You may have heard Clark say it’s a good idea to buy certain things with a credit card. You should pay for anything you’re going to receive later, for example, with a credit card. One of the most common problems of the past five years involves furniture businesses shutting down after people have paid for their goods. But, thanks to federal laws established in the 70s, people who use credit cards have special rights that allow you to get your money back if you dispute a charge. Interestingly enough, Consumer Reports recently reported on this issue, saying that credit card companies operate entirely different from one another when it comes to honoring those rights. The first thing you need to remember is that you only have chargeback rights for 60 days after the purchase. So, make sure you have filed your dispute within that time. If it’s a very small item, credit card companies will offer you a credit right over the phone. That’s probably because it costs the company more to send you a letter, asking you to explain it. If you’re traveling overseas, however, you have no rights. And if you are using a debit card, you have no protection whatsoever in the event that you have a dispute with a merchant. Consumer’s Union lobbyists are working to expand the coverage to debit cards, but nothing has happened so far. Offer your feedback at federalreserve.gov. But calling does not preserve your rights. If you don't get a letter, you need to call the company and make sure you get one. And if you don't receive the items you've ordered, you should be protected 100 percent of the time.