PIN # to complete the transaction, while selecting ‘credit’ transaction for your debit card purchase does not. This means with the ‘credit’ option you do not have to worry about remembering your PIN, or someone fraudulently capturing your personal PIN # with your debit card data – having that PIN # can potentially give them more immediate access to the funds in your account for fraudulent purchases.
3) Funds Generated for CFISD Booster Clubs
If you have one of our School Spirit Debit Cards, funds are only generated from the proceeds of your purchase when you run your card as ‘credit’ (or signature-based). Unfortunately, the PIN-based (‘debit’) method does not generate funds from the card processor for us to donate to the school booster clubs, so it’s important to remember to run your debit card as ‘credit’.
4) Choosing ‘Credit’ can Minimize Your Liability
If you run your debit card as ‘credit’ you can minimize your liability and recover your money quicker in some cases of unauthorized transactions and disputes.
Reminder:
Remember, running your debit card as ‘credit’ does not provide credit to cover the purchase. There must be funds available in your account to cover the purchase. But, when you select a ‘credit’ transaction with your debit card the funds won’t be pulled from your account until the merchant settles the transaction in their system, which typically gives you up to a couple days before the funds are pulled.
How To Use the ‘Credit’ Option
1) Chip
Insert your card with the chip end into the chip reader slot of the point-of-sale device. Leave the card in until the device prompts you to remove your card. Generally, this method defaults to the ‘credit’ option. If you’re asked to choose between “U.S. Debit” and “MasterCard Debit,” choose “Mastercard Debit.” This will run your card through Mastercard’s credit network. If a PIN # is still being requested ask the merchant for assistance with selecting the ‘credit’ option.
2) Contactless
If the point-of-sale device has the contactless feature you can simply tap your card, or mobile wallet app, next to the contactless symbol of the point-of-sale device. Generally, this method defaults to the ‘credit’ option, but if a PIN # is requested ask the merchant for assistance with selecting the ‘credit’ option.
3) Swipe (not recommended = less encryption security)
Swipe your card strip and select the ‘credit’ option. This method often defaults to a PIN-based (‘debit’) transaction, and in some cases, when the purchase is under a certain value (eg- $50), the device may run your card as ‘debit’ without requesting a PIN #. If the device does not display a credit option to select after swiping your card you may need to ask the merchant for assistance with navigating the credit option. Often this requires selecting one of the buttons, such as a “Cancel” button, on the point-of-sale device that will return you to a screen to select ‘credit’.
We recommend using either the Chip method or Contactless method as these provide greater security encryption than swiping your card.
Important:
It is important to keep in mind that you may not be asked to input your PIN # or sign for your purchase if the purchase amount is under a certain limit, so it is very important that you select ‘credit’ before completing the transaction. With any of the transactional methods mentioned above, if the point-of-sale device defaults to requesting your PIN # (which is the ‘debit’ option) you can often switch to the ‘credit’ option by pressing one of the buttons on the card reader. If you are not sure what button to press that will lead you to the ‘credit’ option, ask the merchant for assistance with switching to ‘credit’. Additionally, if you are using a self-checkout terminal, select “credit” as your method of payment and use your debit card to pay.