Which benefit credit card?

fugitive333

Hello all
We have had a Sainsbury's Credit card for years now and quite frankly, it's pointless!
I am not interested in vouchers and points, but have been looking to no avail for something with benefits such as breakdown cover and/or travel insurance. Do these sort of cards exist or is it just current accounts with fees?
We spend between £1500-2000 on our credit card every month.
Thanks in advance!

[Deleted User]

How about cashback, such as Amex?

fugitive333

Amex no good for me, I can't use it in IKEA!

[Deleted User]

Nationwide Flexaccount gives free European travel insurance with no fees, which would also make you eligible for their Select Credit Card, which pays 0.5% cashback too.

[Deleted User]

You ask a very broad question and one that is difficult to answer without more details.

Not many cards offer things like breakdown cover etc and if they do, they will probably come with a fee that outweighs the benefits.

You mention that you're not bothered about points etc but if you are putting a couple of £k through the account each month then you are potentially loosing out.

Rewards cards can be a bit overwhelming to the uninitiated - there are a lot of options. I wouldn't discount american express just because you can't use it at Ikea - get another card for Ikea spend if you like. The reason I say this is because Amex cards generally come with the best benefits.

Alternatively, why not start with something that has a very easy to get, tangible benefit. The Hilton Barclaycard will get you a free night voucher for spending only £750. This can be used at any hilton brand hotel worldwide - could be worth £250-300 if used wisely at one of their swankier properties like Conrad or Waldorf Astoria.

If you want to stay away from points then I'd also recommend the Amex Platinum cash back - it's one of the best one on the market and would make you £100 in the first couple of months with your spending (intro bonus is 5% up to £100). I can refer you if you like for an extra £25 cash back.

guesswho2000

Angelinas wrote: »

it is best of unuse it~~

Excellent, :spam: reported.

OP, reward credit cards tend to offer miles, points or cashback, unless you pay an annual or monthly fee, though the ones offering anything greater, to my knowledge, are only the Amex charge cards.

As billbennet states, if you want to avoid fees, the Nationwide Flexaccount for free European insurance coupled with the Select CC is the best option.

I actually recommend one step further than that, the Nationwide FlexPlus account, £10 per month gives worldwide travel insurance, euro breakdown cover, mobile phone insurance and free foreign cash withdrawals, with the Select credit card for fee free foreign purchase transactions and 0.5% cashback on sterling purchases is a great combination, in my opinion.

fugitive333

thank you for your constructive comments.

You have confirmed what I (didn't) find in that there isn't really a card that suits my needs.

Current account wise we are with Santander 123 which is great, so we won't be switching from that (utilise most of the 3% interest).

But I think an AMEX card does seem to be the best bet. The IKEA reference was that on top of £1500-2000 per month I also spend a lot of money at the store which (if put onto a credit card) would generate a lot of miles / cashback or whatever.

Thanks again.

Mcai7zh2

You can exchange Sainsburys points for easyjet travel vouchers

fugitive333

Mcai7zh2 wrote: »

You can exchange Sainsburys points for easyjet travel vouchers

thanks, didn't know that, have about £500 worth of nectar points!

Maestro.

I would also consider barclaycard's offerings, their high 5 cashback card for instance offers a massive 6% on top 5 purchases for the first three months and then 2% after that. All you have to do is make 15 transactions a month. The card also has other benefits like extended warranty. There's a small fee of only £24 but cashback on even mediocre spends should well cover that.

msallen

fugitive333 wrote: »

Current account wise we are with Santander 123 which is great, so we won't be switching from that (utilise most of the 3% interest).

I also use the Santander 123 for my main account, but I also put £750 through my Nationwide account too, thus getting the benefit of both.

If you spend over £750 per month on your CC and always pay it back in full, then simply open the Nationwide account, and set up a standing order from Santander to NW for £750 per month. Spend on the NW Select CC (for 0.5% cashback) and then settle it every month from the NW account (transferring in any more needed over and above the £750)

...thinking about it, this is the way to do it if you have the free NW account that has a requirement to put £750 a month through it. If you want the paid NW account then I don't think there is actually any requirement at all to put anything through it - although it would still be worth paying the NW CC via it, as that way payments are applied to your CC account instantly.