Schwab Invest Visa? 2% cash back on everything? [Discontinued card]
#961
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
#962
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,731
The cash involved is not a whole lot in our case that I dont mind to have the cash equivalent parked at other places especially the TYP 25% discount on flight redemption.
Besides, on top of each card has its own benefits and features, it is always a sound option to carry more than one 0% forex card when travel. What if your ex-Schwab card not accepted? This happened twice in our recent trip when paying at a swipe machine. Though I suspect it is due to the cashier swiping the card too rapidly. But it did give me a jolt when it first happened when it was very early in the trip, like the 2nd day on land... Renfe at Seville the "Same Day" desk girl claimed my card was no good, while the very same card was used no more than 10 minutes ago at another desk (the future dates desk).
I had other 0% forex cards with us so I wasn't too concerned if the ex-Schwab card stopped working.
#963
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: NY
Posts: 185
Personal taste obviously.
The cash involved is not a whole lot in our case that I dont mind to have the cash equivalent parked at other places especially the TYP 25% discount on flight redemption.
Besides, on top of each card has its own benefits and features, it is always a sound option to carry more than one 0% forex card when travel. What if your ex-Schwab card not accepted? This happened twice in our recent trip when paying at a swipe machine. Though I suspect it is due to the cashier swiping the card too rapidly. But it did give me a jolt when it first happened when it was very early in the trip, like the 2nd day on land... Renfe at Seville the "Same Day" desk girl claimed my card was no good, while the very same card was used no more than 10 minutes ago at another desk (the future dates desk).
I had other 0% forex cards with us so I wasn't too concerned if the ex-Schwab card stopped working.
The cash involved is not a whole lot in our case that I dont mind to have the cash equivalent parked at other places especially the TYP 25% discount on flight redemption.
Besides, on top of each card has its own benefits and features, it is always a sound option to carry more than one 0% forex card when travel. What if your ex-Schwab card not accepted? This happened twice in our recent trip when paying at a swipe machine. Though I suspect it is due to the cashier swiping the card too rapidly. But it did give me a jolt when it first happened when it was very early in the trip, like the 2nd day on land... Renfe at Seville the "Same Day" desk girl claimed my card was no good, while the very same card was used no more than 10 minutes ago at another desk (the future dates desk).
I had other 0% forex cards with us so I wasn't too concerned if the ex-Schwab card stopped working.
#964
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,731
One time I had to re-iterate that we would be in Turkey when the lady just declared that all our countries were in Europe so just Europe would be enough... No M'ame, Turkey is not in Euro zone. Please do notate that the card would be used in Turkey and the currency would be Turkish Lire.
Frankly I am not sure the travel advisory is necessary.
In the past when we used Citi's card we never informed Citi where we went but the card(s) never encountered any issue all over the world. I suppose the previous spending pattern would clue the computer.
When we informed AMEX SPG our travel plan we got the response that it was not necessary at all and AMEX would still shut down the card in case its system detected irregularities (as "thought" by the computer).
I would love to try out the infamous C1 cards to see if it is really very bad to be easily shut down when used outside country.
#965
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,762
While all the travel books say to notify your credit card issuer if you are doing some international travel, and I really don't have any problems with that, it really doesn't seem to make any difference as noted above. The computer will be on the look out for what it considers suspicious charges. I have switched over to the FIA card for my international travel after years of using the AA advantage cards (I tried to rationalize it to myself that I was paying 3% to earn miles I wouldn't get with other cards) but the allure of 2% back on everything (sure it's not all that much but it's better than nothing) meant in my warped mind I was getting a 5% bonus for my international travel (or in other words, the AA miles were costing me 5% of whatever I purchased) but I digress. Like I said sometimes I notify them, sometimes I don't. I just got back from 5 weeks in Europe charging up a storm (well I believe in charging everything everywhere no matter how large or small and keeing my use of cash to the barest minimum) and not one charge was rejected. I think this notify your bank is meaningless for the most part but again I'm not saying not to do it.
#966
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
Posts: 2,498
... I just got back from 5 weeks in Europe charging up a storm (well I believe in charging everything everywhere no matter how large or small and keeing my use of cash to the barest minimum) and not one charge was rejected. I think this notify your bank is meaningless for the most part but again I'm not saying not to do it.
FIA ex-Schwab was never rejected a charge of mine anywhere in the world, as far as I can remember, and my charging philosophy is similar to JEFFJAGUAR's. CapitalOne, on the other hand, does reject charges from time to time, even with advance notification.
#967
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
While all the travel books say to notify your credit card issuer if you are doing some international travel, and I really don't have any problems with that, it really doesn't seem to make any difference as noted above. The computer will be on the look out for what it considers suspicious charges. I have switched over to the FIA card for my international travel after years of using the AA advantage cards (I tried to rationalize it to myself that I was paying 3% to earn miles I wouldn't get with other cards) but the allure of 2% back on everything (sure it's not all that much but it's better than nothing) meant in my warped mind I was getting a 5% bonus for my international travel (or in other words, the AA miles were costing me 5% of whatever I purchased) but I digress. Like I said sometimes I notify them, sometimes I don't. I just got back from 5 weeks in Europe charging up a storm (well I believe in charging everything everywhere no matter how large or small and keeing my use of cash to the barest minimum) and not one charge was rejected. I think this notify your bank is meaningless for the most part but again I'm not saying not to do it.
#968
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Brazil and Australia
Programs: AA EP; Formerly an Over-Entitled UA 1K MM until I wised-up and left UA for AA.
Posts: 208
i've had the card formerly-known-as-the-schwab-visa since january, 2009 and have never called to notify them in advance of my travel. like ajnaro's experience, despite frequent int'l travel to many less-than-popular destinations they have never declined any of my charges.
#969
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: PDX
Posts: 117
i've had the card formerly-known-as-the-schwab-visa since january, 2009 and have never called to notify them in advance of my travel. like ajnaro's experience, despite frequent int'l travel to many less-than-popular destinations they have never declined any of my charges.
#971
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 9,977
#972
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: BOS
Programs: HH Gold
Posts: 180
I'm going to be in London next and all my cards that I use currently have foreign fees. I still have this open and haven't used it for a while, wasn't sure if the terms have changed. Does this still have no foreign fees?
#974
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1
is the CC still active ?
I see so many people referring to this 2% cb card as if it were still active but I dont see it on Schwab's website. In fact they seem to have discontinued their CC business.
That being said, can someone confirm whether there is some conversion fee when this debit card is used as a credit card abroad ?
That being said, can someone confirm whether there is some conversion fee when this debit card is used as a credit card abroad ?
#975
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
Posts: 2,498
I see so many people referring to this 2% cb card as if it were still active but I dont see it on Schwab's website. In fact they seem to have discontinued their CC business.
That being said, can someone confirm whether there is some conversion fee when this debit card is used as a credit card abroad ?
That being said, can someone confirm whether there is some conversion fee when this debit card is used as a credit card abroad ?