Nationwide Platinum Card

hardisty

My wister who lives in California uses a C C which gives 10% back for every $1 she spends. O.K it is not paid back in cash but she can go to a website and purchase things using her "money". On the face of it that sounds a better deal

I also understand that wherever she uses her card there is no additional amount added for using it - and if you want to know what really made her fall about laughing - is how here, in the U.K, consumers are charged (by using an 0871 number) to call a company to buy something where an additonal charge is added for using the C.C

le_loup

Wow! It sounds as if we should all move to California.

Biggles

hardisty wrote: »

My wister who lives in California uses a C C which gives 10% back for every $1 she spends.

10%? Which card is that?

indprince2000

This is what moneysavingexpert states about both the cards (in the section 'Cheap Travel Money - Top cards for spending abroad'):

1. Nationwide Gold credit card (Pre Feb 2011):

This is a top overseas spending card

Key Info: One of the best cards for spending overseas - well done! You get perfect exchange rates. It's far cheaper to spend on the card than withdraw cash.

2. Nationwide New Gold credit card (post 22 Feb 2011):

This is a bog standard overseas spending card

Key Info: Using it is not good, but not a disaster. It's far better to switch to a specialist card if you've time before going away. If you use it, spending's cheaper than withdrawing cash. If you must withdraw, bigger chunks in fewer withdrawals is cheaper than smaller, more regular ones.

Roger1

calypso_rhapsody wrote: »

In what way is this card superior to the Cash Reward Gold Card that i have held for many years? I phoned Nationwide only recently to double check that overseas transactions were still commission free on it and they are ....

If 'overseas' = Europe, that's right. Otherwise it's a 1% surcharge. The platinum card is 0% everywhere.

... and i get cash back on uk purchases (i think at 0.5% but would need to double check that - might be 1% but not less than 0.5%).

Sorry, 'not less than 0.5%' is just 0.25%. The new card is 0.5% with an introductory offer of 1%.

Roger1

hardisty wrote: »

My wister who lives in California uses a C C which gives 10% back for every $1 she spends. O.K it is not paid back in cash but she can go to a website and purchase things using her "money". On the face of it that sounds a better deal

Not typical. Most US cashback cards hover around 1%, with specialist cards (e.g. for fuel) offering up to 3%. And many (most?) US cards have an annual fee.

I also understand that wherever she uses her card there is no additional amount added for using it ...

True.

- and if you want to know what really made her fall about laughing - is how here, in the U.K, consumers are charged (by using an 0871 number) to call a company to buy something where an additonal charge is added for using the C.C

That's another discussion. The US uses 800 (0800) numbers far more than we do. I refuse to call 0871 numbers and usually find an alternative using www.saynoto0870.com.

It's curious (and stupid, too) that I can call a company using their US 800 number for less than I can call their UK 0844/0845/0870/0871 number.

Roger1

indprince2000 wrote: »

This is what moneysavingexpert states about both the cards ...

The gold cards you mention are no longer available to new applicants. The only Nationwide credit card now generally available is this one: http://www.nationwide.co.uk/creditcard/default.htm

The platinum card in this thread is a new card being rolled out to certain existing customers, for the time being anyway.

dzug1

hardisty wrote: »

My wister who lives in California uses a C C which gives 10% back for every $1 she spends. O.K it is not paid back in cash but she can go to a website and purchase things using her "money". On the face of it that sounds a better deal

Assuming that goods on that website are not overpriced to begin with. And are things that you actually want. Offers of a similar nature here do exist (not necessarily linked to CCs) and generally fall down on one or both of those points

sallyesau

I received a letter today stating that as I regularly deposit £750 per month into my Flex Account my Cash Reward Visa Credit Card will be upgraded to a Platinum card. One of the benefits will be that my cash reward will increase from 0.25% to 0.5%. However, it also states that if you do not pay £750 into your Flex Account each month you will not earn any cash reward. I have never deposited this monthly amount despite their letter stating that I do so I will be worse off as I will forfeit my cash reward. When I pointed this out to them and told them that I would prefer to keep my existing card they said that I will not have that option. So, in my case and presumably others too, it is their way of saving money by stopping your cash reward.

chattychappy

Yep, though not sure they are specifically thinking of that.

I've just been told I'm getting the new card. I don't put £750 into my account every month.

I currently have a gold card (no cash reward), so really I'm benefiting as I only use the gold card as a backup overseas card. I'll now pay 0% loading instead of 1% loading.