The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards have been put into place to help ensure that consumers' credit card information doesn't fall into the wrong hands. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards were created in 2004 and went into effect in June of 2005.

A prepaid credit card works very much like a debit card. In order to make purchases or take cash advances, there needs to be sufficient funds in the account attached to the prepaid credit card. If that fund contains insufficient funds, the intended prepaid credit card purchase won't be approved.

Private label credit cards are credit cards that have been branded with a specific company name.

Like it or not, in today's society you need at least one credit card. Being approved for one typically is not a problem for those who have an established, clean credit history. But what about everybody else? For them, applying for a secured credit card is the answer. A secured credit looks just like any other major credit card, but there's one main difference.

A standard card is usually the most basic credit card that a credit card issuer can offer to its customers. A standard card will typically cost a consumer less to have than some of the more prestigious-looking Gold, Silver or Platinum credit cards.55

If you've had some financial difficulty or found yourself in over your head with credit cards, you might be hesitant to have credit cards. Unfortunately, credit cards are almost a necessity in today's society. If you plan to travel you need a credit card to make car, hotel or plan reservations.

If you're like a lot of parents, your first thought upon reading this title was, "Are you crazy? Why would a child need a credit card?" But believe it or not, the reasons extend well beyond the shopping mall.

When you are deciding whether or not to get your child a credit card, you'll want to think about their age and maturity level. An elementary school student has very limited knowledge of what money is and how people get money. On the other hand, a teenager often has a better concept of how money is earned and what it's used for, and could be taught appropriate use of a credit card.

Have you recently acquired your first credit card? If you have, you may be excited. After all, there are a number of perks to owning a credit card. With that in mind, if you are not careful, your credit card could, literally, become your worst nightmare. To prevent yourself from falling victim to credit card debt, you will want to take the time to familiarize yourself with the proper use of a credit card.

With so many consumers looking for ways to rebuild their credit, secured and prepaid credit cards are growing in popularity. Some people swear by them, and others try to avoid them. If you're new to credit cards, you may have wondered how a prepaid card differs from a secured card, and how either kind can be used to build credit.