In the UK (and I think most other EU states), if you purchase on credit card you get a lot of additional protection if the product/service is not as described,

In the UK (and I think most other EU states), if you purchase on credit card you get a lot of additional protection if the product/service is not as described, the company goes out of business, etc for purchases over £100. It's actually pretty reckless using debit cards for larger purchases for this reason, especially given the current economic climate. You should (IMO) always pay with a credit card then pay the full balance off via direct debit every month.