如题：本来应该是大家要自己做的功课，但是有同学问了～ 乾脆说一下，因为爱现很好看^.^ 记得看一下英文，中文只是简单说明一下喔～ Different Types of Credit and Debit Cards Credit, charge, ATM, and debit cards are not all alike. Here's some information to help you choose wisely. Although you might think that credit cards, charge cards, ATM cards, and debit cards are basically the same thing -- a way to make purchases or get cash -- they are quite different. In order to use these cards wisely, you should know what each one is and how it differs from the others. Here's a primer. 1. Credit Cards（银行信用卡，联名卡） 有一个月或数个月的免息付款期间，可以延後付款，但要支付很高的循环利息，每期要缴最低应缴金额，过期还要惩罚滞纳金，直到完全付清为止。 If you carry a balance, credit cards can be like very expensive loans made by banks, gasoline companies, and department stores. You're allowed to pay off what you owe little by little each month, as long as you pay a minimum amount each time. You're charged interest on the balance you owe (as high as 26% each year) at the end of each period, unless you pay the full balance each time your bill arrives. Credit cards yield high profits to their issuers for several reasons. The most important is the high rate of interest -- interest on credit cards alone accounts for the bulk of the profits earned by banks that issue credit cards. Also, many companies charge an annual fee for issuing a credit card, and most companies charge high late fees, over-the-limit fees, and other miscellaneous charges. Finally, the companies profit by charging merchants and service providers a fee each time a customer uses the company's credit card in the merchant's establishment. 2. Charge Cards（旅游卡，美国运通卡）没有上限，但要一次付清 Charge cards, also called travel and entertainment cards, are a little different from credit cards. Charge cards, such as American Express and Diners Club, have no credit limit. You can usually charge as much as you want, but you are required to pay off your entire balance when your bill arrives, with one exception. If you charge air fare, cruise fees, or hotel fees for a hotel room booked through a travel agent on an American Express card, you can pay off your balance over 36 months. You'll be charged between 19% and 21% interest and will have to make minimum monthly payments of $20, or 1/36 of your balance, whichever is greater. Charge card companies make their profits by charging high annual fees -- up to $100 -- and by charging merchants relatively high fees each time a customer pays using the company's charge card. If you don't pay your charge card bill in full (unless the charges are travel expenses on an American Express card), you'll get a one-month grace period, when no interest is charged. After that, you'll be charged interest that averages about 18%. If you don't pay after about three months, your account will be closed and your bill sent to the collections department. 3. Cash Advances（预借现金卡） 利息是最高的，还没动用前先收4%的手续费，之後还要付息 Many people use their credit or charge cards to obtain cash advances. Cash advances are generally more expensive than standard credit card charges. Most banks charge a transaction fee up to 4% for taking a cash advance. They also charge interest from the date the cash advance is posted, even if you pay it back in full when your bill comes. Finally, the interest rate is often higher on cash advances than it is on ordinary credit card charges. 4. ATM Cards（提款卡或金融卡） ATM cards are issued by banks, essentially to give bank customers flexibility in their banking hours. In most areas, with an ATM card you can withdraw money, make deposits, transfer money between accounts, find out your balance, get a cash advance, and even make loan payments at all hours of the day or night. 5. Debit Cards 具有ATM及支票的功能，是支票帐户的电子交易化，免去携带支票本的麻烦 刷卡时自动从帐户扣款 Debit cards combine the functions of ATM cards and checks. When you pay with a debit card, the money is automatically deducted from your checking account. Many banks issue a combined ATM/debit card that looks just like a credit card and can be used in places where credit cards are accepted. But don't be mistaken -- they are not credit cards. The money you spend comes out of your checking account immediately. Many people prefer debit cards over checks for two reasons: You don't have to carry your checkbook and present identification, but are still able to make purchases directly from your checking account. You pay your bills immediately, unlike when you use a credit card and get the bill later. But there are disadvantages to using debit cards. Many people prefer having 20-25 days to pay their credit card bills. Also, consumers using debit cards don't have the right to withhold payment (the money is immediately removed from the account) in the event of a dispute with the merchant over the goods or services paid for. In addition, many banks and merchants charge transaction fees for using debit cards. --

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