Anyone got a world mastercard?

simplelife_2

We've been looking at renting a car in the States and apparently if you use a World Mastercard (a fancy premier version of MC) to book it, the card automatically covers car rental insurance and travel insurance. This is quite a perk! After looking it up on the web, it's difficult to find out how to apply. All the world mastercard issuers listed on the web are in the States and you have to be a resident there to get one of those. It's listed as a valid card on the UK website, with full details of the benefits, but they tell you to call your current card issuer. Mine is HSBC and they don't issue it. Tried calling Mastercard's helpline to find out what to do, but they keep transfering me to my bank and aren't sure who to put me through to outside of this.

Has anyone out there got one? Who did you apply to? How have you found it. It looks like it has promise.

benf90

CapitalOne were the only credit card issuer in the UK that issued the Mastercard World card when it was first launched over here.

I think it may have been the platinum card, but can't be sure for definate.

Mastercard used to have a dedicated World website which listed all of the World card issuers throughtout Europe etc, and CapitalOne was the only one listed on there when it first launched.

I've had another look now and that section looks to have been removed. It may be worth contacting CapitalOne if you want that specific card etc.

skyrider007

I believe Coutts & Co. (RBS Group) offers a World MasterCard if you have an account with them.

simplelife_2

Thanks to both of you. I checked out the terms and conditions for World Mastercard via the Capital One site. For anyone reading this link, they do offer a form of car insurance, but only damage waivers from what I can tell, it's not comprehensive so you'd probably end up purchasing some kind of extra insurance. Similarly, travel insuance seems to cover you flights/cancellation/baggage but not health. Might be good for European bookings though, where you can use your European health insurance card for free health cover.

festering_plates

I like blowing bubbles.

LongTermLurker

Apparantly I'm about to be upgraded to this - did you look into it any deeper Simplelife?

maveli

If you are an existing capitaone customer you will be upgraded to world master card from Feb 2009

LongTermLurker

Yes, that's what's spurred the question - I'm just reading through the Ts & Cs now

shinydoc

I would be interested to know anybody's thoughts are on the travel benefits. The document isn't exactly plain English and a table of benefits wouldn't go a miss.

If it is ok then you could save over £100 per family of 4 trip to the US.

They also include a CDW policy and would be interested on the views of that, because again, could be worth a tidy sum.

Anybody made a claim on theirs yet? I had a letter to say mine is in the post next month!

Peterrh

Capital One is withdrawing its free travel insurance with their World Mastercard from 1st November 2009. Does anyone know if there's an alternative that doesn't carry a monthly fee?

I'm referring to full travel insurance, not travel accident insurance. I'm aware that Amex offer a card with full insurance but it has a huge annual fee (£300). Capital One's World Mastercard offered full familiy travel insurance provided you paid at least 75% of the holiday with the card.

eschaton

Don't know what the benefits are as I haven't looked but the Egg Money MC is a World MC.