WITH THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING season approaching, you’ll need to decide not only what to buy but also how to pay for it. The decision will be even more important this year when many shoppers will make their holiday purchases online. In the credit versus debit card debate, proponents of both sides have good reasons for embracing one method and rejecting the other.
The case for credit. The greatest advantage a credit card offers is security. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, if someone uses your card number fraudulently to go on a spending spree, federal law limits your liability to $50. And many credit card companies extend their protection beyond that baseline. American Express, Discover, Mastercard, and Visa assume all liability for unauthorized purchases.
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