Recent grad needs high-limit card

texas+pete_3

I've just started a job where I'm paying for hotels & meals during the week and recharging them to my company at the end of each month. So I need a credit card with a high limit (£6000 or so would be good). I will be paying it off in full each month, and with such a high expenditure some sort of reward/cashback scheme would be good...

What cards would people reccomend? I was looking at the amex in the cashback cards article, but I'm put off by their reputation for not being accepted as widely as other cards. Do many places still charge you a surcharge for using amex also?

skyrider007

AMEX charge card have no pre-set limit as long as you pay the bill off in full every month (which is their requirement anyway).

Otherwise, you may want to have a look at MBNA cards but it's unlikely that you will be given £6k limit.

ldn-100

I've never seen a surcharge to the customer just for Amex. Although Ikea and local corner shops etc. often have a 50p or so charge for any credit card. Hospitality places tend to be more accepting of Amex. That said, I always carry another card (VISA/MC) to use in the event of non-Amex acceptance. Regardless of what card you get I would always advise getting a back-up card and carrying it with you. You never know when you might try to pay for something and the cashier says "declined", when it is in fact a security check, or some such other glitch.

Cranston_2

texas+pete wrote: »

What cards would people reccomend? I was looking at the amex in the cashback cards article, but I'm put off by their reputation for not being accepted as widely as other cards. Do many places still charge you a surcharge for using amex also?

The one time I was asked to pay a surcharge on Amex was when paying for a MOT.

For the type of spending you yes Amex cashback card should do you fine and as previous poster said always carry a VISA or Mastercard for the odd time you need something different.

All the card companies have cut back on cashback rates and so Amex is the clear current leader.

exel1966

MBNA, VIRGIN (MBNA), EGG usually give higher limits.

Is this your first c/card and do you have a credit history ?

Any retailer has the right to surcharge for ANY credit card use, whether it be a VISA,Mastercard or Amex. It's just that AMEX costs the retailer more, therefore some will not accept them.

texas+pete_3

exel1966 wrote: »

Is this your first c/card and do you have a credit history ?

I've had a student mastercard with natwest for 6 months or so that is always paid off in full monthly. Also been on mobile phone contracts for about 4 years.

Cheers for all the suggestions so far!

exel1966

So you don't have much of a credit history for any potential company to look at meaning your associated risk is higher.
Based upon that, I'd suggest you are very unlikely to obtain a card with a limit of what you're looking for, though you can but try.

Idiophreak

If your wage is decent, it might be worth contacting natwest and asking them about cranking up the limit - especially as you have a good reason for wanting to do it, it might work. Otherwise I, too, would recommend trying an MBNA group (maybe virgin) card.

I'd, personally, avoid amex if you can (as an aside, is it supposed to be spoken a-mex or am-ex? I always thought the former, but my gf reckons it's the latter and it does make more sense...) - I have a nectar amex card and it does get frustrating the amount of places that don't take it...quite often I get bored of asking and just use my mastercard to save the hassle...

exel1966

1 up to your g/f !

skyrider007

Idiophreak wrote: »

is it supposed to be spoken a-mex or am-ex? I always thought the former, but my gf reckons it's the latter and it does make more sense...) - I have a nectar amex card and it does get frustrating the amount of places that don't take it...quite often I get bored of asking and just use my mastercard to save the hassle...

It's normally pronounced A-MEX as you thought The card is very welcomed at most high-end shops and restaurants as well as luxury hotels and travel agencies (+ buying direct from BA.com etc). I was once in a luxury U.S. department store, Neiman Marcus, and they only accept AMEX cards there.

exel1966

Lived in the US for 3 years, had a card for 15+ years and have never heard it pronounced A-mex, it's always been known as Am-ex since conception.

Am(erican) Ex(press) - Am-Ex