Paypal or debit card?

fredy
fredy Posts: 308
edited November 2011 in The Crudcatcher
Hi guys, im about to buy a new bike online and i can pay either by paypal or debit card (credit card limit is only £500). So what is the safer option? i have searched for an hour now but can't find *any* info on it, does it even matter?

Cheers.

Comments

  • Kaise
    Kaise Posts: 2,498
    it makes no difference
  • I'd say Paypal, it's much more secure and you're covered if owt goes wrong (Which I don't think I've heard many stories about). Credit card covers you for purchases online, Debit Cards don't.

    However, as this is the Crudcatcher:
    Stop pretending you're buying a bike, you're signin up to a porn site. Mate, you can get it for free all over the place!
    It takes as much courage to have tried and failed as it does to have tried and succeeded.
    Join us on UK-MTB we won't bite, but bring cake!
    Blender Cube AMS Pro
  • Pudseyp
    Pudseyp Posts: 3,514
    ^ Incorrect.............it depends on the debit card, most banks now use Visa debit cards which are verified by Visa which protects online purchases against your item not being delivered, delivered damaged or the wrong item is delivered....so similar to paypal...
    Tomac Synper 140 Giant XTC Alliance 1
    If the world was flat, I wouldn't be riding !
  • I'd spend more than £500 for a bike for a start...
  • fredy
    fredy Posts: 308
    oooh interesting stuff, i'll have another search but if you happen to know off the top of your head... is there a limit to this? I have a vague memory that paypal only protect you up to £500 but i can't find any evidence to verify this. Not sure if visa have a similar limit.
  • fredy
    fredy Posts: 308
    Visa do claim to provide protection but it looks as though it depends on my bank. Although i can't find anything that suggests my bank doesn't support visas services, i can't find anything to say they do. In the end i guess the risks are small; and canyon are a well respected firm who will have a secure site.

    Thanks guys!
  • Fair enough, I'll stand corrected. I think I'd still go with Paypal though, their site is very secure, and there's no chance that hackers will gain card details (I know it's highly unlikely, but I was quite happy that I used Paypal with CRC when they got hacked)
    It takes as much courage to have tried and failed as it does to have tried and succeeded.
    Join us on UK-MTB we won't bite, but bring cake!
    Blender Cube AMS Pro
  • sheepsteeth
    sheepsteeth Posts: 17,418
    you should pay for whatever it is that you are buying with sex
  • Send cash in a shoebox.

    or pay in limes.

    Actually, story for you. Many many years ago, I worked for a large offshore bank, setting up accounts for private banking. We had an American woman who wanted to open a savings account, she wanted to deposit quite a large sum of money (in excess of $100k). We took all her info and told her she'd need to provide the copy of her passport, recent utility bill, source of funds etc etc.

    Imagine our surprise when a few weeks later, we receive a small, non-descript box through regular (non-insured) airmail from the states contaning over a hundred grand in CASH, her passport and all her documents.

    Some crazy crazy people out there!

    Still, she paid for my house (jk)
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    edited November 2011
    PayPal claim they have their own protection, but they are not a bank or credit company and not regulated in the same way. The worst thing is the process involved when issues arise with the opposite party. Lots on the net covering this topic. Suffice to say PayPal has all the rights and you have almost none (buyer or seller).

    Only times I use PayPal is if the site provides no other option and even then I change the option every time to ensure it takes my money from my credit card and not a direct from the bank or using PayPal funds (I never keep funds in there now anyway).

    Payments through transaction companies like WorldPay or the common Visa online payment systems are secure. Breaches in security have always come from web sites that store your card details, not the payment processing system. Don't store your details with a site, only specify them each time when you pay.
  • Fair enough, I'll stand corrected. I think I'd still go with Paypal though, their site is very secure, and there's no chance that hackers will gain card details (I know it's highly unlikely, but I was quite happy that I used Paypal with CRC when they got hacked)

    If military confidential servers can be hit by hackers, I think paypal doesn't stand a chance. Yes it is more secure because it only serves one purpose, there is probably some 15 year old fat kid sitting in his computer chair hacking his way through their servers for fun.
  • No, I think you underestimate PayPal's security. They have several stages for hackers to get through, each stage encrypted differently.
    They reported that they watch hackers usually try to get through their defences, and actually let them get through, so that they can then change the encryption to make it harder, but they can stop them whenever they want. I wouldn't be surprised if they then try and employ the hacker to help them out.
    It takes as much courage to have tried and failed as it does to have tried and succeeded.
    Join us on UK-MTB we won't bite, but bring cake!
    Blender Cube AMS Pro
  • No, I think you underestimate PayPal's security. They have several stages for hackers to get through, each stage encrypted differently.
    They reported that they watch hackers usually try to get through their defences, and actually let them get through, so that they can then change the encryption to make it harder, but they can stop them whenever they want. I wouldn't be surprised if they then try and employ the hacker to help them out.

    All i'm saying is if it is possible for hackers to get inside secure military servers, Paypal is also possible. While it is very very hard, it is possible.
  • sheepsteeth
    sheepsteeth Posts: 17,418
    it is very very hard, it is

    just like my obvious.

    aaahthankeeyou!!
  • You are better off with the debit card. fundamentally if you do not buy something you do not have to pay. This in a sense takes care of the fraud issue with the obvious complication of where the burden and even the standard of proof lies. There is addtional protection for consumers who use banks that are regulated by the FSA which applies to Debit Cards - for amounts> £500 and in most countries where the purchase originates. The FSA also requires banks to have processes to manage smaller claims.

    That said, I have have no confidence in the banks or the FSA!