As unhappy as I can sometimes be with Amex Cent, I think I'll stick with it since I'm already in. This card is kinda' funny... I bet it's lighter than the Cent card tho, that would be handy.

I think you guys are definitely underestimating how many people will go for this card. I foresee it actually being a pretty big success to people who aren't in the realm of the Amex CENT spending, but what something a little more exclusive and prestigious.

By my reckoning there are fewer than 100,000 Centurion cardholders worldwide:

December 2007 USA circulation data for Departures magazine shows 26,000 Centurion cardholders. See page three of this document...

http://www.departures.com/mediakit/d...P_BPA_1207.pdf

International figures are on page three of this document...

http://www.adinternational.be/pdf_re...ion_Europe.pdf

Or not. While Barclay's Bank is issuing the card it appears the rewards and benefits are offered by another entity. If you read the Terms and Conditions link at the bottom of the application there is a distinction between "Barclay's" and "Black Card".

Black Card is solely responsible for establishing the terms and conditions of your participation in The Program and reserves the right to modify, amend or terminate The Program at any time....Black Card is not a party to the Credit Card Cardmember Agreement between you and Barclays; does not participate in any extension of credit, and has no authority regarding your Account. Barclays is the sole creditor and owner of your Account. You authorize Barclays to share information about your Account with Black Card, VIPdesk, and TSYS Loyalty to the extent needed to administer the Visa Black Card Program and the Black Card Rewards Program.

Only 2 Airport lounge access per year? WTH? That is stupid! The Chairman Card gives you as much as you want lounge access plus up to 2 guest (or 3 I don't remember).

A shameless knock off of Amex Centurion, with a service not even close to an Amex Plat. Barclays and Visa should be ashamed of themselves for their new 'innovation'.

What kind of idiot will apply such a card? Exactly how exclusive can you feel with your $495 card and 3,000,000 fellow cardholders. Not to mention the 'subtle' design that screams 'Black Card' - it really tells who you are and what's your taste.

If you think you can fool anyone with this, think again.

Hello everyone.. I just received the Visa Black Card today in a pretty nice packaging. I did not apply for this card and they had told me that they would waive my annual fee (they did this with my Chairman card as well).. I currently have a Amex Centurion, Amex chairman, Merril+ Visa, and now this Visa Black Card. Currently, the concierge service on centurion and chairman card have become terrible. I will try out this card to see if the concierge is really as good as they claim it to be. Will post up with updates..

How 'exclusive' is the card when there are another 2,999,999 cards to be released to the US market alone. And how 'prestigious' when anyone making $15k can apply? It's the cheapest marketing/design knock off I have ever seen.

Regarding your comments about Barclays being a smart and great company, anyone who has visited their branches in the UK can tell you just how 'great' they are. I suspect people who have taste would not be too impressed by their look.

You might want to know that they had a high end retail banking service a while back, called Barclays Additions, after seeing HSBC's success with their Premier banking service. Failing to compete with HSBC, they changed their service name from 'Barclays Addition' to 'Barclays Premier'. How original!

Full details and hands on photos of the Visa Black Card a reader just submitted here: http://www.the-blackcard.com -- looks like the card is not even firm like the centurion!

I want to know which marketing "genius" visa used to come up with this idea, it is repulsive.

Not to mention I cant believe Amex does not own blackcard.com


Never the less I am tempted to get it just to add to my collection next to my Chicago cubs mastercard

I wonder if they would give it for a complimentary 1 year trial

It definitely isn't repulsive. Since receiving this card (yes, I gave in and splurged, my Amex spending isn't CENT qualifying), nearly every merchant I went to (including some high-end ones that I KNOW see Centurion Cards) made a comment on "Ohh, a Black Card." So, the general public doesn't seem to know the difference :P

What an odd comment. Barclays have brought a product to market, which (presumably on the basis of at least some market research) they believe will make money. Just like any product from any other vendor. The idea that a vendor should be "ashamed of themselves" for bringing a new product to market seems very strange. People will buy the product or not, depending on how they feel it fits their needs.

As a consumer, how are you disadvantaged by a vendor bringing to market a product which does not fit your needs ? Why is it not a matter of complete indifference to you ? If the product is not appealing to you, then don't buy it.

Barclays Premier has been around under that name since at least the mid-90s. I don't know about "failing to compete with HSBC", but IMHO it offered good value for customers willing to pay a little extra for personal service. I definitely got extremely responsive service; just one call was all it took to get pretty much anything sorted out - and having a direct line to a named individual who knew who you were and would take ownership of getting something done was a big step up from the standard "free banking" service provided by the UK majors at the time. Certainly not comparable with what you get from wealth management type services, but this was a product offered to middle income customers.

So as mentioned in my previous threads I just got my two amex personal cards. Currently on my credit are two highend car leases (Lamborghini/Mercedes) that I paid in full to boost the credit score. My credit now is 790 with all three bureaus. Do you think this is good enough for visa black approval?
Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

the visa black card is not that good, do some searches there is many posts about it.

If you have an AMEX Platinum you don't need that card. The benefits are very similar.