What should you use - credit or debit cards?

NEW YORK (WABC) -- There's a plastic predicament when you open your wallet. What should you use, credit or debit?

"Consumers need to know this." Janet Kovangi calls it her $7,300 mistake. That's the amount she charged on her debit card for furniture that never arrived. She says her bank rejected her dispute because too much time had elapsed. She should've chosen credit.

"I would've had some protections because the time frame to retrieve that money, for the bank to get that money, is longer," Kovangi said.

"Credit card should be your first bet. That should be your go-to source," said Scott Gamm, of TheStreet.com. Gamm is down on debit. For one, with debit cards you have to share your PIN. And if something goes wrong, credit's better.

"The difference between a credit card and a debit card; a credit card you're using someone else's money, with a debit card it's you're own money and harder to get back," Gamm said.

There are places Gamm doesn't advise even using your credit card. First, be wary of temporary so-called pop-up stores.

"For retailers not to have a permanent physical location, you want to think twice about using that card," Gamm said.

Next, Gamm says when you use your ATM, inspect for an illegal skimming device.

"A criminal can upload that data and use it as he pleases," Gamm said.

And speaking of skimming, you can even be scammed at a drive-through. An employee in Florida swiped cards twice using an illegal skimmer.

"You just to be sure you check your statement once you go to one of these places, and see if there were any odd purchases," Gamm said.

From the fast food to freebies, Gamm says beware of free online introductory offers that you secure with a credit card.

"This could increase the chances of you being forced to sign up for something in perpetuity that could be very difficult to cancel," Gamm said.

And lastly we told you loading flashlight apps can give companies access to your text messages and SMS messages. Gamm says before buying any app, "Always read their privacy policy or their terms of use before you download one of these apps."