I'm sensing some sort of worry about using your credit card online - why is this? [scratch chin]
As a consumer you are a lot better protected against fraudulent merchants with a credit card since all the brands (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Discover) have very stringent charge back protocols (i.e. you notice something out of place within 90 days you just call up your bank and they recall your money if there is double billings, goods are not delivered, etc.
You should notice that the Chip 'n' Pin liability shift (CC + PIN used at a terminal in person = consumer is liable for all fraud) doesn't apply to online transactions since it's not a card present transaction. Especially if you shop at merchants that don't take your CVV2 (security code on the back of your card) all liability is on the merchant i.e. Amazon or if they don't do Verified by Visa/Mastercard Secure Code authentication i.e. Apple the merchant carries the fraud risk.
PayPal has something like in the buyers protection programme this but is limited in total sum coverage (at least last time I looked at their ad in eBay, I think it was up to £300?) whereas the CC companies don't have any limits.
Also at least here in Europe I see very rarely a CC usage surcharge outside of the smallest of merchants.
Of course best of all worlds would be the 'digital self-defence' use-once cards that Alan described above, but unfortunately very few banks support such arrangements today. [sad]
Just my [2cents]
