Free gas from Shell - Page 2 - GreenHybrid

Frodo · #11 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpsman1

Your credit score goes down every time you open a new credit card.
It can take many months for it to go back up.
You are playing with fire.
Unless you need another credit card.

Not exactly. A lot depends on the exact scoring model used, and the total number of inquiries/recently opened accounts. An open account with a significant line, and low utilization can actually RAISE your score, and can improve your overall ratios (like credit utilization, which is open lines/balance on open lines ). Also, these sort of 'affinity' cards can have promotional features that make them more attractive (e.g., cents off for purchases at the merchant). A couple of years back, the Shell card had 5% purchase rebate on gas purchases, with no annual rebate limits - they're typically less generous than that now...

TheSpoils · #12 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008, 11:27 AM

Although I also have been a victim of the $39 late fee (for being 1 day late) I disagree with closing it out. I was a customer for about 9 years spending on average $2-4K per month, when I called and complained about the fee for 1 day late, I was told that the fee cannot be reversed unless it was a bank error. I stated my case, that my neighbor had received my mail and by the time i got it and paid they received it 1 day late. It was no go. Instead of canceling the card, I just placed it in my vault with a small note to remind me of what happened, and won't ever use the card again. They have to maintain my account and provide all the required disclosures as they change and so forth. I feel a bank will incur a bigger expense if customers just stop using the cards than if they close them. It truly is a sad day when long standing customers who make decent $ purchases and have never been late before, get charged for being 1 day late with a payment.

Mr. Kite · #13 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSpoils

Although I also have been a victim of the $39 late fee (for being 1 day late) I disagree with closing it out.

That's too bad you could not get the fee waived. Anyway, it's better for your credit score to let a card go idle than to close the account.

livvie · #14 (**permalink**) 05-27-2008, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSpoils

Although I also have been a victim of the $39 late fee (for being 1 day late) I disagree with closing it out. I was a customer for about 9 years spending on average $2-4K per month, when I called and complained about the fee for 1 day late, I was told that the fee cannot be reversed unless it was a bank error. I stated my case, that my neighbor had received my mail and by the time i got it and paid they received it 1 day late. It was no go. Instead of canceling the card, I just placed it in my vault with a small note to remind me of what happened, and won't ever use the card again. They have to maintain my account and provide all the required disclosures as they change and so forth. I feel a bank will incur a bigger expense if customers just stop using the cards than if they close them. It truly is a sad day when long standing customers who make decent $ purchases and have never been late before, get charged for being 1 day late with a payment.

Nice but you could do both. Threaten to cancel to get them to waive the fee so that they don't lose a customer...then vault it.

I've done that.

HybridVue · #15 (**permalink**) 05-27-2008, 09:35 AM

Personally the best credit card for those who don't carry a balance, charge more than $6000 annually and do not want to pay an annual fee is the American Express Blue Credit Card.

Once $6000 in total charges have been reached they provide:
5% rebate on gas, grocery stores, drug stores
1.5% rebate on all other purchases

No Limit as to the amount of the rebate and it is paid annually on the anniversary of the card.

Therefore when gas is $4 a gallon you are getting 20 cents back. It works at any gas station as long as you pay at the pump.

I think you must have good credit score of 600 or above to get one.

My wife and I use the Card for all of our purchases, pay the monthly bills ontime (electronically) and in full. If you are able to do that - than this is the best card.

The one drawback is that some of the places do not take Amex. Amex charges retailers a higher fee than Visa and MasterCard so smaller retailers balk at American Express. For those situations I use my AAA Visa which rebates 3% on Gas purchases.

Mr. Kite · #16 (**permalink**) 05-27-2008, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HybridVue

Personally the best credit card for those who don't carry a balance, charge more than $6000 annually and do not want to pay an annual fee is the American Express Blue Credit Card.

Once $6000 in total charges have been reached they provide:
5% rebate on gas, grocery stores, drug stores
1.5% rebate on all other purchases

I have this card too. One thing to point out though, even if you do charge more than $6,000 annually, you do not get the full rebate on the purchases below that amount. You only get the full rebate on the purchases after you surpassed the $6,000 amount. The full rebate is not retroactive to the purchases that brought you up to that amount. I know their terms are misleading, but I know this from both experience and trying out their cash back calculator.

Also, now they have upped the limit to $6,500.