Credit card provider recommendations

campbellcj · 09-18-2004, 02:12 PM

I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for Visa/Mastercard providers that offer superb customer service with competitive and agreeable rates, fees, and terms/policies.

I have a handful of cards right now and have not been particularly thrilled with any of the companies, which are "big names" in the business. Before long they will all be at zero balance and I would like to simplify my life down to a single, fairly high-limit card.

I use Amex or my check/debit card for virtually everything on a day-to-day basis, but it is clearly a good idea to have something else available for travel or the hypothetical "emergency" when Amex or cash are not going to fly.

BTW I have been VERY happy with American Express over the years. I use them extensively for business and personal purposes. They have never jerked me around and IMHO have fair and ethical practices with regard to credit bureau reporting and so forth. I CAN'T say that about many of the other major card companies hence the reason for my inquiry.

Any tips or pointers to web sites or reviewers of such things would be appreciated.

TIA,

white87911 · white87911's Garage

I agree with you, I use Amex. for evertything I can, especially when buying things online of overseas. What you need to remember ist when there is a problem, in the case of credit card fraud, etc. all visa / mastercards are issued independently by banks, Amex. is 1 big compant witha lot of power and they can get things done that the little banks cannot. If you need a visa / master card, I would suggest going with the largest comapny that you can find. I have had a First USA which is now Bank One card for 10 years and have not had any problems, but if you can get a card from HSBC of another huge bank, I would suggest that.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

IMO credit card companies universally suck goat balls. Avoid 'em. Cut the damn things up and liberate yourself - seriously. I've been without ANY credit cards of any sort since the beginning of this year and it's the best thing I've ever done for myself (ok maybe not THE best, but it's up there). I carry one debit card and if I don't have money up front for something, I don't buy it. Plain and simple.

KFC911 · 09-19-2004, 03:23 AM

Although I use my debit card most of the time, a credit card does offer more protecton (particulary when purchasing 'big ticket' items). I certainly don't advocate using a CC to incur debt, but they DO offer a recourse (that a debit card does NOT) in case you get screwed on the transaction. I lost a $500 deposit (when a cruise line co. went bankrupt) several years ago because I had paid for it via a debit card...if I had used a credit card I could have gotten a refund from VISA. So now, I use the CC for big purchases, and then pay it off immediately.

campbellcj · 09:52 AM

Porsche-O-Phile; I agree with you about the goat-ball sucking thing. I would probably try to go with one of the smaller but still sizeable companies as the giants seem to suck the most. (JP Morgan-Chase-BankOne; Citibank; MBNA).

One reason I don't think it's feasible to go cardless is most check/debit cards have some kind of daily limits on them. I know with my former bank their standard policy was $600/day which is pretty restrictive. You could likely argue/qualify for more but I never tried. Not sure actually if my current bank has this same rule. So let's say I want to order $2K worth of p-car parts, or a couple new PC's, or whatever, and the seller doesn't take Amex, that's when the regular card would come into play.

campbellcj · 09-19-2004, 09:54 AM

Keith - don't most debit cards offer CC type protection? My check cards are MasterCard branded so I always ASSumed that I would have the same buyer protection in a fraud or contended transaction situation !?!?! Damn...I'd better check on that as I use those cards heavily.

I bet the difference is if you use it in "charge" mode vs "debit/ATM" mode.

tabs · 09-19-2004, 09:58 AM

Keep 2 or 3 cards....simply if you have a balance, and U screw up like I do somtimes they will bounce your interest rate up...then you can move the debt to another card to keep your lower interest rate. Unbelieveably I have one card that is offering 1.9% interest rate till the loan is paid off...My question is why pay off the debt, I can earn 6% to 7% in the corporate Bond market...He11 my XOM stock pays a similar dividend rate plus has a capital gain potential.

KFC911 · 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by campbellcj
Keith - don't most debit cards offer CC type protection? My check cards are MasterCard branded so I always ASSumed that I would have the same buyer protection in a fraud or contended transaction situation !?!?! Damn...I'd better check on that as I use those cards heavily.

I bet the difference is if you use it in "charge" mode vs "debit/ATM" mode.

You might be correct about that, as the rules have changed in recent years. When I got screwed ('99 or 2000), that wasn't the case, and in the early years of debit cards, you didn't have ANY protection (i.e. someone could clear out your checking account and overdaft protection limits, and I know that aspect has changed). It's probably worth checking into if you want to keep using a debit card for large purchases. I still keep both, as I have been refused a rental car 'once' at LAX with a debit card...fortunately, my buddy had a CC with him.

ps: Tabs, you have a valid point if you want to juggle your debt and stay on top of it. I'm 'old school', and prefer to have no debts whatsoever...

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

There's no "credit limit" on a personal check. That's how I get around that one.

KFC911 · 09-20-2004, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
There's no "credit limit" on a personal check. That's how I get around that one.

Have you ever attempted to obtain a rental car via an 'out of state' personal check, and do you ever travel out of the country? Good luck with your personal checks in those instances...