You're welcome Bro.

As for credit card fitting to your needs, well, your existing Standard Chartered Bank can do the job, the question should be, what card reward you most based on your spending pattern, That why I need breakdown of your expenses as accurate as possible.

As for HSBC credit cards, please read my article on HSBC Amanah MPower Platinum Cash Back Credit Card so that you won't be conned when an agent promises you that it will earn you 8% cash back without any minimum spending. And if he does, get a copy of what he said, get his name card, take a photo of him with your phone camera and photostat your application and also double check with his superior.

As for HSBC points, generally HSBC requires more points to redeem for the same cash voucher versus Maybank credit cards. Click here to read my article on HSBC Premier World MasterCard and Visa Signature where I have shown that Maybankard 2 Gold Card beat the heck out of HSBC Premier Cards for Enrich Miles conversion even tho HSBC claims to have the lowest Enrich conversion rate in Malaysia.

The reason why I would think anyone wants a HSBC card over Maybankard 2 Cards are as follows:

1. They hate Maybank.

2. HSBC credit cards only are accepted at a particular merchant for installment plan.

3. They frequent a merchants that offer discount to HSBC credit card only.

4. They shop frequently at Mid Valley or Gardens specialty outlets that does not accept AMEX. This is where the HSBC Visa Signature and WMC has advantage over the Maybankard 2 AMEX.

5. They have yet to read my credit cards articles so they don't know that there are better cards out there, hahahaha.

6. They love gaming and are into non guaranteed contests. HSBC always have continuous contests to entice you to spend and spend and spend more with their cards. And if you win, the return may be better than Maybankard 2 Cards Click here to see T&C for HSBC Dining Cash Back for August and September 2012 Promotion.

7. Or they are card collectors like me and happily paying the GST

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Aug 16 2012, 04:36 PM

Bro, go get a Debit Card Don't have to worry about credit limit

fruitie, thank you so much for taking the trouble to let me know you find my articles useful

Yah, I do think the MACH credit card is excellent for movies, especially 3D and IMAX where most FREE 1 for 1 movie tickets are only for normal ticket. Having said this, if you only watch normal ticket shows at TGV only, Citibank credit cards are good because the ticket only cost RM10 (for August RM8), that's more than 10% discount.

You are now an expert too, can recommend credit cards to others Yes, MBB2 and OCBC TMC are must have cards because they reward us the most. When your boss see her Treats Points accumulating exponentially, and getting 5% cash back from OCBC TMC, you'll be promoted by jumping 2 levels

And you are now a certified credit card enthusiast where we spread our passion on credit cards to others and can't bear looking at them earning less from their useless credit cards, hahaha.

Basically, for local spending charge Fixed Expenses up to RM1K to the OCBC and rest to Maybankard 2 AMEX which earn us 5XTP (plus RM50 max cash back on Saturdays and Sundays), if AMEX not accepted, use Maybankard Visa Infinite to earn 2X TP which is like 1% cash back when redeeming for cash voucher. And for overseas Maybank Visa Infinite for 5X TP too but more importantly, with the 5X TP is like 2.5% returns when redeeming cash vouchers and less the overseas admin cost of 1.25%, we still earn 1.25%

However, boss being bosses, they have their unique way of thinking out of the box and may not concur with me, hahaha. Also the hassle of making payments to consider.

Recommend she reads my article FREE Money from Maybankard and Bonuslink for My Wife's SK-II. and Benefits of Credit Cards and How To Earn Pocket Money where I have a comparison of points required for redeeming cash vouchers between HSBC vs. Citibank vs Maybank. My bad, where she got time to read, you'll have to summarize them in a report for her haha.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Aug 17 2012, 01:54 AM

Not necessary need to be linked link to savings account - i.e. PBB Debit Cards (exclude PBB D2D which needs to be linked to SA) and HLB Junior Debit Card which can be treated as Prepaid Card.

Like I mentioned in General Thread, minimum CL of most Credit Card starts at RM3 to RM4K.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Aug 17 2012, 12:56 PM

For you fixed expenses (petrol can exclude since you got UOB One Card), get OCBC Titanium MasterCard and earn 5% for your Groceries, Dining and Telco (RM600 x 5% = RM30/month cash back)

Too bad, you do not want MBB cards because their overseas conversion rate the lowest. So I guess not much diff what card then for your overseas transactions with only RM5K spending. Aassuming other banks's credit card charge extra 1% over MBB's rate, that's only RM50 diff or equal to RM50GST Also MBB cards good for installment plans.

As for Airport Lounge, besides Diners which you mentioned, look into AEON Gold credit card.

Out of curiosity, why you sign up for Mach?

Bro, for Diners and AEON for airport lounge access, please go to their respective website to learn more. But I would like to say this, if you are paying RM50GST for either one of these cards just to enter KLIA Lounge for like 2 times a year, I can tell you that the food is not worth RM50.

For overseas transactions, please check out this thread. But like I said, with RM5K spending/year, no diff what card you use once you consider GST. However, if you really want to see comparison of overseas transactions with different credit cards, click here to read my article Overseas Transaction - What Credit Card is The Best? Part II which I published sometime back at my previous My Credit Cards blog. Maybank credit cards are good for overseas.

As for MACH, you mentioned Movies and Dining, I hope you selected the Social Package when you signed up for the MACH because then you can remove the Dining category and save RM5/quarter once your OCBC TMC is approved. MACH is good for those who watch movies at GSC and into 3D. Click here to read my article on MACH by Hong Leong Bank.

As for RHB card, well when you signed up for the card you are deemed to have agreed to the RM50 GST.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Aug 24 2012, 12:09 AM

Bro, first card is to get OCBC Titanoum MasterCard where he can earn 5% for Petrol, Groceries, Dining, Telco and Utility Bills and 1% for other BUT there is a monthly cap of RM50.

So with the OCBC TMC, he should earn cash back as follows:

1. Monthly - Petrol, Groceries, Dining and Telco totaling RM850/month, he'll get RM42.5 x 12 month = RM510/year

2. For his Car Maintenance totaling RM1000/year x 1% = RM10 (but this amount should be spread out over a year since it is for car maintenance)

Add above item 1 and 2, it will be less than the monthly cash back cap at RM50.

Problem comes in when he pays his Yearly Insurance Premium RM2500 x 1% = RM25, where he might not earn anything from it. Furthermore he has other expenses totaling RM3K. So he definately needs another credit card.

So coming back to your requirements - you stated Cash Back only and then mentioned Reward Points for goodies. Well, there are several credit cards that do reward the cardholder Cash Back and Reward Points.

1. Maybankard 2 Cards - AMEX with Visa or MasterCard. The MBB 2 American Express earns the cardholder 5X TP for any type of transactions PLUS 5% Cash Back on Saturday and Sunday. Now you mentioned that he's using it in Sarawak, well, if the merchant do not accept AMEX, he still will have the Visa or MasterCard that earns him 1X TP at Petronas and any other type of transactions The MBB Visa or MasterCard is good for overseas transactions since it has lower conversion fee compared to other credit cards in the market. And best of all, this card is Free For Life without any condition. And of course, use the AMEX wherever it is accepted.

2. Standard Chartered Business Platinum earns the cardholder 0.5% cash back PLUS points too. Click here to read my review of Standard Chartered Business Platinum versus Maybank credit cards. There is one very good thing SCB credit card which is, it rewards new applicant with cash back. Go to SCB website and see latest promotion for new applicant who apply online.

3. Alliance Bank credit cards also reward the cardholder cash back PLUS points. Click here to my article Entry Level Credit Cards where I did touch on Alliance Bank You:nique credit card.

So Bro, my advise to you is that you ask him/her to read my articles and let him/her decide which credit card is best for him/her

Yes, if the Petronas Station accept AMEX, then the cardholder can earn 5X TP with the MBB2 AMEX. And also, MBB TP are evergreen.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Aug 25 2012, 01:36 PM

Until 22nd October, all Maybankard that earns TP will reward the cardholder 5X Treats Points with Ezy Pay.

fruitie, in my article 0% Installment Plans with Credit Card - It IS A Trap I mentioned that these plans entice people to spend beyond their means.

Besides making the cardholder to spend more that he has, and the banks start imposing interest when they cannot pay in full, 0% Installment plan is also a method adopted by the banks to prevent the cardholder from cancelling the card if they still have outstanding balance.

Most people go for installment plans because they cannot afford to buy the stuff outright. This is what most young people don't realize and then complain they don't have savings because things are expensive Instead of buying the stuff with installment plan, he should be depositing the same amount into a saving or investment plan.

But for those who have cash in hand, that's a different story because one can actually earn pocket money out of this plans for big ticket items costing RM5K or more by depositing the cash into Fixed Deposit or high paying Savings Account (check out my blog early next month for my article titled The Best Savings Accounts in Malaysia). However, I personally do not like to opt for long repayment period as this means I have longer period of outstanding debts. I only go for 6 months 0% Installment Plan or Balance Transfer. This is where Maybankard is good because their Ezy Pay can start from 6 months installment plan (up to 24 months which is really not a good option as you are in debt for years!)

Please follow format in post#1 or go to Petrol Tread. However, based on your annual income, looks like UOB One Card should benefit you most if Petrol is your main concern.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Aug 25 2012, 01:59 PM

IF you follow format in Post#1, then we can understand your spending pattern and what credit cards you can qualify. And why your SCB Biz Card cannot be used to pay Syabas and TNB? Are you referring to online transaction?

Anyway, click here to read my article comparing Standard Chartered Business Gold and Platinum versus Maybank and HLB Essential credit card.

Once again, please follow format in Post#1 items 1 to 8. If your petrol usage for example is RM100/month, better you don't get a credit card. Having said this, credit card may be good for you to build up your credit history.

But since your income is RM24K, your choice is limited. Citibank card most don't reward you anything for Petrol. You are not eligible for MBB card.

As for Hong Leong Bank, you qualify for MACH credit card but it earns you 0.3% cash back for Petrol.

I suggest you read my article Entry Level Credit Cards to get some idea and if you really want a card for Petrol, check out UOB One Card Classic

you earn RM24K but petrol RM700? Anyway, like I mentioned the MACH card only earns you 0.3% for Petrol.

And since your Petrol can go up to RM700 and UOB One Card Classic Card 5% cash back is capped at RM20/month (RM400 Petrol), I can understand why you looking at Citi Shell. However, you better understand how citi shell cash back works, click here to Petrol Thread and see calculation by gerrardling and you may even earn less than RM20 with RM700 petrol at shell!!

Use the Citi Shell Calculator below and you'll note than if you spend RM700 on petrol and other expenses less than RM250, you only earn RM10 a month!!! Where as the UOB will earn you minimum RM20 per month with RM700 Petrol.

http://www.citibank.com.my/english/credit-...Code=MYCCWAB8LM


Noted you specifically mentioned you want Maybank credit card.

Well, based on your income you qualify for the Maybankard 2 Cards (click here to read my article) where you will be issued a AMEX and Visa or MasterCard and they are Free For Life without conditions.

And noted you want Cash Back. The Maybankard 2 AMEX earns you 5X Treats Points Everyday PLUS 5% cash back on Saturday and Sunday. So unless you spend on Saturday and Sunday, you are not going to earn any cash back with the AMEX.

Assuming you spend RM350 per month Mon-Fri for Petrol and Grocery at Places that accept AMEX; therefore, you will earn 1750 Treats Points per month or 21000 Treats Points per year. Out of these 21000 TP, 10,000 can be used to offset RM50 GST leaving you with 11,000 TP which you can redeem for RM50 cash voucher. So in other words, you earn RM50 for the entire year or less than RM5 per month.

Now if you can spend the RM350 on Saturday and Sunday where the AMEX is accepted, you earn extra 5% cash back on top of the above TP. 5% of RM350 works out to be RM17.50/month or RM210 per year. Add the RM50 cash voucher mentioned above, you would have earned yourself RM260 for a year spending

However, let my warn you, studies have shown that people with credit card tend to spend more

In the link above to my article on Maybankard 2 Card, I have a comparison of MBB 2 vs OCBC Titanium. Assuming you can qualify for the OCBC TMB, with RM350 spending you will also earn RM210 from 5% cash back (everyday) and less RM50 GST, you would earn RM160 for a year.

Anyway, since you are new to credit card - click here to my Credit Card Tutorial Page to learn more about the pros and cons of credit card.

I shall assume you can qualify for any credit card since you have stated income as NIL. From your expenses looks like you are paying for a business concern because your personal spending is like negligible. Firstly for cash back, cancel all your useless cards

Fixed Expenses Groceries, Syabas and Dining RM700 - get OCBC Titanium MasterCard and earn 5% cash back. RM35/month or RM420/year. Still have RM300 remaining to earn 5% cash back from Groceries, Dining and Utility Bills.

Second card to get Alliance Platinum for Telco, TM and TNB total RM5200 and earn RM68.75/month + 5200 points or RM825/year + 62400 points

Third card to get, HLB Essential for remaining expenses at 1% cash back for insurance and recurring expenses - total RM24Kyear or cash back RM240/year.

Total pocket money for a year = RM420+825+240 = RM1485 (62400 points for Alliance Plat not included) which is way better than what you earning now with your current SCB Biz Plat RM50-RM90/month.

your overseas expenses RM200/month you can either charge to the OCBC TMC or HLB Essestial where both will earn you 1% cash back. Anyway this amount is small compared to your other expenses and is of no significant when considering your total cash back you can earn.

However, if you willing to accept Treats Points, then the Maybankard 2 Cards American Express way better than Alliance Plat and HLB Essential.

AMEX is accepted for Celcom, DiGi and Maxis. TNB and TM via their Express Autopay (you need to send in application form and limited to RM3K per month **Edited** someone mentioned at MBB 2 Thread that can use M2U to pay TNB bill), MA and Air Asia and Gadgets at Harvey Norman. Therefore total expenses here (including your recurring RM10K for others) = RM82,400/year x 5X Treats Points = 412,000 Treats Points where you redeem up to RM2000 cash voucher And if you can charge your some of the expenses like your recurring expenses on Saturday or Sunday, you can earn up to RM600 in cash back per year.

So with the OCBC and MBB 2 AMEX combination, you can earn up to RM3,020 per year if you willing to accept returns in terms of vouchers

Examples below are how I benefit from Treats Points:

Click here to read my article Free Money from Maybankard and Bonus Link for my wife's SK-II

and click here to read my article Toshiba i5 notebook for RM999

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Aug 30 2012, 10:41 PM

Looks like for your case, considering that Dining is your major expenditure, OCBC Titanium MasterCard would benefit you most in terms of cash back.

Maybankard 2 Cards may benefit you more that is if the places you frequent accept AMEX and you swipe the MBB 2 AMEX on Saturday and Sunday. Maybankard are accepted at more places for installment plans versus OCBC cards.

Why can't you follow format in post#1 and must go do your style when I so use to reading the format required, hahaha

Looks like for your case, look into OCBC Titanium MasterCard and Maybankard 2 Cards. Only thing for MBB2 AMEX, in order to maximize your returns, you have to transact on Saturday and Sunday.

OCBC Titanium MasterCard should be good for you since it earns you 5% cash back for you dining and other 1% cash back.

Why 1% is good you may ask? That's because the norm one gets from credit card is about 0.5% in terms of cash back or vouchers. So OCBC TMC 1% is above average.

However noted you want Maybank credit card, in this case go apply for Maybankard 2 Cards where the AMEX earns you 5X Treats Points and on Saturday and Sunday extra 5% cash back. With 5X Treats Points, and MBB TP are evergreen, your returns works out to be approximately 2.5% when redeeming for cash vouchers which is way better than 1% Cash Back.

And if the merchant/outlet don't accept AMEX, use the Visa or MasterCard which earns you 1X Treat Point AND more importantly, it requires less Maybank TP compared to HSBC Reward Points to redeem the same voucher. And I am sure Maybank Visa/MasterCard overseas conversion fee is less than HSBC.

As for credit limit, that's up to the bank.


This post has been edited by Gen-X: Sep 4 2012, 12:58 AM

1 week start work and want a credit card Ask her to go change her lifestyle (e.g. take public transport and save on petrol) and live within her means

RM300 for Petrol, you can consider UOB One Card where you earn 5% for Petrol BUT for most other transactions you only earn 0.3% cash back.

I agree with you OCBC Titanium MasterCard will be good for you, so if you annual income is RM36K/year, go apply for it. If you don't apply for it, 100% won't be approved.

Now, since you got Maybank Petronas, you can easily get the FREE For Life Maybankard 2 Cards. If you are in Klang Valley, just drop by Maybankard Centre at 1U, KLCC or MBB HQ. You can then use the Maybankard 2 AMEX to pay your Telco, TNB & TM bills and shopping at Giant and Jusco to earn 5X Treats Points everyday PLUS 5% cash back on weekends which is better than your MBB Petronas. I think this option is good, when you need to pump at Petronas, use your existing Petronas card.

Really no point in getting the UOB One Card if you pump at Petronas because your existing Petronas card already earns your minimum 5X TP or 2.5% cash back (or 4% with 8X TP on Saturday and Sunday) when you redeem for cash voucher. So effectively you only earning maximum 2.5% extra and for RM300 Petrol, that is extra RM7.50/month or RM90 per year and less RM50 GST, you only earning RM40 per year, wasting time.

Bro,

Option 1 - get a Supp Card from Australia? But of course the conversion fee is high, so not a very good option.

Option 2 - next time you come back, go to your bank in Malaysia and see if you can apply for a credit card. Maybe can email them and ask too.

Option 3 - you can get a local credit card if you open a Premier/Priority/Privielge Banking Accounts in Malaysia and then supp the cards to your parents.

Option 4 - ask your parents to go a open joint Citibank Savings Account (better still if you back and also joint with them) where BOTH can be issued Citibank Debit Card on the spot from a single account. You in the meantime go open a Citibank Account in Melbourne (at Collins Street because the China Town branch can do nothing). You can then sent money instantly, up to USD12.5K/day, to your parents Citibank Account when the need arise. If you had opened joint account with them like I mentioned earlier, then you can view the Malaysia Account online too from your online Citibank Australia Account and vice-versa. Click here to read my article Melbourne Victoria Australia where I did a comparison between withdrawing cash with Citibank Debit Card and Citibank Global Fund Transfer.

Option 5, ask them go get Debit Card from their existing bank and you go deposit money into their account via TT.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Sep 6 2012, 05:55 PM

Bro, since your expenses less than RM1K, look into Free For Life Maybankard 2 Cards (click on the link 2 post above); but better check you Shell station accept AMEX or not. With the MBB 2 AMEX, you will earn 5X Treats Points everyday and 5% cash back on Saturday and Sunday. However, except for petrol you might not (does not mean cannot) earn the 5% cash back for AStro or Unifi because it depends when the process you transaction. As for TnGo, go to TnGo Thread to see where you can top up using AMEX or just the Visa or MasterCard that comes together.

As for credit limit, since you are earning below RM36K/year, based on BNM guidelines, your credit limit shall not be more than 2X your monthly salary.

When you earn RM36K per year, go apply for the OCBC Titanium MasterCard.

Go talk to Maybank or any bank and see if they will accept your monthly bank statements as proof of income.

For movies click here to my article The Best Credit Cards for Movie Tickets 2012.

For restaurants and cafe discount - that's too general. Check with your favorite restaurants to see if they offer discount for a particular credit card. If you want cash back for dining, then look into MACH by Hong Leong Bank and OCBC Titanium MasterCard where both offers 5% cash back for dining everyday of the year.

That's true, applies to MACH by HLB too. Please refer to OCBC Thread for more places that do or don't give the 5% cash back and also report there your case, i.e. location of the Maxis Centre. But I am surprised for your Maxis Centre (not dealer or authorised payment centre) you did not get the 5%. My autodebit with Maxis and Unifi I do get 5% cash back. And so far I have been getting the 5% cash back for my Dining bills with OCBC TMC.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Sep 16 2012, 01:23 AM

You should go check out the OCBC thread (link below), ronnie did a very good job on compiling the places that do and don't give you the 5% cash back and the merchants codes are stated there too. If kiasu, next time check with merchant the code before swiping to ensure you get the 5%

http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2342970

And if you check the OCBC Thread, you'll note it Maxis Centre at The Garden also do not give you the 5% cash back.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Sep 16 2012, 01:50 AM