Using Card for POS

Hello,

I've finally got a Debit card to withdraw some egold =D

I was wondering about POS (Point Of Sale) (I assume it means using the card directly at the shop). I've heard that it's bad to use the card for POS and that you should instead withdraw some cash from an ATM. Using POS supposevely leaves "paper trails" or something which you would not want if you're concerned about privacy (or trying to dodge taxes, which I'm not :P).

Is this true?

Sometimes you see in the movies that the clerk cuts the card in half? Why do they do that? Can that happen to my debit card?

Thanks :)

Has no one got any info on this? :/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by moonbear

Hello,

I've finally got a Debit card to withdraw some egold =D

I was wondering about POS (Point Of Sale) (I assume it means using the card directly at the shop). I've heard that it's bad to use the card for POS and that you should instead withdraw some cash from an ATM. Using POS supposevely leaves "paper trails" or something which you would not want if you're concerned about privacy (or trying to dodge taxes, which I'm not :P).

Is this true?

Sometimes you see in the movies that the clerk cuts the card in half? Why do they do that? Can that happen to my debit card?

Thanks :)

---

The use of a debit card for POS will leave a paper trail as to what was purchased, date of purchase and store name. Using the debit card at an ATM will also leave a paper trail showing date of withdrawal and ATM location. I can't see where it makes a difference unless someone is trying to hide what they are buying for some reason.

As to seeing a clerk cut a card in half, this is usually only done on credit cards when the clerk is instructed to call in on the phone due to a processing problem and is then instructed that an order has been put out by the bank that issued the card to distroy it. I ran into this several times while I was a night manager at a motel.

Wally

Thanks, thanks, Wally! :D

Phew, they only cut credit cards, good to know :)

About the paper trail, that is what I thought, I don't understand why some people keep insisting not to use POS.

Thanks again :)