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There’s nothing quite as indulgent as sitting back on your couch, remote control in hand, knowing that your favorite restaurant meal is about to show up at your doorstep. But food delivery can also, unfortunately, lead to racking up credit card debt.
One solution is to use a checking account to pay for food delivery services. Although not every platform allows you to pay directly from your bank account, there are often payment options that still let you tap the funds in your checking account. Learn more about these options below.
Key Points
• Many food delivery apps don’t let you pay directly from a checking account.
• Most apps do allow payment through third-party services, such as PayPal and Google Pay, which do let you link a checking account.
• Paying from a checking account can help with budgeting and may reduce credit card debt by making spending feel more tangible.
• There are some risks to paying with a checking account, such as overdraft fees, weaker fraud protection, and harder-to-reverse erroneous charges.
• Safe use requires monitoring transactions, setting alerts, or using alternatives such as prepaid cards or digital payment platforms.
What Is Food Delivery?
Third-party food delivery services have revolutionized at-home dining. Gone are the days when pizza was the only option for ordering in. Now, you can get just about any meal your heart desires with the tap of a finger.
Third-party delivery platforms connect hungry diners with nearly endless restaurant options. The meals are typically delivered by gig-economy workers who earn income via these apps.
Some of the most popular food delivery services include:
• Grubhub
• Uber Eats
• DoorDash
• Favor
There may be other food delivery services available in your area, including restaurants that still deliver directly. However, those options may or may not allow you to use your checking account as payment.
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Using Checking Accounts for Payment
Not every food delivery service lets you link your banking details directly. You may need to do a bit of research to find one that accepts a checking account. That said, most major food delivery services accept debit cards, which work similarly to checking account payments.
In addition, these food delivery apps typically offer the opportunity to pay through a third-party service such as PayPal or Google Pay, which in turn makes bank account payment possible. In addition to PayPal and Google Pay, some of the payment apps that are commonly accepted include Venmo, Apple Pay, and Amazon Pay.
Linking Your Bank Account to a Third-Party App
For the apps that do allow you to use a bank account, linking the account is usually fairly straightforward. Some payment apps use third-party platforms, such as Stripe and Plaid, to securely connect to your bank account using your regular login credentials. The data transferred is encrypted, and you can disconnect linked accounts at any time.
Other payment apps let you manually link your bank account using details including the routing number and account number. However, you should only provide your details to certified and secure parties. If you’re using a lesser-known food delivery or payment app, research it first to ensure it’s legit before you enter your banking details.
Recommended: Checking Account vs. Debit Card: What’s the Difference?
Benefits of Checking Account Payments
Why pay for your next plate of pad thai or other food delivery with your checking account? Consider the following benefits.
No Credit Card Fees for Merchants
While this one may not benefit you directly, you may save a small business money, which can feel like a small good deed. Although food delivery services have helped connect more restaurants to more at-home diners, they usually charge the restaurant a commission fee, which can eat into already-slim profit margins.
Credit cards also charge merchants a fee that can be as high as 3.5% per transaction. Using your checking account may offer more direct support to your favorite restaurants.
Easier to Budget Food Spending
Sometimes, the money we put on a credit card feels less real, which is one reason it can be so easy to spiral into credit card debt. But when money is coming directly out of your checking account, it feels more tangible. Over time, using your checking account can make it easier to track how much you’re really spending on food delivery each month — and stick to a budget.
May Qualify for Cash Back/Rewards
In some cases, delivery apps or your bank may offer cash back or rewards for payments made with a checking account (or debit card). Check with your bank, and review offers from the delivery apps you use for further details.
Recommended: Checking vs. Savings Accounts
Potential Risks and Drawbacks
Although there are many upsides to using a checking account to pay for your food delivery, there are some drawbacks to consider as well.
Overdraft Fees From Erroneous Charges
When you’re drawing directly from your bank account, instead of charging on a credit card, you’re at more risk of overdrafting (spending more than you have in your account). Doing so can rack up costly overdraft fees, even if you’re careful. Sometimes, a transaction goes through more than once, which is an error that can be easier to rectify when using a credit card.
Less Fraud Protection vs Credit Cards
One good thing about credit cards: They often come with robust fraud protection and easy ways to dispute charges. Many issuers will stop a charge they feel is suspicious until they get confirmation from you that it’s legitimate. Checking account payments don’t generally have this technology.
Difficulty Disputing or Reversing Charges
As mentioned, no matter the reason for an erroneous or fraudulent charge, it can be more difficult to reverse because it’s basically cash (as opposed to credit). You can check directly with your bank to learn about their process for such reversals.
Tips for Safe Checking Account Use
If you are going to use your checking account to pay for your food deliveries (or anything else), follow these tips to help ensure you do so safely.
Monitor Transactions Closely
Whether or not you use it for food delivery payments, checking your bank account regularly is always a good idea because it helps you catch any fraudulent transactions and address them quickly. You’ll also know how much money you have available.
Adjust Spending Limits and Alerts
Some banks offer built-in spending limits or alerts when your account drops below a certain dollar threshold. It can be easy to overdo it with food deliveries, so if you link your checking account, consider adjusting those limits and alerts.
Consider Using a Prepaid Card
If you’re trying to avoid credit card debt by sticking to a budget but don’t want to link your checking account, consider using a prepaid card instead. This way, you know exactly how much you will spend on food delivery. You also avoid the risks associated with linking your bank account.
Alternatives to Checking Payments
As mentioned above, if the delivery service you’re using doesn’t allow you to link your bank account directly, you can likely link a digital payment platform, such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, which can handle direct-from-bank transfers. Most apps also let you use a debit card instead of a credit card.
Of course, if you go the old-school way and order directly from a restaurant, you may still be able to pay with plain old cash.
The Takeaway
Ordering food delivery is a favorite convenience of the digital age, and you can enjoy it without using your credit card. You can often link a checking account or debit card to pay for your order by pulling money directly from your account. You might also use a digital payment service linked to your checking account.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with eligible direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
FAQ
Can I earn rewards with checking account payments?
It’s rare to find cash back rewards or other incentives linked to payments that come directly from a checking account. However, using a debit card is very similar to paying directly from your bank account, and many do offer rewards. Check with your financial institution about any rewards available.
What if a delivery never arrives?
If your meal is marked delivered but you don’t find it, you should be able to get help from the food delivery service itself. Most apps offer a way to contact their customer support team right from the interface.
Do all food delivery apps accept checking?
Unfortunately, not all food delivery apps allow you to link your checking account directly. However, virtually all of them allow you to use a debit card instead of a credit card, which works similarly. In addition, many apps let you link a third-party platform such as Venmo or Cash App, which can handle bank account payments.
Photo credit: iStock/FG Trade
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