Help me find a suitable credit card(s)

• 

  xyron on 06/11/2014 - 17:54

  +2

  Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard - makes the 28 degrees card unnecessary

  if you think you'll benefit from rewards points then perhaps grab one of the Signature Citibank cards that are always floating around with annual-fee-free deals.

  • 

    donbot on 06/11/2014 - 18:19

    +2

    Bankwest More Platinum Mastercard would be a better fit if you buy overseas. You'll make up the annual fee no issue with that spend on gift cards. I used this card for a year before jumping ship to citibank with similar spend as you - no matter what I did, who I spoke with, I could not get the fee waived on this card, so be prepared to wear it.

    The fee free signature from citibank gives slightly better value on the giftcards - and no annual fee, but forex fees if you use online & overseas.

    As such, I maintain two cards: Bankwest Zero Platinum for online/overseas use, and citibank for everything else. Amex is too much hassle IMO given not everyone accepts it.

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 06/11/2014 - 18:45

      The Bankwest Zero Platinum MC does look like a better fit, how good is Bankwest internet banking facility compared to CBA (if you know)?

      I'm now considering the Bankwest Zero platinum MC for online purchases plus a Citibank Signature Visa for collecting reward points.

      How many points/$100 Coles card through Bankwest and Citibank?

      • 

        donbot on 06/11/2014 - 21:14

        I hate CBA netbanking… Too much clutter. I like bankwest online banking.. Very simple and clear. Long term customer here.

        Gift cards are about $12k spend per $100. Citibank is slightly cheaper.. I think just over $12k as opposed to $12.5k for vankwest platinum

      • 

        Malarkey on 07/11/2014 - 00:07

        I don't have a Bankwest account, would it be possible to post a screenshot of the home page of their internet banking? Blocking out all your personal details of course. I'm just curious because I find netbank pretty good…

      • 

        gevidian on 07/11/2014 - 00:25

        @Malarkey: I have both Netbank and Bankwest and both have their pros and cons - it really depends on what the user wants. I personally prefer netbank.

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 07/11/2014 - 00:35

        Hmm, that'll just about halve my rewards yield as CBA Amex can produce a $100 card per 6.2k and that's where the majority of my points come from.

        In that case I'm not sure if that is worth having accounts with 2 extra financial institutions. Might be less hassle to take up just one of the cards, either the Bankwest or Citibank if their signature card is offered fee free again.

        Cheers

• 

  RockyRaccoon on 07/11/2014 - 05:41

  +1

  Another point of view to factor in.

  Having two cards.

  The BWest Platinum card or 28 degrees as one card. For OS purchases and no annual fee - no points accumulation.

  Coles Rewards MasterCard Low $49 annual fee. 2 points per $1 you spend everywhere1
  MasterCard and flybuys card in one. Up to 62 days interest free on purchases 19.99% p.a

  Flybuys points 2000 = $10 Coles group useable gift card. although this is now electronic and attached to the credit card (i.e. you cant give the card away) (BTW this is a $1K spend for 2K points))

  So depending on where you rack up the $6-8K per month (OS or local) you can easily get your $39 annual fee back

  Using your example of $6.2k a month thats about 75K a year = $750 in rewards netting $711 to you. Compared to the Amex of net $950.

  However it all depends on how much of your $6.2K per month is going to be OS transactions. If your domestic purchases are say $3K pm then

  Coles = 360-39 = 321
  Amex = 580-250 = 330

  So if your spend is high in domestic then use Amex, if it's low use Coles. Whichever way use the 28 degs or Bankwest for OS purchases.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 07/11/2014 - 16:17

  +2

  Westpac Altitude Black, comes with Master Card and AMEX, I've said good things about them so many times they ought to pay me for referrals.

  Been with Westpac for CC for over a decade now, and have always had the fee waived, average monthly spending has been $1500 to $5,000/month, usually in the $2500 range, always sorted out in full by bill date.

  The Black card's priority call center's is EXCELLENT, by far one of the BEST I've ever experienced.

  Be blunt with the waiver, I tell them the points earned in the year is not enough to even cover for fees so it's pointless for me, they most likely say yes, if not you'll get put through to cancellation, they'll look at your spending habits and paying off habits, ask you to stay, charge the fees, and then reverse it on the same day.

  Usual benefits included with Black/Platinum level.

• 

  timetoquit on 08/11/2014 - 16:08

  I'm interested in how you managed to convince them to waive the annual fee. I'm currently paying $250/ year and its the ONLY card i will pay an annual fee only because it has the highest limit so I can't take that risk having them potentially cancel the card it if make the call. Ive tried a few years ago and managed free annual fee on two occasions but the last couple years I've failed so I figure its no point trying again until I can up my Citi signature limit to a comparable amount.

  My monthly expenditure is roughly 20k per month
  Closing balance paid in full each month.
  Have a smaller mortgage with them (under the threshold for their wealth package)
  Customer for about 15 years but don't do my main banking with them.

  Based on your usage I'd suggest the Citi signature, I think it is still fee free for life. Have promo deals on gift cards occasionally, much better in comparison to the CBA gift card redemption rate.
  I'm in the same boat, don't care so much for flights/ however I am still pooling them but I will on the occasion redeem gift cards. Citibank recently had a promo offering $100 prepaid gift cards for 17,100. The redeem rate is not fantastic (gift cards never are!) however it is better than CBAs.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 10/11/2014 - 11:44

  I just told them that $250+$15 was asking for too much and that I can get a platinum reserve amex for $295 which provides better value (though not for me). They offered to go down to $125 and asked if I was happy with that, I told them no, so they offered a 'one off' waiver for this cycle.

  I'm a little tired of whining and complaining for these waivers, if they don't think my merchant-fee-collection-service is worth their waiver then that's fine I'll take my business elsewhere. I've been a CBA account holder since grade 2 so that may have helped with my claims.
  I might try for a waiver again next November but by then I'll probably be using one of the cards suggested above.

  Cheers,
  Joe

• 

  rewardscompared on 10/11/2014 - 16:34

  +1

  We built our site to answer your question! The other factor to consider is how much of your $6-8k purchases could be put on an American Express card - some banks will provide two cards (a Visa and Amex card for example) - that link to the one account. The Amex will be more rewarding so it's best to use that where possible.

  Check us out here —> http://rewardscompared.com/cards

  • 

    Innately Incognito on 12/11/2014 - 17:47

    As mentioned above the key question is probably how much of your spending can go through AMEX.

    Otherwise it might be worth considering which of the standard benefits you can actually use. Such as, but not limited to:
    - Travel Insurance
    - Purchase Cover
    - Added Warranty Period
    - Personal Concierge
    - Guaranteed Pricing Scheme
    - Free Flights
    - Airport Lounge Access
    - Citibank Dining Program