Better in what way? Always make sure you clarify exactly what you mean by better whenever you use the word with any topic. Don't just assume that your notion of better is universal. For scoring purposes there may be a benefit to having variety. However, you also have to consider that scoring models favor lower utilization and fewer balances. In order to have only one balance reporting you need more than one credit card. General adivce is for scoring purposes to have at least 2-3 cards.
However, you have to consider more than just score. You need to consider what you specifcally need/want and that plays a significant role. Instead of looking to justify a specific mix or number of cards determine your needs/wants and then find the cards that suit those requirements.
@Anonymous wrote:
I was considering American Express.
Why are you selecting a creditor and then trying to justify one of their cards? Again, use your needs/wants to select specific products that suit you.
@TURNERHOOVER wrote:
I'd go with two credit cards, you can still treat both as charge cards (PIF) if that's to your liking. Credit cards make for better utilization IMO.
Charge cards do not factor into utilization for current scoring models. A charge card can be handy if one has a significant amount of reimburseable expenses (assuming timely reimbursement) if one does not want that spend increasing one's utilization.
