When you have a Visa Credit Card, you can use it in most places around the World. When I went to work, I decided I wanted to be independent and got my first Visa then.
The Card:
I got the basic Visa, (with a $2,000.00 CAD), from my bank, the Royal Bank of Canada. At the end of each month I paid what I owed, and they must have been so happy with that they asked if I would like to upgrade to a Visa Gold.
The limit on that card was ($5,000.00 CAD), with no annual fee.
When we sold out house and moved to a condo, there was no Royal Bank near my home or office. I closed my account with the bank.
I used my Visa, to pay the movers, and to my surprise, the next month I received a letter saying that my credit limit had been raised to $10,000.00 CAD.
They offered two choices for the points I earned:
For every dollar I charged on my Visa, I earned points. I had to choice if I wanted my points to go towards a new Ford car, or Air Canada.
My daughter works for Ford, so I picked Air Canada. This means, when I have enough points I can fly not only on Air Canada, (for free), but on any airline is the Star Alliance, (Cathay Pacific, United Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa and Korean Air).
When I travel on any of the Star Alliance airlines, and pay for my ticket by Visa, I get points for what the tickets cost as well as one point for every mile I fly, (I call that double dipping).
What other services do I get:
When I buy travellers cheques, there is no fee.
I get guaranteed hotel reservations.
There are automatic discounts, from hotels, restaurants, resorts, and many Canadian stores.
If I have an emergency, there is a 1-800, (free long distant), number I can phone. This service is open every day around the clock.
I can withdraw up to $1,000.00 at any ATM, (automatic tellers machine), in any Country that accepts Visa. Did you know that not all countries accept all the credit cards? Only 150 do.
Interest:
At the end of the month when you receive you bill, you can pay all the money, or ten percent of the charges. If you choose the later, the interest charges are 18%. This is the same percentage as all the other credit cards in Canada, except American Express. If you have an AE credit card you must pay the total amount charged for that month.
Memories:
I lead a tour to Israel. The airfare, hotels, tours, all breakfasts, lunch on tour days, two dinners, taxes, tips and entrance fees were included. When we went to check out of the hotel some people went to pay the extras the had charged on American Express. The hotel told them they would only accept Visa. Guess who had to pay for them? At least they paid me back when we got home. Israel does accept Visa now.
A lady walked into my office to pick up her tickets to Poland. I asked to see her passport and visa before I gave her the tickets. The airlines got mad if we didn't check this out. She looked at me, and said, ''Here's my passport, but I have to go home to get my Visa.'' I looked at the passport, and it had a visa in it. I tried to stop her but couldn't. Half and hour she came back with her Visa Card.
I always check my bill, when it arrives, to make sure all the charges are correct. One month their was a quite a lot of money for a hotel in Timbuktu. I've never been there, (although the name intrigues me), and so I phoned the 1-800 number, for help. The charges were taken off my bill, immediately. I've often wondered how the people that stole my number thought they could get away with charging so much.
Other Services:
You can buy your car rental insurance, at a discounted price. I haven't used this because our car insurance covers this.
The offer health insurance, for travelling to other countries. I find that it is cheaper to buy my travel insurance from my Travel Agency.
The Other Visa Cards available are:
Students Visa, Platinum Visa, British Airways Visa and the new AAdbantage Visa Gold.
As soon as I use up all my points on my gold Visa, I am going to get the new AAdvantage Visa Card. I can't transfer my points so I'll have to wait. This card lets you redeem your points for all the National Carriers, in the World.
How do you get a Visa Card:
You can apply at most Banks, or look in the yellow pages of your phone book, to get a number to phone, and ask them to send you an application form.
Warnings:
No credit card is valid, unless the card has a signature on the back. I never sign my name, I write, ''Ask for picture ID'', instead. With that on the back the clerk has to see another document, before charging anything on my card. I feel it helps stop the people who are making false credit cards.
When you are travelling, never let your credit card be out of your sight.
Never use a private ATM machine. You don't know who owns it, and if they have a contraption on it, to copy your credit card number. Always use a Bank's ATM.
Always check your bill to make sure that no one has stolen your number and had a fake card used.
My Conclusion:
My husband has a master card, and it is very good, but it doesn't have an air mile program.
If you are trying to decide what credit card to get, I hope you look at visa.
The link to the countries that issue Visa is:
https://visa.com/globalgateway/gg_selectcountry.html?retcountry=1
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