The credit cards are definately a better way to go for the added security, and better customer service (as a rule.)

Debit cards are not always great for developing discipline, either. Most banks will allow charges and withdrawals even when there is a negative balance, and then charge a big NSF fee for the favor.

Yes, I snail mailed a notarized letter to get Washington Mutual to never perform this courtesy on my Real Free Checking account.

I know with the Citibank online checking with the AA miles for the debit card that the bonus takes a while to post. I ended up calling twice before it actually posted. Since then, the miles post within 3 days of the closing statement on the account. No problems for the past 2 years.

As far as consumer protection goes, the same rights you receive with the credit card apply to the signature based transactions, as these are MasterCard based.

I prefer not to pay my bills with a pure credit card, instead, use the "credit card" feature of the debit card to rack up miles for the monthly, automatic payment of insurance, phone bills, cell bills, trash billing, water company and just about anything that does not have a transaction fee (like PG&E, mortgage companies, auto loan companies etc.)

Only one time did a I have a situation that the hotel did too high an "authorization" and the bank corrected it immediately. The few times that I have had an incorrect charged amount, the bank corrected it within the same parameters as a pure credit card. Usually, if you call the merchant, they will correct quicker. But that is MasterCard and Citibank, which seem to be more like AMEX in correcting problems, compared to VISA.

What is the difference between Mastercard, Visa, and Amex? Although I have each kind of card, I have only disputed charges with my Citibank Mastercard so don't have anything to compare to.

Thanks!

AMEX has been the best as they immediately stop the charge and seem to push the merchant, making sure they have done everything they are supposed to, if they want to restore the charge. Just more consumer oriented.

VISA is the worst. Only once did I have a dispute and they dragged their feet, 8 months, and they were never helpful and sounded like they just wanted me to sue the merchant if I had any problem. And, the worst part, it was on a non delivered goods issue. It could have been the issuing bank but it seems they are the least consumer oriented.

I ordered the Citibank debit card and got my 4000 bonus miles. But I cancelled it a short time later. I don't like to carry the card around due to it not having the "consumer protection" as some of you mentioned earlier.

Being a Citigold customer, I get the annual fee waived on the Citibank AAdvantage World Mastercard. I earn miles either with that card or the Starwood Amex card.

I carry an Alaska Airlines (Bank of America) debit card which earns one mile for each $2 in purchases. Not exactly the greatest deal, but, in my opinion, worth the $30 annual fee.