The fallout continues after Bank of America, the nation's largest bank, announced last month that it would charge customers who make purchases with debit cards $5 a month, starting in 2012. How can consumers fight back? Here's some advice from consumer advocates.

Credit card security has always been a challenge for hotels because of the complex nature of the transaction, the number of people who have access to the information and the lack of universal security safeguards.

Next month, Walmart, the world's largest retailer, will become the latest major player to offer layaway as a shopping option for those who either can't get credit or are reluctant to use it

Ten years from now, when we're ready to make a purchase, more of us will reach for our phones than will reach for credit cards. That's the time frame pegged by the World Payments Report 2011 which projects that mobile payments are poised to overtake plastic card payments in a decade.

If you're struggling to repay your student loans on a limited – or nonexistent — income, missing a payment may seem like your only choice. However, student loan defaults can potentially impact your credit for the rest of your financial life, say experts.