Doctor of Credit

Sources:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/uber-an...als-1501425094
http://domainnamewire.com/2017/07/14/uber-credit-card/

Lyft also have plans to launch a card.

Tyler2017

Will it be Chip+PIN enabled and with Contactless included as well?

tmiw

I thought Uber was pretty close to AmEx already (e.g. the monthly Uber credit on the Platinum card). Seems kinda weird to not go with them instead.

It's likely going to be set up like Barclay's other cards: signature preferring (but with PIN available if needed) and no contactless.

mikesyr18

If it's issued through Barclays then count me out.

Not sure why these companies go with a card issuing company that isn't even big in the states. It's already irritated me that Jet Blue went with them after being partners with AMEX previously.

mia

Why is this important?

tmiw

Barclaycard is a pretty big issuer in the US. Someone like HSBC, on the other hand...

mikesyr18

Because it's not really a solid bank to begin with.

They offer decent savings accounts and that's it. The Jet Blue card is good, but would rather have it be backed by another bank that has quality customer service.

I can be sure that if Barclays backs the Uber Card, you'll see 2x on Uber purchases, and 1x on everything else with a 17%-25% APR or something. Not that APR's matter to me a while lot but they do to the masses.

mia

Do you mean not financially sound, or something else? Why does a credit card customer care about their banking services? I do not bank at American Express, Bank of America, Barclays, Chase, or Citi but their credit card products are fine. I really don't see any connection.

Hawaiian717

I would call £1.2 trillion in assets and in existence since 1690 pretty solid. They might not have a huge retail banking presence in the US, but they're everywhere in the UK and part of the Global ATM Alliance with Bank of America.

rasheed

As mentioned, I think Barclaycard is a very solid issuer in the US. They know what they are doing and are very experienced with savvy cardholders (quarterly promotions, retention offers, etc.). They have an advanced team who can handle credit line transfers and appear to be more comfortable with customers having more than one card these days. I had three co-branded Priceline cards at one point (because they kept changing the offer), and they were okay once I spoke to their analyst.

Their website provides full details on every transaction (MCC), and I find they have exceptionally straightforward redemption programs (especially on travel bonus cards).

Also, I think it is better to have a variety of issuers as we are all seeing issues when you have concentration (Chase 5/24). There is only so much risk the large banks will take on any one customer.

Finally, I think they are the only major issuer who has plenty of no added FTF/AF cards with a genuine PIN option (if needed to complete a purchase overseas). Sure, it is way down in priority, but it is legit for using at those unattended kiosks/etc.

Now, Barclaycard's US operations weakness is chargebacks. Fraud charges are no issue to remove, but chargebacks require documentation.

I am a little surprised AmEx didn't try harder, but it seems Barclaycard is willing to pay a lot more spiff and perhaps guaranteed profit share than other issuers.

Rasheed

mikesyr18

Barclaycard is almost like Capital One, except with a few more co-branded cards.

- Bad customer service.
- High APR's (as mentioned I don't care, but others might).
- Relatively weak rewards system on their non-co branded cards.
- They made the Ring card worthless by upping it's APR and not giving it rewards.

I don't see why anyone would want a Barclaycard unless it's for the Jet Blue cards?

It's not like they have the highest cash back cards in the industry or transfer partners.

Perhaps AMEX wanted nothing to do with it.

I'm willing to bet it'll be a 2x/1x rewards system with no AF, only bonus category will be Uber purchases.

Hawaiian717

Full (encrypted online, encrypted offline, plaintext offline) PIN CVM support with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee on the JetBlue and Arrival (not Arrival+ which has an AF) make the cards at least useful as backup for places that require PIN.

I don't give this theory much credence since Amex and Uber already have a partnership with the $15/month Uber credit on the Platinum card. More likely Barclays just came out with the offer most attractive to Uber.

mikesyr18

I don't even see a link for the non AF Arrival on their website.

https://home.barclaycardus.com/cards.html


I get what you're saying about the PIN, but I'm talking about the masses here... People who don't care about signature vs. PIN support.

And to be quite honest, the only person I've ever seen with a Barclaycard in their wallet is myself. Perhaps it's more popular in the mid-west?

I guess it depends on what you mean by "attractive."

I believe AMEX would have better perks and rewards for Uber cardholders, regardless of the offer Barclays gave Uber.

tmiw

The Priceline and Wyndham cards have no FTF or AF either, apparently.

I think enough people care about it and Barclaycard's marketed it well enough such that the Arrival+ is known as the card that's "chip and PIN". Never mind that it's not actually, at least with the (admittedly) much stricter definition that I use.

mikesyr18

Why would someone want that card, except for the sign up bonus and PIN??

It's basically a 2% cash back card with an $89 AF.

If PIN was really that big of an issue, Americans would have PIN preferring cards.