16.12.3.Insufficient funds
Debit cards work like plastic checks. When making
a purchase with a debit card, the payment for the
purchase is taken directly from the card holder’s
bank account. If the account has insufficient funds
to cover the expense, the card payment will usually
be declined.
But this also depends on the type of debit card:
• in some such as ’Solo’ or ’Electron’ debit card,
the balance in the customer’s account is
checked before each transaction. If there is not
enough money, the customer is unable to pay
or withdraw cash without prior agreement.
• In other debit cards such as ’Visa’, the account
balance will not necessarily be checked and the
payment may still go through.
If overdrawn, the charges will depend on whether or
not there is an authorised overdraft arrangement
with the bank. If there is an overdraft arrangement,
the customer has to pay the agreed amount of
interest at the end of each month but this is usually
much lower than the interest charged on credit
cards. If there is no overdraft agreement, or if the
customer exceeds the agreed limit, the bank may
allow the payment to go through but the card holder
will usually pay much higher fees than if there was
an agreed overdraft agreement.