Credit card n00b, am i missing out?

joeyjoejoe_2

hi all, im 19 and a student. i currently own one natwest credit card which my bank gave me with my student account i opened with them before i went to uni. i dont use it all that often, normally using my debit card instead, which i do use a hell of a lot as i dont carry much change. lately iv been wondering, seeing all these cash back deals and money off store purchases using certain cards, am i missing out. im very reasponsible with my money and so am in no worry of ever being charged. i have been thinking about changing my current plain natwest cc for one with a few more extras, i read somewhere that students who use their cards well can make a nice amount of cashback, plus i wouldnt mind starting to collect some airmiles and any other bonuses you can get. can anybody reccomend a card or a direction to look in?
also im worried that if i apply for a card and get declined that it might damage my credit rating, is this the case? i have been declined by a bank for an account earlier in the year and wasnt sure if this would effect my credit rating.
appologies for all the questions, im young with a thirst for knowledge :beer:
thanks
joe

Reaper

Sounds like you have lots of questions. I suggest you start by having a read. Look up at the blue box above and you will see a set of links to articles. For example "Rewards" will take you to info on credit card reward schemes, "Credit Rating" will answer you questions on credit searches etc.

Non-credit card articles can also be found, for those on bank accounts, click on "Banking & Loans" in the orange box to the left.

If you still have questions after that come back and ask away.

MrChips

I used to have a NatWest card - in fact it was my very first credit card and I used it as much as possible for a couple of years hoping to clock up loads of airmiles.

Out of curiosity, after 2 years I enquired in a branch if they could tell me how many I had accumulated. They said none as you had to register the card with airmiles before they start to add up. First I knew about that and I wasn't very impressed!

I cancelled it and went for a straight down-the-line cashback card instead!