No credit card required
Browse credit cards from a variety of issuers to see if there's a better card for you.
@Anonymous wrote:Had auto with USAA.
Added homeowners. Dropped cost of Auto $150/year.
Added additional coverage for jewelry, etc. Dropped auto $288/year
savings/checking. Dropped cost of Auto $308
Added Life: Dropped auto $354.
Plus all of the rates on above products were as good, but usually much better than competitors. I saved in the homeowners, matched next best life, additional coverage for jewelry & misc items was essentially free (cost $77 per year but by adding I saved $70/year on auto), and checking/savings was free and they provided free checks.
So, I got better rates across the board and then saved $354/year additional.
BOTTOM LINE: USAA rewards loyalty and increased relationships. Next DW will apply for USAA MC or AMEX.
Message Edited by txjohn on 08-11-2009 11:40 AM
I'd have to agree that USAA does reward continued membership. More than that, however, they are just simply nice people to deal with and do, in as much as possible, have consumer-friendly policies.
Sure, there are a few people out there who cry big, fat crocodile tears because USAA raised their credit card APR from, say, 5.5% to 14%, because USAA wouldn't let them kite checks, because USAA got upset because these people continually failed to pay their insurance premiums on time or because they were included in an individual's bankruptcy, but rather than making USAA look bad it only proves that some people just have too much available free time on their hands.
If you look at a posts on this forum you'll see a lot of people with interest rates hovering at or even over 20% even though they have very good credit. With USAA you need to miss two consecutive payments to get slammed with the penalty APR which is only 4% higher than one's normal rate. Try paying Chase or AmEx a day late and watch your rate hit close to 30%. CLD's? No. Ratejacks? Not hardly. USAA credit card rates are, though variable, permanent.
And fee-free cash advances from your USAA credit card if you run the money through your USAA checking account and then withdraw it. I used $500 for 4 days and it cost me a grand total of about 32 cents. Try that trick with Bank of America!
If you can get in, I'd recommend it. Even if you can't obtain full membership, they have a banking-only membership that is also worth it. There is talk of liberalizing membership requirements, but it's just that ... talk. Not sure if and when it will happen.
@DI wrote:
Can anyone become a member of USAA? I was in the AFROTC while in college. My dad is a member of the Army National Guard? I was allowed to become a member moments ago. I received a membership number. Will they kick me out?Message Edited by DI on 08-12-2009 10:50 PMMessage Edited by DI on 08-12-2009 10:51 PMMessage Edited by DI on 08-12-2009 10:51 PM
USAA now allows anyone to join for certain banking products. But only "eligible" members can purchase insurance products.
If your father is in the Guard and he joins, then you are eligible as a full member to include insurance. USAA allows only children of members as an eligibility criteria. Siblings, parents, extended family, etc. do not count.
So first you need to see if your Dad is a member or willing to join. Once he has a number, you can call into CS and have them update your membership linking eligibility to your Dad.
However, if you are only interested in the banking, then you have what you need now. But if possible to get the full membership, I higherly suggest doing so.
@Anonymous wrote:
@DI wrote:
Can anyone become a member of USAA? I was in the AFROTC while in college. My dad is a member of the Army National Guard? I was allowed to become a member moments ago. I received a membership number. Will they kick me out?Message Edited by DI on 08-12-2009 10:50 PMMessage Edited by DI on 08-12-2009 10:51 PMMessage Edited by DI on 08-12-2009 10:51 PM
USAA now allows anyone to join for certain banking products. But only "eligible" members can purchase insurance products.
If your father is in the Guard and he joins, then you are eligible as a full member to include insurance. USAA allows only children of members as an eligibility criteria. Siblings, parents, extended family, etc. do not count.
So first you need to see if your Dad is a member or willing to join. Once he has a number, you can call into CS and have them update your membership linking eligibility to your Dad.
However, if you are only interested in the banking, then you have what you need now. But if possible to get the full membership, I higherly suggest doing so.
I think the way it works is that the parent member must first have had USAA insurance at some point during their membership in order to pass membership on to their children. At least that's the way it once was.
With credit products, there is a difference in terms offered a full member and a banking only member.
txjohn- I have to say I just saw my rate increases for car/renters insurance and may be looking elsewhere.
When I opened my renters insurance it was 10.00 a month. The next year it jumped to $22.- no claims or coverage changes.
My Car insurance has steadily risen as well. I opened the account because it was $73 a month, now its going to over $100?
I think I may be checking Geico and the NFCU discount.
@Anonymous wrote:txjohn- I have to say I just saw my rate increases for car/renters insurance and may be looking elsewhere.
When I opened my renters insurance it was 10.00 a month. The next year it jumped to $22.- no claims or coverage changes.
My Car insurance has steadily risen as well. I opened the account because it was $73 a month, now its going to over $100?
I think I may be checking Geico and the NFCU discount.
You paying too much for rental insurance. I pay $9.42 with State Farm. Maybe you have better coverage than I do. You paying too much for auto insurance too. I pay $75with Eusrance. I have full coverage on my SUV.
@DI wrote:You paying too much for rental insurance. I pay $9.42 with State Farm. Maybe you have better coverage than I do. You paying too much for auto insurance too. I pay $75with Eusrance. I have full coverage on my SUV.
Thats kinda my point.
The auto is actually going to be 98.00 a month and I can get that cheaper at GEICO with the NFCU.
The renters I am really mad it went up so much
Personal Belongings (Includes Replacement Cost) $24,400 Personal Liability - Each Occurrence $300,000 Medical Payments to Others $5,000
Did you file a claim on your rental insurance? Normally your premium decreases , but I have noticed with State Farm they increase my coverage amount on their own to cover inflation cost which cause the premium to increase. I called each year to have the amount set back to what I originally had.
@Anonymous wrote:
@DI wrote:You paying too much for rental insurance. I pay $9.42 with State Farm. Maybe you have better coverage than I do. You paying too much for auto insurance too. I pay $75with Eusrance. I have full coverage on my SUV.Thats kinda my point.
The auto is actually going to be 98.00 a month and I can get that cheaper at GEICO with the NFCU.
The renters I am really mad it went up so much