topic Re: BEST BUY REWARD ZONE MASTERCARD - IS PLATINUM BETTER? in Credit Cards

BEST BUY REWARD ZONE MASTERCARD - IS PLATINUM BETTER?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:24:52 GMT

My DH applied for this card online and got the following message:

Congratulations!

Based on the information you have provided, your application has been approved. Your full Best Buy Reward Zone® Platinum MasterCard® and account details will be mailed to you within 7 to 14 days.

Is there any significant difference between the gold and platinum versions?

Re: BEST BUY REWARD ZONE MASTERCARD - IS PLATINUM BETTER?

mt2va — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:30:27 GMT

I'm pretty sure the platinum version has no annual fee & lower interest rate than the gold version.

Re: BEST BUY REWARD ZONE MASTERCARD - IS PLATINUM BETTER?

iwantbettercredit — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:36:37 GMT

I had the gold and there was no fee. The only difference I know is one is gold and one is platinum, other than that they both stink, in fact anyting from HSBC pretty stinks.

Congratulations,( I am just messy with you. I really am not congratulating him on this product) I wish much better for you and your husband.

Re: BEST BUY REWARD ZONE MASTERCARD - IS PLATINUM BETTER?

haulingthescoreup — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:31:07 GMT

Hey, for someone building or rebuilding their credit, this is a good start. I'm guessing that the plat has a better APR, although this should be irrelevant, because no one should be carrying balances these days. (aka, credit suicide)

Congrats! Have you and your DH been around the forums long enough to know how to make CC's work for you, instead of vice versa? Use the card, pay it off, lather, rinse, and repeat. It probably won't turn into a wonder card with time, but it will help him get a good string of credit history going.

Re: BEST BUY REWARD ZONE MASTERCARD - IS PLATINUM BETTER?

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:09:50 GMT

The card came in Friday. No annual fee. 15.24% APR. $1500 limit.

Re: BEST BUY REWARD ZONE MASTERCARD - IS PLATINUM BETTER?

haulingthescoreup — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:49:11 GMT

Congrats, that's not bad at all! Especially in this day and age.

Re: BEST BUY REWARD ZONE MASTERCARD - IS PLATINUM BETTER?

mt2va — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:18:37 GMT

My gold has a fee Anyone know if I will have any luck getting it waived next year?? How are they with CLI? I was just a little bit short on buying my new computer so apped for it in the store. I have another store card back by HSBC (with perfect payment history) & no AF.

Re: BEST BUY REWARD ZONE MASTERCARD - IS PLATINUM BETTER?

Anonymous — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:21:51 GMT

You got the floor rate available when opening your account. Congrats accordingly. I just opened mine, and it was 20%, so you should be please w/out question. They are hard asses, and are not easy to deal, so just keep the balance paid off, so they make very little, and then they will do more for you, then they will if you were to carry a balance.

Re: BEST BUY REWARD ZONE MASTERCARD - IS PLATINUM BETTER?

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 08:03:17 GMT

To open up an old post.......

Let me start off by saying I read another post earlier about the Rewardzone Mastercard preapproval site. Although I already have the card, I was anxious what they would offer me. So I filled the app out and I was preapproved for the Platinum card.

My question is I already have the Gold version, since I was preapproved for a Platinum, is there any way I can call HSBC and "upgrade" from my Gold to a Platinum?

Re: BEST BUY REWARD ZONE MASTERCARD - IS PLATINUM BETTER?

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:15:42 GMT

I have not personally tried this. There was another post about the same thing. The member had the gold and wanted the platinum. They called and tried to upgrade and were told it isnt possible. If you want the platinum you fill out a new app and go that route. The member did and were approved for the platinum. So they had a gold and a platinum. You cant do the upgrade so I would get the platinum and if your gold has an AF call and try to get it waived and if they waive it leave it open and use it occasionally if not then close it and if you have the gold with no AF then leave it open and use occasionally to save the age and history.

Just for additional info here are the tiers for the cards:

Platinum - Lowest APR and Highest Credit Limits (I have seen $6000)

Gold- No AF, higher APR, mediocre limits

Gold- Annual Fee, highest APR, lower limits

Secured- AF, High APR, Limit determined by you

So Platinum is the best all around and there are two gold versions if your gold has no AF you have the better if it has an AF you have the lower one. I unfortunately have the gold w/AF but have had no problems with the card or HSBC. This is my second card with them and I have found the customer service to be decent and the APR doesnt matter as I PIF I just wish I had a better limit. It will come one day though.

Re: BEST BUY REWARD ZONE MASTERCARD - IS PLATINUM BETTER?

Anonymous — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:33:51 GMT

I love this card. Use it for everything and then every few months I have $200+ in certificates to use at Best Buy (will be great when I want that new, better TV!) Or if you're into video games... just use this card and usually by the end of the month you can get a free game ($60 or so).

Re: BEST BUY REWARD ZONE MASTERCARD - IS PLATINUM BETTER?

Anonymous — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:45:01 GMT

I have the AF also($39 I believe) and 21.74% apr..

I have yet to call them. And if they make me apply straight up, I'm keeping my Gold.

Thanks for your reply

Message Edited by MichaelandLauren on 01-16-2010 04:45 PM

Re: BEST BUY REWARD ZONE MASTERCARD - IS PLATINUM BETTER?

Anonymous — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:47:02 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I love this card. Use it for everything and then every few months I have $200+ in certificates to use at Best Buy (will be great when I want that new, better TV!) Or if you're into video games... just use this card and usually by the end of the month you can get a free game ($60 or so).

i just my card friday, what the best way to use it?

Re: BEST BUY REWARD ZONE MASTERCARD - IS PLATINUM BETTER?

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:10:59 GMT

Here's what I do with my card as well as some good details regarding it:

1. I pay off my balance every paycheck (bi-weekly).

On average I usually spend about $400 - $600 on it every 2 weeks. This accounts for all my groceries, electronics, gas and just about everything that I would normally pay cash for. Say I spend $500 in 2 weeks on it (outside of BB), this returns me 250 points which equals a $5 certificate at BB (250 points always equals $5). After you spend $2500 total in a calendar year, you become a premiere silver member. This gives you a 50% points bonus on all purchases within Best Buy. So if you buy something for $200 you'll receive 300 points. They also have a Reward Zone dining, so if you go to one of the places and use this card, you get more points.

2. This card reports on the final day of the month.

This will allow you to report whatever balance you want to for credit purposes.

3. Bills.

I setup and pay as many bills as possible through this card (insurance, phone, electric, whatever else accepts a credit card as payment). This way I'm at least getting something back throughout the month rather than just forking over cash from my bank account.

4. You can request a CLI every 6 months (usually a soft pull even though my last was a hard).

A downfall for me with this card so far is my CL is only $1800. For as much as I use this card, you would think they'd up it by now.

I hope this helps!

Re: BEST BUY REWARD ZONE MASTERCARD - IS PLATINUM BETTER?

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:59:13 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Here's what I do with my card as well as some good details regarding it:

1. I pay off my balance every paycheck (bi-weekly).

On average I usually spend about $400 - $600 on it every 2 weeks. This accounts for all my groceries, electronics, gas and just about everything that I would normally pay cash for. Say I spend $500 in 2 weeks on it (outside of BB), this returns me 250 points which equals a $5 certificate at BB (250 points always equals $5). After you spend $2500 total in a calendar year, you become a premiere silver member. This gives you a 50% points bonus on all purchases within Best Buy. So if you buy something for $200 you'll receive 300 points. They also have a Reward Zone dining, so if you go to one of the places and use this card, you get more points.

2. This card reports on the final day of the month.

This will allow you to report whatever balance you want to for credit purposes.

3. Bills.

I setup and pay as many bills as possible through this card (insurance, phone, electric, whatever else accepts a credit card as payment). This way I'm at least getting something back throughout the month rather than just forking over cash from my bank account.

4. You can request a CLI every 6 months (usually a soft pull even though my last was a hard).

A downfall for me with this card so far is my CL is only $1800. For as much as I use this card, you would think they'd up it by now.

I hope this helps!

that sounds like a winner