Credit card reward/cashback options
Discussion
Up until now my wife and I have always just used a debit card for spending but I feel like we're missing a trick not using a credit card and getting the purchase protection benefits and potentially some cashback / reward points. We'd just clear it each month. Cash back sounds more useful to us than rewards as we don't really fly that much or stay in many hotels and a lot of the reward schemes seem geared up to that.
It seems quite hard to pick through the noise of what is available with so many of the headlines offers being for quite limited periods and any potential rewards being very unclear.
Currently bank with Halifax but their cashback card is only 0.25% which I'm not going to get very excited about! But whatever we do, we'll need to both be able to have a card and full access to the online account but I assume that is normal?
I notice Amex seem good in terms of cashback etc but will we face many instances where they're not accepted. I know it used to be a problem but maybe okay now?
Any thoughts on this PH?
It seems quite hard to pick through the noise of what is available with so many of the headlines offers being for quite limited periods and any potential rewards being very unclear.
Currently bank with Halifax but their cashback card is only 0.25% which I'm not going to get very excited about! But whatever we do, we'll need to both be able to have a card and full access to the online account but I assume that is normal?
I notice Amex seem good in terms of cashback etc but will we face many instances where they're not accepted. I know it used to be a problem but maybe okay now?
Any thoughts on this PH?
https://www.headforpoints.com/
Points IME tend to be better if you use them to fly.
Cash back cards are fairly pitiful, John Lewis one where you get a voucher is good as you seemed to get better value.
Points IME tend to be better if you use them to fly.
Cash back cards are fairly pitiful, John Lewis one where you get a voucher is good as you seemed to get better value.
We have various credit cards ( only used as charge cards ) for different things ( including internet only purchases ) and this includes Amex Gold Rewards for points although the reward value doesn’t quite compensate for the annual fee !
I’ve not found an issue with being able to use this card although our everyday Barclaycard Platinum card is used far more often albeit no rewards / no cash back on that.
We did have a Barclaycard rewards card ( free so the points spend was a much better equation ) but they have just written to me to say they are closing that and swopping to a cash back basis of a similar to Halifax 0.25%. so will just accept that.
I’ve not found an issue with being able to use this card although our everyday Barclaycard Platinum card is used far more often albeit no rewards / no cash back on that.
We did have a Barclaycard rewards card ( free so the points spend was a much better equation ) but they have just written to me to say they are closing that and swopping to a cash back basis of a similar to Halifax 0.25%. so will just accept that.
I have a Tesco credit card which I use for my work expenses. Usually get £20-£30 a quarter so not a massive amount but worth the effort, you can exchange the vouchers for experiences which get you a higher value but I usually buy a bottle of something when the voucher lands. It's always paid back to a zero balance every month as a months interest will wipe out any gains from the points.
I’ve had the basic Amex car for years. Do all my spending on it (apart from small independent places)
The cash back is nowhere near as good as it was say 10 years ago, but it still adds up
The thing that is often impressive is the in app offers, like “spend 50 on petrol at x and get a £10 credit”
I’ve set it to pay the full balance each month
The cash back is nowhere near as good as it was say 10 years ago, but it still adds up
The thing that is often impressive is the in app offers, like “spend 50 on petrol at x and get a £10 credit”
I’ve set it to pay the full balance each month
Used Amex cashback for over 20 years, works well for me I get 1.25% using the card which costs £25 a year to have.
I buy everything on it so it really adds up, my Paypal is linked to it as well and between them that seems to cover all the retailers I use.
Usually get about £300 a year back.
The added benefit is that Amex customer service is exceptional and I have found on the two occasions I have needed them to sort out a retailer who was messing me about they were 100% on my side and immediately reversed the transaction and left the retailer hanging.
I buy everything on it so it really adds up, my Paypal is linked to it as well and between them that seems to cover all the retailers I use.
Usually get about £300 a year back.
The added benefit is that Amex customer service is exceptional and I have found on the two occasions I have needed them to sort out a retailer who was messing me about they were 100% on my side and immediately reversed the transaction and left the retailer hanging.
Amex all the way, 95% of my monthly cc spend is on there.
The only places that generally don't accept it are garages, car parks and smaller restaurants/vendors. I have a Barclaycard mastercard for those occasions which gives 0.5% cashback.
Anyway the biggest benefit is not the cashback but the purchase protection which you've been missing out on by using a debit card!
The only places that generally don't accept it are garages, car parks and smaller restaurants/vendors. I have a Barclaycard mastercard for those occasions which gives 0.5% cashback.
Anyway the biggest benefit is not the cashback but the purchase protection which you've been missing out on by using a debit card!
I have an Amex cash back credit card amongst others. I use it when and where available and especially for car tax. I have two top rate VED cars and use my Amex card for that. I then SORN my cars, one at the end of March and the other six months later, for six months each time. DVLA pays me back by cheque so not only do I make 1% cash back when I buy road tax, I also still make 1% when DVLA refund the tax. I'd make a fortune if I had more cars. Just a game I like to play really.
(In writing this, I have just realised I could do it every month, so 12 times a year for each car ... It's genius)
(In writing this, I have just realised I could do it every month, so 12 times a year for each car ... It's genius)
RATATTAK said:
I have an Amex cash back credit card amongst others. I use it when and where available and especially for car tax. I have two top rate VED cars and use my Amex card for that. I then SORN my cars, one at the end of March and the other six months later, for six months each time. DVLA pays me back by cheque so not only do I make 1% cash back when I buy road tax, I also still make 1% when DVLA refund the tax. I'd make a fortune if I had more cars. Just a game I like to play really.
(In writing this, I have just realised I could do it every month, so 12 times a year for each car ... It's genius)
Fantastic (In writing this, I have just realised I could do it every month, so 12 times a year for each car ... It's genius)
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