I Want to add something here that to me seems to be the source of the confusion here. My post above is 100% Correct when you are talking about a BANK TRANSFER, however I believe that readers here are confusing this with an "ACH" transfer, ACH stands for Automated Clearing House, for this type of transfer People DO provide their bank account numbers as well as their Banks routing Number, these types (ACH) of Transfers are COMPLETELY Different from TRUE Bank transfers. ACH payments are processed much the same way that a debit or credit card is.
All the seller Needs on the other end is a Merchant Account that processes ACH transfers, Which are VERY common (Most merchant accounts do offer this service).
These type of transfers are "SOMEWHAT", But NEVER as safe as a Credit Card Transaction.
By the way Credit card transactions are Safer than Debit card transactions in MOST Cases, it really depends on the Card type and the issuing bank.
At any rate ACH Transfers are the LEAST SAFE type of transaction, with Letters of Credit or L/C being the Safest, followed by Escrow Account Transfers, Then TRUE Bank Transfers, and the rest as noted above.
ACH Transfers are Very common All over the world including here in th U.S.-- I Think ALL Utility Companies offer ACH or "Pay by Using your Checking account" Option. Many retailers also accept ACH Transfers.
I hope that this post clears up any confusion that I might Have caused in My earlier Post.
Last edited by slapped; 05-14-2010 at 08:56 PM.
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