| Using your debit card is often easier than your credit | | | | the thief was using your credit, not your actual bank |
| card when paying in line at the local grocery store or | | | | account, you aren't suddenly wiped out. |
| shopping center. Plus, everyone knows that credit | | | | You must dispute the bill in these cases, but as long as |
| cards are evil, right? | | | | you are on the level with the credit card companies, |
| It turns out that if you're disciplined enough to use credit | | | | you might as well set their massive corporate credit |
| cards (meaning, pay them off in full right away), then | | | | card company attack dogs on the loose to get those |
| you can use them to protect yourself from potential | | | | crooks. The credit card companies often have former |
| identity theft. They offer distinct advantages you might | | | | detectives and FBI agents working for them, so get |
| not be aware of. | | | | them involved. While you can do a little digging on your |
| The use of credit cards creates a two-layer protection | | | | own, it is nothing like brining the full force of the fraud |
| system for you, while debit cards may have none or | | | | investigation department for Citibank or MasterCard. |
| possible only a single layer. In the event that your card | | | | These guys deal with crooks like mobsters and |
| number is stolen, most banks will reimburse you after | | | | counterfeiting rings, so they will go after whoever stole |
| the thief cleans out your bank account. However, the | | | | your card. Because, after all, if the thief gets your debit |
| key thing to remember is that your bank account will | | | | card, he steals your money, but if he gets your credit |
| get cleaned out, which means at least a day or two | | | | card, he steals MasterCard or Visa's money. |
| with no money. The money will literally be taken from | | | | Neither situation, having either your credit or debit card |
| you, and you may bounce checks unexpectedly. Plus, | | | | stolen, is a desirable one. This protection is also not a |
| if the bank decides for any reason not to reimburse | | | | reason to run up your credit card debt. But, if you |
| you, the money is gone for good. I once had a card | | | | manage your money and your credit wisely, you |
| number stolen and the bank only reimbursed for | | | | should be aware of this protection you can use. |
| bounced check fees, but that was before identity theft | | | | Making purchases online with a debit card should be |
| was so widely known. Also, bear in mind that if you | | | | avoided, and use caution when shopping online even |
| use an overdraft account, the crook can wipe that out | | | | when using a credit card. |
| as well. | | | | I want to be clear; the best way to avoid either credit |
| The opposite is true with a credit card, since by the | | | | card theft or debit card theft is by paying with cold, |
| nature you are borrowing money when you use the | | | | hard cash. It's a good policy anyway. But if the time |
| card (that's the danger of a credit card, right?). If the | | | | comes to pay electronically, consider your options and |
| thief racks up a big shopping spree on your account, | | | | protect yourself. |
| you are only liable for up to $50 of the total, and since | | | | |