@trusty wrote:
@Flex1 wrote:1). Only apply and accept cards that offer the lowest interest rate possible ( my Navy Fed is 11.99)
2). Only credit card companies that have excellent customer service and 24hr access.
3). Only credit card companies that don't pull all three agencies. All bureaus are frozen.
I call and ask which one they use and then momentarily unfreeze it.
If they say all three, I'm not interested.
I want to feel good, no great, about the credit card companies I use. I wan't to feel like I'm a winner by using their services and that the relationship greatly benefits me. I have no cards, "just because". One department store card, Banana Republic, because I shop there a lot and having the card really adds up to great savings. Anyone else out there like me?
As with anything else in life, you get what you pay for. So, over the years, I've learned to dispense with superfluous limitations, when it behooves me to get a better offer.
I felt that I needed to expand my credit lines, to lure in more exclusive cards with higher limits... so I started with Venture card, because they were reportedly doling out large limits, at the time. This was the first time that I had unfrozen all three credit bureaus for a credit application. But, I got the card, a healthy limit, and I consider it a success.
Customer Service is subjective. I've had great customer service with niche cards like Saks, and Synchrony; and so-so customer service with other card issuers that I would have expected better service from. Service is relative and personal. Some will feel vindicated, and others will feel victimized -- from essentially the same service. Plus, there are bad apples in every service center.
Lastly, interest rates are only important if you don't have the money to pay the charges. NOT NECESSARILY TRUE . PLENTY OF PEOPLE HAVE LOTS OF MONEY AND CAN PAY ANY CHARGE THEY MAKE. Some of us do find the apr relevant as we may choose to carry a balance for a variety of reasons from unexpected to other personal reasons. Just my average opinion of course
Usually, large purchases already offer promotional rates or payment deferments, with various retailers. But, for a regular use credit card, the interest rate is irrelevant, so long as you pay in full.
Ultimately, whatever your own personal goals are is all that is important. I do things based on a mix between my own goals, and what has been reported to have worked for others... in order to maximize my chances for success.
@Flex1 wrote:1). Only apply and accept cards that offer the lowest interest rate possible ( my Navy Fed is 11.99)
2). Only credit card companies that have excellent customer service and 24hr access.
3). Only credit card companies that don't pull all three agencies. All bureaus are frozen.
I call and ask which one they use and then momentarily unfreeze it.
If they say all three, I'm not interested.
I want to feel good, no great, about the credit card companies I use. I wan't to feel like I'm a winner by using their services and that the relationship greatly benefits me. I have no cards, "just because". One department store card, Banana Republic, because I shop there a lot and having the card really adds up to great savings. Anyone else out there like me?
If a card works for my spend thats usually enough. Customer service is important but ususlly we wont know how good it is until we need to use it. Im picky in that if the card doesnt swipe i dont want it
Picky is subjective like most things.
My criteria for cards/issuers is very different than your list.
@Flex1 wrote:1). Only apply and accept cards that offer the lowest interest rate possible ( my Navy Fed is 11.99)
I PIF , have never let a CC issuer make a dime of interest, and this is last on my list to worry about.
2). Only credit card companies that have excellent customer service and 24hr access.
Almost never have to call for customer service, so again next to last on importance scale
3). Only credit card companies that don't pull all three agencies.
I get a new card every few years so I could care less.
This might be even lower than the others
I want to feel good, no great, about the credit card companies I use. I wan't to feel like I'm a winner by using their services and that the relationship greatly benefits me. I have no cards, "just because". One department store card, Banana Republic, because I shop there a lot and having the card really adds up to great savings. Anyone else out there like me?
For Me:
1) A credit card's rewards & benefits.
2) Sp CL increases
3) No Games
Requiring you also have a checking, savings, debit card, minimum balances, # of deposits, debit transactions, etc
Cards that most pique my interest usually have the following attributes (not always all available together on one card):
(1) Low interest rate
(2) Rewards program
(3) Option for regular CLIs, SP preferred
I have made some exceptions to my low-APR rule in the past to app for certain cards with higher/high APRs that I felt had extra-robust rewards, such as the US Bank Cash+ card with its two selectable 5% rewards categories.
@Flex1 wrote:1). Only apply and accept cards that offer the lowest interest rate possible ( my Navy Fed is 11.99)
2). Only credit card companies that have excellent customer service and 24hr access.
3). Only credit card companies that don't pull all three agencies. All bureaus are frozen.
I call and ask which one they use and then momentarily unfreeze it.
If they say all three, I'm not interested.
I want to feel good, no great, about the credit card companies I use. I wan't to feel like I'm a winner by using their services and that the relationship greatly benefits me. I have no cards, "just because". One department store card, Banana Republic, because I shop there a lot and having the card really adds up to great savings. Anyone else out there like me?
Of your list, #2 is the most important to me. I canceled 3 or 4 cards with Bank of America at once (including my beloved Merrill+ card) after a 55 minute wait to speak with a CSR regarding a fraudulent charge. I also had a 35+ minute wait earlier in the day, which I had to abandon. The other banks I do business with have been much more considerate of my time whenever I’ve had to call, especially Chase. I also disposed of a Fifth Third Bank card solely due to poor/rude customer service. When your product is average to begin with, I tend to have a very low tolerance level for your other shortcomings.
I will say that I became “picky” once I successfully met all of my credit card interests. I believe the last personal credit card I applied for was the FNBO Travelite credit card 1.5 years ago, and that’s because it offered something quite rare and unique: $100 airline incidentals credit and Global Entry credit with $0 AF. It truly takes something along those lines to catch my attention nowadays.
