American Express?

[RRGOO7]

I recently got a citi visa. Ive been using it for a few months and was disappointed to see the reward services they offer are total bullshit. My buddy was telling me that american express is pretty decent on rewards. Im planning on keeping the visa just because some places dont take amex. What is everyone elses experience? My friend was telling me its harder to get approved for an amex...is this bull?

[!Xoible]

harder to get approved, but if u had a few credit cards before u should be good. they're better rewards for sure. but then again they're less accepted than like visa

[trackstar1]

Its not harder to get an Amex and I think Amex is the best card to have for the consumer. They seem to take care of you much better compared to the others. Thats how I see it.

* Only bad part is Amex is not accepted everywhere.

[RRGOO7]

Any reccomendations on which card to apply for? The optima looked pretty good...no annual fee.

[561design]

I have a corporate AMEX and have been very happy with the service. I don't know if that's because it's a corporate account or if it's because of an AMEX. In order for me to join the rewards program I have to pay $75 for it. Not a bad trade off though considering I put a couple thousand on it a month.

[jovel]

Originally Posted by RRGOO7

I recently got a citi visa. Ive been using it for a few months and was disappointed to see the reward services they offer are total bullshit. My buddy was telling me that american express is pretty decent on rewards. Im planning on keeping the visa just because some places dont take amex. What is everyone elses experience? My friend was telling me its harder to get approved for an amex...is this bull?

Keep your Citi Visa. Closing accounts affects your credit score. Even if you don't put anything on it, you are still in good standings/relationship with the creditor.

American Express pulls Equifax and TransUnion. If your credit score is ~640, you shouldn't have any problem being accepted for the personal green card.

This will be a good read for you... http://www.creditcards.com/American-Express.php

I have the green rewards card myself.

[new2the3]

I mainly use my Amex Rewards Plus and find it to be a good card. I have a visa signature as my secondary card. Keep in mind that most Amex such as the one I have are a charge card and not a credit card. They are no spending limit and you must pay your bill in full.

[ska///235i]

if you pay off every month...AE is a very good card
I travel with it, and when I get a rental car using AE, I don't have to buy insurance coverage cuz AE will cover you. Other services and rewards are pretty good also.

[shragon]

amex... don't leave home without it

however, like you said, not all places take amex, so it's always good to have a backup, visa or mastercard.

[325 Baller]

Im leaving for college next month and applied for an AE Blue card in my name and was approved. I hear very good things about it and in conjunction with my BoA atm card that can be used at a visa I feel as if all grounds are covered.

[RiXst3r]

I use a skymiles AMEX card for everything... and I use my rewards to fly first class for free whenever I fly, which is about twice a year for vacations... the wife loves it... and I love it because it makes vacations affordable when I can fly free...

rewards are good on the skymiles amex if you like to fly, just don't carry a balance! because the interest rates aren't the best...

[nunavut]

I've got an AMEX Platinum Business account- pay it off at the end of the month. I get cash back for purchases, which mostly consist of auto fuel @ 5% back at commercial gas stations such as Shell, BP, etc. No go @ Costco or warehouse style stations.

[Kev]

Get the Blue with cash back or the Skymiles / the new travel card, much better deal than the others.

[ideliver]

20 yrs AE user...but also consider capital one with the cash back rewards...

[sinnet112]

This is a really good card –
http://www.firstusa.com/cgi-bin/webc...ash&page=index

Chase Freedom Plus

Pretty much every place you spend on fits into 1 of 15 categories. Your top 6 category expenditures each month gets you 3% cash back, the other 9 get you 1%. When you get up to $200 in cash rewards, they send you a $250 check. I've been a very satisfied card user, and I have 3 other credit cards that I rarely use now.

[nj335i]

If you like Starwood hotels, get the Starwood AMEX card. ABSOLUTELY, HANDS DOWN the best return on points you accrue by using the card.

[F2006]

I have the Costco AMEX card (no annual fee while you are a Costco member) which is pretty good (3% on restaurant and gas, 1% in everything else).

I also have the Chase 'Freedom’ Visa that gives you 3% on 3 out of 15 categories (their categories include utilities, cell phones, restaurants, etc.) and 1% in everything else (they select every month the 3 categories most advantageous to you).

IMO it is best to have both cards and use them in such a way you maximize the 3% rewards (i.e. always charge gas and restaurants in AMEX, while charging the three biggest expenses as per Freedom Card categories in Visa).

Of course this works well as long as you pay the full amount by end of month and do not incur in late fees: these cards tend to have higher interest rates and higher fees than most.

[Davinhci]

Originally Posted by nj335i

If you like Starwood hotels, get the Starwood AMEX card. ABSOLUTELY, HANDS DOWN the best return on points you accrue by using the card.

+1

[PBmadness]

Originally Posted by F2006

I have the Costco AMEX card (no annual fee while you are a Costco member) which is pretty good (3% on restaurant and gas, 1% in everything else).

+1. Although I still get 5% on gas. Probably because I have an Executive Costco membership.

Don't forget 2% on travel too.

[nissan]

Amex Blue Cash is the best of their offerings IMO. 1.5% cash back on everything, 5% on the everyday stuff -- gas, grocery, pharma. No limit on the cash back either. It felt great seeing a $1,000 statement credit show up auto. 2 mths ago when my rewards period ended (1 yr). Been using it past 4-5 yrs as my primary and the Chase Freedom Visa as a backup.

[kwbmw]

Amex is the best cards that I have used so far. I use the Amex Platinum. The annual fee is 450 bucks but I get buy one get one free domestic coach tickets, and international business tickets. It has great rewards.

[NoKaOi]

AMEX Skymiles FTW.
You can fly "round the world" ...6 stops over 3 continents for free for 140,000 Amex Skymiles. I'm at over 300,000 now and plan on taking a friend on the trip this fall.