Credit card transactions are safer than debit card transactions because if something goes wrong, banks are more likely to investigate and reverse the transaction. You are technically spending their money, not your own. I thought it's common knowledge.

Are there places where you can use a debit card but not a credit card (or vice versa)? I've been to places that may only accept a particular card vendor (e.g. AmEx or VISA only), and places that are cash only, but never to one that disallowed only one type of card.

My local ARCO gas station and Winco only accept debit.