How Credit, Debit, and Prepaid Cards Measure Up

?á

Credit Cards

Debit Cards

Prepaid Cards

Credit card is a line of credit, extended to you by the card’s issuer.?á So it is a loan.

Debit card is an extension of your checking account, giving you another way to access your own money.

A prepaid card gives you access to money that you or someone else has deposited (“loaded”) into an account with the card’s issuer.

Just as with any other loan, when you use it, you have to pay it back. If you do so within the “grace period” (typically 20 – 25 days after the end of the monthly cycle), the loan is free; otherwise you pay an interest on the outstanding balance (unless you have a zero-percent introductory APR).

When you make a payment with your debit card, the transaction amount is deducted from your available balance. There is no interest to be paid, because you are using your own money. Penalty fees and interest can be applied on any amount that exceeds your available balance (see overdraft below).

Similar to debit cards, when you use your prepaid card, the sales amount is deducted from the available balance. However, prepaid cards offer no overdraft option, so you cannot spend beyond your available credit.

Your credit card issuer can only allow you to go over your credit limit, if you have explicitly agreed to it. Otherwise, the transaction should be rejected. Overdraft protection is provided for a fee and you may have to pay interest on the overdrawn amount.

Similarly to credit cards, debit overdraft is only available if you have opted into it. Penalty fees and interest charges on the overdrawn balance are also applicable. Be advised that overdraft protection on your checking account is separate from the one on the linked debit card and is not optional.

Overdraft is not available on any of the prepaid card types.

You only pay interest on the outstanding balance after the expiration of any introductory interest-free period and afterward – after the expiration of the grace period at the end of the monthly cycle.

No interest is charged, with the exception of any overdraft-related one.

No interest is charged.

There are various fees such as late payment fees, overdraft fees, cash advance fees, foreign exchange charges, duplicate statement fees. All of them must be fully disclosed.

Overdraft fees may be applicable, as explained above. There may also be fees related to the linked checking account.

A wide range of fees may be charged, such as to purchase the card, monthly fees, per-transaction fees, ATM withdrawal fees, balance inquiry fees and many others.

Your liability for losses resulting from lost and stolen cards is limited to $50, however your card issuer will probably not hold you liable for any amount in such circumstances.

Your liability for unauthorized debit card transactions is also limited to $50, but only if you report the incident within two days. Otherwise, your liability grows to $500 or more.

Payroll prepaid cards have the same liability rules as debit cards. All other prepaid cards have no liability limits at all so you will bear the entire loss, unless the issuer’s own policy provides you with some form of protection.

Credit card issuers are under strict requirements to provide detailed disclosures, including the annual percentage rate (APR), variable rate, penalty rate, fees and other transaction charges.

Debit card issuers are required to disclose any fees associated with the usage of their cards, as well as its error resolution process.

Payroll card issuers are under the same disclosure requirements as debit issuers. General-purpose card issuers, however, are not. Gift cards must disclose any dormancy fees, expiration dates, and any other associated fees.

Credit card statements are required for each billing cycle where the account balance is $1 or more or where interest has been charged.

Statements are required for each cycle in which there has been a transaction. Otherwise, a statement must be provided quarterly.

Payroll card issuers must provide a periodic statement or an account balance by telephone and electronic transaction history. There are no requirements for the other prepaid cards.

Any change in the APR or any of the fees must be preceded by a notice 45 days in advance.

Changes to any fees or liability limits require a 21-day advanced notice.

Payroll cards are under the same requirements as debit. There are no similar requirements for the other prepaid card types.

Yes, credit card usage does affect your credit score.

No, debit card usage has no bearing on your credit score.

No, prepaid cards do not affect your credit score.