Credit Cards

[hermand]

Anyone have any recommendations as to good/bad credit card companies.

I don't care about balance transfer rates, as I don't have a balance to transfer.

I basically want it as its more secure than a debit card, generally - so I want one that'll help me out when purchases go wrong (which seems quite often over the web), and generally has good customer service.

Also I plan to pay it off every month (i.e. not pay any interest) so I think I need one which I can do this with (I've never had a credit card b4 - is this totally standard?)

So lets here your credit card stories (both good and bad)

Cheers

Herman

[GarethH]

I'll never have a credit card. I hate them! I stick with a debit card. If you want the Visa name then just get a Visa Debit from Abby National!

[bumfrog]

never had any problems with my egg card. Plus the website makes it nice and easy to maintain and change your payments. Always been helpfull when I rung up too.

[jonopow]

I recently got my first credit card from egg. The signing up process took time, but it is really convient to look up your balances and also to change payment options.

[stephen]

I've got an Egg one from www.egg.com too. You can do everything by logging into their website, and it's very easy to use. Ive emailed them a few times about various things and they have always replied very quickly.

If you are going to use it a lot for buying things in foreign currencies then nationwide are meant to offer the best exchange rates.

[nigel_williams]

I have Egg but I recently got a Barclaycard as it protects you against fraud on the Internet and delivery/damaged goods problems.

It also gives you a 60 day price match and extended insurance on household applicances.

[Alanok]

EGG also protects you against internet card fraud as tested when I had to get a refund after the Slammer debacle. Go with EGG, brilliant website and great customer service. By phone or e-mail they always try and help you.

[stephen]

I think all credit card companies have to cover you for all fraud under the consumer credit act. Anything you buy on an Egg card is covered by their insurance up to £1000 from the moment you buy it to the moment it arrives at your home. This applies to things you order online as well as things you tske home yourself. I think there is a £25 excess for this.

With Egg all your statements are given to you online, you have to pay £2 if you want them to send you a paper copy. Other companies like barclaycard send you paper statements for free but you can print your Egg one yourself if you really want a paper copy. I think Egg offer a search facilty on their statements so you can search for a particular entry.

[shufty]

am just about to cancel my egg card. signed up because of their 0% interest offer which meant i could put all of my purchases for my holiday on it. what i didnt realise is that they would still charge me interest on the currency i bought from the travel agent until the entire balance of the credit card is paid off. roll on the 15th when i can cut that card up.

i've never had problems with my asset platinum from lloyds tsb though. has some reasonable offers with it too - cheap car hire, ferry crossings, hotel bookings etc.

[Edith]

What is it with egg and the direct debit?
Had a small balance on my card and paid £60 towards it on the 3rd then on the 10th the idiots took more money as the monthly minimum payment!
I could be wrong (and if i am blame it on crap cs) but it seems you can't stop them taking payment each month - only request it back afterwards.
For me it is far easier to set up many payments in advance via online-banking knowing my balance will be cleared within the interest free period and just forget about it.
I don't think any other cc companies are like this - they just let you deal with your finances.
Charging 1.25% for a (non-egg customer) cash advance is v.poor and 2% commision on foreign transactions likewise.

When my interest-free period is up my egg card will be cancelled and i'll probably use them again in a year or so for more %-free balance transfers. No purchases though...wouldn't dream of paying them a bean :D (They dont earn anything for balance transfers do they?)

Another thumbs up for nationwide here - excellent exchange rates, good cs and they recovered 600 notes from a bstard german retailer for me v.quickly including accrued interest plus you only have to make a minimum £50 part-payment towards many electrical/household goods to get an additional years warranty.