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The Daily Insight Hub

Can you use another persons debit card?

Author

Daniel Santos

Updated on February 07, 2026

For example, can you use another person’s bank card? On Wednesday, we explained that while it’s not illegal to give someone permission to use your card, you are in breach of your card contract with your bank. There’s no risk if you’re the one using someone else’s card.

Can I use my husband’s debit card without permission?

When a person uses a card without a card holder’s permission, this is illegal. Under U.S. law, if the person reports unauthorized use, he is only responsible for a maximum of $50 in charges. Either the retailer or the credit card company will be responsible for any charges made without proper authorization.

Can a wife access her husband’s bank account?

“Legally, a spouse can’t access your personal savings account without permission,” said Scott Trout, CEO of national domestic litigation firm Cordell & Cordell, headquartered in St. Louis. “The only person permitted access to the funds on deposit is the person who is authorized to sign on the account.”

What happens when you bypass PIN on a debit card?

In most cases when you are asked to enter a pin, simply hitting the enter key, or more rarely hitting cancel, will allow you to proceed as a credit transaction. It will then go through the credit networks, but still debit your bank account. If neither of these options work, you must enter your pin as normal.

What happens if you use somebody else’s debit card?

Banks won’t reimburse you if somebody drains your account at an ATM after you give them permission to use your card and the PIN. The Risk for “Borrowers”. Using somebody else’s card is risky. Nobody really knows if you received permission ahead of time, so the default assumption may be that you’re committing fraud.

What happens if you use someone else’s credit card without their permission?

Without a permission note, the burden may fall most heavily on the borrower if they are caught using a card without their name on it. A merchant will have no way of knowing about the verbal permission you may have received from the cardholder ahead of time, so the default assumption may be that you’re committing fraud.

What to do if someone uses your debit card without your permission?

If your card gets used without your permission: Report the problem to your card issuer immediately. Your card issuer is the company that you applied for the card with. But if you have a debit card connected to your checking account, you can contact your bank. Report unauthorized activity to local police.

What happens if you have a fraudulent transaction on your debit card?

If you have no knowledge of the transaction, then it will not be approved and any money removed from your account will be refunded. What is a fraudulent transaction? A fraudulent transaction is an unauthorized transaction on your debit or credit card.