[at-l] Questions on financing the trail

[JL]

Thanks, but not talking about withdrawing money, talking about buying stuff.   But even with withdrawing money from an ATM at my credit union, there is a notice that says that the machine may give you money that overdraws your account and fees may result.  That's never happened to me because I'm pretty careful.  But I've got a friend who was using his card on vacation for a lot of small purchases (lunch, cokes, snacks, souvenirs, etc.).  He had lost track of his checking account balance and ran off more than twenty small overdraws real quick.  Cost him nearly a thousand dollars in fees.   I would *never* use a debit card to buy stuff.  Just too risky.
imho; ymmv

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Pat 
  To: JL ; gamountainwoman at yahoo.com ; at-l at backcountry.net ; Doug Mathews 
  Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2008 6:09 PM
  Subject: Re: [at-l] Questions on financing the trail


  I've never been able to get any money out if there isnt any in there. Never been charged for not being able to get money out though. If in doubt you can always get the balance before you make a withdrawal. You can also limit the amount of daily withdrawals.

  Pat


    I shy away from debit cards.  They're a racket.  If you make a mistake with your account and forget how much is in there, the bank may clear your debit charge, but they will treat it like an overdrawn check.  Each charge, no matter how small will get socked with the fee, which is $35 or more, depending on where you bank.  If you are in town and run up a bunch of little charges for sandwiches, groceries, ice cream etc. you can get in a big hole before you know it.
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