Bills credit card and purchases credit card?

[mum4519]

Just trying to get some feedback on something -

I received my new AMEX BCE yesterday and activated it. I want to use this as my primary card to utilize the great cash back program. My current primary card is my Wells Fargo Rewards card. Three of my on they bills only accept VISA/MasterCard while my other ones do accept AMEX. Should I use my VISA to have all my bills go onto and use my AMEX as my everyday spending card? What would you all do? Just trying to keep things simple.

Main bills include:
Verizon, accepts AMEX
COX, accepts AMEX
Netflix, accepts AMEX
Electric, does not accept AMEX
Gas/Water, does not accept AMEX
Car Insurance, does not accept AMEX

[webhopper]

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@mum4519 wrote:
Just trying to get some feedback on something -

I received my new AMEX BCE yesterday and activated it. I want to use this as my primary card to utilize the great cash back program. My current primary card is my Wells Fargo Rewards card. Three of my on they bills only accept VISA/MasterCard while my other ones do accept AMEX. Should I use my VISA to have all my bills go onto and use my AMEX as my everyday spending card? What would you all do? Just trying to keep things simple.

Main bills include:
Verizon, accepts AMEX
COX, accepts AMEX
Netflix, accepts AMEX
Electric, does not accept AMEX
Gas/Water, does not accept AMEX
Car Insurance, does not accept AMEX

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I would personally route the bills to the one that will give you the most rewards.  For example.. DH and I have everything going to Amex that possibly can, my insurance agent doesn't accept Amex though, so we have that one bill going to my CashRewards Visa from NFCU

[mum4519]

That's what I was thinking but I just wanted other reassurances that it was a good idea!

[longtimelurker]

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@mum4519 wrote:
That's what I was thinking but I just wanted other reassurances that it was a good idea!

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The credit card doesn't "care" if it a purchase or a regular bill, so as webhopper says, arrange it to maximize the rewards.   You just need to remember, when planning, that some bills will appear on your credit card in addition to your purchases, so allow for that in utilization concerns...

[mum4519]

Yea, most definitely. I was mostly asking for purposes as to see if people keep all their bills paid on the same card for budgeting purposes. I did set it up though to have everything I could go to AMEX. Much better rewards than the Wells Fargo 1pt/$1!

[Themanwhocan]

The Amex BCE doesn't give back any more than 1% on any of those bills, correct?

I would look into getting a better card for those types of bills. A US Bank Cash+ would give 5% back on cell phones/internet/cable tv, and with the $25 bonus if you wait to cash out the rewards until you accumulate $100, that makes for an effective 6.25% back.

A second option is the US Bank Business Cash Rewards. 3% back on cellular, gas and office supply stores, 1% everything else, with 25% rewards bonus once a year. So effectively 3.75% cash back on cell phones/internet/cable tv. But its a business card (not the same as the card in my signature)

The Pricelinevisa.com appears to be in the process of removing the version of the card that gives 2% back on all purchases, but I hear the application still mentions 2%. And the Fidelity Amex might also be a possibility for 2% cash back. Signup bonus available.

Capital One Cash Rewards card for excellent credit has no annual fee, 1% plus a yearly 50% bonus, for a total of 1.5% on all purchases. Signup bonus available.

There are other cards with 1% cash back that also have bonuses that bring the cash back up to 1.25% or more. If you opened a savings account at emigrantdirect.com you could get their  Visa card for 1% back, with 25% bonus every month and no annual fee, for 1.25% effective cash back. They have a 50% bonus version with an annual fee. Small signup bonuses for each card.

Are there better options? Anyone?

[LS2982]

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@webhopper wrote:

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@mum4519 wrote:
Just trying to get some feedback on something -

I received my new AMEX BCE yesterday and activated it. I want to use this as my primary card to utilize the great cash back program. My current primary card is my Wells Fargo Rewards card. Three of my on they bills only accept VISA/MasterCard while my other ones do accept AMEX. Should I use my VISA to have all my bills go onto and use my AMEX as my everyday spending card? What would you all do? Just trying to keep things simple.

Main bills include:
Verizon, accepts AMEX
COX, accepts AMEX
Netflix, accepts AMEX
Electric, does not accept AMEX
Gas/Water, does not accept AMEX
Car Insurance, does not accept AMEX

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I would personally route the bills to the one that will give you the most rewards.  For example.. DH and I have everything going to Amex that possibly can, my insurance agent doesn't accept Amex though, so we have that one bill going to my CashRewards Visa from NFCU

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I route as much as I can to AMEX as well, anything not accepting AMEX goes to either Cap1/Chase.

[TM82]

Put everything on your most rewarding card. Utilize the other cards if they have bonus categories or to meet minimu spend.

I put everything on my Club card outside of the 5x categories on the Freedom.

[longtimelurker]

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@Themanwhocan wrote:

The Amex BCE doesn't give back any more than 1% on any of those bills, correct?

I would look into getting a better card for those types of bills. A US Bank Cash+ would give 5% back on cell phones/internet/cable tv, and with the $25 bonus if you wait to cash out the rewards until you accumulate $100, that makes for an effective 6.25% back.

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Cash Plus is 5% for certain only on cell phones.  For some (AT&T?) providers, some internet and cable also appears to be covered, but other mainstream choices, such as Verizon (landline/FioS and probably HSI) and TWC only give 1%

The bonus for $100 is decreased to once per year starting July 1.