What's the best credit card brand?

[cpals]

Like VISA, MasterCard, American Express, etc... ?

I personally have a Citi MasterCard, Discover and Chase VISA. Which one would you use?

 

[axelfox]

I do like the benefits of AMEX, but they aren't accepted everywhere.

MC/VISA only because they are accepted in more places than AMEX.

 

[illusion88]

all of them?

 

[George P Burdell]

None of them?

 

[meltdown75]

low % on balance transfers

 

[Kelvrick]

I like citibank and the costco amex.

 

[LS20]

absolutely amex... has the best customer service and the most "perks"

visa and mc is the same to me

discover has least perks

 

[RandomFool]

I like my amex but it isn't accepted everywhere which sucks.

 

[fstime]

http://bettercreditcard.com/

 

[oiprocs]

Mastercard. It sounds good. :beer:

As for real benefits, they all grant you the ability to make impulse purchases! Debt FTW!

 

[imported_Imp]

Visa... mainly cause all of my cards are Visa, and those as*holes at Mastercard denied me... (I like grudges).

 

[cubby1223]

Discover? I only say because times in the past I've entered payment online late by a day and they've never hit me with a late fee for it. Every other card likes to hit you up with the fees. I had one bank that had 2 or 3 day processing period for online payments, so like if the due date fell on a Sunday, I had to make sure the payment was entered before 4pm the previous Wednesday or I'd get hit with late fees. I didn't stick with them.

I'd much rather just remember one payment a month, so I almost never use my Discover or Amex cards, just stick with the Mastercard just because it's accepted everywhere. Simplifying the payments is far more important to me than to itemize out every purchase on what card squeezes every last penny of bonuses. One missed payment can wipe out a year's worth of bonuses.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: cpals
Like VISA, MasterCard, American Express, etc... ?

I personally have a Citi MasterCard, Discover and Chase VISA. Which one would you use?

That's easy which has the best perks/rewards?

Amex > Visa > MasterCard > Yugo circa 1988 > Safeway Club card > Discover

 

[brtspears2]

They are all fine. The bank that issues the card is the issue to worry about.

Amex>Visa>Mastercard>Discover. Discover makes the list only because they have generous 5% rebates on a specific group of purchases every quarter.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: cpals
Like VISA, MasterCard, American Express, etc... ?

I personally have a Citi MasterCard, Discover and Chase VISA. Which one would you use?</end quote></div>

That's easy which has the best perks/rewards?

Amex > Visa > MasterCard > Yugo circa 1988 > Safeway Club card > Discover

lol

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: jjsole
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: RossMAN
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: cpals
Like VISA, MasterCard, American Express, etc... ?

I personally have a Citi MasterCard, Discover and Chase VISA. Which one would you use?</end quote></div>

That's easy which has the best perks/rewards?

Amex > Visa > MasterCard > Yugo circa 1988 > Safeway Club card > Discover</end quote></div>

lol

Discover is such a joke although they did offer 5% off at Dell.

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: cpals
Like VISA, MasterCard, American Express, etc... ?

I personally have a Citi MasterCard, Discover and Chase VISA. Which one would you use?</end quote></div>

That's easy which has the best perks/rewards?

Amex > Visa > MasterCard > Yugo circa 1988 > Safeway Club card > Discover

In other words, Discover isn't offering you any good perks in order to get one of their cards on your web site

 

[xanis]

All cards have their pluses and minuses. It all depends on what you're looking for and/or willing to sacrifice. In my experience, Visa and Mastercard are the best because of their acceptance and decent perks. AMEX is also up there, but it's not accepted everywhere which is sort of a turn-off. As for Discover... I really don't have an opinion because I've never had any experience with their cards, but I haven't heard good things from the people I know who do use them. Instead of actual brands, you want to look at what benefits the issuing banks can offer you. Most of the time the benefits from different banks are the deal breaker, not the actual card brand itself.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: RossMAN
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: cpals
Like VISA, MasterCard, American Express, etc... ?

I personally have a Citi MasterCard, Discover and Chase VISA. Which one would you use?</end quote></div>

That's easy which has the best perks/rewards?

Amex > Visa > MasterCard > Yugo circa 1988 > Safeway Club card > Discover</end quote></div>

In other words, Discover isn't offering you any good perks in order to get one of their cards on your web site

Nope but that is a good idea, I should see if they offer an affiliate account

In all seriousness that has nothing to do with it.

Is Discover as widely accepted as Visa, MC or Amex are? I didn't think so.

Does Discover offer a free 1 year extended warranty like the others do? Strike two.

So as you can tell it has nothing to do with our lack of affiliate relationship with them.

 

[Special K]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: RossMAN
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: cpals
Like VISA, MasterCard, American Express, etc... ?

I personally have a Citi MasterCard, Discover and Chase VISA. Which one would you use?</end quote></div>

That's easy which has the best perks/rewards?

Amex > Visa > MasterCard > Yugo circa 1988 > Safeway Club card > Discover</end quote></div>

What makes Visa > MC? I am currently shopping around for my first CC and am considering the Chase Freedom (Visa) and the Citi Dividend Platinum Select (MC).

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Special K
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: RossMAN
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: cpals
Like VISA, MasterCard, American Express, etc... ?

I personally have a Citi MasterCard, Discover and Chase VISA. Which one would you use?</end quote></div>

That's easy which has the best perks/rewards?

Amex > Visa > MasterCard > Yugo circa 1988 > Safeway Club card > Discover</end quote></div>

What makes Visa > MC? I am currently shopping around for my first CC and am currently considering the Chase Freedom (Visa) and the Citi Dividend Platinum Select (MC).

Personal preference. They're about equal.

 

[cpals]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: ultimatebob
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: RossMAN
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: cpals
Like VISA, MasterCard, American Express, etc... ?

I personally have a Citi MasterCard, Discover and Chase VISA. Which one would you use?</end quote></div>

That's easy which has the best perks/rewards?

Amex > Visa > MasterCard > Yugo circa 1988 > Safeway Club card > Discover</end quote></div>

In other words, Discover isn't offering you any good perks in order to get one of their cards on your web site </end quote></div>

Nope but that is a good idea, I should see if they offer an affiliate account

In all seriousness that has nothing to do with it.

Is Discover as widely accepted as Visa, MC or Amex are? I didn't think so.

Does Discover offer a free 1 year extended warranty like the others do? Strike two.

So as you can tell it has nothing to do with our lack of affiliate relationship with them.

I just got my discover because I needed to get a 0% balance transfer on a credit card that I have. They didn't make my limit as high as I needed, but that's okay... I'm going to transfer as much as I can to the 0% card and work slowly on paying that off.

 

[RichieZ]

You ask what is the best BRAND, one measure is prestige. So here's an interesting article:

Luxury Institute Survey: Ultra-High Net Worth Consumers Rate the Most Prestigious Credit Cards
Tuesday June 12, 11:00 am ET


American Express Centurion, American Express Platinum and MasterCard World Elite


NEW YORK, NY--(MARKET WIRE)--Jun 12, 2007 -- Consumers with a minimum net worth of $5 million and $200k income rated the American Express Centurion the most prestigious credit card in the 2007 Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey from the independent New York-based Luxury Institute (www.LuxuryInstitute.com). Another American Express offering, its platinum card, and the MasterCard World Elite card, were rated second and third, respectively.

"Credit cards are indispensable to ultra-wealthy consumers for value and reliability, as well as prestige. Big spenders require that the services and benefits be absolutely impeccable, and, most importantly, that the provider be a highly reliable, tried, true and trustworthy entity to whom they entrust their purchases and their data," said Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute. "Ultra-wealthy consumers tell us in their candid reviews that the special access, unparalleled benefits and enhanced customer experience that they, or those whom they know who have one, receive, make the Centurion card a unique and exclusive luxury product. For those who don't qualify, or prefer a more basic offering, consumers tell us that the Amex Platinum delivers superior value, well above the competition. As an independent research entity, the Luxury Institute delivers the impartial voice of the high net worth consumer and facilitates a candid dialogue with brands that seek to serve them."

Cards rated (alphabetical order): American Express Centurion, American Express Platinum, MasterCard Platinum, MasterCard World, MasterCard World Elite, Visa Signature, and Visa Platinum.

The proprietary Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey is the only measure of the reputation of leading brands among wealthy Americans. A national sample of over 500 ultra-wealthy American consumers, with an average income of $775K, and average net worth of $14.4 million, was surveyed online. Survey results are weighted to match demographic and net worth profiles of the same audience according to the latest Survey of Consumer Finances from The Federal Reserve.

 

[Dulanic]

Originally posted by: cubby1223
Discover? I only say because times in the past I've entered payment online late by a day and they've never hit me with a late fee for it. Every other card likes to hit you up with the fees. I had one bank that had 2 or 3 day processing period for online payments, so like if the due date fell on a Sunday, I had to make sure the payment was entered before 4pm the previous Wednesday or I'd get hit with late fees. I didn't stick with them.

I'd much rather just remember one payment a month, so I almost never use my Discover or Amex cards, just stick with the Mastercard just because it's accepted everywhere. Simplifying the payments is far more important to me than to itemize out every purchase on what card squeezes every last penny of bonuses. One missed payment can wipe out a year's worth of bonuses.

I was shocked when I made a payment 1 day late with Providian, who I have like 4K with a 1.9% for life promo, that they did not axe my promo rate. No idea if they would still do that now that they are WaMu instead.