What credit cards are you using?

Apr 25th, 2016 9:21 pm

#1

raygeta [OP]: Newbie; Nov 18, 2012; 45 posts; 8 upvotes; Greater Toronto Area

Apr 25th, 2016 9:21 pm

Hi all,

I thought I'd create this thread to solicit feedback/criticisms about the cards I actively use myself, and to see if others can benefit from a lively discussion about which card(s) are best for their own needs. These are NOT cards I churn, and they've been a staple in my wallet for years.

#1: AMEX SPG

- for everything I possibly can
- best point redemption values @ 6-10%+ when I redeem them at hotels where and when I actually stay
- accepted almost everywhere I go (except Costco...)
- was told by Frank Abagnale that AMEX has the best policies in the event of fraudulent use

#2: MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard

- for all those other places that don't take AMEX
- no annual fee with 2% cash back on everything, no limit, redeemable direct to my chequing account in increments of $50

#3: Chase Marriott Rewards Visa

- used almost exclusively on transactions involving foreign exchange (no FX fee)
- haven't been able to make use of the annual free night credit
- considered replacing with the Amazon Visa, but waiting to see what happens with the Marriott-SPG merger

Thoughts anyone?

Share:

Apr 25th, 2016 9:27 pm

#2

flame02: Deal Addict; Oct 20, 2004; 3471 posts; 542 upvotes; Toronto

Apr 25th, 2016 9:27 pm

1. BMO World Elite Cash Rewards MC - 1.75% cash back, FYF (Free if you have premium bank account w/ $5000 in there), Roadside assistance, lounge
2. Scotiabank Momentum Infinite - 4% gas/groceries, 2% drug/recurring bills, FYF, 1% all else
3. BMO World Elite Cash Back - 2% gas/groceries, 1% all else, No fee - Use this for Costco gas exclusively for now

I will use #3 when #2 runs out.

+1

Apr 25th, 2016 9:54 pm

#3

imflying12: Deal Addict; Aug 9, 2011; 1946 posts; 332 upvotes; GTA

Apr 25th, 2016 9:54 pm

1.RBC Westjet World Elite Mastercard (charge on everything else to accumulate WJ dollars) & the annual companion ticket is what makes this card awesome.
2.Tangerine Mastercard 2% on three catagories (GAS/GROCERIES/RESTAURANTS)
3.AMEX GOLD FYF, will cancel soon. Took advantage of the welcome bonus

I use #2 more as my everyday card for the three categories and use #1 for everything else ie. bigger ticket items.

Apr 25th, 2016 9:58 pm

#4

mohammedessam: Sr. Member; Nov 13, 2009; 530 posts; 231 upvotes; Oakville

Apr 25th, 2016 9:58 pm

Rogers Master Card 1.75% everywhere
Amex simply cash 1.25% for purchase protection and insurance

Apr 25th, 2016 10:05 pm

#5

ihacki: Member; Jan 16, 2011; 448 posts; 129 upvotes; Toronto

Apr 25th, 2016 10:05 pm

raygeta wrote: ↑ ...
#2: MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard
- for all those other places that don't take AMEX
- no annual fee with 2% cash back on everything, no limit, redeemable direct to my chequing account in increments of $50
...

How is it 2% back on everything with no annual fee?

+1

Apr 25th, 2016 10:07 pm

#6

jfmartel: Deal Addict; Mar 11, 2007; 3944 posts; 1171 upvotes; QC

Apr 25th, 2016 10:07 pm

MBNA SmartCash: 2% Gas/Grocerie (family card for everything), 1% for everything else
Personal Tangerine: 2% Restaurant/Drugstore/Recurent Bill
Personal grandfathered Capital One Aspire Cash; 1.5% flat for everything else

Apr 25th, 2016 10:07 pm

#7

here2day: Member; Aug 9, 2014; 468 posts; 106 upvotes; Toronto, ON

Apr 25th, 2016 10:07 pm

ihacki wrote: ↑How is it 2% back on everything with no annual fee?

Theyre probably on the grandfathered plan. While this card looks tempting, I have a feeling TD will screw around with this card in the near future.

Apr 26th, 2016 2:38 am

#8

User230: Sr. Member; Nov 29, 2014; 680 posts; 80 upvotes; Pitt Meadows, BC

Apr 26th, 2016 2:38 am

I use Tangerine CC for 90% of my purchases.

Easy and simple that is what I want. I get rewards every month. The percent matters. If the card caused me issues I get rid of it no matter the percent. So far no problems.

I play the video games H2, WC3. I bank with low fee or no fee banks like Implicity. If you got questions ask.

Apr 26th, 2016 7:52 am

#9

Purplenim: Jr. Member; Jul 12, 2015; 125 posts; 16 upvotes; TO

Apr 26th, 2016 7:52 am

PCF WE Mastercard - everything goes on it
BMO SPC Mastercard - don't really use this anymore, just sits in walet

Apr 26th, 2016 8:50 am

#10

UNDFTDss: Deal Addict; Aug 6, 2007; 1908 posts; 491 upvotes

Apr 26th, 2016 8:50 am

Smart cash world - gas and grocery
Tangerine cc - entertainment, recurring bills and restaurants
Amazon visa - foreign transaction, travelling, amazon
Amex gold - for points only, will close soon
Shoppers optimum RBC cc - got it when I was an employee, with our discount, we can either pay by cash, debit or this credit card. Other forms of credit cards are not allowed.

Apr 26th, 2016 1:05 pm

#11

atomiton: Deal Addict; Dec 14, 2007; 3102 posts; 1515 upvotes

Apr 26th, 2016 1:05 pm

Purplenim wrote: ↑PCF WE Mastercard - everything goes on it
BMO SPC Mastercard - don't really use this anymore, just sits in walet

But everything that isn't Loblaws/Esso/Shoppers is only 1% on PC WE, right?

Apr 26th, 2016 3:02 pm

#12

Purplenim: Jr. Member; Jul 12, 2015; 125 posts; 16 upvotes; TO

Apr 26th, 2016 3:02 pm

atomiton wrote: ↑But everything that isn't Loblaws/Esso/Shoppers is only 1% on PC WE, right?

Yes. Ideally I would have a sceond card for these other purchases, but I haven't really found one that looks appealing.

Apr 26th, 2016 4:17 pm

#13

angel_wing0: Moderator; Mar 23, 2004; 44192 posts; 9982 upvotes; Markham

Apr 26th, 2016 4:17 pm

These kind of threads always come out once every few months

(1) BMO World Elite - Everything except the 3 things below and foreign charges
(2) Tangerine MC - Restaurants, Gas, Recurring Bills 4% (3 months)
(3) Rogers MC - Foreign charges

RFD Staff [Forum Rules][Facebook][Twitter]

Apr 26th, 2016 4:36 pm

#14

ssiu: Deal Addict; Apr 18, 2008; 1355 posts; 515 upvotes; Toronto

Apr 26th, 2016 4:36 pm

My main card is Capital One Aspire Cash (World Elite or Platinum?? whatever the higher category), main feature is "no annual fee with full travel insurance type benefits" which is quite rare (are there other cards with that)? Effective cash back of 1.5% on everything (1% immediately + 0.5% annually). Also has purchase price / accidental damage protection. I think card is no longer offered.

Secondary card is Chase amazon.ca Visa for foreign currency / amazon.ca purchases (1% cash back in chunks of $20).

Can I do any better with no-fee cash back cards than 1.5%?

Amerifriend threads need to include instructions on how to acquire an amerifriend.

Apr 26th, 2016 6:34 pm

#15

kulb: Deal Addict; Feb 24, 2008; 2080 posts; 634 upvotes

Apr 26th, 2016 6:34 pm

1. Tangerine MC for Grocery, Gas, Public Transit (2% regularly, 4% promo until July 10).
2. PC Elite MC (3% cashback for grocery shopping at Loblaw owned stores such as No Frills and Shoppers Drug Mart)
3. Capital One Aspire for everything else.
3. Amazon.ca Visa (no forex transaction fees for cross border shopping).

Apr 26th, 2016 7:06 pm

#16

bubak: Deal Addict; Jul 15, 2009; 2337 posts; 1492 upvotes

Apr 26th, 2016 7:06 pm

1. everything else: 2%, $20 fee - grandfathered Capital One Travel
2. gas & groceries: 4%, rotate FYF offers on Scotia Amex Gold, Scotia Visa, CIBC Dividend Infinite
3. foreign purchases: effectively 3.5%, no fee - Amazon Visa (1% return plus 2.5% savings on currency exchange)
4. Canadian Tire and CT-owned stores: 4%, no fee - CT Options MC, also 0.8% on property taxes
5. cheap loans: MBNA

If grandfathered C1 Travel ever goes away, probably replace it with the $30/1.75% Rogers MC.

Apr 26th, 2016 10:26 pm

#17

BrianWS6: Member; Apr 2, 2016; 482 posts; 318 upvotes

Apr 26th, 2016 10:26 pm

1. American Express Gold Rewards (put everything on it, except for Cineplex)
2. Scotiabank Scene Visa (for Cineplex & equivalent of 1.34% back where Amex is not accepted)
3. BMO Air Miles Mastercard (old card, keep active to maintain reporting history)
4. American Express Air Miles (converted from old Plat Air Miles, keep active to maintain reporting history)
5. Vancity Enviro Visa (oldest card, keep active to maintain history)

New Cards not used yet:

Scotiabank American Express Gold
Chase Marriott Premier Visa

Apr 26th, 2016 10:37 pm

#18

DealMaomi: Deal Guru; Oct 3, 2006; 10389 posts; 740 upvotes; Toronto

Apr 26th, 2016 10:37 pm

1. Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite MasterCard (grandfathered version) as my main card for 2% on everything when I redeem travel.
2. Tangerine Money-Back MasterCard 2% (4% promo until July 10) on restaurants, entertainment and public transportation. I will use this for the aforementioned 3 categories until the promo is over.
3. Chase Amazon.ca Visa for foreign transactions.

Apr 26th, 2016 10:42 pm

#19

HanLiFerdinandL030412: Newbie; Jul 9, 2015; 26 posts

Apr 26th, 2016 10:42 pm

1.Capital One Aspire (1.00%+0.25%)
2.Scotiabank Momentum （4% grocery，gas，2% bill and drug）
3.Tangerine (restaurant, furniture, entertainment)
4.BMO US CC (US purchase)
5.CT CB card (Hydro, Utility gas, property tax)

Apr 27th, 2016 3:06 pm

#20

jfmartel: Deal Addict; Mar 11, 2007; 3944 posts; 1171 upvotes; QC

Apr 27th, 2016 3:06 pm

bubak wrote: ↑5. cheap loans: MBNA

Explain pls