As I may have mentioned before, I am from Australia and DONT have a credit card. Even with all of my bank details, when ever I go to add money or to send money, paypal still askes for a credit card. Now I reckon this is really rude, as it clearly says no credit card needed.

Another thing, when I go to the "add funds" it gives the option
"Transfer Funds From a Bank Account in the United States"
Isn't it obvious I dont have a bank account in the US? I live in Australia!
Why cant paypal simply just take money out of my Australian savings bank account, to make my purchase payments!?

Grrr, as you can see I am getting frustrated, looks like Ill have to get a credit card, if the bank will let me....I am a student with minimum wage from my part time job! Thanx for your time Ascinct

Can't you get a Visa debit card? They can be used exactly like a credit card, but it just debits your account instead of being actual 'credit'. I live in Australia, too, and I don't have a credit card in the usual sense. Just the debit card. PayPal and every other store I shop at use it just fine. bonni

Thanx elizabyte, for your quick responce! In actual fact I have applied for a "Student Creditcard" (mastercard) it has a $500 limit. Ive never heard of these before. (and there are fees attached)...:( Whats the difference between a credit and a dept card? Sounds like a dept card is similar to a basic ATM card!

A debit card is an ATM card and can be used as a credit card. Mine's a Visa, as noted. Can be used for EFTPOS, as an ATM card, and as a credit card (I've made hotel reservations, for example, using it). It's a kind of combination item. Very handy, to say the least! ;-) bonni

I have a debit card too, and NO FEES.....

Hi Ascinct, Can you drop Clint a note at admin@renderosity.com He might know of a way to access paypal without the use of a credit card - I am sure there must be a way to do that. Alas, I do not use Paypal so I cannot help you much in that area :( Dee-Marie

Keep in mind that a lot of internet security types strongly recommend against using a debit card for online purchases.

The reason being that a debit card number provides direct access to your bank account. If some hacker steals your debit card number, you might find your bank account empty. Whereas with a true credit card, you don't run the risk of losing your figurative shirt.

Fraudulent charges to a credit card can usually be (more or less) easily dealt with.

Unfortunately, fraudulent charges to a debit card can end up being a real disaster. You should check your bank's policies on the issue of debit card fraud (what your personal liability would be in such a case) -- as well as Australia's laws on the matter -- before handing out the key to your personal bank account over the internet.

Message edited on: 01/15/2005 12:18

not needed for US customers only. ALL other paypal accounts MUST have a credit card. they don't tell you until AFTER you register, so they ARE liable for FALSE ADVERTISING.

BTW -- I should mention this also......

A personal friend of mine always had a "who cares?" attitude concerning internet security issues.

His statements ran along the lines of the fact that he wasn't paranoid (like some of us poor souls were), and that he didn't care if people saw what was on his computer, anyway. He didn't have anything to hide.

Well, guess what?

His bank called him up one day, and asked him if he had authorized three separate charges to his debit card for $500.00 each.

Needless to say, my Un-Paranoid friend suddenly decided that installing a hardware firewall, backed up by a software firewall, was a really good idea.

I am reminded of the attitude that some people held a number of years ago as Hurricane Hugo approached the South Carolina coast.

"Ahhhhh.....it's no big deal (superior smirk). You'll be just fine."

Their smugness turned to shell shock once the hurricane had passed.

For some reason, human beings are always convinced that "it'll never happen to me." Until it happens.

I've used a Mastercard debit card online for quite a while and I don't have the "It will happen to someone else", but my bank has been exceptional about covering fraudelent charges, which I've had 3 or 4. I also keep very little money in that account and use it only for that purpose. It's not a good idea to give Paypal or any debit card account too much funding. I highly recommend also that you get online banking with any debit card so you can watch transactions like a hawk. Finding out that someone charged your card when the statement comes out is not the best idea.

ALL other paypal accounts MUST have a credit card. Not right. In Germany, you just need a bank account. His bank called him up one day, and asked him if he had authorized three separate charges to his debit card for $500.00 each. Needless to say, my Un-Paranoid friend suddenly decided that installing a hardware firewall, backed up by a software firewall, was a really good idea. Perhaps he should rather check if he has dropped any credit card bills into a wastebin. These bills also contain all the numbers necessary, and an employee of a shop which has a credit card payment system or a cracker who can fake a card or even anyone having internet to do online purchases in stores that don't require the 3-digit-number on the backside can use these numbers on the card to spend money with them. Also it's well possible if he ever gave the card from his hands (e. g. to a shop employee, to pull it through a scanner) that the card was simply copied during that process by the employee. Frankly, I don't imagine that anyone would be 'visited' by a cracker on his PC who then steals the (openly saved???) credit card information. BTW, openly saving credit card numbers on a PC has nothing to do with 'not being paranoid', but with being 'careless'. Not only a cracker who emerges from the internet but also someone who would break into the appartment and steal the PC would be a risk then.... (same as saving passwords on the PC or simply letting 'Windows Explorer' save said passwords...). Just the debit card. PayPal and every other store I shop at use it just fine. Sure. Unless something happens to you that has happened to so many people who, at some point of time, find themselves in the forums of www.paypalsucks.com ....

Perhaps he should rather check if he has dropped any credit card bills into a wastebin. These bills also contain all the numbers necessary, and an employee of a shop which has a credit card payment system or a cracker who can fake a card or even anyone having internet to do online purchases in stores that don't require the 3-digit-number on the backside can use these numbers on the card to spend money with them.

True. In my friend's case, the "statement in the trash" possibility was investigated. But the strongest evidence indicated internet fraud. Probably from his banking software on his personal PC.

I've also had family members whose computers have been hacked. Fortunately, the family members in question were aware of the fact that some unauthorized individual was attempting to do things on their PC -- so they took the expedient of turning the machine off.

On the other hand, it took some time and effort to clear out the hacker's access doors into the machine. It wasn't easy.

In the past, I have personally had problems with identity theft. I first discovered the difficulty when I recieved bills on two separate phone accounts from a satellite phone company in New Jersey. The phone calls all originated in south Florida, and were made to various places in the Caribbean. One of the phone bills was for around $3500.00, the other was for over $1500.00.

Likewise, in my own case -- the information had somehow been gleaned off of the internet.

BTW, openly saving credit card numbers on a PC has nothing to do with 'not being paranoid', but with being 'careless'.

BTW - I agree.

I attempted to persuade my friend of this fact: but he had to experience it up close and personal before he would take the matter of security seriously.

Frankly, I don't imagine that anyone would be 'visited' by a cracker on his PC who then steals the (openly saved???) credit card information.

Frankly, it has happened -- and it does happen.

I also keep very little money in that account and use it only for that purpose. It's not a good idea to give Paypal or any debit card account too much funding.

A good plan. This is what I would do, if I were to ever give any banking information to Paypal. No way would I give them access to my main bank accounts.

On the positive side, most credit card companies and banks have gotten a lot better at catching fraud before it gets very far along. If an unusual spending pattern appears, then most CC providers will quickly get red-flagged by their in-house security software.

But, in spite of this, things still slip through.

People take classes at night to learn how to steal.

For some reason, human beings are always convinced that "it'll never happen to me." Until it happens. Which is why so many people insist on continuing to use Internet Explorer. smirk ;-) bonni

I use Mozilla! I find its really good. It tells me when ever a popup has tried to show, or even when "illegal scripts" are trying to run! Its gotta be the best browser Ive come across! Oh as for the Paypal thing, I finally convinced mum and dad to let me use their credit card. (once only) Although they werent too pleased with it....Now I am praying, nothing stupid is going to happen or else...Damn am I gonna have to grovel to them...