Make money work for you!

  • Home
  • Personal Finance
  • Budgeting
  • Shopping
  • Taxes

5 Places to Avoid Using Your Debit Card and 3 Safe Spots

February 8, 2026 · Personal Finance
A traveler checking into a luxury hotel at the front desk.

4. Hotels and Rental Car Agencies

This is less about fraud and more about financial liquidity. Hotels and rental car companies are “deposit-heavy” merchants. They don’t just charge you for the room or the car; they require a security deposit for incidentals (room service, damage, etc.).

The “Cash Trap”

When you use a debit card, this deposit is a real cash withdrawal or a freeze on your funds.

  • Hotels: Often hold the room rate plus $50–$100 per night for incidentals.
  • Rental Cars: Typically hold the estimated rental cost plus a security deposit ranging from $200 to $500.

This money is unavailable to you for the duration of your trip and often for several days after you check out. If you are traveling on a tight budget, having $500 locked up can cause legitimate transactions to bounce.

Additionally, many rental car companies view debit card users as higher risk. They may run a credit check (a “hard pull” on your credit report), require proof of return travel (like a flight itinerary), or deny the rental entirely if you don’t meet strict criteria.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

2 comments on “5 Places to Avoid Using Your Debit Card and 3 Safe Spots”

  1. Larry Brungardt says:
    February 14, 2026 at 4:01 pm

    The CARD PREMIUM BANK ACCOUNT I HAD OPEN SINCE 2023 HAD MY RETIREMENT two FUNDS DEPSITED EVERY MONTH> I HAD an incident FEW years even before the Card account where when I applied for my TSA pass The agent left his lap top in the back seat of his car. Theieves brke into his car stole his lap top sold all my TSA information on the Dark webb. I filedpolice report all three credit bureas. but card has never told me there rerason for a denial of 805.13 wiping out my account they first reimbused me then I filed a dispute form talked to them on phone several times They have yet to giveme a reason for the denial. I then taked to the person assigned to me to protect all the fraud they tell him my account was used illegally in 2025 then the 805.13 they credited me they took back becaise of a 2025 so called incident. So because some criminal used my account they are okay for a charge of 805.13 charge to a China calling iktself OCOXTECH HONG KONG That amount just was about all tghe money I had in there clearly a case of Fraud 1) i never buy from China and in the three years nevr ever had a charge for over 800 to any company let alone in China They punish the victim here wehich is so wrong

    Reply
  2. motrin says:
    February 22, 2026 at 12:28 am

    you pushed everyone once to use debit cards, and now you claim there not that safe, well nothing electronic is safe for there is always someone who will steal
    the good old dollar was the safest, cash out cash back

    Reply
Se încarcă comentarii...

Nu mai există comentarii de afișat.

Search

Latest Posts

  • A happy couple shopping with a full cart at a warehouse club in 2026. Top 10 Sam's Club Deals You Can't Ignore in 2026
  • A couple shopping for high-end deals at a modern warehouse store. 12 Costco Deals Shoppers Are Jumping on for 2026
  • A high-end desk setup with a Social Security card and a gold pen, representing presidential financial benefits. Is Trump on Social Security? A Look at Presidential Benefits
  • A person thoughtfully choosing a card from their wallet at a checkout counter. 5 Places to Avoid Using Your Debit Card and 3 Safe Spots
  • A mature couple looking at a tablet together on a sunny patio, appearing confident about their financial future. Married or Divorced? Don't Miss This Social Security Tip That Could Increase Your Checks
  • A confident woman working on her taxes at a bright, organized home office desk. IRS Alert: 6 Mistakes That Could Inflate Your Tax Bill
  • A woman looks thoughtfully at a tablet in a modern kitchen, representing financial planning for rising costs. Unfortunately, We'll Pay More for These 6 Things in 2026
  • A woman smiling at her phone in a bright living room with a delivery package on the table. The Best Amazon Prime Perks You Should Be Using in 2026
  • A woman smiling at her phone in a bright kitchen, representing the relief of receiving a tax refund. When Will Your 2026 Tax Refund Arrive? IRS Timeline Explained
  • A shopper looking at a grocery checkout screen with the New York City skyline in the background. 10 US Cities Where Grocery Prices Are Highest in 2026

Newsletter

Get money-saving tips and personal finance advice delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

Bank

12 Important Secrets Your Bank Would NEVER Tell You

Every time you swipe, banks cash in Did you know about this? Each time you…

Read More →
healthcare wealth

Here’s How to Cover Your Healthcare Costs in Retirement in Your 50s

Learn more about Medicare Many adults think that Medicare will take care of most of…

Read More →
best foreclosure sites

6 Best Foreclosure Sites for Finding a New Forever Home

Paid foreclosure sites: Foreclosure.com Sometimes it is better to pay to use a site, even…

Read More →
Social Security

Can You Live on Social Security Alone in 2025?

As millions of Americans near or enter retirement, one crucial question continues to dominate the…

Read More →
sell your house

Seniors Only: 4 Signs You Must Sell Your House Right NOW

You still have lots to pay on your mortgage The last important sign to look…

Read More →
social security, income

7 Social Security Benefits That Will Change SOON

A couple of Medicare premiums will be lower As Social Security and Medicare are completely…

Read More →
car insurance rate

Alert! Here’s Why Your Car Insurance Rate Is Rising in 2024!

A hand holds a tablet displaying an insurance policy beside a rising arrow, illustrating the…

Read More →
finance advice

15 Finance Rules That Worked for Baby Boomers but They Don’t Apply Today

A man examines a stack of financial books through a magnifying glass to identify which…

Read More →
veteran financial benefits work

Don’t Miss Out on These 4 Military Veteran Financial Benefits!

A smiling man and young boy walk through a sunlit forest, discovering how veteran benefits…

Read More →
The Money Place

Make money work for you!

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@ineditagency.com

Explore

  • Subscribe
  • Unsubscribe
  • Newsletter
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Do not sell my personal information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Categories

  • Budgeting
  • Personal Finance
  • Shopping
  • Taxes

© 2026 The Money Place. All rights reserved.