Credit Card vs. Debit Card - What Are The Differences
 by: James H. Dimmitt

Ah, the “good old days”. If you are a baby boomer, like me, then you probably remember how important it was to rush to the bank on payday. You had to get there before the teller lanes closed so that you could have your “cash allowance” for the week. Otherwise, if you needed cash you had to write a check, then go to the bank, and “cash” the check for real cash.

Fortunately the days of the mad rush to get cash from the bank are long gone. We now enjoy the convenience of using a nearby automatic teller machine (ATM) or you can even get “cash back” at your local grocery, hardware or convenience store.

You Lost Your Debit Card -- How Much Do You Pay?
 by: Drahcir Semaj

You stop at the grocery store for just a few items, but the next thing you know, you have a cart full of food and only a few bucks in you pocket. That when you notice that you left your checkbook at home, but it’s not a problem you have your debit card with you.

You slide your card, punch in a few numbers and your on your way. A few days later you notice that you don’t have your debit card and now instead of enjoying its convenience, you’re worried about how much in fraudulent charges you’ll be responsible for.

What is Credit Card and Debit Card Blocking?
 by: John Mussi

Have you ever been told you were over your credit card limit, or had your debit card declined, even though you knew you had available credit or money in your bank account? If this happened shortly after you stayed in a hotel or rented a car, the problem could have been card "blocking."

What is Blocking?

When you use a credit or debit card to check into a hotel or rent a car, the clerk usually contacts the company that issued your card to give an estimated total. If the transaction is approved, your available credit (credit card) or the balance in your bank account (debit card) is reduced by this amount. That's a "block." Some companies also call this placing a "hold" on those amounts.

How To Rebuild Your Credit with A Prepaid Debit Card
 by: R. Sharp

Consumers today are up to their eyeballs in debt. And many people don't realize it until their good credit has been devastated.

As a result, many credit repair agencies are popping up all over the internet, on television and in the newspapers making sweeping guarantees that they can erase your bad credit and remove bankruptcies, judgments, liens, and bad loans from your credit history - forever!

Consumers are flocking to these credit repair clinics in droves. However, estimates show that credit repair companies have defrauded consumers in the United States alone out of more than fifty million dollars.

The truth of the matter is that depending of the extent of the damage to your credit history, the best strategy could be a self help strategy - not giving away hundreds or even thousands of dollars in up-front fees to an agency that in the end may do nothing to restore or improve your credit.