Shopping online is quick and convenient. You can find anything from fantastic new shoes to go with that great new dress, to a feature full digital entertainment systems, from a rebuilt transmission to a new car all togather. These days shopping online gives you as many options as you could possibly need. As anyone shopping online these days knows, there are typically a number of payment choices when purchasing items online, but which is best..? The question was recently put to some credible credit experts, take a look at their response.

Q: My husband uses our debit card for online purchases and I think he should use the credit card. He says there’s no difference, but I disagree. Who’s right? — T.H., Revere

A: We believe you’re right. Debit cards are connected directly to your checking account. When you make a purchase, your account is debited automatically. If the merchant makes a mistake and debits the account twice or the $29 debit is accidentally debited at $290, your account can be overdrawn.

That causes bounced checks, fees and a lot of time and stress. Debit cards are best used for any direct point of sale. Credit cards are a better option when buying online. They’re not connected to your checking account and it’s much easier to fix errors. There are also dispute options associated with credit cards, plus many credit cards offer bonus features and purchase-protection options. Debit cards don’t.

Incidently PayPal has great buyer protection as well, unless you’re purchasing ‘intangibles’ - design, consultation & other services - anything that does not qualify as an actual product.

All in all for online shopping it seems that consumers should use their credit cards. Benefits include…

• Buyer protection
• Easier to manage errors
• Not connected to other debt/credit indicators (bank account)
• Credit card benefits (miles, cash back, points etc)