Credit cards, prestige and snobbery

C32AMG

Interesting thread.

I think the main differences between Classic, Gold & Platinum (And these days Black) are long gone. In the (distant) past, a Gold card would actually mean something, these days they are given away to all and sundry. I had a Gold card at 18, Platinum at 19, several Platinum cards at 21 and now at the ripe old age of 23 have all of the above and a Black card. Whilst I will admit to being slightly 'privileged' having no money issues, I am certainly not 'rich' and neither earn 70k a year. I have however been very responsible with credit cards and have always paid them off in full (except when doing a BT offer).

Both myself and most of my friends work in sectors of the market that are very image-conscious. As much as I would love to wear jeans and a T-Shirt into work, I can't - I have to wear a well cut suit, nice watch & all the other paraphernalia that goes with it - which can include the 'right' looking credit card at rare times.

As some have pointed out, with the advent of chip and pin, most retailers no longer look at your card - and to be honest I'm not overly fussed if the girl in Sainsbury's thinks I am loaded or not, the ONLY times I pay any attention to what the card 'says' about me is in restaurants or hotels with either work colleagues, clients and (some) friends when the bill gets divvied up at the end, putting your Natwest Blue Switch card into a sea of Platinum , Gold & Black cards is likely to get you noticed !

Most places which 'recognise' the so-called 'better' cards don't comment, as this is considered rude. The only exception to this was a maniacal hotelier in France who spent several minutes every time I saw him banging on about my Black card and my friends Platinum card. As I understand it, these types of cards are very rare in France and they do seem to raise eyebrows when being used, be it in a hotel or supermarket!

For the other times that I use a card, I chose something that benefits me in one way or another. One of my favourites currently is the American Express Red card, which donates 1% to charity. OK, so I miss out on a potential 100-200 a year, but I benefit from the warm fuzzy feeling inside!

gt94sss2

Zebedee69 wrote: »

Capital One's history is in the Sub Prime market. Only recently they have broken through into the mainstream with good offers like 4% cashback. You can say that they are setting the bar very high with applications because they are seeking a different client base to they're past.

Capital One have actually offered cash back cards for a long time - I still have/use a 1% cashback [SIZE=-1]Capital One Bank Circle Mastercard[/SIZE] opened around 5 years ago.

I think the difference now is that all their main card designs all prominently display the Capital One brand - it wasn't obvious who issued my old card design from a quick glance.

Regards
Sunil

[Deleted User]

I dont see much diference in gold/platinum cards - not with barclaycard at least.

I've got a great credit rating, £4500 limit, cheque guarantee / visa debit card for my bank, and a £1600 overdraft limit too. Yet I'm only on a Gold card.

My girlfriend has a really bad credit history - she just got turned down for a loan yesterday. She's missed payments on her Halifax credit card (and it's still over it's £2000 limit), and her bank account only gives her a Visa Electron card - yet Barclaycard still give her a Platinum.

D'oh!

Stephen_Leak

C32AMG wrote: »

to be honest I'm not overly fussed if the girl in Sainsbury's thinks I am loaded or not,

OK guys, its time for me to get this thread down to the absolute "nitty gritty": your credit card is only important, if it makes the checkout girl in Sainsbury's agree to go out with you and let you sh*g her afterwards, because she thinks you're loaded.

I'll get my coat ...

C32AMG

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

OK guys, its time for me to get this thread down to the absolute "nitty gritty": your credit card is only important, if it makes the checkout girl in Sainsbury's agree to go out with you and let you sh*g her afterwards, because she thinks you're loaded.

I'll get my coat ...

:rotfl:

Not sure where you shop, but I'm afraid that the 'standard' of checkout girl in my local Sainsbury's is so dire that if they think this way I'll make sure to pay cash/cheque/a Vanquis Card next time!

Although there is one particular shelf stacker that looks quite tasty. Oh yes. Have been working out how to approach the situation, but I think more importantly will have to leave the girlfriend at home and shop alone first!

HannaB

It's hard to feel chic with a Tesco CC with big fat strawberries on it

Zebedee69

Girls who work on the checkouts are normally ugly lol! Nurses are much better lol! I met a lovely one at Cheltenham General Hospital, Prescott Ward he he! mmmm she was mid 20's and lovely ha ha!

C32AMG

Zebedee69 wrote: »

Girls who work on the checkouts are normally ugly lol! Nurses are much better lol! I met a lovely one at Cheltenham General Hospital, Prescott Ward he he! mmmm she was mid 20's and lovely ha ha!

Where did you insert your credit card? :eek::A

Zebedee69

C32AMG wrote: »

Where did you insert your credit card? :eek::A

mmmmm insertion.............:rotfl:

Anyway lets not sidetrack the thread!

mrcow

Mozette wrote: »

Still don't see how having a 'pretty' card makes people think you have money

Especially if it's a credit card........it would make me think the opposite.

I only used to use credit cards for purchases when I first started working and was strapped for cash. I have no need for them now and don't understand why someone would have to get their shopping on credit (unless they are doing it for the cashback of course).

We're financing a 0% car on a credit card, but again, that's because we didnt have the cash to afford it upfront. We've been shifting balance transfers around so much for the past couple of years and most of the cards have been platinum.

I don't get the John Lewis comment either. They are no different to any other department store (although the staff are a lot more helpful than anything you'll find skulking behind a Debenhams counter).

If someone ever implied to me that they thought that their bank or card offered them a level of prestige I would laugh in their face. You've got to live in a pretty small world to actually believe that.