Clark Howard Advises Against Using Debit Cards at Furniture Stores — Here's Why

Money expert Clark Howard has warned against using debit cards at furniture stores. In a recent blog post, Howard cautioned consumers that many furniture stores are locking in sales on items that may never be delivered. He explained that while a debit card provides no protections if a store goes out of business or fails to deliver an item, a credit card does offer federal protections under the Fair Credit Billing Act.

This act allows credit card holders to dispute charges if goods are not delivered as promised. Howard advised that consumers should only pay for backordered items with a credit card, as they have a 60-day window to dispute charges with their credit card company. After this period, consumers would have no recourse. Howard noted that consumers often avoid credit cards due to concerns about debt, but cautioned that not buying something they can't take home that day might be a safer strategy.