Stolen Debit Cards Can Hold Up Account

Concerning “Debit Card Use Is Taking Off in California, Nation” (Aug. 9), consumers should know that no PIN number is needed to use an ATM/Visa card as a debit card. Whereas a lost credit card that is fraudulently used results in a bill that can be disputed before being paid, your debit card bills are taken directly out of your checking account.

My husband and I recently were without the use of over $900 for three weeks even though the missing card was reported the next day. In the end we lost no money, but we could not use this money for three weeks as it remained missing from our checking account while the bank investigated our dispute of the charges. We requested that the Visa debit feature be removed from our ATM cards.

CONNIE ELLIOT

Studio City