Seconds Card - Yes or No?

Money_and_Travel

OK, so I'm thinking I will get a second card, and I'm looking for recommendations.

Here's what I need.

1. Non-Visa, preferably Mastercard.
2. No fee for having the card.
3. No fee for spending abroad.

lr1277

There is the site finder.com which lists various products and search criteria.

Into google type: Finder credit cards.

When the web page comes up, down the left hand side are the search criteria. Pick as many criteria as you wish.

As a dummy run, I picked fx fees 0-0.3% and Mastercard.

The list of applicable cards was shown.

Whilst I have no experience of these cards, the Natwest Credit Card and the Halifax clarity card were both listed.

With Nat West there are 2 cards.

The Nat West card

and the Nat West Travel Rewards credit card.

The latter card gives you cashback on certain spending. Both Nat West cards are fee free for fx.

I would have no objection to applying for any of the cards I mentioned.

jbrassy

Money_and_Travel said:

OK, so I'm thinking I will get a second card, and I'm looking for recommendations.

Here's what I need.

1. Non-Visa, preferably Mastercard.
2. No fee for having the card.
3. No fee for spending abroad.

Based on those three factors, I would suggest the Halifax Clarity credit card: https://www.halifax.co.uk/creditcards/travel.html

However, it does seem a bit pointless getting the Halifax Clarity if you already have BC Rewards. BC Rewards is basically a better version of Halifax Clarity - the differences being Halifax is a Mastercard and BC is a Visa, and BC pays 0.25% cashback and Halifax does not pay cashback.

You might want to also consider the Santander Edge credit card: https://www.santander.co.uk/personal/credit-cards/santander-edge-credit-card

Yes - it has a £3 a month fee, but it also does not charge fees for usage abroad and also gives you cashback. If you use this as your main credit card in the UK and abroad, the cashback should easily cover the fee and more. The Santander card is also a Mastercard. 

My final recommendation is an Amex card which either pays rewards or cashback. Amex charge fees when used abroad, so it should strictly only be used in the UK. However, Amex cards are probably the most generous when it comes to rewards. Some cards carry fees and the rewards vary from plain cashback, to Nectar points, to Avios points, to Amex Reward points (which can be converted to Avios or other airline rewards programmes), so it's worth considering what the best card suits your needs. 

WillPS

Money_and_Travel said:

OK, so I'm thinking I will get a second card, and I'm looking for recommendations.

Here's what I need.

1. Non-Visa, preferably Mastercard.
2. No fee for having the card.
3. No fee for spending abroad.

https://uk.virginmoney.com/cards/products/everyday-cashback-cards/

This ticks all the boxes, with the added perk of 0.25% cashback.

In fact, it's pretty close in offer to the card you already have, but it's issued as a Mastercard.

martinbainbridge1975

maxximus75 said:

Having another card will give you another credit account and helps thicken out your credit file.

If you feel you have the discipline to manage two accounts then go for it but if you don’t, then stay with just the one.

Remember to find a card that suits/benefits you.

I am on the same page as maxximus, nothing wrong with having multiple cards but it is about discipline.

Usually I have 2/3 cards max, rotate them and pay them off each month, typically I look for the all round cards with 0% spending on as well as BT

All down to personal preference 

born_again

maxximus75 said:

Having another card will give you another credit account and helps thicken out your credit file.

And also reduces your avaiable credit.

As applying for further credit such as mortgage will take the avaiable limits into account over what they are prepared to lend. When calculating your affordability scoring.