This new Curve Mastercard...
Discussion
..has anyone heard of it?
Read an article here: http://www.headforpoints.com/2016/02/18/curve-card... which seems to suggest I can apply for a Curve card, attach my existing cards to it and use it as essentially a single payment gateway.
This sounds ideal for several reasons;
i. I no longer have to carry four cards with me at all times (Amex, my backup Visa for the places that don't accept Amex, debit card for cash and my corporate Mastercard for expenses) as it will replace all.
ii. I will be able to use the Curve as the gateway for all payments to my Amex, which means I can now get 1.25% cashback on everything even stores that would not usually accept Amex.
iii. I can take cash out on this card without fee as it'll register as a purchase with Amex and not as a cash advance. The advantage of course being I'll get 1.25% cashback on any cash withdrawals.
iv. It is Contactless, which is handy as only my debit card is Contactless and I find it much quicker than using PIN.
v. It's a sleek brushed metal card, which appeals as I am a lover of all things minimalistic.
Downsides seem to be;
i. The app, which needs to used, is iOS only and I am currently using an Android phone.
ii. The T&Cs make this a business card, and you need to be a freelancer or self-employed to apply.
Anyone else ordered one or looked into one?
Read an article here: http://www.headforpoints.com/2016/02/18/curve-card... which seems to suggest I can apply for a Curve card, attach my existing cards to it and use it as essentially a single payment gateway.
This sounds ideal for several reasons;
i. I no longer have to carry four cards with me at all times (Amex, my backup Visa for the places that don't accept Amex, debit card for cash and my corporate Mastercard for expenses) as it will replace all.
ii. I will be able to use the Curve as the gateway for all payments to my Amex, which means I can now get 1.25% cashback on everything even stores that would not usually accept Amex.
iii. I can take cash out on this card without fee as it'll register as a purchase with Amex and not as a cash advance. The advantage of course being I'll get 1.25% cashback on any cash withdrawals.
iv. It is Contactless, which is handy as only my debit card is Contactless and I find it much quicker than using PIN.
v. It's a sleek brushed metal card, which appeals as I am a lover of all things minimalistic.
Downsides seem to be;
i. The app, which needs to used, is iOS only and I am currently using an Android phone.
ii. The T&Cs make this a business card, and you need to be a freelancer or self-employed to apply.
Anyone else ordered one or looked into one?
I read the article too, I don't have an Amex and only have 1 debit card and 1 credit card so it wouldn't be worth it for me.
The big downside I can see is that it acts as a prepaid credit card so can't be used as a normal credit card, eg for car hire pre authorisation and the like. Also it means that purchases are not covered under the consumer credit act which could be material if there is a problem.
Overall, I'd say a gimmic unless you have an Amex which appears to be accepted in fewer places these days.
The big downside I can see is that it acts as a prepaid credit card so can't be used as a normal credit card, eg for car hire pre authorisation and the like. Also it means that purchases are not covered under the consumer credit act which could be material if there is a problem.
Overall, I'd say a gimmic unless you have an Amex which appears to be accepted in fewer places these days.
I posted the below in another thread but no one has commented. What are your thoughts?
That curve card looks interesting.
Now a quick question. Have they inadvertently made a card with a licence to print air miles? They say cash withdrawals are treated as purchases. So I take my curve card linked to my virgin airmiles card (2 miles for every £ spent) with its £10k limit, take the £10k out in cash over the month (I have a £1k per day withdrawal limit), pay the withdrawn cash into my bank and use it to pay off the credit card bill.
Free 20k airmiles a month?
That curve card looks interesting.
Now a quick question. Have they inadvertently made a card with a licence to print air miles? They say cash withdrawals are treated as purchases. So I take my curve card linked to my virgin airmiles card (2 miles for every £ spent) with its £10k limit, take the £10k out in cash over the month (I have a £1k per day withdrawal limit), pay the withdrawn cash into my bank and use it to pay off the credit card bill.
Free 20k airmiles a month?
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