If you have a Visa or MC-branded debit card, and you always choose 'credit' as the option on the keypad, you are afforded the same protections as a regular credit card user.

The reason that I brought up the 'building credit' part is because I'm not far out of college, and credit cards are the ONLY thing helping me build credit at this point. And that helped me get a new car loan, which might help me get a house loan. You have to start somewhere!

I know about peak oil and its still shocking to see $2.55 gas at the station when it was $2.15 just last week.

I imagine the average Joe is getting pretty angry about right now.

That still doesn't help if they empty your checking account. That is your money they are stealing, while with a credit card, it's the bank's money. It can take weeks or months to sort out the mess, and in the meantime, you don't have access to your money.

With a credit card, they issue you a new card and a new account on the spot. They have incentive to do so, because they want you to keep using it.

BTW, I've had my credit card stolen twice. Once offline, and once online. FWIW, gas stations are considered prime spots for credit card thieves.

CNN Breaking News: U.S. crude reaches record $67 a barrel.

And this site is slowing to a crawl....

All of the cornucopians have left the building!

Emerson~ Heres a little something about house loans.

As long as you've got a job, you are probably already preapproved for 100K!

I'm serious, although that may be changing.

I don't use credit or debit. I hate checks too! I only use cash when i buy things. Although someone mentioned that if you get a CC through Sears you can pay the bill in Sears and save yourself the postage (maybe thats what i'll do!).

On to oil.

I say it rises until demand starts to fall. IMO the amount of oil being pumped is @ the max (who wouldn't when its going for 67 a barrel), so we'll see the price continue to rise until people start using less, which probably isn't going to happen until gas prices breach 3/gallon+ I also think 50 is the new bottom and we'll never get below that again.

The stock market is down over 100 points.

67.05 I can't immage what will happen with a hurricane or a terrorist attack...

U.S. crude sets record at $67.10 a barrel, Reuters reports.

Cyrus if we have a hurricane or a terror attack it will be "katie bar the door".



The stock market is finally pulling its head out of it's arse.

Next Wednesday's supply numbers are going to be important. Gas prices have been rising quickly for over a week now, and if people have cut back their driving, the gasoline supply should stop decreasing at some point. But if gasoline supplies are even lower, then I fear this is going to keep going.

Oil consumption is like a big wave.

Supply issues do not show up until after it is a problem like now. It will take time for people to stop driving.

Also it takes 2.50 to 3.00 dollars a gallon for people to think hey maybe I should sell my Hummer and get GEO metro. Everyone getting sceared at once and acting causes a crash.

Refinery problems aren't getting much better and the majority of the serious issues took place midway through last week meaning their downtime wasn't entirely reflected in wednesdays report. I'm still calling on a drawdown of gasoline stocks to the 197 or 198 million barrel level. That should really help push up the price.

Cut back? It makes me want to rush to the gas station to buy now, before prices go up even more.

Leanan That is what is going to cause the physical fuel shortages.

My Mother in law asked me yesterday if I filled up because prices were going higher.

I told both my Mother and law and Father and law that we might have reached PO of course they blew me off.

I hate being right.