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Originally Posted by autoxer
Sweepsplayer, Why are debit cards inherently dangerous?
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Because it's tied directly to your checking account. If a business accidentally overcharges your card or someone makes fraudulent charges to your debit card, eventually you can get it fixed but in the meantime you may be overdrawn, bounce checks, not have money available to withdraw cash or make essential purchases, etc.
Also note that some businesses (gas stations, for example) block out a certain amount on your card before you've actually made a purchase. (
link) It could be days before the block is released, again making funds unavailable to you.
With a credit card, someone else is absorbing those hits and you have plenty of time to correct the problem before your checking account gets involved. That in turn means that you can keep more of your money earning 5% in a savings account rather than providing extra buffer in your checking.