Buying online without a credit card

I like buying Wayside and Parks sale items online. I use to be able to call them and tell them I want this sale item that is offered over the NET, hold it for me and I will send a check. They don't do that any more.

I started buying their gift certificates. That has helped but if it is a few cents off I have to cut one item off. I usually try and call them and see if they can still give me the item. They tell me there lines are secured but even the Government sites get broken into.

We know of 2 people who became victims of identity theft. So we try to keep off cc number off the net. We don't mind giving it to someone reputable over the phone like the ones mentioned.

Any suggestions on taking advantage of sale items without giving out our numbers?

I would just get a credit card that is backed for loss by the bank. I think mine at Bank of America prevents me from loosing over $50. Get them to put a small credit limit on it - like $500. This would limit your hassle if anything happened.

PayPal?

I don't worry about identity theft or someone stealing my cc numbers because I don't keep much credit ever. I do keep one card with a low limit ($300) just for the internet and usually don't have more than a third of that available for credit anyway.

I go to my credit card site on line and they have an option that gives me a "temp" card # that I can use on line and I determine the amount and the date of exp. I can set it for $400 and to expire in 3 months for example or have a new # for every purchase.

You can also open a checking account that offers a check card option, the bank gives you a card that looks just like a credit card, and you can use this like a credit card for internet purchases. Most sites will accept these just like a credit card. You can keep a very small balance, and make an additional deposit to cover a purchase. But, remember, this will be an immediate deduction, not something that will be on a bill that comes later, so you need to have enough in the account to cover the purchase. I often use a check card this way, because once the money has run out, there is no way a thief can make additional purchases

We call them debit cards around here. I use mine all the time. Mine has a $500 per day limit. I can't even spend more than that. Also if you don't have a balance it your cheching account it will not allow the debit purchase to go through. The best thing that ever happened to the money world, I think.
Bernie

You can also purchase Visa gift cards to use online. I get them from Bank of America for my son.

Using a credit card online is no less secure than using them in a store or on the phone....in fact in some cases it is more secure and in most cases these days when you give a clerk in the store your cc or your cc# over the phone they are putting it on line anyway. That is how they verify that the card is active and that you have enough credit left to make your purchase. In the old days (like up to about 10 years ago maybe?) the slide machines that made an imprint of your cc card were far riskier, not only could the customer behind you in line see your card and note the name and number, but the carbon sets provided your name, cc# and signature. I really don't think credit theft is easier these days.....it's harder.....unfortunately the thieves have gotten smarter to keep pace.

We do the same thing Meezers suggests. We have a main checking account, which we do not give online. We also have a second checking account we consider our internet account, and when we want to make a purchase, we transfer money from our main account to the internet account. That internet account is also the one we link to with PayPal. With our bank's electronic accounting, we can login and transfer funds and they're instantly available in the receiving account. It's worked well for us, especially since we don't do credit cards anymore, and this way a thief does not have access to our main account.

I have a prepaid credit card that is loaded by direct deposit every payday.
I use it for internet and gasoline purchases. Once the money runs out, it doesn't work anymore until the next payday. If anyone gets the #, I'd just cancel the direct deposit and get another card.

Beckster, if it is stolen, do you have to fight to get your money back, or do they cover you?

I'm not sure. I know that I can dispute the charges like a credit card and they will reverse them. I will have to read the agreement again to check on it. I usually don't have that much money on it to worry about! My kids (2 teenage boys) know when payday is and have all their on-line purchases ready to go so most of the money is gone within a few days!

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