Aqua as backup for Amex

abz88

It seems like every thread around the Aqua card is to use it as a credit builder before moving onto "better" cards.
Am I the only one that uses it as a backup for my Amex cashback? After Amex it seems to have the joint best cashback rate with Tandem and Tandem wouldn't approve me as it couldn't verify me for some reason.
Is there another cashback card I should be looking at (with a higher credit limit as the initial Aqua £1,200 isn't great but not too bad for a backup)

Ben8282

Can't you apply to have the credit limit increased? How long have you had the card now? If you were only given a £1,200 credit limit perhaps Aqua don't yet see you as being ready for anything better.

maggiecat1

Some really good advice and tips here - thank you

Willing2Learn

Ben8282 wrote: »

Can't you apply to have the credit limit increased? How long have you had the card now? If you were only given a £1,200 credit limit perhaps Aqua don't yet see you as being ready for anything better.

Aqua can go quite a bit higher with their credit limits. As an example, I've had an Aqua card for over six years. It started with a £500 credit limit and gradually increased to £6,400 limit after 2.5 years of successfully managing the account. I've been stuck on 6.4K for a few years now. I use the card for trips abroad as there are zero non-sterling transaction fees.

abz88

Ben8282 wrote: »

Can't you apply to have the credit limit increased? How long have you had the card now? If you were only given a £1,200 credit limit perhaps Aqua don't yet see you as being ready for anything better.

I have had it for less than 6 months and believe £1,200 is the higheat starting limit although I am aware that they can increase it in the future. I have £15k limit on Amex and £9.5k on a Sainsbury's Nectar Credit Card (my previous backup until I realised nectar points weren't worth much compared to cashback especially when I rarely shop at Sainsbury's now) so have plenty credit if needed.

The zero non-sterling transaction fee is another bonus with the card, which is why I find it strange folk often relegate it to a credit builder card only.

Cisco001

Try Tamdem as well.
Credit limit is not high, but with lower interest rate & zero non-sterling transaction & withdraw.
Good as a back up of halifax clarity/ Santander zero

beanybot

I use my "sub prime" Aqua card all the time. It's one of the best cards I own! with its "prime" features such as 0.5% cashback everywhere and no foreign transaction fees.

abz88

Cisco001 wrote: »

Try Tamdem as well.
Credit limit is not high, but with lower interest rate & zero non-sterling transaction & withdraw.
Good as a back up of halifax clarity/ Santander zero

Tried to get a Tandem before I went to Aqua. They couldn't authenticate my ID for some reason so couldn't process my application.

IvanDP

abz88 wrote: »

It seems like every thread around the Aqua card is to use it as a credit builder before moving onto "better" cards.
Am I the only one that uses it as a backup for my Amex cashback? After Amex it seems to have the joint best cashback rate with Tandem and Tandem wouldn't approve me as it couldn't verify me for some reason.
Is there another cashback card I should be looking at (with a higher credit limit as the initial Aqua £1,200 isn't great but not too bad for a backup)

I think that as long as you pay off the card each month, then it doesn't really matter what card you use.
Just make the most of any benefits available.
I have a Tandem cashback card (£1500 limit) and find that for everyday spending it is more than adequate.
My other credit card, Nationwide Select, has a much higher credit limit but now only pays 0.25% cashback, and that's only on Sterling purchases, so this is now only ever used for big ticket items.

Cisco001 wrote: »

Try Tamdem as well.
Credit limit is not high, but with lower interest rate & zero non-sterling transaction & withdraw.
Good as a back up of halifax clarity/ Santander zero

I applied for the Tandem as a back up, but with the better cashback, unless Ineed to spend more than the £1500 in one go, it has now become my main credit card, with the Nationwide relegated to the back up.

beanybot wrote: »

I use my "sub prime" Aqua card all the time. It's one of the best cards I own! with its "prime" features such as 0.5% cashback everywhere and no foreign transaction fees.

Cashback was my main reason for swapping which of my cards became my main one too