Debit cards in Australia have much the same protections as credit cards when it comes to fraudulent transactions.

She should raise a formal dispute with her bank.

Thanks for the slap on the wrist & the advice :>))

Her account has returned to normal!!

Maybe it was the email we sent to VA but for 12 hours she was $500 in the red so made shopping difficult as she found out while shopping.

We will take the Visa advice on board, thanks

Cheers Rob

This has happened to me before on American. Booked 2 tickets with a credit card for around $400 each, and an item for $800 appeared in the "pending" section of my credit card (when checking online).

The next day, two $400 items appeared in addition to the $800.

Around two days after this, the original $800 item disappeared.

Not the end of the world - I wasn't charged twice, but I was down $800 of my credit limit for 2 days. I guess with a debit card, this could have been more of a problem.

This seems to be what hapened.It's a bit scarey for a 20 Y/O girl who is out shopping & all of a sudden is minus $500 & is getting her card refused.

Cheers Rob

This may be the difference in the way holds are applied between debit and credit cards, if they are applying a hold as part of the transaction. First thy apply a hold, then the real transaction, then release the hold.

With a credit card you never normally notice the hold because it doesn't appear on any statements, you may notice it if it affects your creit limit.

With a debit card they can't do that so they take the money away and then give it back but in the meantime it's your money that's gone!

Regards protection being the same between credit and debit cards in Oz that wasn't my point, my point was, as sbove, with a debit card, that money's still gone from your bank and worst case it could cause issues such as bouncing mortgage payments, whatever, and you have to fight to get it back. With a credit card,that money has not left your bank account and so you are buffered from any immediate consequences .

As an example, last year on my credit card BA put a hold on £1500 as well as a debit for the same amount, which took a week to be released due to a mess up on their part . Had that been a debit card, my bank balance would have been down £1500 for a week. A different thing entirely!

hI joeintheuk,

Thanks for your advice

A lesson learned & lucky it all turned out OK.

Credit card or PayPal from now on. :>))

Cheers Rob

It's a bit naughty on the airlines fault if your account goes below zero (or over overdraft limit). Some banks fine you for that. (or would they realise that it was a hold and show a bit of leniency?)

The amount appears & puts her account below zero & then disappears the next day but caused problems as the Debit card is refused once below zero.

Cheers Rob

It's a bit naughty on the airlines fault if your account goes below zero (or over overdraft limit). Some banks fine you for that.

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This a tough one, whilst It's the responsibility of the person making the payment to ensure they have enough money in their account, most people would be unawares that airlines often make a hold and a charge, in effect a double charge for a short period.

They should at least warn you that if you use a debit card, you may see a double payment for a short period of time and you should have enough money in your account to cover that.

Car rental companies can operate in a similar fashion and often will not accept debit cards because of this.