In article ,
John Harlow wrote:
Actually, w/o PIN they could only buy up to your max purchase
limit/day (my bank defaults at $2500). If you were concerned about
it, yet wanted the utility of a check card, you could ask the bank to
set a lower per-day purchase limit on the card.

What is the utility of a check card over that of a credit card?

For many, well at least me, it's just easier. I don't buy things that
I can't afford (with the expetion of school loans and my car, which is
paid for now btw). I prefer to pay cash for everything, but I don't like
to carry that much cash on me, and I don't know how much to carry on me
for certain trips. I could write checks, but not every place takes checks
and I don't like waiting for checks to clear.
I'm a nerd, so I've got a calculator watch and keep my 'spending money'
in checking. When I use my debit visa I just subtract that out of my
watch, instant balanced account For others they just don't want to pay
the bill off each money (again lazy/easier).
There's something to be said for having a real credit card in case of
an 'accident/emergency' but truth be told it's never really happened and I
get by.