We carry Capital One, as there was no additional charge when we used it last year. I am surprised no one mentioned that. Have they changed?

You mean like mentioning it as recently as a couple of posts before yours? Or mentioning and discussing it multiple times throughout this thread? Or on the wiki that this thread refers to multiple times?

I hope this is sufficiently germane to this thread. I opened a Bank of Internet account, the lack of foreign exchange fees showing on the wiki being influential. I tried to get an ATM-only (not debit) card for better security if it's lost, but they sent me a Visa debit card anyway. I'll live with it, being careful with it; that's not what I'm asking about here.

The activation sticker says to call the number or "use at an ATM machine with your PIN to activate this card before making purchases." So do I take it that when I first make an ATM withdrawal with the card, it also becomes valid for purchases without a PIN? I briefly thought that, by not phoning to activate it, it would be safe from non-PIN purchases.

Yes, when you first make an ATM withdrawal it also becomes valid for purchases without a PIN. The ATM use is just to verify that you have received the card, since you're the only one who should know your PIN.

Thanks. I'm thinking of having B of I as my first ATM card for overseas travel, knowing it has a $300 daily limit, with ING Direct as my second card. I've been wondering about post #20 in this thread when ING took over NetBank deposits, saying of ING "the ATM card is essentially worthless - it won't even work at ING banks in Europe." Does that just mean to be extra-alert to tell ING you're traveling and they take 3%, or is it something worse?

I use USAA visa.

Amex True Earnings Business Card from Costco use for travel purchases, restaurants and gas.

International conversion fee 2% which is offset by rebate that you get on:
1. Travel purchase 2%
2. Restaurant purchases 3%
3. Gas purchases 5%

Annual fee?

What kind of rewards do you earn?

Or is it the rebates which are the rewards?

And do the rebates come with each transaction or is it some cumulative annual rebate?

Note that most overseas/foreign currency purchases probably won't be coded as travel/restaurant/gas purchases, so you'll probably not earn the extra cash back. But an interesting idea if it works. Any experience to counter my speculation?

No anual fee with a paid Costco membership

You earn a cash rebate which is mailed to you in February and can be cashed
at Costco only

Also you earn open savings up to 5% instantly at certain merchants, Check www.open.com

Here is a link wch details more about this card: https://www201.americanexpress.com/s...=200&eep=20011

My vote still goes for the PenFed visa, 1% forex fee and 1.25% on all purchases, giving you 0.25% back. I know Capital one has no forex fee and 1% + 0.25% back but Capital one's credit limit seems to be 15K. PenFed's limit is 50K and it's hard these days to find a good 5% gas cashback Visa, they all seemed to have moved to 3% unless you were grandfathered in. Also, no need to call in to get your cashback, it's credited monthly which is a big plus. You can join PenFed for $20 or as a student for free by joining S.A.M.E. Society of American Military Engineers.

I actually have a couple good things to say about CapitalOne (after many months of having only bad things to say). But first, they are running a campaign where they want to be your favorite card...

If you pay your balance in full every month, call them and tell them you want to respond to their offer. The only thing they have to honor their guarantee for someone that pays their bill in full every month is an increase in credit limit! I went from $20K to $35K simply by responding to their incredibly weak campaign. That made a HUGE difference to me...

Another spot of bright news is that the 800 number for the campaign gets answered in the US. And the US-based people are easier for me to to understand, they understand me, and they are far better trained. So far, I am calling the campaign 800# number for all customer service issues now, and they seem to handle them just fine.

And one more bright spot: Their business card has all the same benefits as their personal card, but also has different card numbers for each additional card holder, giving you a fully itemized billing statement section for each additional cardholder.

As long as I can keep getting US-based Customer Service, have almost decent credit lines, and get itemized transactions by cardholder, I'll be pretty happy with Capital One.

It'll be nice when they finally get around to releasing the multiple card numbers for their personal accounts too.

After reading your posts, I may give Cap1 a try, maybe. Their initial credit limit according to their website is $15K but I guess after a bit, they will raise it.

Are they finally reporting credit limits on their cards now? I remember awhile back people were complaining about them not reporting the credit line, so it would show as you being maxed out if you had a balance.

PenFed is a credit union so the chances of them shipping out their call centers out of the US is slimmer than Cap1. I always get an American when call PenFed. Also, once you are a customer, you qualify for their car loans which are cheaper than Cap1 rates.

The cap1 website wasn't clear, is there a minimum amount you need before requesting a cash back?

I still miss the old days of the MBNA Fidelity Visa Signature with 0% Forex, with the Visa Signature, it's a true everyday card since you can get the Signature benefits of the 90 day theft or lost item and a couple of other things. I don't think they come with the PenFed and Cap1 because they are platinum cards.

My main card right now is still the AMEX Starwood but I decided on the Penfed Visa for the forex fee and the 5% gas cashback. The only other 5% gas cashback is the AMEX SimplyCash but I get gas at Sam's Club and they don't take AMEX but will take Visa at the pump only, not the store. The only other 5% gas cashback is the discovercard but they cap it at $1200 spent a year.

Have looked through some of this thread, but wow, its long.

Was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for which card would be best for Hong Kong users.

So far, I have found the standard rate to be a visa card which the spread is around 2%. Anyone found anything better?

Thanks!

Are you talking about a US$ card for American expats in Hong Kong, or a HK$ card for a HK resident traveling abroad? If the former, see our wiki: http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php...reign_Exchange

If the latter, I'm afraid we're not going to be much help as this thread (and the wiki) is pretty US-resident-centric.