Help me find a credit card that won't bend me over unlubed

September 6, 2007 8:53 AM

Are there any credit card companies with reputations for being decent to their customers?

I've gotten the "free for 90 days auto-enrolled credit protector" crap for the last time. Currently running without a balance, planning to dispute this nonsense and then deny the company my continued business if possible. Visa/Mastercard are preferred, but my annoyance has opened my mind to other options.

posted by clango to work & money (15 comments total)

American Express hasn't pulled any weirdness on me at all and sends out the bonus/extra services ads sparingly compared to some of the Visa cards I have.
posted by Burhanistan at 8:58 AM on September 6, 2007

My credit union is wonderful. Credit unions, in general, have a pretty great reputation.
posted by box at 9:02 AM on September 6, 2007

Yes, seconding credit unions (even though I don't belong to one). They are much more accountable to their customers because they have physical locations you can go to.
posted by Burhanistan at 9:03 AM on September 6, 2007

Discover is pretty painless.
posted by damn dirty ape at 9:09 AM on September 6, 2007

Thirding credit unions. I've got a Visa through mine. They've been great.
posted by amtho at 9:18 AM on September 6, 2007

American Express placed quite high in customer satisfaction recently. The downside is that not everybody takes it because they charge the merchants more.
posted by Comrade_robot at 9:32 AM on September 6, 2007

Discover was just rated the best credit card in a range of categories by Consumer Reports. I just got one of their cards, and it's my best card by far.

They do try to upsell you over the phone (if you buy $100 worth of overpriced crap on your card before the end of the month, you get ten cashback points!), and I had to make it super clear that I didn't want to purchase extra protection on the card when I first signed up. But for the most part the reps are helpful. I like the ease of use of their web site too.

They haven't been involved in any scandals like the ones Providian and Bank of American were embroiled in.
posted by frosty_hut at 9:59 AM on September 6, 2007

I loathe my American Express card least, although it charges a yearly fee.
posted by bonaldi at 9:59 AM on September 6, 2007

Y'know, I kind of prefer the idea of paying an annual fee to having one TAKEN from me under false pretenses.
posted by clango at 10:39 AM on September 6, 2007

Discover was awesome to me after my house was robbed. They sent me a new credit card overnight, even though I didn't request expedition. Also, when I called to report my card stolen, they reviewed my account and lowered the interest rate during the same call.
posted by kamikazegopher at 10:44 AM on September 6, 2007

I've had Discover for years and always been happy. However, you'll run into places, it's mainly been mainly restaurants for me, who do not take it. Personally, I think a Visa or Mastercard is a necessary backup, depending on how necessary a credit card is for you.

My Visa is the REI Visa through US Bank. I've also had that one for several years and no complaints.
posted by altcountryman at 11:28 AM on September 6, 2007

I have a credit union and I never have to deal with stuff like this. I've had the card there for ten years. I've had mixed experiences with Discover. A few months ago they somehow cashed the check I sent them but didn't credit it to my account. They eventually straightened it out, but I had to be really proactive with them about it, they were not great with giving me information and basically treated me like a criminal of some sort until we got to the bottom of it and then didn't apologize.
posted by jessamyn at 1:04 PM on September 6, 2007

Nthing credit unions, and I'll also recommend USAA (yet again), which has some of the most lovely customer service I've ever experienced, in both their banking and credit card divisions.
posted by paleography at 1:36 PM on September 6, 2007

I think in general companies treat good customers well. Don't go over your limit, pay your bills on time, keep the card for years, and they'll do right by you. At least I've never had any issues with any credit card company.
posted by nax at 4:44 PM on September 6, 2007

The best companies I've delt with over the years have been American Express and US Bank. My credit union has appalling interest rates on their credit cards because they outsource their logo to a third party for the card service.

Best thing about AmEx is their online dispute process. Someone jacked my card info like 5 years ago through some crappy online store. I called them to get the card canned and reissued, but the actual dispute was all web-based. I tried to dispute a charge on a Citibank Master Card at one point. It was worse than dealing with the IRS ("Mail us form AOD-4029B along with copies of all receipts, correspondence, and a personal letter describing why it should be reversed.")

US Bank's customer service is still US based, and are always helpful.

I got a Juniper (Barclay's US) card less than 9 months ago because it's 9.9% fixed. So far, they've been really easy to work with as well, but havn't had a very long relationship with them.
posted by jeversol at 8:54 PM on September 6, 2007