Question for Amex and Discover Cardholders

[Anonymous]

Every card has limited acceptance. I carry cards for all four major networks.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Nowadays it's important to carry more than one for other reasons as well: (1) Fraud -- hand your card to a gas station attendant in NJ and there's a good chance you'll need to use a different card the next day; (2) Fraud Prevention -- travel can trigger false fraud alerts, rendering your card unusable until you contact the bank and let them know that you are indeed in that different location.

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I had that happen when I travelled home to Portland for Christmas.  I had numerous calls and texts when I got off the plane.  Evidently, somoene had stolen my card number and used it when I was in the air.  US Bank had the new card overnighted to me.  The next day, Chase called and said my Southwest card (used mainly for travel) was compromised.  I had to wait until I got back to get that replaced.

Good thing I took more than one or two cards.

(Also, US Bank got me the new card immediately, I activated it, but no one told me to call the Fraud Line as well.  It wasn't until it was declined the secont time that I found out)

[Anonymous]

For international travel, you 100% need a Visa/MC backup. I'll usually bring my Discover and Amex PRG when I travel, but in most situations my BOA Travel Rewards (Visa) becomes my workhorse card outside the US. I did recently come across a few high-end stores and restaurants that accepted Amex in Thailand, and Discover had decent acceptance in Japan through the JCB network, but those were by far the exception compared to places that only took Visa/MC--I even ran across a restaurant in Bangkok that was MC only, no Visa, which I've never encountered in the US.

[takeshi74]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Do you ever worry about your card not being accepted, especially if you travel? Does this prompt you to carry a backup?

Do you ever feel that way with a VISA or MasterCard?

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I don't worry about it though it can happen with any payment network.  I just use another card if acceptance is an issue.  I don't carry just 1 card for day to day use to begin with and I certainly don't travel with just 1 card.  I usually have 3-4 on me.

Don't just rely on generlizations about acceptance.  Pay attention to what the merchants you use accept and do not accept.  Base your decision on that.  Granted, that doesn't help with travel to places you have not been but take 1 or 2 Visas/MC's as a precaution when traveling.

I have a BCP and only really use it for groceries.  None of the grocers that I frequent do not accept AmEx.  I generally don't take my BCP when traveling.  I only use Discover for the 5% categories and it's not always relevant for travel.  YMMV in how you'd use your Discover or AmEx cards as they both offer multiple cards.  On my last international trip I only used my CSP but most expenses were travel and dining.

[mikelo22]

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@Anonymous wrote:
never had to choose a different network when trying to use my discover or amex in my area except at the library once and one subway didn't accept discover (but that's the only one i have noticed)

most places accept them, even if it doesn't have the sticker.

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+1.  I've noticed this at a lot of places I frequent as well.  Many merchants accept Amex even if the sticker is conspicuously missing.  I'm not sure if this is intentional or not; though not wanting to pay higher swipe fees could certainly be a motivating factor.  So to avoid the higher Amex fees, they try to encourage customers to use a Visa or Mastercard.

Sure, there are mom & pop stores that won't accept Amex.  But I try to make a habit of using cash (if possible) for transactions at these kind of stores.  That way I save them the swipe fee they lose out on from me using credit.  So in the few places that don't take Amex, I probably wouldn't even be using a credit card anyway if I can avoid it.

[Anonymous]

I ran into a grocery store on Saturday that didn't take AmEx, which was a little bit annoying since I'm trying to rack up supermarket rewards on that card, but my regular stores take it.

[Anonymous]

I only carry a few cards when out and about locally. 

• Discover IT Card.
• AMX Blue Cash Card.
• My CU Debt card wit ha VISA logo on it.

I do have a VISA Plat card with my CU but I never really use it. No rewards but it has a 4K limit and a 5.6% interest rate. If they don't take Discover/AMX then I use my debt card. Even traveling! If I was going over seas...I'd add 1-2 more CC easy.

[Anonymous]

AmEx is not taken at several places around me, none of the Chineese restaurants will take it for example.  Oddly enough the only other restaurant that will not take it is the fanciest Itialian place in town.  For some unknown reason they will not take AmEx.

Discover taken everywhere so far excpet for Papa Murphys pizza, at least here.

I also carry a Visa and MC just to be safe.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Nowadays it's important to carry more than one for other reasons as well: (1) Fraud -- hand your card to a gas station attendant in NJ and there's a good chance you'll need to use a different card the next day; (2) Fraud Prevention -- travel can trigger false fraud alerts, rendering your card unusable until you contact the bank and let them know that you are indeed in that different location.

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I had that happen when I travelled home to Portland for Christmas.  I had numerous calls and texts when I got off the plane.  Evidently, somoene had stolen my card number and used it when I was in the air.  US Bank had the new card overnighted to me.  The next day, Chase called and said my Southwest card (used mainly for travel) was compromised.  I had to wait until I got back to get that replaced.

Good thing I took more than one or two cards.

(Also, US Bank got me the new card immediately, I activated it, but no one told me to call the Fraud Line as well.  It wasn't until it was declined the secont time that I found out)

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This par the course of the modern world.....

Most places in the US are gonna take AmEx and Discover....they many times will try to 'punk' you into using V/MC to save money on their fees...

I've seen this many times, especially decent ticket items like medical offices or auto repair they'll ask IF you have 'anything' else and hem n haw...

knowing of course most folks have another card...

My g/f's former employer played this game all the time...they wanted to push payments to say a 2% V/MC vs a 5% AmEX on decent tickets that's margin money small businessess prefer in their pockets vs the CC co

*Remember Discover is also

Diners Club

China Union

and

JCB (Japan)

Which means something overseas but folks in the states don't even remember Diners Club (let alone Carte Blanche)

[Anonymous]

I usually carry all of my cards with me anyway. Always have my quicksilver as a back up no ftf on that.