On overseas transaction charges. The only bank I know of that doesn't charge extra is Alliance Bank card. DA used to be 0% but now also impose charges.

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Added on July 16, 2009, 7:25 amNot sure what you mean.

But most bank will have a separate page for supplementary card transaction but they will all be send inside the same envelope.

The only 2 bank that I know having separate credit limit for supplementary cards are DA and Alliance. In other word, the principle card holder can specify what credit limit to give to their supplementary card (out of his own total credit limit).

This post has been edited by Optiplex330: Jul 16 2009, 07:25 AM

Not true. I wanted that feature and called HSBC and Standard Chartered and both said can not.

I think we are talking about 2 types of charges.

1. Foreign currency conversion rate and whatever extra VISA/Mastercard charges is beyond our control.

2. What the various Malaysian bank charges ON TOP of what VISA/Mastercard charges. Does not matter what they wanted to call it, transaction charges, processing fees or whatever. AFAIK, these charges from Malaysian bank ranges from 0% to 2%.

On the latter. DA (and presumably CIMB as well) used to be 0% but now is 1%. The only 1 I know that still charges 0% is Alliance.

I have seen Classic with 20 to 30K. Some people deliberately do not want to be seen with Gold and Platinum.

Yap. That is exactly what I did. My most often used card is a classic with RM3K limit, especially for restaurant and online purchases. My other platinum is for the just-in-case situation.

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Added on July 17, 2009, 10:04 amYap. Citi is very efficient in getting money from you that they are not entitled to. Like charging you late payment fee when there are no late payment. Many friends have been there many times so it is not an isolated incident.


This post has been edited by Optiplex330: Jul 17 2009, 10:04 AM

What has color of card got to do with walking backward? Some classic card credit limit is more than Gold's

Different people looks for different thing in a card. For me, the most important are:
1. No annual fees.
2. I hated reward points. Just give me some of my money back aka rebates. Nothing feel better than cool cash

Now you know why I have a Classic card with only RM3K credit limit

The bank had offered to increase the limit but I have always declined. That is my most often used card and I don't care what people think of my status as long as I can sleep easier at night.

Till today, I still reckon I got the best customer service from Direct Access as compared to my other card company. Some don't work 24/7. So if you have problem with card late in the evening, there is nobody to assist you.

Yap. And it is a real person talking to you, not some irritating answering machine asking you to push this or select that.

Slightly different question.

Assuming you have a credit limit of RM10K. But for a certain purchase, you needed to spend RM30K on the card. So can you:

1. Paid into your credit card account RM20K and you can swipe RM30K on the card now?

I was told some overseas card do not allow that. What about Malaysia?

Increase credit limit from RM10K to RM30K or RM40K? I don't think so. Increase from RM10K to something like RM15K on temporary basis, may be.

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Added on July 20, 2009, 8:23 amAssuming you have credit limit of RM10K. You spend and paid the bank, you ended up with RM10K again.

But what if you wanted to use RM30K in ONE GO? Your method does not work. And if you deposit RM20K into the bank, I know some overseas bank still list your credit limit as RM10K in their system so yet again, you can't swipe RM30K in ONE GO.




This post has been edited by Optiplex330: Jul 20 2009, 08:23 AM

Always try to withdraw using your ATM card (must have either the Cirrus or PLUS logo) from overseas ATM machine.

Charges range from:
Zero. For HSBC Premier ATM card from any overseas HSBC ATM machine. I am sure citibank will have something similar.

RM5. Normal HSBC ATM card from any overseas HSBC ATM machine.

RM10-12. For most cards from any overseas ATM machine.

Using credit card to withdraw will result in 5% extra charge on top of the above charges. So use it as a last resort.

As for foreign currency exchange rate. Mastercard (include Cirrus) and Visa (include PLUS) rate are pretty good. Majority of the time, better than from bank counter or bank draft or Telex transfer or money exchange kiosk.

This post has been edited by Optiplex330: Aug 19 2009, 11:13 AM

From 1-July to 31-Dec-09, it will be 5% on the 1st day of every month and from any petrol station.

I cut mine in half many years ago when i found a huge USA company does not accept it. That company is Dell computer.

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Added on August 23, 2009, 10:01 amFrom now till end-Dec 2009, Direct Access gives you 5% on 1st day of every month for petrol from all station.


This post has been edited by Optiplex330: Aug 23 2009, 10:01 AM

Not when I first bought my Dell in 1999. That was the time I cut mine in half.

Alliance give you up to 1.3+% cash back rebate (any transaction) on money spent up to RM5000. They also give me some points but I never get around to finding what are those points for.

BTW, between Platinum Mastercard and Visa from SCB, which is better?


This post has been edited by Optiplex330: Aug 24 2009, 07:01 AM

How do you work out that 2.5% calculation? Do they actually give you cash back? Or in lieu of some over-priced goods?

I went to the website you pointed. It says:
1. Every RM1 you spend on the Card earns you TWO Membership Rewards point
2. Every 200 MR points = RM1

Assuming you spend RM5000.
1. It gives you 10,000 points.
2. 10,000 points give you RM50 or a net cash back of 1%. This is less than Alliance bank's 1.36% for same amount of money.

So where does it say RM1 = 5 points and is this for only a limited period? I am always interested in money so like to know more.

This post has been edited by Optiplex330: Aug 25 2009, 09:40 AM

Regarding Telekom, does it include normal house telephone and Streamyx? If yes, does TM got any auto-debit facility charging to AMEX?

As for annual fee, it is only free for 3 yrs and then it is RM238 so that will take some wind out of this card. And I hate having to ask for exemption because it felt like begging.

AFAIK, Alliance has no expire date. But as mentioned, the rebate are tiered and only up to RM5000 (1.36% all in).