topic Re: Study Abroad Credit Card in Credit Cards

Study Abroad Credit Card

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 02:46:17 GMT

Hey Everyone!

Just some background info: I am an 18 year old college student, I have had a Discover It Chrome student card for almost a year now. I only have that one inqury on my file (Discover Approved), with a TU Fico score of 750 no baddies, no late payments or anything of that sort. I would be reporting probably around $16,000 or so for income because I have a part time job. I got the Discover reporting $8k, I also have a lot saved up in a few savings account and I do get a hefty scholarship, and a stipend from my parents for expenses but I'm guessing those can't count as income, if I report those it would be around $38,000. I have been gardening with responsible usage, my last utilization that reported was 5% and I always pay on time.

Before studying abroad crossed my mind I was going to app for BCE and Chase Freedom at the one year mark and then Citi DC the following year. Now I need a card that I will be able to get a larger limit than my current one ($750).

Preferably a mastercard or visa, they are mostly accepted everywhere and I don't want to take the chance with my Discover card or AMEX, although I am not against getting an AMEX along with a visa or master card, but I digress.

A card with no foreign transaction fee because 3% will start to add up if I start charging all of my expenses for approximatley 6 months.

I was thinking about the Captial One Quicksilver and/or Venture One, however I don't know if I would be approved. Any advice on choosing the right card would be a great help. Additional info: I would be going to France, and travelling throughout Europe if the location matters, and I won't be shipping out until January/February. I also bank with Capital One and have done so for a few years now.

Thanks in advance! Sorry for the long blurb!

Re: Study Abroad Credit Card

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 03:54:42 GMT

Good luck to you abroad! Have you tried the prequalification page yet for the Capital One cards? Check that out first. If your prequalified, it doesn't hurt to app for both.

Re: Study Abroad Credit Card

Jarrodpd — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 05:52:33 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Hey Everyone!

Just some background info: I am an 18 year old college student, I have had a Discover It Chrome student card for almost a year now. I only have that one inqury on my file (Discover Approved), with a TU Fico score of 750 no baddies, no late payments or anything of that sort. I would be reporting probably around $16,000 or so for income because I have a part time job. I got the Discover reporting $8k, I also have a lot saved up in a few savings account and I do get a hefty scholarship, and a stipend from my parents for expenses but I'm guessing those can't count as income, if I report those it would be around $38,000. I have been gardening with responsible usage, my last utilization that reported was 5% and I always pay on time.

Before studying abroad crossed my mind I was going to app for BCE and Chase Freedom at the one year mark and then Citi DC the following year. Now I need a card that I will be able to get a larger limit than my current one ($750).

Preferably a mastercard or visa, they are mostly accepted everywhere and I don't want to take the chance with my Discover card or AMEX, although I am not against getting an AMEX along with a visa or master card, but I digress.

A card with no foreign transaction fee because 3% will start to add up if I start charging all of my expenses for approximatley 6 months.

I was thinking about the Captial One Quicksilver and/or Venture One, however I don't know if I would be approved. Any advice on choosing the right card would be a great help. Additional info: I would be going to France, and travelling throughout Europe if the location matters, and I won't be shipping out until January/February. I also bank with Capital One and have done so for a few years now.

Thanks in advance! Sorry for the long blurb!

Were either of your parents in the military? If so I would recomend them as their cards will use a pin code on some chip transactions which can be usefull when buying a train ticket at an un manned kiosk or getting petrol. If not maybe look at barclays as their chip cards also have pin code.

Re: Study Abroad Credit Card

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 12:18:42 GMT

The QS is chip and signature. If you want one to use at kiosks and such look at PenFed they have chip/pin cards. The Promise card would be great for your purposes, in a pinch you can get a cash advance with no fees at an ATM shoul you need to.

Good luck!

Re: Study Abroad Credit Card

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 12:39:21 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
The QS is chip and signature. If you want one to use at kiosks and such look at PenFed they have chip/pin cards. The Promise card would be great for your purposes, in a pinch you can get a cash advance with no fees at an ATM shoul you need to.

Good luck!

The PenFed cards are chip and signature as well. There is a lot of confusion on this board and elsewhere but there are relatively few true (with pin priority) credit cards out there. The two most known are the Diner's Club cards which you can no longer apply for and the United Nations Fedral Credit Union and some new card that I can't recall. Every other card that says they are Chip and Pin because they provide a PIN are still Chip and Signature because Signature is the prioritized method of verification. That doesn't mean they won't work in European kiosks but they aren't true Chip and Pin priority cards.

Re: Study Abroad Credit Card

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 12:48:01 GMT

Re: PenFed: they are chip and sig in the states, but at kiosks in EU they are chip/pin. No card can be only chip/pin in the states, we are not set up for it... imagine the checkout line..... When you apply for your PenFed you set up your PIN during the app process.

https://www.penfed.org/emv-chip-technology/

Re: Study Abroad Credit Card

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 12:52:50 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Re: PenFed: they are chip and sig in the states, but at kiosks in EU they are chip/pin. No card can be only chip/pin in the states, we are not set up for it... imagine the checkout line..... When you apply for your PenFed you set up your PIN during the app process.

https://www.penfed.org/emv-chip-technology/

Ok but what PenFed has is no different than all of the other credit cards that issue PINs when they're given out and call themselves Chip and Pin cards.

Re: Study Abroad Credit Card

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 13:00:23 GMT

I will add that the PenFed card(s) are one of the ones that has has secondary PIN capabilities and has 0 FTF

Re: Study Abroad Credit Card

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 15:10:01 GMT

There are only a handfull of chip and pin CAPABLE (is that better?) cards. I know because i go abroad. I have two, the Arrival+ and my Penfed card. My QS will not work at unmanned stations or kiosks even though it has a 0 FTF I do not use it in EU. There maybe a few other banks that issue a chip/pin in the USA

I recommend the Penfed for the OP because if he gets the Promise card he will enjoy many good things such as 0 FTF, 0 Balance Transfer Fee, 0 Cash Advance fee. The Cash Advance is particularly useful if you need cash. Most Debit Cards will charge you extra fees abroad, the PenFed card will not. I use my PenFed card at ATMs instead of my debit card while overseas, because there are less fees.

Have a great day!

Re: Study Abroad Credit Card

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 17:45:40 GMT

I think barclay's arrival plus card is chip & sig and secondary chip & pin, and no FTF, if you don't mind paying annual fee.

Re: Study Abroad Credit Card

NRB525 — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 18:38:36 GMT

Capital One Journey or Quicksilver

And some spare cash in EUR coins in case train travel is in the plan of the day. If OP is traveling for a few days, then get a train pass at one of the staffed station offices.

Re: Next Credit Card for a 18 Year Old Student?

Anonymous — Wed, 04 May 2016 16:11:52 GMT

This is a duplicate post to one you made a week ago. You probably should check that one. Duplication of posts is confusing to other members trying to help you, and is a violation of this site's ToS.

Re: Next Credit Card for a 18 Year Old Student?

Creditaddict — Wed, 04 May 2016 16:12:46 GMT

I would apply for Chase Freedom

If Approved, Apply for CSP right after.

I would also apply for Amex SPG or Everyday (SPG might be better for travel overseas!)

Re: Next Credit Card for a 18 Year Old Student?

degs138 — Wed, 04 May 2016 16:13:14 GMT

I would app for the Cap one QS and you won't have AF. You should get at least a 2000 limit with your score, maybe higher. If you're serious about the AMEX then you could go with the Delta Gold. Amex does do large limits to thin files. I had a friend in college get a 20k limit when she was 18. It also has no FTF but has an AF. I would app for Amex first then Cap one. If you don't want the AF AMEX then I would go for Barclay Arrival and then QS. In that order. Barclay can be inquriy sensitive.

Re: Next Credit Card for a 18 Year Old Student?

Anonymous — Wed, 04 May 2016 16:21:13 GMT

18 year old college student here too! If you could provide your scores, that'd be helpful in helping us advise you what to get. However, with a ~730 (I think) when I applied, reporting $38k as my income, with a AAoA of ~2 years (AU on my mom's cards) I was able to get a BCE (albeit at a $500 limit), a PRG (no limit, also no FTF), and a Freedom with a $2k limit.

Though your starting limits are based on things other than income and credit score, the general consensus on the boards is that Capital One gives pretty generous limits that tend to grow quickly. The Venture One has no AF or FTF, and the minimum line you'll get approved for is $2k. Another option is to try for an Amex PRG, which has no FTF, but a $195 AF. I used my PRG basically everywhere when I went to Ireland, but I'd personally stick with a Visa/MC just for peace of mind. While you're at it, see if Discover will give you an increase, just to show other creditors that you can responsibly handle a higher limit if approved.

Good luck!

Re: Next Credit Card for a 18 Year Old Student?

gdale6 — Wed, 04 May 2016 17:48:09 GMT

Hi there OP,

I have merged your two threads on the same subject into this original thread. Please refrain from posting the same topic more than once it can lead to confusion by the members and its agaisnt our TOS to do so. I thank you for your understanding on this.