What is the federal law on debit cards?

Asked by: Clyde D'Amore  |  Last update: January 30, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (34 votes)

Under federal law, you have protections that help limit what you have to pay if your credit, ATM, or debit cards are lost or stolen. If someone uses your ATM or debit card before you report it lost or stolen, what you owe depends on how quickly you report it. If you report your ATM or debit card lost or stolen…

Are debit cards protected by federal law?

Fortunately, a federal law called the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA) protects consumers in these situations. There are two separate protections under EFTA for debit card holders. The first protection applies when your debit card or its number is used to make a purchase that you did not make.

What are the new debit card rules?

The new regulations cap certain fees and give merchants more control in routing debit card transactions and in steering customers toward the payment methods that merchants prefer. Merchants and the payment card industry took opposing sides in the controversy over fees.

What regulations apply to debit cards?

Federal Regulation E (Reg E), which implements the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA), provides guidelines for, among other things, lost or stolen funds when you use a debit card.

Can my debit card be charged without my permission?

Money can be debited from your account without permission because of the following negligence; If you share your bank details, card details or passwords, OTP or pins, you can be at risk of encountering such transaction frauds.

Debit card fees & the Federal Reserve (Business Law 101, episode 268)

33 related questions found

Is it legal to charge a customer for using a debit card?

No. The ability to surcharge only applies to credit card purchases, and only under certain conditions. U.S. merchants cannot surcharge debit card or prepaid card purchases.

Can I get my money back if someone used my debit card?

Generally, if somebody hacked your account, your bank will refund your money as long as you report it promptly. However, if you wait too long, your liability increases, which means your bank may hold you responsible for some or even all of the lost funds.

What are the new rules for debit and credit card?

Use Only Domestic Cards for Transactions: In a move to bolster domestic financial institutions and reduce the dependence on international payment networks, the RBI has introduced a significant change. Under this new regulation, you will use only domestic credit or debit cards at ATMs or points of sale for transactions.

Are debit card surcharges legal?

In most cases, yes—it's legal to surcharge credit cards. According to federal law, there's a 4% maximum allowable surcharge on credit card transactions. Debit card surcharging is illegal in all 50 states.

What is the authority to debit?

2.2 Advice/Authority to Debit Account (ADA) refers to the document which shall serve as notice to the bank to debit the agency's MDS sub-account for payments made for A/Ps and RG/TL.

Can someone use my debit card without my PIN?

Fraudsters can still use your debit card even if they don't have the card itself. They don't even need your PIN—just your card number. If you've used your debit card for an off-line transaction (a transaction without your PIN), your receipt will show your full debit card number.

Do debit cards have restrictions?

With a debit card, your financial institution sets a daily spending limit to ensure your money is safe. Debit card limits help protect your account from fraudulent activity by preventing sudden, excessive purchases in person or online.

What is debit rules?

Before we analyse further, we should know the three renowned brilliant principles of bookkeeping: Firstly: Debit what comes in and credit what goes out. Secondly: Debit all expenses and credit all incomes and gains. Thirdly: Debit the Receiver, Credit the giver.

What are the consumer protections for debit cards?

In most cases, federal law limits your liability for unauthorized debit card purchases to $50, provided you report the fraud within two business days of discovering it.

What protection do you have with a debit card?

Debit cards and chargeback

But if you don't get something you have paid for by debit card, and the firm is refusing to refund you, you can ask your bank to 'reverse the transaction' and get your money back via chargeback.

What regulation covers debit card disputes?

There are federal laws in place to assist consumers and limit their liability for debit and credit billing issues – Regulation E and the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA) for debit cards and Regulation Z and the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) for credit cards.

What is the regulation for debit card fees?

The Board's Regulation II provides that an issuer subject to the interchange fee standard (a covered issuer) may not receive, for any electronic debit transaction, an interchange fee that exceeds $0.21 plus 0.05 percent multiplied by the value of the transaction, plus a $0.01 fraud-prevention adjustment, if eligible.

How do I avoid debit card surcharges?

Use cash where you can

The easiest way to avoid card surcharges is to pay by cash.

Is it illegal to charge someone to use a debit card?

No, surcharging for debit card transactions is prohibited under the Durbin Amendment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. This applies to all types of debit cards, including prepaid cards.

When can you legally have a debit card?

The minimum age to get a debit card with a checking account at a bank or credit union is 18, but kids as young as six can get a debit card when opening an account with a parent. Debit cards have age limits because opening a bank account is a legal agreement, and minors cannot enter into contracts.

What are the 5 laws for credit cards?

The Five Most Important Credit Laws You Need to Know
  • The Truth in Lending Act. ...
  • The Fair Credit Reporting Act. ...
  • The Equal Credit Opportunity Act. ...
  • The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. ...
  • The Credit Repair Organizations Act. ...
  • Make the Most of Your Credit Rights.

What are the changes in credit card rules in 2024?

In 2024, ICICI Bank, SBI Card, and HDFC Bank have introduced significant changes to their credit card rules, including updates to fees, benefits, and reward programs. These changes impact things like airport lounge access, fuel surcharge waivers, and reward points limits.

What is the punishment for using someone's debit card?

If charged as a misdemeanor, the crime is punishable by: imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year, and/or. a maximum fine of $1,000.

Can I get my money back if I paid by debit card?

If you paid with a Visa debit, credit or pre-paid card, a chargeback is an option. If you need to make a chargeback claim, make sure you do it within 120 days of purchase. There's also the Consumer Rights Act that came into effect in 2015, which made consumer rights much easier to understand.

Can the bank reverse a debit card transaction?

A payment reversal can be initiated by the cardholder, merchant, issuing bank, acquiring bank, or card network. There are lots of reasons why a payment reversal may take place, such as: product is no longer in stock. product does not meet the expectations of the customer.