Credit Cards

[sadic1]

Though I generally don't keep a balance on credit cards, I guess I figure everyone should have 2 active cards. I'm getting rid of one to get another and sorting through the zillion formerly junk mail credit card offers to try to figure out if any are better than any others, aside from the obvious interest rate and credit limit considerations.

What kind of cards do yall have, what features do you care about, and does stuff like purchase points actually amount to anything over the long term? Do you value goofy pictures or sports team logos on them? Have you ever used your card's purchase protection or any of that kind of crap? What's the best rate you have or have seen?

[slydevl]

Having a second card saved my ass in Vegas. Y'all might remember my credit info got stolen two weeks ago just before I left for Vegas. After PROMISING to have a card overnighted to my hotel my credit card company completely let me down. I called the day it was supposed to arrive and they told me to wait another day that it had been sent express to my alternate address. I called the next day and they said they had changed their mind and sent it to my house, of course without informing me.

So, there I was stuck in Vegas with only a low limit alternated card. So I called that company and got my limit bumped and am now going to cancel my primary card because they are a piece of shit company. Don't use Chase!

Shameless plug: I recommend MBNA or BofA :xyzthumbs

[DaveW]

crdit cards are the devils work

[sadic1]

crdit cards are the devils work

They're a valuable tool when used responsibly.

[gridfaniker]

takes this shit to davew's shitty-ass sportstalk forum

[jazzbluescat]

I've got a Citibank and a Sears, both are Mastercard. My bank debit card comes in mighty handy for petty stuff.

[Puttingood]

I got a Chase and an American Express Gold. The Chase has 5,000 limit and the A/E has no pre-set limit but I am sure they would stop me if I got too carried away. I also got a Capitol One that I put up on the internet that has a 300 limit so if the number gets stole or whatever I ain't got too many problems. The A/E has saved my butt many a time and I use it a lot out of town. I got all the major oil companies too for gas and beer and whatnot's. If I had to keep just one though it would be the A/E.

[VA49er]

Have AMEX Delta card and one other. Went and pulled my credit report and cancelled all the damn department ccards the wife has received over the last couple of years. Two cards are my limit but only one can fuck you if you're not responsible.

[Puttingood]

It's that "responsible" thing that gets me. I assume when people say responsible they mean that you should pay the bill. If you borrow money from someone you should pay it back. To me, that is just respect and common sense. Being "responsible" is for when you own something.

[mathmajors]

We have a debit card and one credit card. Credit card is paid off every month.

[Lainey]

We have a debit card and one credit card. Credit card is paid off every month.

.

[VA49er]

It's that "responsible" thing that gets me. I assume when people say responsible they mean that you should pay the bill. If you borrow money from someone you should pay it back. To me, that is just respect and common sense. Being "responsible" is for when you own something.

Responsible is trying to pay off the balance in full each month. I am AMAZED at how many people have $10-$30,000 credit card balances. What that hell are they thinking? Do they not realize they have to pay the money back? I guess I could see it as a last resort with medical bills but that's it.

[mathmajors]

.
:mushy:

[jazzbluescat]

Responsible is trying to pay off the balance in full each month. I am AMAZED at how many people have $10-$30,000 credit card balances. What that hell are they thinking? Do they not realize they have to pay the money back? I guess I could see it as a last resort with medical bills but that's it.

I can't see it, either. They must think somebody's gonna cover their butts. I never carry a balance. If I need a lot of money I'll make arrangements with a bank, etc, somewhere with a lower APR. Desperate people maybe, you know in an extreme pinch when all other avenues have been exhausted.

[Puttingood]

my A/E has adeal where you can basically finance this months balance and make payments and start new. I scrolled around and looked and it would seem their interest rate is astronomical if you do it that way :thud: Home Dept will eat you for breakfast too if you only pay the minimum.
My wife has probably 10 credit cards and pays that normal 25 bucks per month for being a day late on each one. She has a couple she never uses and even gets a late fee on the yearly charge. I've tried to set her up to pay on the net and let me handle it but she don't trust the net or me, ain't sure which one.

[VA49er]

I can't see it, either. They must think somebody's gonna cover their butts.

Either that or they think they'll just declare bankruptcy and walk away. Good thing that has become more difficult. I've seen a Dr. that made $300K/year get turned downed for a $25K loan because he obvioulsy declared bankruptcy to get out of paying his student loans. People can't do that anymore, but back in the day they could.

[meatpile]

We have a debit card and one credit card. Credit card is paid off every month.

.

[sadic1]

I like the idea of one card with a lower limit geared more for net use and a primary card with a good rate and features. I got a 9% card from work with a nice limit for a primary and want to get rid of my capital one card for something with no annual fee.

But I know people who do ALL their purchasing on their credit card for the airline or whatever points, then pay it off every month, and I guess they feel they're simplifying their finances by having all their money coming from one place and getting one statement. I guess if you spend a lot of money, maybe the reward points are meaningful (like with the GM card or something?), but I don't know that I'd benefit that much from it. Seems too complicated.

[QueenCityHillbilly]

Why would anyone need a credit card? Seriously. I haven't had one since 1997 and I'm doing just fine.

[mathmajors]

But I know people who do ALL their purchasing on their credit card for the airline or whatever points, then pay it off every month, and I guess they feel they're simplifying their finances by having all their money coming from one place and getting one statement. I guess if you spend a lot of money, maybe the reward points are meaningful (like with the GM card or something?), but I don't know that I'd benefit that much from it. Seems too complicated.
Until USAirways started having trouble, we racked up enough points for several free flights. We decided to switch to Worldpoints recently. The credit card is essentially for big purchases and filling up the gas tanks.

[Shrapnel]

I get an average of 4 offers a week for 0% for 10-15 months. If you need to use one, get one of those.

[QC REPRESENT]

you need one to rent a car....and in some cases to buy plane tickets.

Im sure an ATM card works for this though

I used one when I was unemployeed for a while

[QueenCityHillbilly]

you need one to rent a car....and in some cases to buy plane tickets.

Im sure an ATM card works for this though

I used one when I was unemployeed for a whileYeah, debit works for those in almost all cases. One car company wouldn't rent me a car, so I found another one that did.

[sadic1]

Having a credit card makes a lot of things easier and it's damn near impossible to get a rental car or airline ticket without. A lot of those don't take debit cards. Don't really cost anything if you use it right.

[QueenCityHillbilly]

it's damn near impossible to get a rental car or airline ticket without.Not really.

[sadic1]

Not really.

I know what you're saying. I went without a credit card even a few years into marriage. It's doable, but the bottom line is there's no good reason to go without and it makes some things easier. Sometimes even just stupid shit, like your debit card doesn't work at the supermarket, you have an available alternative. I know a guy who bought a Harley just to resell it (when their demand far exceeded supply). Instead of going through a big financing deal on it, he just put it on his credit card and resold it before it was time for it to accrue interest. It's just another tool in the toolbox.

[chipshot]

If your going to be giving out a number for reservations, tickets, online shopping your a hell of alot better off if it's a credit card number as opposed to one tied to your actual money.