Debit card nightmare.........How is it supposed to work ???

[Nutcracker]

When i had my debit crad (about 8 mths ago) the woman in the bank told me that when ever i used it the amount would automatically be deducted from my on screen balance so i would always know where i stand.
I am almost positive though that this isn't happeneing. Several times now, i have checked my balance and it has seemed incorrect. Usually it is higher than it shoulld be as i know some stuff hasn't gone out. Sometimes (like today) I suddenly find that a load of stuff has been debited, that i brought days and days ago and now i'm nearly overdrawn.
The only thing that gets debited straightaway is when i actually withdraw cash from a machine.
When i use my card in a shop it doesn't seem to be adjusting my balance and i'm getting in a mess.

Am i being thick here or what ??

Nutty - it depends. Some shops (Sainsbury's) seem to have more sophisticated equipment which does debit it straightaway but not all places do - esp if they are still using older pdq machines. However, your on screen balance may show available funds which is teh balance less amounts waiting to be cleared. It's a pain though. Whatever your balance is, always knock off more. You never have more in your bank than you think

Nutty, you're right, it only goes straight out when you use a money machine. Shop transactions take at least one day and up to 3 (if it's a weekend) - or 4 if it's a Bank Hol so eg, if you used it last Friday that wouldn't come out until yesterday. But if you use it today it will come out tomorrow.

It isn't instantaneous. Sometimes you can make a purchase in a shop and it won't appear on your balance/statement til the next day or even the day after. This seems to hold particularly true at weekends, or purchases made out of normal working hours. I thimk when they say it is "instant" they mean it is not like a credit card where you are billed for everything at the end of the month. Only thing I can suggest is that you note down somewhere what you spend and keep a sort of running total in your head (and, oh, I wish I would take my own advice sometimes!)

no there can be upto 5 days delay on transaction s in shops so only money or dd done by the bank show up instantly - if you are having trouble keeping track write the amounts in a diary or note pad and keep your own total of what you have got - you can then check the amounts to your bank statements to make sure they are correct. hope this helps

I find it utterly baffling that these computers apparently don't work at the weekend!

We've had to wait up to a week before debits go from our account (Safeway - nearly 2 weeks) TIP: pay by cheque at Safeway - sometimes they don't go through!!!

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I knew that the money didn't actually get taken out for several days, but i was told in the bank that my on screen balance would be adjusted so that the balance i was reading was the amount after everything i had soent.

I knew i should never of had the bloody thing. Your right MM I will have to start making a noter of it all.
I have manged to spend 80 quid thinking I had loads of cash to spare and i hadn't

Oh well, one day i will get it right.

Bugger, have just realised I have a cheque still to go out and I used my card for 16 quid on Monday, and i can't see it anywhere on the statement.

Oh well i will go over drawn then
Think I have a 25 quid buffer zone, but haven't a clue what that actually is.

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Nutty go buy a notebook and start writing it all down put in the balance on your statement then deduct cheque and £16 from card then when money goes in or out write it in . U have to be discliined to do this but it does help, ALso phone bank today and check your overdraft (buffer zone) is enough to cover what you will go overdrawn if not increase it - this will save bank charges - hope all this helps (OMG I sound so bossy !!)do not take it wrong way

sometimes it is instantly but as a rule of thumb it can take 3-5 working days

Does the buffer zone mean that i won't get charged for being overdrawn then ???

nutty, do you have an authorised overdraft? Or is the £25 just money you pretend isn't there?

And which bank is it?

ask for an overdraft

if it is an overdraft you wil be charged for using it and or interest but if it is unauthorised you get charged fee + interset + money for letter etc.

This is my overdraft, but when i read through my stuff it said that as an additions plus account holder, i have a 25 quid buffer zone.

I'm with Barclays.

Buffer is for when i go over my agreed overdraft limit i think.

whats a buffer zone? it sounds hilarious!

I would agree with arranging and overdraft facility, we have one which we don't use (often...) but it saves you getting charged for going 20p overdrawn or whatever.

A bugger zone is a set figure that you can go overdrawn without being charged. I think ours is £100 with Barclays.

Nutcracker - if it's Barclays Additions you'll be getting charged £7.50 per month for teh "privilege" of having it. But you can request an overdraft for as much as you need - within reason!. My overdraft limit is £1200. Just ring them and they can arrange it over the phone. You might only need £100 to £150 if it's just a cashflow thing.

does the stuff say what happens if you go into the buffer zone? Do they just charge interest? If you're not sure give them a ring. Have you got any spare cash you could pay back in today if you're going to go over?

We have an authorised overdraft which is charged at about 9% pa I think (only they do it monthly) but if we go over that there is a whacking great interest charge (25%?) plus transaction charges and they can also bounce things which is £25 a time or something. Ouch.

jampot, LOL at bugger zone!