Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office

  Crime Prevention Unit

Safety Alert!

How well do you know your Debit Card?

The holiday season is filled with good will, plenty of cheer and of course, the “gift of giving”. In the spirit of giving to loved ones and friends, many consumers will use a debit (check) card for their purchases. Although these cards are convenient and safer to carry than cash, they are not a “credit” card and should not be treated as one. If you use a debit card you may want to know more about them before you use them. The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office encourages you to “know before you go”….

•  Know your bank account balance before making a purchase with a debit card. Never make a purchase without having enough money in your account to cover it. You could face hefty charges from your bank and from law enforcement.

•  Know that your debit card is a quick, “pay now” product, giving you no grace period.

•  Know about your liability for any unauthorized use, theft or loss of your debit card. Ask if the issuer has any special liability policies and how they work. Under government regulations, financial institutions may have up to 20 days to provide provisional credit because of unauthorized use of your debit card.

•  Know how problems with non-delivery, defective merchandise or misrepresentation will be handled. Charges can be disputed within 60 days, however you may have less protection with a debit card then you would with a credit card.

•  If the card is lost or stolen report the loss immediately to your financial institution. If the card has been used fraudulently you may file a police report at your local law enforcement agency.

•  Take your receipts when leaving the register. Your account number may be all someone needs to order merchandise through the mail or over the phone at your expense, especially if the card can be used with out a PIN (Personal Identification Number).

•  Always keep your PIN number private. Never write it down and put it in your wallet or purse.