Switching to a different Mastercard credit card - which one and how?

Si_Clist

For several years now I have been using a Mastercard from Tesco Bank, which has always been paid off in full each month.  So while they have never had a problem with me, I'm now after a different provider simply because I'm sick to death of Tesco's app not showing the true situation with my account, and payments in always taking a couple of days to show.

First question: should I close the Tesco account before seeking the alternative or after?  I should perhaps point out that my credit standing is pretty damn good (e.g the only time the NBMA Visa card that I've had forever wasn't paid off in full one month was in 1997).

Second question:  which card?  I want Mastercard, and not one issued by a provider linked to either MBNA or NatWest (my bank), so that if MBNA or NatWest is nobbled by hackers, it won't necessarily also render my Mastercard useless.

Opinions please ... 

mta999

Transactions and payments show pretty much instantaneously on the Santander Edge credit card

It costs £3 a month but gives cashback which could cover that or be even more depending on how much you spend a month (max £15 a month cashback)

grumpy_codger

Santander, Aqua, Post Office, HSBC, Chase, some Barclaycards ....

Si_Clist said:

...

First question: should I close the Tesco account before seeking the alternative or after? 

Most likely you don't have to, but depends on the credit limit, your income and other credit.

Si_Clist

mta999 said:

Transactions and payments show pretty much instantaniously on the Santander Edge credit card

It costs £3 a month but gives cashback which could cover that or be even more depending on how much you spend a month (max £15 a month cashback)

grumpy_codger said:

Santander, Aqua, Post Office, HSBC, Chase, some Barclaycards ....

Thank you - but close existing before applying, or not?

(Not interested in a fee/cashback card, btw)

la531983

Si_Clist said:

mta999 said:

Transactions and payments show pretty much instantaniously on the Santander Edge credit card

It costs £3 a month but gives cashback which could cover that or be even more depending on how much you spend a month (max £15 a month cashback)

grumpy_codger said:

Santander, Aqua, Post Office, HSBC, Chase, some Barclaycards ....

Thank you - but close existing before applying, or not?

(Not interested in a fee/cashback card, btw)

You are allowed more than one card you know....

Jami74

For me, I would open the new card first and make sure I was happy with it before closing the old one. 

I couldn't say if that was the best option for you though. If you've already got big credit limits maybe you'd need to close one first and wait a bit.

DullGreyGuy

Si_Clist said:

For several years now I have been using a Mastercard from Tesco Bank, which has always been paid off in full each month.  So while they have never had a problem with me, I'm now after a different provider simply because I'm sick to death of Tesco's app not showing the true situation with my account, and payments in always taking a couple of days to show.

First question: should I close the Tesco account before seeking the alternative or after?  I should perhaps point out that my credit standing is pretty damn good (e.g the only time the NBMA Visa card that I've had forever wasn't paid off in full one month was in 1997).

Second question:  which card?  I want Mastercard, and not one issued by a provider linked to either MBNA or NatWest (my bank), so that if MBNA or NatWest is nobbled by hackers, it won't necessarily also render my Mastercard useless.

Opinions please ... 

Why do you want Mastercard rather than Visa? 

Given banks have switched between the two with modest regularity what are you going to do if your bank sends a replacement card and its now on the Visa network? 

Si_Clist

DullGreyGuy said:

Why do you want Mastercard rather than Visa? 

Because that will make me happy 

Si_Clist

Not intending to make this my life's work, so I just got myself an HSBC card and to hell with it.  Anything's better than Tesco ... 

mta999

HSBC cards take ages for transactions to show.

Si_Clist

mta999 said:

HSBC cards take ages for transactions to show.

Oh well, I've still I've gained 20 months interest-free credit on purchases and another £5600 credit in return for ten or so minutes on the web