What's your favorite credit card?

[GREENBACK]

I know cc's aren't particularly popular at this site but I also know a lot of people use them for convienience and rewards. I think the responsible use of a credit card indicates financial discipline and control of your finances.

Because I'm an outdoorsman, I use a Cabela's(outdoor retail giant)visa for virtually all purchases and I get a 1% kickback for ordinary purchases and 5% for purchases through them. They have a great statement that is detailed and easy to understand and send an end of the year statement detailing all purchases by category. Of course, there's no annual fee(doe's any cc company still do this?) or other sneaky charges.

I track everything I buy with it but could probably get by without doing this. I don't worry about interest charges because I never carry a balance but I believe my rate is only about 10%( good for a rewards card).

I'm curious if there are other great cards out there and what do they offer that's valuable to you.

[maat55]

I hate them all, but I use Countrywide Visa and get 2% towards my mortgage.

[GREENBACK]

Originally Posted by maat55

I hate them all, but I use Countrywide Visa and get 2% towards my mortgage.

I know people hate them but it's up to the user IMO to be responsible with them. I don't hate cc's or the companies anymore than I hate mortgage companies. People who got in trouble with both of these types of credit have only themeselves to blame.

[maat55]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

I know people hate them but it's up to the user IMO to be responsible with them. I don't hate cc's or the companies anymore than I hate mortgage companies. People who got in trouble with both of these types of credit have only themeselves to blame.

I agree that they are only a tool, I just like having something to hate and CC's sound as good as anything.

[GREENBACK]

There are certainly reasons to disapprove of some of their practices but it's slightly empowering to use them without them controlling you.

[MonkeyMama]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

I know people hate them but it's up to the user IMO to be responsible with them. I don't hate cc's or the companies anymore than I hate mortgage companies. People who got in trouble with both of these types of credit have only themeselves to blame.

I don't agree. I hate them all too.

I have yet to have had a credit card with anything good to say about it.

I use Chase Freedom because I earn on average 3% cash back.

I am probably going to drop them because they have yet to remove a $20 fraudulent charge and told me they mailed me an affidavit 3 times. Puh-leez. Yeah sure, it got lost in the mail 3 times. Whatevah.

I just spent 6 months removing fraudulent charges off another card. In both cases they informed me and then pretty much refused to remove them until I called about 10 times.

I have yet to have good customer service with a credit card, and I've used about 6 companies over the years. Nothing nice to say.

Even my credit union had a very low minimum and an annual fee. No rewards. But at least the customer service was okay. Maybe I should go back to that. I don't even care about the rewards any more - not worth the headache.

Never paid a dime of interest, but yeah, not a fan anyway.

[disneysteve]

I happen to love my credit cards. I don't think they are evil and I have never had a moments trouble with them (except for one fraudulent charge a couple of years ago but they took care of it quickly).

My main card is our Marriott Visa. We have their Premier card. I do pay a $65 annual fee but in return for that, I get a certificate each year for a free stay at up to a category 5 hotel. That certificate is worth $150-$200, so I don't mind the annual fee at all.

We average a free vacation every other year. One year we got 5 free nites in Boston, then 5 in San Francisco. Last year, we got 10 free nites in New Hampshire. Right at the moment, I have enough points for up to 11 free nights (though in reality it would be less since we'd stay at a nicer hotel). We'll probably use points in 2009 for a trip somewhere.

We also use our Discover cards but mainly to take advantage of their 5% cash back bonus deals.

[coreys]

American Express Blue card all the way. I normally pay it off at the end of the month but if I can't that month then no worries. I get rewards points for every dollar spent and their customer service is 1st class. I was in Chicago once on vaca and for some reason could not use my card--I think it was expiring or something and they had me go to one of their locations down the road and had a temporary card waiting for me within 24 hours. Never had that with MBNA or Chase. I am even thinking of upgrading to their gold card this year due to their AAA like car services. The annual 55 fee would be more than paid for should you get locked out of your car or have a flat.

[SacredFaerie]

Navy Federal Visa. A wonderful card. Really helped me out when I had more money than sense right out of high school.

[hmd2009]

Originally Posted by SacredFaerie

Navy Federal Visa. A wonderful card. Really helped me out when I had more money than sense right out of high school.

Same here, I have the NRewards Visa and their Platinum mastercard. Navy Fed is absolutely the best.

[Bimmer]

Originally Posted by coreys

American Express Blue card all the way.

+1, great card and company.

[kork13]

I've been mostly quite happy with my credit cards, which I use almost exclusively for the convenience and rewards. For the last few years, I've had the USAA Mastercard for general purchases (1% back), then Discover's Gas card for the 5% back. I've liked both, esp. the simplicity and terms/limits of my USAA card, but I actually just recently looked into PenFed's Cash Rewards Visa (5% gas, 2% grocery, 1.25% everything else). I'm planning on replacing the two former cards (plus another I have but don't really use much) with the PenFed card. We'll see how it goes, but I've only heard very good things about it.

[simpleyme]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

I think the responsible use of a credit card indicates financial discipline and control of your finances.

.

boy the credit cards have brain washed every one "look at how financially responsible i am i can use a credit card" I think using credit cards is just no big deal and proves nothing
if you have not noticed they issue them to everyone, not a exclusive club by any means

use it get a few points get some cash back


but to answer the question I have no favorite

[GREENBACK]

Originally Posted by simpleyme

boy the credit cards have brain washed every one "look at how financially responsible i am i can use a credit card" I think using credit cards is just no big deal and proves nothing
if you have not noticed they issue them to everyone, not a exclusive club by any means

use it get a few points get some cash back


but to answer the question I have no favorite

"brainwashed", are you kidding me? The brainwashed are those who go out and max them out and cry to people like me for a way out of their mess. They are a financial tool for smart people who know how to handle their finances in a responsible manner.

I don't use cc's to prove anything. I don't owe any thing on them and I don't blame them for anything. They" issue" (offer) them to everyone but not everyone has to accept them.

I take my rewards and use them as I see fit to do. If everyone acted like responsible adults, credit cards would be a great thing but not everyone is suited for them.

[gamecock43]

I have a Visa to collect points then redeem them for cash. I cant be bothered keeping up with discovers 5% cash back on this/not that...though I have a discover from when I needed a 0% interest charge balance transfer a few years ago.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by simpleyme

boy the credit cards have brain washed every one "look at how financially responsible i am i can use a credit card" I think using credit cards is just no big deal and proves nothing
if you have not noticed they issue them to everyone, not a exclusive club by any means

The news (and this site) is filled with stories of people who couldn't handle their credit cards, using them to buy thousands of dollars of things that they couldn't afford and now struggling to make the payments. Sure, anyone with a pulse can get one, but that doesn't mean they should or that they know how to use it properly.

I've made thousands of dollars off of my cards over the years by beating them at their own game. I've never paid a penny in interest or fees and I've collected tons of rewards. If that makes me brainwashed, so be it.

[boosami]

Originally Posted by simpleyme

boy the credit cards have brain washed every one "look at how financially responsible i am i can use a credit card" I think using credit cards is just no big deal and proves nothing
if you have not noticed they issue them to everyone, not a exclusive club by any means

use it get a few points get some cash back


but to answer the question I have no favorite

You're right... Simply having or using a credit card does not make you a financial grown up. There's a difference between using credit and using credit responsibly. Maybe this thread should be renamed "What's your favorite credit card to use responsibly?"

[simpleyme]

LOL
I still think the use of credit cards does not mean you are winning financially

but what would I know

[GREENBACK]

Originally Posted by simpleyme

LOL
I still think the use of credit cards does not mean you are winning financially

but what would I know

I do think that those who are in a position where they can use a credit card responsibly are in the financial winner category. If you use your card(s) and pay them off and never incur fees and get rewards; guess what?....... You're winning.

I know the cc companies get a kickback from the retailers that is bigger than the rewards they offer but that's how the buisness works.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

I do think that those who are in a position where they can use a credit card responsibly are in the financial winner category. If you use your card(s) and pay them off and never incur fees and get rewards; guess what?....... You're winning.

I could use my CC to buy a bunch of crap I don't need and pay it off every month which obviously wouldn't be a good idea, so just the fact that I pay my bill in full doesn't mean my big financial picture is in order. If I'm not saving adequately because I'm shopping all the time, I'm not being responsible with my money, credit card or not.