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Should You Use Debit Cards on Vacation?

by | Jul 16, 2012 | Credit Card Debt

We’re right in the middle of summer and those fun little getaways.  Many folks are out there stashing the credit cards away during their trips to resist the urge to charge up an account.  That’s a good thing.  But you should also be cautioned that relying solely on debit cards could potentially ruin a vacation.  As the following article discusses, there are some pitfalls to this strategy.  Many hotels will put a hold on additional funds in your account if you use a debit card.  And if your trip involves more than one hotel, you could risk freezing up more money than you anticipated by using the debit card. Not only could you lose immediate access to your cash, you also run the risk of an overdraft, which isn’t chump change at most banks.

The article concludes with some good tips you should review before you hit the roads this summer for your vacation.  While we applaud anyone that is trying not to use a credit card to pay for vacation, you should know the risks and be prepared.  Kind of reminds me of that scene in the movie Vacation where Clark W. Griswold grabs money from a cash register, leaves a personal check and runs.  Funny in a movie, but not a good situation with your own family sitting in the Wagon Queen Family Truckster!

Safe travels!

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Kevin Fallon McCarthy

Kevin Fallon McCarthy is the McCarthy Law PLC’s managing attorney and an experienced Phoenix debt attorney. Mr. McCarthy has also worked as general counsel for a large corporation. He has corporate counsel experience in human resource matters, general corporate governance, and union class action litigation.