topic Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points in Credit Cards

US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

mikecintel — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 01:40:19 GMT

Hi Everyone,

I just want to let everyone know who has the US Bank Altitude Go that starting today Sept 9, 2024 they will start charging 3% Foreign Tranacation fee. Before it was FREE. Also the points will be chagning. Dinning will be 4x, Streaming will be 2x, Grocery stores will still be 2x but discountcount will be 1x. I called US bank rep and they states YES now we are charging for current users and new users. The rep said it was "just updated" 19 hrs ago meaning today Sept 9,2024. Here is the link:

https://applications.usbank.com/oad/termsSimpleApply.controller?locationCode=18569&offerId=HQWRM3D57Q&sourceCode=33720

Here is another link reguarding about this card:

https://www.thepointcalculator.com/us/travel/usbank/us-bank-altitude-go-visa-card-calculator

Card Fees

Annual Fee

The Altitude Go Visa has no annual fee.

Authorized User Fee

There is no fee to add authorized users to the Altitude Go Visa Card.

Foreign Transaction Fee

The Altitude Go Visa has a 3% foreign transaction fee. This means that you will be penalized when making purchases outside of the United States.

I hope everyone is aware of this will not be shocked. I think I will drop the US bank soon after I redeeme my cash back or points and I will get another credit card that has cash back and no FTF.

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

NoHardLimits — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 02:47:44 GMT

Welcome @mikecintel , and thanks for the heads up! I had been thinking about product changing one of my US Bank cards to the Altitude Go, but I definitely won't be doing that now.

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 05:34:56 GMT

I wonder how much revenue issuers get from a FTF. In my card collection we have

Paypal MC: adding it

Fidelity: removing it

which suggests a mixed picture of issuer-perceived value. But since FIdelity is Elan, I hope it doesn't go the way of Altitude Go!

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

ElvisCaprice — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 08:16:13 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I wonder how much revenue issuers get from a FTF. In my card collection we have

Paypal MC: adding it
Fidelity: removing it

which suggests a mixed picture of issuer-perceived value. But since FIdelity is Elan, I hope it doesn't go the way of Altitude Go!

I wish Fidelity would pick up their game and offer more value to their account members. Not owning a bank may come to bite them down the road.

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

mikecintel — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 01:56:27 GMT

@NoHardLimits wrote:
Welcome @mikecintel , and thanks for the heads up! I had been thinking about product changing one of my US Bank cards to the Altitude Go, but I definitely won't be doing that now.

Thank you! I am glad I can help you. Yes this my 2nd time produt change. First I had TD Bank Cash Visa card in 2016 and I applied for it. Then in 2021 they start charging a FTF. Then I let it "auto-close" and then I found US Bank altitude Go where they don't charge FTF when I first applied. Then just change when they change the point AND THEY DON'T TELL you that they will charge a FTF. I got an notification in May of this year and I did call CS and they said Yes the FTF willl stay intact and we will not charge you a FTF. Well that lie. Anyway fine I will just choose another Visa card until they charging a FTF again. I am wondering if Visa is the one who makes a determination and tells the bank to charge a FTF or is it the bank decision to charge the FTF. Hmmm.

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

mikecintel — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 08:36:12 GMT

Me too. I am just afraid all credit issuer using Visa will do that at some point. Then we are all screwed. I know they are business but still why do this?

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

mikecintel — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 08:41:31 GMT

I called US Bank and they said that you can do a PC to connect and all your points will transer to connect card. I am not doing that and I will leave US Bank and just choose another Visa card. I will get all my cash reward and just let it close.

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

cjesser15 — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 14:59:41 GMT

I was worried the rumored changes would be worse. This card only has a spot in my wallet for the 4x on dining. Glad that's not changing. Don't think this changes anything for me. Appreciate the information.

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

mikecintel — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 15:15:12 GMT

Yes I understand your concern. Yes thank goodness that is not changing. I guess it depends indiviual user what they needs and what is the most important to them. For me it is the FTF and they will charge so now I will get another Visa card. I have Capital One QuickSilver Master Card and that doesn't have a FTF and no annual fee so that is good. So I just look for a Visa card now. My Discover card is good no annual fee and no FTF. Before I knew Discover card has a FTF and then they changed it. I am glad I can help you

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

CreditOnion — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 15:58:10 GMT

For me, the main attraction of this card is the 4% dining rewards, so I'm glad that isn't going away. Truthfully cards without FTF are relatively common so this isn't a huge deal to me personally, I'll just use another of my cards for FTF eligible transactions.

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

mikecintel — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 16:03:29 GMT

OK I see. They use to be cash back that have no TFT but not like it is common not to hve no TFT. I know most travel cards has no TFT and no annual fee but I perfer cashback with no TFT and no annual fees.

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

GhostCredit — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 16:44:49 GMT

Hopefully existing customers get grandfathered in for the no ftf. But I think it cost them money since they eat the no ftf and that's why majority of cards have it in the US. Idk how smaller banks like pnc/penfed have a 2% no ftf and still offer a sub.

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

CreditOnion — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 16:52:20 GMT

@mikecintel wrote:
OK I see. They use to be cash back that have no TFT but not like it is common not to hve no TFT. I know most travel cards has no TFT and no annual fee but I perfer cashback with no TFT and no annual fees.

I still think FTF are less common, especially amongst credit unions.

Have you considered the Alliant visa? If you can park $1K with them, setup minimal ACH transfers, and setup electronic statements, you can qualify for their 2.5% cash back tier up to $10K a month. And, no FTF.

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

911gt34life — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 17:13:09 GMT

Won't be applying anymore card trash now

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

NoHardLimits — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 17:43:34 GMT

@mikecintel wrote:
OK I see. They use to be cash back that have no TFT but not like it is common not to hve no TFT. I know most travel cards has no TFT and no annual fee but I perfer cashback with no TFT and no annual fees.

How about the Wells Fargo Autograph? The standard one, not the Autograph Journey. The no annual fee version is a Visa with no FTF. It's marketed as a travel card, but you can use the points as cash back for 1 cent per point. The card has a number of categories which earn 3 points per dollar.

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

mikecintel — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 18:34:08 GMT

@GhostCredit wrote:
Hopefully existing customers get grandfathered in for the no ftf. But I think it cost them money since they eat the no ftf and that's why majority of cards have it in the US. Idk how smaller banks like pnc/penfed have a 2% no ftf and still offer a sub.

I did call US Bank CS and they told me exisiting customer and new customer will have that fee. So the answer nope unfortunely.

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

mikecintel — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 18:33:42 GMT

@CreditOnion wrote:
@mikecintel wrote:
OK I see. They use to be cash back that have no TFT but not like it is common not to hve no TFT. I know most travel cards has no TFT and no annual fee but I perfer cashback with no TFT and no annual fees.
I still think FTF are less common, especially amongst credit unions.

Have you considered the Alliant visa? If you can park $1K with them, setup minimal ACH transfers, and setup electronic statements, you can qualify for their 2.5% cash back tier up to $10K a month. And, no FTF.

Yes I did but you need to have a checking account or saving account with them. No thanks.

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

mikecintel — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 18:41:29 GMT

@911gt34life wrote:
Won't be applying anymore card trash now

Yes that understable.

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

mikecintel — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 08:03:46 GMT

@NoHardLimits wrote:
@mikecintel wrote:
OK I see. They use to be cash back that have no TFT but not like it is common not to hve no TFT. I know most travel cards has no TFT and no annual fee but I perfer cashback with no TFT and no annual fees.
How about the Wells Fargo Autograph? The standard one, not the Autograph Journey. The no annual fee version is a Visa with no FTF. It's marketed as a travel card, but you can use the points as cash back for 1 cent per point. The card has a number of categories which earn 3 points per dollar.

I called Wells Fargo about about the autograph and how they redeem rewards and they even say you need a checking or a savings accont with them to redeem the whole amount. It does sound great 3% but when coming to redeem points you need a checking or a saving account with them other you will be left with a small amount them. No Thanks. That is what US Bank is doing. I think I apply Amazon credit card and they have no annual and no TFT. It is by chase and so I called chase and they said to redeem points you DON'T NEED a checking or a savings account with them (I like the answer and it is music to my ears) and that you can give us your preferred checking or savings account and we will deposit in there. So I will apply to Amazon credit card soon probabbly next year. Even for chase own credit card it still the same when redeeming for cash back no need to have a checking or a savings account. Every bank should do like what chase is doing and SHOULD NOT require to setup a checking or savings account juse to redeem cash back. I don't like chase but hey they have my answer what I want to I will apply Amazon credit card soon. I am waiting to see if Capital One has new credit card coming that will be Visa so I am going to wait until next year.

Re: US Bank Altitude Go now charging Foreign Transaction fee and change in points

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 18:49:46 GMT

@mikecintel wrote:
@GhostCredit wrote:
Hopefully existing customers get grandfathered in for the no ftf. But I think it cost them money since they eat the no ftf and that's why majority of cards have it in the US. Idk how smaller banks like pnc/penfed have a 2% no ftf and still offer a sub.
I did call US Bank CS and they told me exisiting customer and new customer will have that fee. So the answer nope unfortunely.

Are there cases where a card moving from no-FTF to charging grandfathered people in? I guess there's no reason why it couldn't happen but I can't recall one.