Consumer Reports Lists Ten Good Cards
 

Many here will disagree but here is the story...

Ten good cards
In today's world, with mailboxes often overflowing with credit-card offers, it can be difficult to find the perfect card. Plus, "a lot of the things that seem to be of most concern to consumers are happening across the board with the biggest issuers," Rock said.

Consumer Reports compiled a list of ten cards that stand out because their issuers don't employ universal default policies and don't charge balance transfer fees. The following ten cards also have a grace period of at least 25 days and don't charge an annual fee, according to the study.

As well as the following list of ten consumer-friendly cards, credit unions often offer charge cards with favorable terms, Rock said. To see whether you're eligible to join any credit unions, visit the Credit Union National Association.

The following bank-issued cards offer introductory rates ranging from zero to 3.9%. After the introductory period ends, those rates are followed by a regular rate ranging from 7.99% for the No. 1 card listed, to 11.5% for No. 10 card on the list. (Note that these terms are offered to consumers with high credit scores.)

While these cards offer more favorable terms than many other cards, they still charge late-payment fees as high as $35. Still, the Commerce card listed charges no late fee, and the Town North card charges a late fee of just $15, according to Consumer Reports.

Platinum MasterCard, issued by Town North, 877-866-2265

Visa Platinum, issued by First Tennessee, 800-234-2840

Visa Gold, issued by Pulaski, 800-217-7715

Visa Platinum Rewards, issued by Simmons First National, 877-245-1234

Target Visa, issued by Target National, 877-474-8378

Visa Platinum, issued by BB&T, 800-476-4228

Platinum MasterCard, issued by Franklin Templeton Bank & Trust, 800-238-2761

Visa Platinum, issued by RBC Centura, 800-236-8872

Visa Platinum, issued by Commerce, 888-751-9000

Visa Platinum, issued by Zions, 800-789-8800

I dont know how they came to this conclusion. Did the consumer reports staff applied to every card in the world regardless of their own credit history or that was just a random opinion of subscribers to consumer reoports?

LOL not sure but Consumer Reports has alaways had a wacky way of rating stuff. I always had a felling they rated items from companies who advertise with them more favorably. That is just my 2 cents I could be wrong.

yes, especially because CR doesn't accept paid advertising.

What about the new American Express Clear Card? It supposedly offers no annual fee, no balance transfer fee, no late payment fee, no over-limit fee, etc... American Express is selling it as the absolutely NO fee card. Plus you get free credit reports and credit score each year. There's also some reward program, but probably diluted since it is a no fee card.

So all thoses full page cars ads in CS they are giving away for free out of the kindness of there heart?

:confused: I don't read Consumer Reports much anymore, but they and every other publication of Consumers Union accepts no advertising and purchases all the products/services they rate. Some other rating info comes from their annual survey of members/readers.

You are either mistaken about their processes or thinking of a different publication.

And, those are none of the cards anyone I know has and no one I know wants, including myself.

Maybe they just made a donation to their favorite publisher...

I believe the ratings (atleast for cars) were done by some standards and also in part by feedback from CR readers.

I'd suggest a better option than this is to look at bankrate.com rather than some static list.