Consumer Reports Lists Ten Good Cards
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: New York, NY
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Posts: 140
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
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
#2
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Lodi, CA
Posts: 592
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?
#4


Join Date: Dec 2002
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Originally Posted by dolmar
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.
#5

Join Date: Feb 2005
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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.
#7
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Posts: 5,277
Originally Posted by dolmar
So all thoses full page cars ads in CS they are giving away for free out of the kindness of there heart?
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.
#9
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 757
Originally Posted by dolmar
So all thoses full page cars ads in CS they are giving away for free out of the kindness of there heart?
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.

