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Credit Cards (Barclaycard alternatives)

Hi group,

I've only ever had one Credit Card - a Barclaycard which I've had for almost

11 months now. I've always preferred debit cards but changed my mind last year as I could get purchase protection with most (all?) credit cards.

I went for Barclaycard, purely because everyone had one and they were pretty standard. I wasn't (and still I'm not) interested in interest rates as I always tend to pay the balance off on time.

This morning, I got my latest statement with Barclaycard along with the

*third* change of their terms. I do not recall their previous changes, but this one really caught my eye - they're stopping Purchase Cover from 14th June 2004, as "few of their customers benefit from Barclaycard Purchase Cover and this number continues to fall". In addition, their extended warranty will only apply on purchases over 150, although this used to be

  2. The purchase cover is pretty much a bread and butter requirement for me so I'm going to cancel my card (how do I do this?) and looking for alternatives - I'd very much appreciate people's advice on what to go for. My exact requirements are these points included as standard (or as many as possible):

- No annual fee

- Cashback on all/most purchases or other points/rewards scheme (e.g. Air Miles or equivalent)

- Maximum interest-free period and ability to pay by DD

- Extended warranty

- Purchase cover

- Anti-fraud guarantee (online and elsewhere)

- International rescue/benefits

- Travel Insurance (accident or otherwise)

Thanks in advance for your help guys!

Reply to
root
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Reply to
The Blue Max

"> The purchase cover is pretty much a bread and butter requirement for me so

The one thing you forgot in your list is liability for fraud - If you've not got a PIN with your credit card then most you can be held liable for is £50 (this is for fraud committed before your card is reported lost or stolen). If you do accept a PIN then you can be liablie for the whole cost of fraud if it is considered you've been negligent with your PIN. Therefore unless you want to get cash from a cash machine with your credit card you will have no use for a PIN. Insist on a Chip & Signature Card.

You may find a Nationwide Cash Reward card covers most of your needs.

James.

Reply to
James

Thanks for all your replies people.

I think I've narrowed my choices down to:

- The AmEx Blue card or The AmEx British Airways card

- LloydsTSB's create card or their Platinum card

- Anything else that's worth considering that I haven't seen yet!

Thanks again!

Reply to
root

Make sure that the card you choose is widely accepted. Amex is not in many places. Also make sure you are getting a credit card as opposed to a charge card. Many Gold or Platinum cards to not offer protection under the Consumer Credit Regulations. A true credit card does.

Reply to
Peter Crosland

Thanks, Peter. I had no idea Gold/Platinum cards can be like that.

I have a Gold *debit* card with LloydsTSB (= charge card). It offers some form of protection, but it's not enough.

I presume an online application should be OK for a credit card? What do I do with my old Barclaycard - how do I cancel it?

Reply to
root

Write to the customer services (address on your statement) and say you want to cancel it. You are still responsible for any transactions before your account is finally closed.

Alec

Reply to
Alec

Neither did I and unless some evidence can be provided I suspect there might be just one or two and some wild extrapolation is going on.

Reply to
Tumbleweed

The critical thing is credit card or chargecard. If you have to pay the balance off each month it is not a credit card.

Reply to
Peter Crosland

"Tumbleweed" wrote

Exactly. Peter - any evidence??

Reply to
Tim

Err... I pay the balance off my Barclaycard each month - does that mean it's a chargecard as oposed to a credit card? I'm confused now.

Reply to
root

No. If the card has a facility to offer extended credit, then it's a credit card and covered by CCA S75. Whether you choose to pay off in full each month or not is irrelevant.

Alec

Reply to
Alec

That's what I thought in the first place.

Reply to
root

I said so three times!

Reply to
Peter Crosland

Indeed but the thread started re *credit* cards and you then said words to the effect 'many gold and platinum cards dont have the same protection as ordinary credit cards' giving (at least to me) the impression that there were gold and platinum *credit cards* that didnt offer normal credit card protection.

Reply to
Tumbleweed

"Peter Crosland" wrote

Eh? Are you now retracting your earlier statement??

Reply to
Tim

Read The Previous Flipping Post!!!!

Reply to
Peter Crosland

For the very last time! Many Gold and Platinum cards are NOT credit cards but are in fact chargecards. I never said, nor implied, that ALL Gold or Platinum cards were chargecards.

Reply to
Peter Crosland

"Peter Crosland" wrote

That didn't provide any *evidence* that "Gold or Platinum cards" are charge cards (rather than credit cards) any more than non-gold & non-platinum ("classic") ones are.

Or would you like to point out where exactly this evidence was?? If you can't, I guess you should retract the statement ...

Reply to
Tim

I have personally held three! Now FOAD!

Reply to
Peter Crosland

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