Would you credit it

[ewx]

My bank have written to me to say that they are going to stop issuing Visa credit cards and instead send me two credit cards, one an American Express and one a Mastercard, both backed by the same account.

Do you have an Amex? Is it accepted everywhere? (I have a feeling the answer to the latter is a resounding "no".)

Do you have a Mastercard? Is it accepted everywhere?

Can you see any advantage (to me) of this scheme that outweighs the nuisance of having two bits of plastic instead of one? (You get airmiles if you spend money on these cards but I don't travel enough for that to be actually useful and really I just want a credit card, I don't care about complicated reward schemes.) Apparently it's "more flexible" but I can't help but feel that it's just a way of increasing the chance of being at the top of a randomly sorted wallet.

Is there a credit card you'd recommend? I buy things online, over the phone and in person; I want to be able to pay off by direct debit monthly without incurring any interest; I don't want to pay any fees; I don't borrow money long term on credit cards.

To clarify:

• the Amex accumulates airmiles faster than the Mastercard does; it's not totally pointless if you actually care.
• the letter explicitly says "two credit cards", i.e. the Amex is a credit card too not just a charge card.
• I don't spend much time in rural Belgium.

Comments

[baljemmett.livejournal.com]

I have a Mastercard as my secondary credit card -- it's actually M&S's store card, so I use it there as well as to buy petrol. Never had it refused anywhere, but since I tend to use my Visa there could potentially be places I shop that would refuse it.

The Visa is a Barclaycard Gold -- I didn't ask for the gold card, they gave it to me when I graduated. Apparently their rates aren't the best, but since I only ever use it for purchases and will never be in a situation where I can't pay the bill in full each month, I don't particularly mind that. I'd rather go with a big name I trust than shop around for lesser-known cards with 'benefits' that I won't use.