Bro you are on the right track in getting a card that gives you automative annual fee waiver. Some cards have conditions like you must swipe 12 times a year to get waiver on annual fees like Alliance where as EON bank you need to swipe 6 times for classic card. Alliance bank CC not to bad because you get cash back AND reward points that does not have expiry period.

If you pay your bill on time and in full then you don't have to pay a single sen more than you spend. Since your credit limit would most probably be higher than your monthly income, you must practice to never spend more than you can afford or else you will end up like millions of Malaysians working for the banks. Having said this, the credit given with CC does come in handy in emergency situation.

Bro, even if you only spend RM200 on petrol a month it comes out to be RM2400 a year and if you can get 1% cash back you get RM24 free money. If you have insurance. phone bills, TNB, quit rent or whatever monthly'yearly expenses, charge it to the card and get cash back also. Also with CC you can get 0% installement plan but when having these kind of plans you have to be smart and not pay more than normal market price.

Another option is debit card where you get the convenience of paying just like CC. Public Bank just introduce a new debit card called Day2Day where they give 1% rebate on grocery and petrol up to December and subsequently 0.8% and the annual fees is RM12.

http://www.pbebank.com/en/en_content/perso...s/visa_d2d.html

Anyway, DA not that great lah, the points redemption is so so and got to pay for courier charges.

It is only for hospital, insurance and education transactions. Eventhough it only applies to these 3 categories, it does kind of shows that DA is concern and assisting the card holder.

Actually DA is like the leader in giving benefits to card holders like free for life AF and the 1st to give 2% rebate on petrol at all stations. I am sure that DA will restudy their "offers" with time once they realize that other banks are taking their business away.

Bro, you do practice some good habits like checking online your transactions and only use CC when you got cash. You having DA is a good choice as it is free for life and you get to enjoy discounts/rebates that come with the card.

Paying back in full in 24 hours.... not necessary lah. Wonder if this action benefits your credit record. Banks will love what you your doing. The most important thing is to pay your bill in full before payment date and treat your CC like a charged card. One of the benefits of having a CC is where you can enjoy free interest credit for 20days from statement date and up to 40 days depending on your transaction date. So let your money sit in the bank and get interest (eventhough it is low now) and make payment few days before payment date. Click on my signature CC101 to read more on interest free period.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Jun 21 2009, 09:32 AM

hahaha, good one cancel the card and apply again. But redeem all the points first before you cancel the card.

MilesAndMore: i guess you can call up CS and inform them that you want to use the card but it is defective, so how to use? Ask for waiver as the card was not misplaced nor stolen and if they still insist on you paying the RM10, then you got to decide you still want to give them business for charging you something that is no fault of yours.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Jun 22 2009, 12:21 AM

Aiyo, why so lazy never go Alliance website to check? Yes you need to swipe 12 times for You:nique card for free AF. See below link

https://younique.alliancebank.com.my/pop_rebate.html

From above link you will note that Alliance You:nique cash back applies to all retail purchases including petrol. Also note that it will cost you RM38 to put your personalize picture on the card (which I feel it is just waste of money).

Well go ahead and get You:nique if you think you will swipe 12 times a year as it will be free. If there is an Alliance bank near you, better still for convenience when making payment.

In respect to your question "any other better card?"....... there is no one card that is the best or better than the other. If you have the time, click on my signature below to read my comments on CC.

there is no minimum amount for a swipe, it depends on the merchant. And the 12 swipe requirement is within a year. Say you never use the card for 11 months and on the final month you swipe 12 times you automatically get annual fee waiver.

The income requirement is gross RM18K per year which includes bonuses and deduction for EPF, SOCSO & blah blah blah. You just have to proof your income is RM18K or more in a year and not necessarily just your salary. Just go to the branch and ask the officer what documents you need to submit with your application since this is your first CC. After you get 1 CC, very easy to get more. Maybe you should start by applying for CC with the bank where you have savings/FD account.

QUOTE(hye @ Jun 24 2009, 06:26 PM)

2 months .... it was RHB. MBB also took a while but it was close to 2 months, so RHB took the 1st spot.

** Disclaimer. This is my personal experience. Probably other people may have different experience than I do. I probably have different preferences for cc as well due to my spending pattern and needs. So ... I'm not advocating any best cards or worst cards from my stories.
Top 3 cards for me right now

1. HSBC. Good CS but I'm considering to cancel the card coz I don't directly benefit from good CS. Lack of interesting promo.
2. SCB. JustOne. Rebates, rebates, rebates.  I can't think of any other reason. Plus, you can use their online facility to pay bills and have it charged to your credit card. Number of payees almost similar to CitiOnline system and more important have the major bills. (e.g. TM, Celcom, Maxis, TNB, Syabas)
3. Alliance Bank. Ugly card design I tell ya. Whoever approved and designed the card should be sent to the firing squard and shot. However, best card after JustOne coz of the rebates.

Many years back, I did apply for MBB credit card and after a month no news. So I called them and having being put on hold for quite sometime I and was inform it was still on process so I told them just cancel my application. However early this month I was at Petronas to get Transformer T-Shirt and Cap, an agent approched me to get a MBB card which I opted for Petronas Gold Card and within 2 weeks the card was delivered to my house. And when I call them to activate my card, my call was answered within reasonable time. I would say MBB is good nowadays.

As far as my experience with CC, below are Pros and Cons about my cards for my case:

AMEX Gold Charged Card:
Pros - 3X Turbo and get points at Petrol Station. Also redemption of points for voucher very good when I consider 3X MR. CS is the most curteous. They waive my annual fees every year.
Cons - CS working hours only.

HSBC Plat Visa:
Pros - 24 hours CS and discount at restaurants such as Amarin at Mid Vallet and Sushi King. Recently got promo spend RM5K get free samsonite bag, hope I get one else wasted time charging my expenses to HSBC. Just got my HSBC statement where it came with brochure 5X rewards points at Caltex (but I don't pump at Caltex). During festive seasons get free gift at Midvalley for transaction.
Cons - no cash rebate in general. No automatic AF waiver as policy keep changing but now informed I need to swipe 12 times.

HLB - Plat MC:
Pros - 24 hours CS and so far experience with CS very good as they are very efficient and polite. Platinum Tel contact hardly put on hold. Waive my AF every year.
Cons - No cash rebate. No discount at places that I spend my money.

Alliance Plat Visa:
Pros - Cash back (for petrol too) plus rewards points. Auto AF waiver.
Cons -No discount at places that I spend my money , CS after office hours the staff know next to nuts when they claimed thay have truly 24 hours service.

Direct Access Plat MC:
Pros - free for life, Petrol 2% cash back. Rebates at MPH (cash voucher) and Guardian where I do spend my money. Good CS. Discount at restaurants that I do go to. Free voucher for transaction at Mid Valley during festive season.
Cons: Got to pay for courier charges for vouchers.

Citibank Clearcard:
Pros - good 24 hours CS. Waiving of annual fees easier nowadays.
Cons - No cash rebate. Not many discount nowadays at places that I spend my money. Must SMS to register for offers.

UOB Plat Visa:
Pros - good 24 hours CS. Auto AF waiver.
Cons - No cash rebate. Need more points than others for voucher redemption.

Use to have SCB but they only waived half the AF years back so cancel it. Also years back I got RHB Plat which I recall that it was approved pretty fast but cancel it when they refuse to give me AF waiver. now got RHB Evo but keep in drawer.


As for SCB Just One the cash back at 2% (5% on Friday excellent) for all purchases plus get 1 choice points for every RM2 is great. The other benefit is get Choice Points for money in current account in addition to interest. Is there a limit to maximum cash rebate a year i.e. RM600? If there is a cap of RM600 for cash rebate then Alliance Cash rebate plus RM1= 1 points is better for those spending up to RM5K monthly. Overall this card offer looks great in general but I already got 3 current accounts with other banks and SCB branch at my place the traffic is really bad.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Jun 24 2009, 09:41 PM

As mentioned by GHz, do note that Alliance cash rebate is based on tiers. You have another option besides your payslip which is go get your latest EPF statement where you can also proof your basic salary from the amount credited monthly.


I asked earlier is the cash rebate maximum RM600 a year for JustOne? Any idea?

However the choice points is "half" of other cards i.e. RM2= 1 choice points. Therefore one will need to spend twice as much with JustOne card to be "rewarded" with similar gift compared to other cards in general. This is acceptable since the cash rebate is good at 2-5%.

On AF waiver, it is already stated cleary that one needs to spend RM15K a year which is pretty high. So those who do not spend this much, do expect to pay AF comes next year and don't hope for waiver.

From 2005 - May 2009, 3548 Malaysians declared bankrupt due to CC and 50% below age 30. The total debt in Malaysia itselt related to CC is more than RM23,000,000,000.00! Read link below.

http://www.mmail.com.my/content/credit-car...30s-under-siege

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Jun 25 2009, 11:42 PM

Seldom you will face problem overseas but you never know. In my opinion, no harm getting another CC (as standby) that has AF waiver like swipe 12 times. The second card can be a standby as once a while you will find that your CC can't be used for example:

1) you want to use the card the second time at the same merchant within 15 minutes.
2) card become defective or cracked.
3) The card issuer system is facing problem and therefore your transaction can't go thru.

If you are worried about controlling your spending, then get another card from CIMB (if you got MC get Visa or vice-versa) so that your credit limit is shared between this 2 cards.

Goto to first page of the Thread and click on V6.

Some banks offer CC if you deposit substantial amount with them in FD/Time Deposits.

HLB also give complimentary CC when you open a SmartLink Account with them. Click below:

http://www.hlb.com.my/pfs/dep/depsmacc.jsp?flag=depsmacc

As long as you can proof you meet the minimum income, I see no reason why you can't get a credit card. Source of income need not necessary means from employment, income can come from dividens, rentals, royalties, etc. If your parents give you X amount monthly/yearly and the total is more than the minimum required, technically you should be able to qualify. Go ask the bank that you have an account with and if they find your account to be maintained to their satisfaction, you may be issued a CC.

Alternatively, you can get a Visa/MC Debit card that can be used just like a credit card except that transacted amount is deducted from your savings/current account almost instanly.

Ambank's promotion is really misleading as it makes one believe that they are getting cash back until one reads the T&C.

Yah, HLB Plat so call cash rebate is worthless as the cash back only applies to outstanding balances.

Talking about misleading, HSBC also has "promotion" which is limited where cardmembers will get a fee samsonite bag if charge RM5K but subjected to first come first serve. Now I am waiting if I will get the samsonite bag and if I don't I would deifinately feel that I was "cheated" by HSBC.

Yes, you will qualify as long as your total annual income meets the requirement. Same like taxable income which includes bonus, rental, royalties etc. Moreover, as I mentioned before, can also use EPF statement which will definately show the bonus and anyone can easily conclude your annual income.

Guys, I did see the ad on DA for rebate at Giant and Tesco early this morning. If I recall correctly, its for Visa Infinte only right.

MC World on the other hand gets 2% rebate for petrol.

I just read the Ad again, Visa Infinte/Plat/Gold get rebates at Giant and Tesco, MC World/Plat/Glod get 2% petrol. Promotion until Dec 2009.

Yah, Alliance Bank's benefits are not too bad but thier claim of 24/7 CS is misleading. Once I also made a call (to so called Platinum CS number) after 8pm to make an enquiry on cash back and was told the same thing. I did mentioned this earlier in one of my post on Cons of Alliance Card is that operator knows next to nuts after 8pm. Anyway, I email them to complain that thier claim on 24/7 was misleading, next day 2 people called me up (a friendly officer attending to my query and then a supervisor to check if officer attended my complain).

Email address below:

1) info@alliancebg.com.my
2) businessinfo@alliancebg.com.my

Just to add, besides the benefit you mentioned above, Alliance card that gives up to 2% cash rebate is based on tiers up to RM5K where maximum cash back is about RM68 per statement circle. In addition to cash, back, you will also get rewards point RM1= 1 point so pretty good.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Jul 4 2009, 09:14 AM

DA pretty good except I have to think a bit when they ask like what is your favourite (this or that) and the character of your password Answered my favourite questions wrong a fine times

HLB Plat also good, call tol free Plat number and key in card number and because they have CLIP and I use my same moblie phone, sometimes for general questions non relating to account statement they don't even ask me questions for verification.

Worse is RHB, like you mentioned, layers upon layers of menu when calling CS general line.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Jul 4 2009, 10:10 AM

I guess it depends on which batch one is referring too. My HLB MC Plat was the first batch and yah it looks damn ugly and got the Club Rewards words in red somemore. My DA MC Plat definately looks nicer than my plain mono tone HLB.

hahaa, modern man mah, the pink card to match pink shirt and tie. Did you explain to them that you can't be carrying a gay oops, i mean pink card and ask for waiver?