MBNA Smart Cash MC: *FREE* World Version available!

[Salinger]

It's a great card to be sure, but I don't buy a lot of groceries. Only about $200/month, so the vast majority of my purchases would be at 1%. If I go with TD's Select service, which I'm leaning towards right now, the "free" travel Visa would net me a bigger return in the long run. But as I said, that's just my personal circumstance.

Najibs brings up a very interesting point about the gift cards though. The Metro I shop at has gift cards for sale for an awful lot of places. More food for thought!

[chenwaa123]

There is a way to get 3% (5% intro) on almost everything you buy on the card. Nowadays most Supermarkets carry gift certificates to just about anything. I know at Dominion (now Metro) I can buy GC's for department stores like The Bay, restaurants liek The Keg, Moxies, fast food joints like Subway, heck, you can even use your Mastercard on Costco's website and buy Costco GC's to be delivered to you, so that you're not forced to use Amex in store

+1 for you. Now thats thinking, 3-5% off a Keg steak . Now if only the Grocery store sold GC's for the liquor store.

[najibs]

I just called..... my huge issue is the credit check as part of the process

I don't want a hit to my credit (especially if some other great card comes along and I want THAT one! haha)

Cards like this don't come along every day, that's for sure

[P1x44r]

nice, more scanning material for my op

That'd be great!

I haven't applied yet. Will wait for the full list of 3% (5%) stores before I make up my mind. Living here, in Quebec, you know it will be narrower.

[Kaitlyn]

Are there currently any cards offering > 1% general cashback, even if just for a promotional period?

[chenwaa123]

I just called..... my huge issue is the credit check as part of the process

I don't want a hit to my credit (especially if some other great card comes along and I want THAT one! haha)

How many points would you lose?

[najibs]

How many points would you lose?

Unless you're applying for a mortgage soon, I wouldn't worry about it.

I'd like to ask some questions that I haven't seen answers to, on behalf of everyone:

1. This card you get the maximum rebate amount, from the first dollar you spend, and has no tiers, right?

2. Is there a maximum limit as to the amount of the rebate you can receive?
Most cards are capped at $250 or $500 maximum rebate, which is why the Amex 2% was so special. Tiered, but had no limit. In the Amex thread I remember seeing people with rebates of over $1k!

3. Is there a maximum spending limit for the cash rebate? What I mean by this is for example, the Scotia Momentum, although 2% for a lot of things, once you hit $20k in spending, they drop you back to 1%.

[najibs]

3) Yes. $600/month at 3%, then groceries and gas drop to 1%.

That's not bad. If the $600 is maxed out every month, which isn't hard to do for gas and groceries even with a small family of 2 or 3, you're looking at $24/month ($288/yr) rebate on that alone! Not to mention all the other stuff you put on the card. Now I'm seriously considering giving up my beloved SPG card for this...

Is there a total maximum annual rebate for the card, in general for all purchases combined annually?

[Salinger]

Wouldn't $600/month at 3% be $18/month for $216/year?

[skyc280]

Wouldn't $600/month at 3% be $18/month for $216/year?

I think the 288 is for first year (5% for first 6 months, 3% for the last 6)

[najibs]

Wouldn't $600/month at 3% be $18/month for $216/year?

I think the 288 is for first year (5% for first 6 months, 3% for the last 6)

Yeah, I just rounded it at 4% for the first year on gas and groceries alone.

[cko64]

Thank you OP.

I Called in and applied this card. I was told twice, once by CSR, another time by the senior CSR that this card is only available to existing MBNA account holders. So if you don't have a MBNA M/C, you can't apply for this card.

I have two SPG MCs and the senior CSR was wondering if I want to upgrade one of the SPG MC to the Smart Cash card. I said no, I need both SPG cards, I want to apply a new Smart Cash card.

Anyway, I was transferred to credit department after the application process and was approved instantly. I should get my new Smart Cash card in 7 -10 business days.

[sanman9]

3) Yes. $600/month at 3%, then groceries and gas drop to 1%.

I thought that the 600 dollars per month/3% cashback only applies to gas and groceries...all other things only gives 1% cashback. Therefore, everyone has to make sure to spend 600 dollars on gas and groceries to maximize the 3% cashback...sorry if I am repeating info.

I actually wish it was 800-1000 dollars cashback limit on groceries/gas...then it would be truly awesome...I guess they could not include drugstores and recurring bill payments ...then their optimum card would be useless too but seriously, this card certainly raises the bar for cashback cards...it will be very interesting to see if capital one, citi and amex will respond with a comparable/better product...overall, the no annual fee and platinum plus benefits are just absolutely awesome...MBNA stepped up to the plate for this one..although there could always be more room for improvement

[angel_wing0]

Thank you OP.

I Called in and applied this card. I was told twice, once by CSR, another time by the senior CSR that this card is only available to existing MBNA account holders. So if you don't have a MBNA M/C, you can't apply for this card.

Anyway, I was transferred to credit department after the application process and was approved instantly. I should get my new Smart Cash card in 7 -10 business days.

Np, glad i can help~

Pretty sure its not true..ppl are applying already. Good thing u get yours done

[chenwaa123]

Thank you OP.

I Called in and applied this card. I was told twice, once by CSR, another time by the senior CSR that this card is only available to existing MBNA account holders. So if you don't have a MBNA M/C, you can't apply for this card.

I have two SPG MCs and the senior CSR was wondering if I want to upgrade one of the SPG MC to the Smart Cash card. I said no, I need both SPG cards, I want to apply a new Smart Cash card.

Anyway, I was transferred to credit department after the application process and was approved instantly. I should get my new Smart Cash card in 7 -10 business days.

Not true I got one. I've never had an MBNA card