Debit cards are often portrayed as the alternative to credit cards, and one of the primary reasons for this is that they have lower charges than credit cards.  While this is largely true, there are still fees that debit card holders will pay.

Credit Card charges are well known for being quite high if they are not watched.  Many of the charges are for things such as inactivity charges, over the limit fees and annual charges.  Not all cards charge these fees, and most of them can be avoided by knowing what these charges are in advance. Readmore

EFTPOS, also known as debit cards, have grown as a method of payment as more and more banks and other financial institutions offer them.  They are seen by many as an obvious alternative to credit cards as they are accepted by most of the same outlets as credit cards.
Debit cards are more recent than credit cards, being first introduced in the late 1980s.  This has meant that they tend to have a lower market penetration both with users and with shops, although that is changing.  Unlike credit cards they tend to be closely linked to current accounts rather than having their own separate account.  Now most banks offer debit cards if they offer current accounts.  American Express, the biggest independent provider of debit cards, does not use this model but has an account which has to be completely paid off every month. Readmore