If there were no more rewards for spending, will you still use CCs?

[Open123]

Now that rewards are so deeply entrenched every credit card, would you ever consider using a credit card with no rewards?  

I understand that if one wanted to carry a balance to pay over time, it would be more prudent to opt for a no rewards card; but, aside from that, is there any reason to use credit at all if they were to eliminate the rebates?

Thanks!

[jefftca925]

The only two other reasons I would use a CC for almost all of my purchases would be for fraud protection and interest free financing.  I rarely ever use my debit card any more since I get rewards now and I feel safer using it.  Too many problems with CC/Debit card accounts being hacked nowadays (one just this last week with a MC/VISA processor) that using a card can be hazardous...BUT... a CC provides better protection than a debit card does.  I also like using a CC because I can track my spending a lot easier than using cash.  I guess it's just a convenience thing.  But if the rewards programs vanished then I would most certainly cancel all but two or three cards. 

[boomhower]

The amount of fraud going around is reason enough to use a credit card and not a debit card to protect your bank account.  That and 0% offers would keep me using them.

[navigatethis12]

Some of my bank accounts still offer alright rewards so I would probably use the debit cards from them more often. I would still use credit cards occasionaly because it would still be important to have good credit for other things.

[crunching_numbers]

Yes I would.  Fraud protection, ease of returning items, cash flow at home (one payment with payday). Theft protection.

[marty56]

Yes.  Bill Me Later and any other 0% store cards.

[JaysonT]

As others stated fraud protection but also rental car insurance, purchase protection, zero fee international, etc all make it worth using the cards even without rewards.

I used the purchase protection option on a 42" TV recently.  It came with a one year warranty and thanks to my credit card the warranty was extended to two.  It failed at about month 23 and after an estiamte for the repairs, I received a check for the full cost of the TV.

[GST2008]

Yes.  I make some type of purchase daily and often, several.  I don't like carrying large amounts of cash, and I hate saving receipts to balance my check book for lots of small purchases on a debit card.  It's tedious and one mistake could easily cost a $35.00 overdraft fee, or several depending on the banks accounting.  By using a CC for everyday purchases, I only have to make one payment a month.

[LS2982]

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@Open123 wrote:

Now that rewards are so deeply entrenched every credit card, would you ever consider using a credit card with no rewards?  

I understand that if one wanted to carry a balance to pay over time, it would be more prudent to opt for a no rewards card; but, aside from that, is there any reason to use credit at all if they were to eliminate the rebates?

Thanks!

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Yes. I find it works out very good with my budget to just pay CC's with my money instead of doing the debit card and getting screwed over by the banks with NSF's.

[Open123]

For me, I suppose I'd trim down to about 2 cards using them for all the above mentioned reasons.

If there weren't signing bonuses or competing rewards, there would be little motivation to change issuers.  Some triggering event must occur before we endure the dislocation of change from going from one bank to another, or one card to another.

Would any of you change or apply for new cards--assuming you're happy with the ones your using--if there were no "better" rewards or signup bonuses?

Thanks!