Debit card on U.S. website
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Debit card on U.S. website
Hi friends, I'm new and have checked around to see if there is a forum specific to the website. Seeing none, I'm posting here. Hook a girl up if I've messed it all up.
I'm in the U.S. and using merecedes-benz.com to try to purchase a Mercedes Connect bundle. (It's cold here and I NEED remote start. Don't judge me.) The item is in my cart and the website appears to be fully functional, but when I try to add a form of payment, I keep getting an error message that I need to check the card number. It is a debit card, but it is not restricted in any way. I have the number stored in my computer, so there is no chance I typed it in incorrectly. I've called my credit union to ensure they aren't blocking transactions or flagging it in some way.
The only thing I could come up with is that they don't take debit cards. That seems very odd for 2024. I do have a credit card, but have not tried it. I do not like to use those online. My debit card has specific online protections. So, has anyone else experienced this? Other potential causes?
TIA for helping me figure this out.
I'm in the U.S. and using merecedes-benz.com to try to purchase a Mercedes Connect bundle. (It's cold here and I NEED remote start. Don't judge me.) The item is in my cart and the website appears to be fully functional, but when I try to add a form of payment, I keep getting an error message that I need to check the card number. It is a debit card, but it is not restricted in any way. I have the number stored in my computer, so there is no chance I typed it in incorrectly. I've called my credit union to ensure they aren't blocking transactions or flagging it in some way.
The only thing I could come up with is that they don't take debit cards. That seems very odd for 2024. I do have a credit card, but have not tried it. I do not like to use those online. My debit card has specific online protections. So, has anyone else experienced this? Other potential causes?
TIA for helping me figure this out.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,403
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Outside of a technical glitch or as you guessed that they don't take debit cards, I'm not aware of any issues. I renewed last year in late August. I advise you against using a debit card, though. With a debit card any fraudulent charge comes directly out of your bank account and you have to wait until the dispute goes through before you get the money back. Somebody can literally empty your bank account if they have your number. With a credit card no money leaves your account until you pay the bill at the end of the month. Credit cards have much better online protections. Many banks now allow you to generate single merchant virtual credit card numbers for your card that you can use online. These numbers only work for the merchants they were generated. So if the number gets out, it's worthless anywhere else. That's the only way I do online transactions. I never ever use my real number. Disputing fraudulent charges on a credit card is also much more straight forward as fundamentally you don't have any liability for those and as said you are not exposed, because no money has actually left your account.
