No decent cash back CCs????

tonythecat

Hi,

I have been using Capital One for around 8 years now, no fee and 1% cash back, I use it for everything, around 20k pa, pay it off each month, a nice £200 Xmas bonus.

Tony

Archi_Bald

The trouble with Amex is that it isn't very widely accepted. So whilst their cashback rates are attractive, you need one or more other cards alongside an Amex. I use the Santander 123 petrol and transport tickets, and in department stores. I also have a couple of other 0.5% cashback VISA cards for those places that don't take AMEX or won't give me cashback on the 123 card.

zagfles

Archi_Bald wrote: »

The trouble with Amex is that it isn't very widely accepted. So whilst their cashback rates are attractive, you need one or more other cards alongside an Amex. I use the Santander 123 petrol and transport tickets, and in department stores. I also have a couple of other 0.5% cashback VISA cards for those places that don't take AMEX or won't give me cashback on the 123 card.

We've got the Amex/VISA combo from Barclaycard, and manage to spend 90% on the Amex. Most places that take CCs take Amex, places that don't accept it are in the minority these days.

Some shops will say they don't take it when they do (because they pay a higher fee, and if you're asking the question you obviously have an alternative). So don't ask, just stick it in their card machine and see if it works.

Fingerbobs

zagfles wrote: »

We've got the Amex/VISA combo from Barclaycard, and manage to spend 90% on the Amex. Most places that take CCs take Amex, places that don't accept it are in the minority these days.

Some shops will say they don't take it when they do (because they pay a higher fee, and if you're asking the question you obviously have an alternative). So don't ask, just stick it in their card machine and see if it works.

The big national chains accept Amex, but I find quite a lot of independent shops won't accept it.

I started out doing as you suggest - just shoving the card in the card machine and hoping for the best - but it so rarely worked I have now started to just ask if Amex is OK. It's quicker and easier.

Archi_Bald

Fingerbobs wrote: »

I started out doing as you suggest - just shoving the card in the card machine and hoping for the best - but it so rarely worked I have now started to just ask if Amex is OK. It's quicker and easier.

Same here (and yes, I got the Barclays VISA/AMEX combo, too)

phona

zagfles wrote: »

Some shops will say they don't take it when they do (because they pay a higher fee, and if you're asking the question you obviously have an alternative). So don't ask, just stick it in their card machine and see if it works.

I was in a shop and asked if they accept Amex and the young lady looked at me blankly. Then she saw the card and said "Oh, American Express; yes we take that". So perhaps it's not a case of shops trying to avoid the charge but just under-training their staff

reclusive46

phona wrote: »

I was in a shop and asked if they accept Amex and the young lady looked at me blankly. Then she saw the card and said "Oh, American Express; yes we take that". So perhaps it's not a case of shops trying to avoid the charge but just under-training their staff

It depends. I've been to places that have had signs up saying they don't take it and I have been able to use it. Another example is at automated machines, sometimes they won't show the logo but do take it. Parking machines are a good example of this.