====== Debit Cards =========== 

===== Can debit cards be used on PayFast? =====

**Visa or MasterCard branded** debit cards **can** be used on PayFast.

Debit cards is a bad term though as it means different things in different countries and only certain types of "debit cards" can be used online anywhere in the world.

For a explanation on the difference between card types see [[#what_debit_cards_can_be_used_on_payfast|What debit cards can be used on PayFast?]].

===== What debit cards can be used on PayFast? =====

The branding and use of what constitutes a "debit" card versus a "credit" card differs per country and unfortunately the card associations and banks have utterly confused people about what the difference is, where each can be used etc.

A pure debit card which is not branded MasterCard or VISA and which has no expiry date **cannot** be used online anywhere as it requires a physical terminal to have a pin be entered to authorise the transaction.

These cards are what are commonly issued in South Africa and are termed debit cards (normally branded Maestro).

These cards cannot be registered and used on PayFast, PayPal or any other online payments site.

{{:cards:debit_card_no_1.jpg?200|This card CANNOT be used online}}

There are however other cards, also termed debit cards, which are actually credit cards under a different guise. These **have expiry dates** and will have Visa or MasterCard branding and **can** be used online.

These are what are typically issued in the US, UK etc. as debit cards.

{{:cards:debit_card_yes_1.jpg?200|This card CAN be used online}} {{:cards:debit_card_yes_2.jpg?200|This card CAN be used online}} {{:cards:debit_card_yes_3.jpg?200|This card CAN be used online}}