topic Re: 2% General Spend Card in Credit Cards

2% General Spend Card

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 21:16:16 GMT

Why is the Citi DC so much more prevalent than the Blispay, with the Blispay being less conservative? Considering Blispay is offering the same cash-back, technically more if you are somebody that views the DC as a technical ~1.98% or whatever that technical percentage was that doctorofcredit mathed out?

Is it just because of the Citi DC having more "brand-recognition"?

I understand the Blispay isn't offering CLIs yet (to my knowledge), but with my recent approvals (within 3 days of eachother, Citi being first), I don't see Citi getting me to the same limit as my Blispay any time soon, after reading some other peoples' data points on Citi. Both cards are in my signature along with their SLs.

Re: 2% General Spend Card

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 21:00:07 GMT

I don't know anything about Blispay, are the starting limits really that good? Because I was planning on getting a Citi DC in early 2018 for general spend after my Discover cash back match period comes to an end.

Re: 2% General Spend Card

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 21:07:01 GMT

AustinOK you're all right Until your post. I had no idea Citi did not pay out a full 2% under certain circumstance such as a statement credit ... had NO idea. Just read the Doctor of Credit evaluation. thanks a mill!!!

Re: 2% General Spend Card

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 21:15:40 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Why is the Citi DC so much more prevalent than the Blispay, with the Blispay being less conservative? Considering Blispay is offering the same cash-back, technically more if you are somebody that views the DC as a technical ~1.89% or whatever that technical percentage was that doctorofcredit mathed out?

Is it just because of the Citi DC having more "brand-recognition"?

I understand the Blispay isn't offering CLIs yet (to my knowledge), but with my recent approvals (within 3 days of eachother, Citi being first), I don't see Citi getting me to the same limit as my Blispay any time soon, after reading some other peoples' data points on Citi. Both cards are in my signature along with their SLs.

More brand recognition, been around longer, they advertise.

Nobody outside of credit-enthusiast world has heard of Blispay.

Also, IMO the new PenFed 2% card is a much better option than the Citi Double Cash in every way. The only edge Blispay could have is if you need the 6 month 0% APR function (definitely a legitimate reason to choose it, if it is needed).

Re: 2% General Spend Card

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 21:15:54 GMT

I haven't read many approvals on here, but I've seen it discussed here and there. But not extremely heavily. I may be the odd-one-out. I didn't get an "extraordinary" SL, but all my cards prior to applying for the DC, Cash+ and Blispay were 7,500-12,000-6,000-10,000-12,000 (not including AU on my father's Discover with a CL of 14,500, if that was a factor)

I had done those 3 applications within a 3 day span of eachother, in the following order with the following SLs (respectively)

March 17th, Citi DC - 1,500

March 17th, US Bank Cash+ - 5,000

March 19th, Blispay - 7,500

So, idk if I'd go as far as saying that it was an exemplary SL, but it was far better than the Citi DC SL (for my case at least). And I've been reading that Citi DC could be somewhat stingy with SLs and CLIs, but thought it was a slight exaggeration. I figured the lowest they might give me would be at least 3,000ish. I haven't experienced the CLI side yet, as I was just approved and still haven't received the card yet so I'm pretty far off from my 6month CLI, haha.

Re: 2% General Spend Card

wasCB14 — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 21:23:58 GMT

DC offers price rewind and extended warranties.

Not everyone uses those benefits, but I do (on other Citi cards, I don't have DC).

Re: 2% General Spend Card

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 21:50:43 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
AustinOK you're all right Until your post. I had no idea Citi did not pay out a full 2% under certain circumstance such as a statement credit ... had NO idea. Just read the Doctor of Credit evaluation. thanks a mill!!!

I understand that small of a difference is basically a moot point unless you spend a significantly large amount of money to your gen-spend card, but still. The difference is so small that it wouldn't make any real difference, but some people may care about that ".02%" lol.

Re: 2% General Spend Card

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 22:04:49 GMT

The 0.02% is not only small, it's also optional. No reason not to do ACH rather than statement credit and then it goes away

Re: 2% General Spend Card

happypill — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 22:17:24 GMT

Citi DC was around for several years before Blispay, if memory serves. Also, Citi has huge national advertising for DC and other cards. Citi not only has name recognition, but a huge existing customer base to market to as well as (the perception at least) that they are in it for the long haul.

Citi cards also have some of the best ancillary features such as price rewind (only one that I know of that's automated where they will search for lower prices for you), warranty extension, travel protection, lost baggage, etc. For those who care, establishing and/or extending a relationship with Citi could be a factor. Not a consideration with Blisplay.

Personally, I'd prefer the Fidelity or PenFed 2% cards over the DC. Not really interested in Blisplay. Most attractive to me is the new 2.5% card from Alliant which has a $59 AF. I'll be trying for that one later this year.

Re: 2% General Spend Card

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 22:38:14 GMT

I love blispay. Not for everyday but for large purchases at 0%. 2% is just a bonus. DC is next the chopping block.

Re: 2% General Spend Card

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 23:03:06 GMT

So Citi is still 2% if one takes the credit as a deposit into one's bank account. Citi also offers far more benefits from a recognizable, long standing bank.

Fidelity requires an account with them to put the funds into. While PenFed isn't possible for most people without paying to join, and getting a banking account with them.

Blispay is from a new company, if it goes under, your card becomes a piece of decorative plastic. Blispay also pays off the financing end of things first when there are 2 months left on the financing purchase. So if you pay $300 and you have $500 in financing and a $75 statement balance, you get $200 in financing and $75 still due. Therefore getting you to receive interest on the $75. Because of that small print on the T+C, I won't be getting one as the card is complicated if I use it for both purchases. Besides, I have a DC and my 1FBUSA card gives 2% back too.

The Alliant card is interesting to me too. But none of my cards have a 10K limit, so I don't think I'd get approved. Besides, I don't spend 12K a year on all my cards, let alone one, to justify the card over using my 2% cards. Though it would be a great card for everyday spending if I travelled alot, especially out of the country. I do wonder if the Alliant card supports PIN...

Re: 2% General Spend Card

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 00:07:54 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
So Citi is still 2% if one takes the credit as a deposit into one's bank account. Citi also offers far more benefits from a recognizable, long standing bank.

Fidelity requires an account with them to put the funds into. While PenFed isn't possible for most people without paying to join, and getting a banking account with them.

Blispay is from a new company, if it goes under, your card becomes a piece of decorative plastic. Blispay also pays off the financing end of things first when there are 2 months left on the financing purchase. So if you pay $300 and you have $500 in financing and a $75 statement balance, you get $200 in financing and $75 still due. Therefore getting you to receive interest on the $75. Because of that small print on the T+C, I won't be getting one as the card is complicated if I use it for both purchases. Besides, I have a DC and my 1FBUSA card gives 2% back too.

The Alliant card is interesting to me too. But none of my cards have a 10K limit, so I don't think I'd get approved. Besides, I don't spend 12K a year on all my cards, let alone one, to justify the card over using my 2% cards. Though it would be a great card for everyday spending if I travelled alot, especially out of the country. I do wonder if the Alliant card supports PIN...

Care to share these "far more benefits"? The only benefit I can really think of is Citi price rewind, which is really a gamble as to whether or not anything you buy ends up being reimbursed later, and you have to register the purchase in the first place.

Penfed is possible for everyone, there are zero holdbacks that would prevent any American from joining and dropping $500 in a free checking account to stay eligible for 2% back forever, plus it has no foreign transaction fees so you can use it worldwide.

Re: 2% General Spend Card

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 01:44:34 GMT

Blispay limits are smaller, generally speaking. The max I've seen I believe is $10k (and very few). The average SL for Blispay seems to be around $5k with some coming in at $2k-$3k and others coming in around $7500. There is also zero ability to receive a CLI with Blispay. What you get is what you get.

I think The Citi DC card has better perks since it's a far bigger company. Take the Price Rewind, for example. People have reported saving a lot of money with Price Rewind, in some cases more money than the rewards they've received on the card. If you look at it from that angle, the 2% CB could really end up being more like 4%, 5% or even more depending on how many times you have success with that feature.

Re: 2% General Spend Card

wasCB14 — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 01:50:26 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Blispay limits are smaller, generally speaking. The max I've seen I believe is $10k (and very few). The average SL for Blispay seems to be around $5k with some coming in at $2k-$3k and others coming in around $7500. There is also zero ability to receive a CLI with Blispay. What you get is what you get.

I think The Citi DC card has better perks since it's a far bigger company. Take the Price Rewind, for example. People have reported saving a lot of money with Price Rewind, in some cases more money than the rewards they've received on the card. If you look at it from that angle, the 2% CB could really end up being more like 4%, 5% or even more depending on how many times you have success with that feature.

When I ran the numbers a few months ago, I was averaging 16%.

Re: 2% General Spend Card

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 01:52:26 GMT

Citi Price Rewind, Citi Private Pass, late fee pass, car rental insurance, travel protection, extended warranty, and theft and damage protection.

Fidelity offers the car rental, travel, lost luggage, extended warranty, and theft and damage protection.

Penfed offers car rental and travel accident insurance according to their website on a guide to benefits. They don't mention any other benefits in the guide like price protection or extended warranty.

Blispay doesn't offer any insight or guide to benefits. But I did forget it was a Visa, so it should have some benefits. But I can't confirm this, so I'll expect no benefits unless I got paperwork with the card. Don't expect anything not shown on an application/product page and you can't be disappointed when you don't have a benefit people expect to come with it.

Re: 2% General Spend Card

Kforce — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 02:07:12 GMT

Citi Double Cash

The Good :

2% Unlimited cash back, all purchases.
Price protection (Citi Price Rewind).
Ability to pay on the statement date and have it credit "NOW", allowing full control of how much is left on the statement.
I had fraud on my card and they did a rush delivery of new card (No Charge).
Only 25$ redemption threshold.
Extends manufacturer warranties by 24 months
Citi Private Pass
Late fee pass
Car rental insurance and travel protection
Fast refund of rewards via ACH to checking
Every 6 months, soft pull CL increases are usually offered

Free Fico-8 Credit-Card Score

The Bad

3% -- FTF
Front-line customer service agents are from a foreign country
Starting Limits are lower than average for most people
CL Increases are lower than many other providers
if you want to get a Direct Deposit for your cash back, you need to establish history (and continue history) by making payment from your bank account via Citi's online system. (and not through your bank's bill pay).

Other:
If you PIF before the statement cuts, you get the whole 2% at once, rather than 1% one month and 1% the next.

Re: 2% General Spend Card

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 02:18:14 GMT

I think Citi is more predictable in who gets approved and who doesn't. 600 score gets approved for Blispay, 800 score gets denied, that sort of thing.

Re: 2% General Spend Card

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 03:24:25 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:

When I ran the numbers a few months ago, I was averaging 16%.

Wow, that's fantastic! If you wouldn't mind sharing some of your Price Rewind success stories that would be cool.

Re: 2% General Spend Card

wasCB14 — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 04:30:38 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:

When I ran the numbers a few months ago, I was averaging 16%.
Wow, that's fantastic! If you wouldn't mind sharing some of your Price Rewind success stories that would be cool.

The critical thing to understand is that the program is a disorganized, illogical madhouse. A lot of that 16% comes from prices I'm convinced aren't real. It's very much a gamble.

For example, I saved 30% on a TV. I bought it at Costco (where I was comfortable with the warranty and return policy). Citi claimed they found it from a slightly less reputable merchant for less, but when I looked on that merchant's website the day after Citi said they found the lower price, I couldn't find it, even as an "out of stock" item.

The PR search found a laptop battery from an etsy-type website for 75% less than the manufacturer.

A DVD is mid-search and projecting a 100% refund.

The value comes from a mix of getting random, unexpected savings (when I've tried to get something cheaply) and being able to buy things from the most convenient merchant (and often save something).

I bought a lot of hiking gear and was able to try out equipment in an REI store with some staff guidance. I paid full retail at checkout, but I had what I needed on short notice. I didn't have to worry about shipping or getting the wrong size, and later ended up with several rewinds.

Re: 2% General Spend Card

Chris679 — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 09:52:30 GMT

Blispay is issued by First Electronic Bank, Utah.

Enough said in my book.