Credit Card Goodies

I just received an offer for a card that gives AAA members a 5% rebate on any purchase made at a gas pump that has a built-in credit card swipe integrated into the pump (any brand of gas -- even discount brands).

When I find the offer (which I misplaced), I will post additional details.

https://www.applyonlinenow.com/USapp/Ct ... A000000WZG Pays 5% cash back on all gas purchases when the card is swiped at the pump. The credit is posted immediately almost within days. When you fill out the application leave the member number line blank (if you are not a AAA member) and it will be fine. Unfortunately the rebate is only for gas purchases and not for other retail.

I've heard a LOT of bad things about MNBA. Any truth to the rumors?

I jumped on this offer as soon as I got it. Found that I got the rebate of 5% immediately as a credit to my statement on each days purchase. This worked at all locations on the 4,000 mile trip I took including at warehouse club purchases made at the pump. At todays pricing, this means about 7 cents per gallon discount. Not bad and beats the cash back options 5 to 1.

havaloc wrote:I've heard a LOT of bad things about MNBA. Any truth to the rumors?

I've had at least one MBNA card since 1996 and don't have any problems with them. They give generous credit lines, allow you to convert one MBNA card into another, have platinum benefits on their Platinum Plus and Quantum cards, and don't charge an extra foreign currency exchange fee.

Havaloc, what kind of bad things have you heard about MBNA?

I have had a card with them for more than two years now, and I haven't had any problems. I also constantly read some credit card boards out there, and I have not seen a lot of bad stuff about them.

In addition to what Grim said, they:

* have about the longest grace period any major issuer gives (just one or two days short of a month),

* allow automatic debit of your checking account (which allows you to use every single day of that grace period),

* constantly increase credit lines automatically,

* sometimes give increases when one asks WITHOUT pulling credit report (no extra inquiry),

* allow cash advances directly to one's bank account at promo balance-transfer APRs,

* allow those promo APRs when you trade one card for another, as if you were a new customer,

* have good online access.

According to my friend who works at MBNA - At the top of all the doors it says "Think of Yourself As a Customer". I have had a card with MBNA for three years now, never had any trouble.

Agreement says

This 5% Gas Rebate Program (the "Program") is open to select members of AAA who participate in the AAA Gas Rebate credit card program that is issued and administered by MBNA America Bank, N.A. ("MBNA").

I am afraid I need to be an AAA member after this card application.
Are there anyone who is not AAA member with this card?

Didn't put down AAA #. Got card. Got rebates.

Does this card offer any type of purchase protection, extended warranty, etc.? Will still probably get one just for gas rebates, but would like to know if I should use another for, say electronics.

How long does it take to receive this card after you apply? I have excellent credit, but applied 3 weeks ago online and when I call mbna, they say the account is still pending.

Call MBNA Request for the card to be decisioned immediatly.... stress you really need it ASAP....

I just spoke with a rep from MBNA at 1-800-523-7666. You can apply over the phone. He told me that you do not have to be a AAA member.

We got a mail solicitation for the 5% MBNA cash rebate directly from MBNA with no mention of AAA anywhere. Excessive credit line considering we will only use it for gas purchases, but I have had no problem with MBNA over past 6 years we have been customers.

The website inidicates that the rebate is paid by gift certificate to AAA stores. Is there a cashback or credit-to-next-statement option? How are you getting your rebates and spending them?

Thanks guys. BTW, this is a great forum!

ok, so the 5% is credited to next month's statement. However, you only get the 5% if you pay at the pump (can't run inside for a candybar). The 1% cashback on all other purchases comes in the form of $50 gift certificates for AAA products every time you earn 5,000 pts.

I can't see myself buying much at AAA. I'd rather not carry another card to use just for gas. I'm going for the Chase card.

Cheers!

To answer some previos questions. Yes immediate cash back posted on monthly statement. Service is good ..they waived my first late charge (accident). Leave membership line blank..you will still get card.

I've had this card for a few months and like it very much. 5% rebate from "pay at pump" gas purchases shows up on next bill (with the purchases on same statement). You also build up AAA Reward points (I believe at 1% of purchases). When you reach 5,000 points you can go into a AAA center and use your $40 (not $50 as mentioned in previous post) voucher for items such as membership fees, discounted movie tickets and packages, discounted attraction tickets, or foreign travel books. It can also be applied toward a vacation/trip purchased through AAA (they will send you a check). The voucher is payable to AAA, not cardholder. The voucher can't be used for travelers checks or insurance. Vouchers are good for 1 year and multiple vouchers can be used.
So far, I am very pleased with this card.

5% at the pump, simple and rich. I gladly ditched the Chase freedom card. Now I am using my 5% Universal cards. After I earn the 2x $300 for my two cards, I will use Fido 1.5% card and the AAA card for gas. I am also thinking about the Citi Dividend card with 5% in supermarket, gas station, and drugstore if that is long-term.

Best Wishes.

hh wrote: After I earn the 2x $300 for my two cards, I will use Fido 1.5% card and the AAA card for gas.

What is the Fido Card?

take a look at Fidelity.com for credit card offers. The flat 1.5% card is a no-nonsense (MBNA) card that piles the rebate into IRA/Roth IRA or regular brokerage accounts. It smells just like cold cash to me.

The Citi Dividend Card can be long-term if one applies online, FYI.

Best Wishes.

The AAA gas Visa card has a new policy. Users no longer automatically get a 5% instant rebate for individual gas purchases. New policy is as follows:
Add total of all retail (everything but ATM, cash, returns) purchases.
Take 2% of that total, this is your rebate limit.
Now add up your gas purchases. You get either 5% or the limit, whichever is lower.
In many cases, this is going to lower the rebate amount.

In my case, I was averaging $9-12 per statement on rebates, but my total bill was only $300. My "limit" on a $300 bill would now be $6. I may increase my usage of this card for other purchases, or look for another card (Citi, or Chase maybe).

Another change is that the rebate won't show up immediately, it will show as a credit on the NEXT months statement. Another annoying change. Too bad, I really liked this feature.

I have been using the AAA gas card for about 6 months and it is great but I just got a letter telling me it is being reduced. Now the rebate will be from 2% to 5% depending on what other merchandise I use the card for and it will not be credited on the current statement.

It was great while it lasted but now I am looking!

I got a letter from AAA Mastercard/Visa regarding my 5% reward on Gas purchases when swiped at the pump: The AAA gas card looks like it may not be worth it any more. In order to get a 5% reward on your gas purchases, you have to make charges on other stuff that they don’t pay a rebate on at all. They are catching on that people are ONLY using it for gas.

Basically the terms seem to say that they will take the total of your non-gas purchases and multiply it by 2% and then that will be the limit of what you can get back in a 5% gas rebate each month. Sounds like “fuzzy math”.
_______
I also received letters for both my AT&T Mastercard accounts. Both were 5% on everything but now as of October 1st, It's going to be for Gas, Drugstores and Supermarkets and it's still capped at $300 per year but here is the sneaky catch.. you will get a reward in $50 increments now instead of $100 increments but to get it you have to call a special 1-800 number. They are hoping that you will forget to do this I guess.
Also, you will never know what is considered a “supermarket” but I think it has to be a place where the majority of their income is from food and Wal-Mart would not qualify.

You may however want to consider this card as one you can use to get 5% on gas, but capped at $300 reward per year.

I got the same letter about the rebate adjustment for the MBNA/AAA Visa card...with all that double talk...I couldn't figure out how they were going to calculate the rebate; and when I saw 2% in the letter, I knew the party was over...oooh well...it was nice while it lasted.

Hmmm...maybe I didn't read it carefully enough but the letter I got last month just said that they were limiting the amount of gas on which I could get a rebate to $40 a day.

July is the last month to use this card and get 5% back without having to make non gas purchases. As of Aug 1st you will have to make non-gas purchases which do not get a reward at at all.

For replacement, I suggest the Chase Perfect Card which pays a 6% rebate on all gas purchases made at any gas station for the first 90 days. After that, you'll earn a 3% rebate on all gas purchases. And when you use your card at… a department store… your favorite restaurant… the dry cleaners… grocery stores… or anywhere else you shop, you earn a 1% rebate.
https://www.chasecreditcard.com/Templates/PERFECT/Splash1.asp?target=PERFECT&creative=A27PC902
_______________________________
I got a letter from AAA Mastercard regarding my 5% reward on Gas purchases when swiped at the pump: The AAA gas card looks like it may not be worth it. In order to get a 5% reward on your gas purchases, you have to make charges on other stuff that they don’t pay a rebate on at all. They are catching on that people are ONLY using it for gas.

Basically the terms seems to say that they will take the total of your non-gas purchases and multiply it by 2% and then that will be the limit of what you can get back in a 5% gas rebate each month. Sounds like “fuzzy math”.

is another option with 5% rebate on gasoline...FYI.

Best wishes.

Yet another letter from the AAA Visa people. Not only are the changing the gas rebate policy for the worse, now they are eliminating the AAA Diamond Rewards program. I used to receive 1 reward point for every $1 spent. When I reached 5,000 points, they issued a $40 voucher. The voucher could be used at any AAA branch for membership fees, movie tix, map books, etc. No longer the case.

So it's looking more and more like it's time to get rid of this card.

With incentives reduced by Visa/AAA, what currently is the best choice for a gas rebate credit card. Thanks.

Discover, Universal, MBNA.

Best wishes.

I just received the card. It says I get 5% off on gas, UP TO 2% of the amount of other purchases.

So- supposing I buy $100 gas in a month. I get $5 back, but ONLY IF I have purchased $250 of stuff with the card?

Is this correct? If so, I dont think I'll keep the card.

What gas card are you talking about? If it is MBNA AAA card, then what you described is correct.

Best wishes.

I dont WANT to be correct, I want a card that I'll like, and this AAA MBNA does not seem to be it. I guess I'll get rid of it.

Thanks for confirming my sense of how the card works. I wish I had realized it before I applied for it.

OK, try Discover 5% card instead. MBNA HGW1 10% is not bad either, but it is only for 9 months or so promotional period. I use the 5% Chase grand-fathered card.

Oh, now that you have the AAA card, do not cancel; try to call and convert the credit line to HGW1, you need a new application though. That was what I did with my AAA card way back when they changed the term on us.

Just a suggestion.

Best wishes.

jerblum wrote:I just received the card. It says I get 5% off on gas, UP TO 2% of the amount of other purchases.

So- supposing I buy $100 gas in a month. I get $5 back, but ONLY IF I have purchased $250 of stuff with the card?

Is this correct? If so, I dont think I'll keep the card.

I dont know about you guys, but Im still getting 5% rebates on my gas purchases. I havent bought anything other than gas so far either. But I do have a balance of about 330$ still since I did a balance transfer in July.

When I call them, they said there is an annual fee of $40. I wonder how many gallons I would need to pump to save more than the $40 dollars that I have to pay them.

When looking to find alternatives, I saw the Discover card that gives 5% (in cash? It says cashback bonus) on the gas purchases. https://discovercardapplication.com/pt1.aspx
Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks