Making money is tough. So, don’t blame parents that get angry when kids squander their money.
On the other hand, your parents might not want you to purchase specific items, which they think are useless and a waste of funds.
But most kids hardly follow instructions. Once they set their mind to something, they would want to accomplish it.
You would only get your parents upset by going against their wishes when shopping with your debit card. But then, that would only happen if they discover it, right?
Now, here’s the question most people might be asking.
Can my parents see what I buy with my debit card?
No, they won’t. Nevertheless, if you’re below 18 and share a joint account with one of your parents, they can discover all your spendings. Don’t forget that the joint account gives your parents the same privilege you have over the account.
But then, details of your purchase, such as the names of items bought, won’t show up on your bank statements. The debit card reports only display the date of purchase, the total amount spent, and the store you used the card.
For instance, if you bought items from Amazon, your parents will only see the company name, the total amount spent, time, and other small details. The debit card report won’t show that you bought XYZ items.
For example, if you walked into an Apple shop to buy an iPhone and spent $2000, your parents won’t know you got an iPhone from the transaction history unless they visit the store in person.
Continue reading to get more information on this topic!
Basic Information Does Debit Card Report Contain
Any transaction done using your debit card would appear on your monthly statement. That’s how it works. Nonetheless, not all information about your transaction will be on the bank statement.
So, what information about your debit card transactions would show up in the monthly statement? Here’s a list of them.
- Amount spent or withdrawn
- Date of the ATM withdrawal or purchase
- Street address of the specific ATM used
- Fees deducted following the use of an ATM
- Restaurant or store name
- The last four digits of the card used
Will you find the details of your purchase on the debit card report? No, you won’t.
If you purchased the item from Amazon or any online store, you could log in to check the list of items purchased. You would even find the history of your previous purchases.
Unfortunately, debit card reports aren’t like that. You won’t find details of your purchase, such as the type of clothes, food, or office supplies bought.
Can You Use Your Parents Debit Card Without Them Knowing?
Why do most youngsters consider taking money from their mothers’ bags or their fathers’ pockets as stealing? Yet, when they find their parents’ debit card, they won’t hesitate to use it.
Is such an act not stealing also? Yes, it is stealing. And as you know, theft can have severe consequences.
Now, here’s the question. Would your parents know you used their debit card? Yes, they’ll figure it out.
They might discover instantly via notification, but that’s if it’s turned on. The account statement and transaction history will also give clues of purchases or withdrawals made with the debit card.
So, there are several ways your parents can detect that you used their debit cards. Finding you with new items could make you a suspect.
Is It Legal To Use Your Parent’s Debit Card Without Permission?
Yes, it is illegal to do so. And it’s not like your parents wouldn’t find out anyway. They would, and that could give you a bad image.
It is not proper to make your parents think you’re a dubious child. They won’t trust your word ever again or may place strict surveillance on your activities.
So, using your parents’ debit card is illegal and could have severe consequences. Your parents might report the case to the police, and once caught, there could be legal action against you.
Another reason to desist from using your parents’ debit card without permission is the unnecessary charges they might incur, courtesy of your reckless spending.
There is also a possibility that the money in the debit card, which you have spent carelessly, was for a specific purpose. And now that you have used up the whole or part of it, you have succeeded in keeping your parents in a tight corner, financially.
Consequences Of Using Your Parents Debit Card Without Permission
Most parents won’t take any action against their kids for using their debit cards without permission. But that doesn’t mean they would tolerate such bad behavior.
By the way, when broken, trust isn’t so easy to regain. Such an act could make your parents desist from trusting you like they used to. And you know where that could lead to.
Some parents can take it to the extreme. They may involve the police and get you arrested for theft. When such an issue reaches the police, you’ll likely be arrested, charged to court, and jailed.
Another way your parents could choose to punish you is by asking you to work to pay for the money stolen from their debit card. They may ask you to do some chores around the house or take up a paid job to raise money, though this is quite extreme.
Can Your Parents See History Of Debit Card Purchases?
Yes, your parents can, but only if you’re using a joint account or they have your login details.
Your parents can tell the total amount spent, the date you paid the money, where you purchased the items from, and the debit card used from your purchase history.
But they won’t see the whole debit card number, only the last four digits.
Can You Obtain A Debit Card Without Your Parents?
Yes, you can, but age is a factor. If you’re below 18, you’re considered a minor and can’t have a personal account. Your only means of using a bank is to open a joint account, which your parents can access whenever they want.
On the other hand, if you’re over 18, you’re considered an adult and can have a personal bank account, which allows you to own a debit card.
How Can You Hide Online Purchases Made From Your Parents
When you purchase items with a debit card, the purchase history or monthly statement won’t necessarily display the names of items purchased. But that won’t stop your parents from finding out what you bought.
If you purchased from an Apple store, it wouldn’t be so difficult for your parents to know the items you bought, even if you hide them. They understand what Apple sells is majorly gadgets.
So, you could have bought a laptop, mobile phone, tablet, or Apple watch. But what if you want to purchase an item your parents don’t want you to buy. Yet, you want to buy it and don’t want them to know.
Here’s how you can hide your purchases from your parents:
Tip#1: Purchase items with gift cards:
Firstly, visit the online store and add the item of choice to your cart. Add the price of the item and shipping cost to get the total amount.
Since you have the total amount, now is the time to purchase enough gift cards. Then use your gift cards to buy the said item instead of paying directly with your debit card.
Please note that you have to open a new account on the proposed online store. If you use the one your parents have login details to; they could check your purchase history and know what you bought.
Additionally, ensure you purchase the item when your parents aren’t around. They might suspect you’re up to no good once they find you operating your laptop and looking all nervous.
You have to choose a delivery time that matches when your parents aren’t usually around. And after taking delivery of the item, make sure you hide it far from your parents.
If they learn you bought something they are totally against, you could lose your trust, or they could punish you.
Tip#2: Purchase items with cash:
This tip is quite simple. Go to the nearest ATM, withdraw the cash (after calculating the total cost), get the item from the store, and pay with cash.
Your parents would only see that you withdrew money. They won’t know where you bought the items from.
Remember, if they can get a hold of the company or store you patronized by checking your monthly statement, they might successfully guess the specific item you splashed the cash on.
Conclusion
Can my parents see what I bought with my debit card? If they log in to the account, they can only see the store you purchased from, the date, and other details.
Your parents won’t see the names of the items you bought. They would only see the total amount spent. But most parents are wise. Once they find out where you purchased an item from, they can easily deduce the kind of item bought.
