When a merchant asks for cash, they mean cash. When they ask for a credit card, they don't mean a debit or check card. VISA supplies both services so you need to be aware that your check card by VISA is nothing more than an ATM card from VISA that can be used in more places than a bank's ATM card. Locally, my bank tried to convert everyone to a VISA check card and so many refused due to the tremendous liability that the banks went back to offering them voluntarily. If you are not aware of the liability differences between a visa check card and a Visa credit card you should read up on it and do not trust your bank's verbal word on it. From a merchant's perspective, it's just a matter of us signing up for the service of accepting a Check/debit card along with the other cards we do. For us there is also a risk of liability as well. We are not guaranteed payment should you offer your card and there is no money in the account to cover your charge. I accept credit cards because I am protected against fraud and whether the card holder has the ability to pay his bill or not. With a VISA check card, I am at total risk just like accepting his personal check. IT is just a convenience to us both, he doesn't need to write that check and I don't need to endorse it and deposit his check. For that convenience, I take on the total risk that his account can cover the charges. In my opinion, anyone who has excellent credit and carries a check card is stupid or doesn't understand the risks he puts himself at or does, and still believes it will always be the other guy who is victimized by check card number theft. Those who have no other choice because they don't have good enough credit to get a credit card go for the VISA check or debit card, but need to understand there is a huge difference and that his check card does not carry all the rights, protections, and usage as does a real credit card. There has been a bill before congress for a long time now to increase the protection of liability for consumers in the misuse of a check or debit card. Unfortunately, I have not heard any similar legislation that protects merchants as well. For Merchants, we have costly insurance we can opt to buy.