@msbia wrote:Wonderful response UncleB, I could not agree with you more! OP when I got my USAA secured Amex in January 2014 I felt the same as you did; I was excited to have an "Amex" despite knowing it wasn't on the Centurion network. I loved the "feel" of having that blue/white symbol on my card lol. Three months after having it, USAA approved me for an unsecured card with a $7k limit, and despite the stories, I closed my secured Amex in January 2015 and they happily refunded my deposit and closed the CD.
Today I have my USAA Amex unsecured with a $29k limit, and I love it as much as my Centurion Amex BCP, Hilton and Business SimplyCash (all obtainable because USAA gave me a chance with a $500 secured Amex).
Good luck to you my dear!
I signed in for no other reason but to give you KUDOS!
@UncleB wrote:
@creditguy wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:I need a visa in my wallet. So I will gladly accept those when they get delivered, cause you know that's bringing us zero foreign transaction fees, which is a must-have. And this American Express is a must-have and I'm going to fight for it.
But you get to decide. Amex has the perks and Master has the wider acceptance.
I'm gonna give them a call and accept. Everyone is impressed by an American Express and you know what, the rates are good. I'm all in!
Amex has perks but not a secured USAA Amex, I had one a few years back and it was a straightforward secured card with no benefits except help building credit. You want Perks? Get a non secured card or a Centurion bank issued Amex. And sorry to say not everyone is impressed by an Amex, especially ones issued by USAA, get a card that benefits you, not because of the perceived impression of others.
Actually, the USAA secured cards might have changed since you had yours... they now do seem to have some of the same benefits as the unsecured products. Specifically, the differences that motoleo mention regarding the rental coverage are on the website:
https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/bank_cc_secured_card_platinum_visa
https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/bank_cc_secured_card_american_express
When it comes down to it, we all just need to get the card that appeals to us for whatever reason, be it the benefits or just how dang shiny it is. As long as we're clear on what the card offers, and we're pleased (or at least satisfied) with the benefits and perks, it's all good.
(Side note: this is why I try to avoid speaking in absolutes on here... things just change too quickly to keep up with, and what might have been "absolutely certain" only yesterday might be completely different today.)
I get what your saying and the benefits are the same as when I had the card, it's standard network type benefits that most people don't use. I don't consider standard network benefits as perks I was referring to rewards more or less i.e. cashback, points etc etc. which the secured version don't have compared to standard usaa cards. I know things change often but secured is secured and not much changes there.
@creditguy wrote:
@UncleB wrote:
@creditguy wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:I need a visa in my wallet. So I will gladly accept those when they get delivered, cause you know that's bringing us zero foreign transaction fees, which is a must-have. And this American Express is a must-have and I'm going to fight for it.
But you get to decide. Amex has the perks and Master has the wider acceptance.
I'm gonna give them a call and accept. Everyone is impressed by an American Express and you know what, the rates are good. I'm all in!
Amex has perks but not a secured USAA Amex, I had one a few years back and it was a straightforward secured card with no benefits except help building credit. You want Perks? Get a non secured card or a Centurion bank issued Amex. And sorry to say not everyone is impressed by an Amex, especially ones issued by USAA, get a card that benefits you, not because of the perceived impression of others.
Actually, the USAA secured cards might have changed since you had yours... they now do seem to have some of the same benefits as the unsecured products. Specifically, the differences that motoleo mention regarding the rental coverage are on the website:
https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/bank_cc_secured_card_platinum_visa
https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/bank_cc_secured_card_american_express
When it comes down to it, we all just need to get the card that appeals to us for whatever reason, be it the benefits or just how dang shiny it is. As long as we're clear on what the card offers, and we're pleased (or at least satisfied) with the benefits and perks, it's all good.
(Side note: this is why I try to avoid speaking in absolutes on here... things just change too quickly to keep up with, and what might have been "absolutely certain" only yesterday might be completely different today.)
I get what your saying and the benefits are the same as when I had the card, it's standard network type benefits that most people don't use. I don't consider standard network benefits as perks I was referring to rewards more or less i.e. cashback, points etc etc. which the secured version don't have compared to standard usaa cards. I know things change often but secured is secured and not much changes there.
I agree with you completely on the rewards, there are absolutely none on the secured cards at this time.
The reason I differentiated the terms "perks" from "rewards" is because earlier in the thread, it was the "perks" (i.e. "network benefits"; specifically rental coverage differences and the concierge) that the OP specifically called out as being desirable... I think there was a breakdown in communication there with the OP, but it's now a moot point as the she has decided that the secured card isn't for her after all.
As for what is considered 'perks' and what is not, that's subjective - but as long as we all are on the same page in the conversation we can work around it. 
@UncleB wrote:
@creditguy wrote:
@UncleB wrote:
@creditguy wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:I need a visa in my wallet. So I will gladly accept those when they get delivered, cause you know that's bringing us zero foreign transaction fees, which is a must-have. And this American Express is a must-have and I'm going to fight for it.
But you get to decide. Amex has the perks and Master has the wider acceptance.
I'm gonna give them a call and accept. Everyone is impressed by an American Express and you know what, the rates are good. I'm all in!
Amex has perks but not a secured USAA Amex, I had one a few years back and it was a straightforward secured card with no benefits except help building credit. You want Perks? Get a non secured card or a Centurion bank issued Amex. And sorry to say not everyone is impressed by an Amex, especially ones issued by USAA, get a card that benefits you, not because of the perceived impression of others.
Actually, the USAA secured cards might have changed since you had yours... they now do seem to have some of the same benefits as the unsecured products. Specifically, the differences that motoleo mention regarding the rental coverage are on the website:
https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/bank_cc_secured_card_platinum_visa
https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/bank_cc_secured_card_american_express
When it comes down to it, we all just need to get the card that appeals to us for whatever reason, be it the benefits or just how dang shiny it is. As long as we're clear on what the card offers, and we're pleased (or at least satisfied) with the benefits and perks, it's all good.
(Side note: this is why I try to avoid speaking in absolutes on here... things just change too quickly to keep up with, and what might have been "absolutely certain" only yesterday might be completely different today.)
I get what your saying and the benefits are the same as when I had the card, it's standard network type benefits that most people don't use. I don't consider standard network benefits as perks I was referring to rewards more or less i.e. cashback, points etc etc. which the secured version don't have compared to standard usaa cards. I know things change often but secured is secured and not much changes there.
I agree with you completely on the rewards, there are absolutely none on the secured cards at this time.
The reason I differentiated the terms "perks" from "rewards" is because earlier in the thread, it was the "perks" (i.e. "network benefits"; specifically rental coverage differences and the concierge) that the OP specifically called out as being desirable... I think there was a breakdown in communication there with the OP, but it's now a moot point as the she has decided that the secured card isn't for her after all.
As for what is considered 'perks' and what is not, that's subjective - but as long as we all are on the same page in the conversation we can work around it. :smileywink:
Very true, I just figured the way OP gushed about Amex and Perks they were confusing network perks and Bank rewards, but its all good. Thanks for the thoughtful insight as always UncleB.
@creditguy wrote:
@UncleB wrote:
@creditguy wrote:
@UncleB wrote:
@creditguy wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:I need a visa in my wallet. So I will gladly accept those when they get delivered, cause you know that's bringing us zero foreign transaction fees, which is a must-have. And this American Express is a must-have and I'm going to fight for it.
But you get to decide. Amex has the perks and Master has the wider acceptance.
I'm gonna give them a call and accept. Everyone is impressed by an American Express and you know what, the rates are good. I'm all in!
Amex has perks but not a secured USAA Amex, I had one a few years back and it was a straightforward secured card with no benefits except help building credit. You want Perks? Get a non secured card or a Centurion bank issued Amex. And sorry to say not everyone is impressed by an Amex, especially ones issued by USAA, get a card that benefits you, not because of the perceived impression of others.
Actually, the USAA secured cards might have changed since you had yours... they now do seem to have some of the same benefits as the unsecured products. Specifically, the differences that motoleo mention regarding the rental coverage are on the website:
https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/bank_cc_secured_card_platinum_visa
https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/bank_cc_secured_card_american_express
When it comes down to it, we all just need to get the card that appeals to us for whatever reason, be it the benefits or just how dang shiny it is. As long as we're clear on what the card offers, and we're pleased (or at least satisfied) with the benefits and perks, it's all good.
(Side note: this is why I try to avoid speaking in absolutes on here... things just change too quickly to keep up with, and what might have been "absolutely certain" only yesterday might be completely different today.)
I get what your saying and the benefits are the same as when I had the card, it's standard network type benefits that most people don't use. I don't consider standard network benefits as perks I was referring to rewards more or less i.e. cashback, points etc etc. which the secured version don't have compared to standard usaa cards. I know things change often but secured is secured and not much changes there.
I agree with you completely on the rewards, there are absolutely none on the secured cards at this time.
The reason I differentiated the terms "perks" from "rewards" is because earlier in the thread, it was the "perks" (i.e. "network benefits"; specifically rental coverage differences and the concierge) that the OP specifically called out as being desirable... I think there was a breakdown in communication there with the OP, but it's now a moot point as the she has decided that the secured card isn't for her after all.
As for what is considered 'perks' and what is not, that's subjective - but as long as we all are on the same page in the conversation we can work around it. :smileywink:
Very true, I just figured the way OP gushed about Amex and Perks they were confusing network perks and Bank rewards, but its all good. Thanks for the thoughtful insight as always UncleB.
+1
I genuinely appreciate your insight as well! 