Just read your post & that thread. Seems like I cant really squeeze the cashback rewards due to my spendings pattern (only above mentioned are fixed, some are not pay-able using AMEX, etc spendings are usually cash-only payments - e.g. room rental).

Do you have any idea of any other cards that suit my need?

as victorywp did propose maybank2card amex, it should be able to cover most of your monthly, predictable spending.

rm250 on Utilities (TNB, maxis Internet, postpaid) <-- Pay TNB via M2U to your AMEX. not sure which telco you use for 'postpaid', but maxis payment can be done via kiosk that accepts Amex.

rm200 on petrol <-- most all Shell and Petronas already accepting Amex at the fuel dispenser.

rm100 on toll <-- cash only? try 'upgrade' to Touch 'N Go for your convenience and also to reload via credit card/Amex. need some legwork to hunt for suitable petrol stations/grocery stores that accepts Amex. this topic should help you get started

other spending like room rental, it'd be interesting for the landlord/lady to accept credit card/amex


assuming without toll, you're at least covered ~RM450 of monthly spending using Amex, albeit need some work to adjust. those non-payable spending using Amex, if it's just optional to you, try testing and changing to other merchants that accepts Amex?

there's no 1-card that can cover every single spending type while giving higher cashback. so far, only 1% cashback cards give you such 1-card-for-all spending, if you really dont bother much about the return you'll be getting.

Bro, Maybank 2 Cards are FREE FOR LIFE. No annual fees.

For Petrol:

RM200/month x 5% cash back = RM10/month = RM120 FREE money a year. And with Petrol reward cards, e.g. Petron, you can get back equivalent cash back 1.5% (3000 points =RM45 petrol). If your current petrol station do not accept AMEX, switch to one that does.

And you also earn 200x5 Treats Points = 1000TP per month from petrol. That's 12000TP a year. However you need 12,500 Treats Points to offset RM50 GST. In other words, you only need to spend another RM100 in a year to earn 500TP. Here is where your Maxis bill comes in handy where you will earn 5X points. My Maxis bills are auto debit with my MBB2 AMEX, and so happen if the day they bill me falls on a weekends, I get 5% cash back.

And if you want to earn 5% cash back from your Maxis bill every month, go to previous Maybank 2 Cards Threads and do a search or post there and maybe someone will be kind enough to tell you how to get 5% cash back on weekends. Once again read Page#1 where members have given steps on how to get 5% csah back with Maxis.

So with just your Maxis bill and Petrol, the Maybank2 AMEX can really benefit you.

Now, if you read Maybank 2 Cards thread, many have gotten the 5% cash back with the AMEX for their topping up their PayPal account. Once again, do a search or post there and see if anyone got the mood to help you. If fruitie is around, sure she will assist you on this paypal thingy. Read Page #1 too, there is a section on PayPal.

And you did mention you want installment plan, well, many merchants accept Maybank Visa and MC credit cards for 0% installment plans. BUT make sure you ask if they accept AMEX (and earn yourself 5X points and even 5% cash back) before using your Visa/MC. For example, Harvey Norman accept AMEX for 0% installment plans.

In a nut shell, you got nothing to loose getting the Maybank 2 Cards. And FYI, TNB nowadays also accept AMEX and you can even pay online via M2U with the MBB 2 AMEX.

This post has been edited by Gen-X: Jul 7 2014, 10:04 PM

Makes sense. As for the PayPal reload thing, I read that the conversion rate is higher than MB/Visa cards (2.5% vs 1%) which might offset the cashbacks obtained

Nevertheless guess I'll go for Mb2cards then, since its quite beneficial after really think through about it

Thanks a lot guys for the suggestions & help!

This post has been edited by polarzbearz: Jul 7 2014, 10:12 PM

Bro you sure your credit/debit Visa or MC card charging you 1% only? Next time you do an online transaction, check your records on the posting date and transaction date and then compare actual spot rate. I can tell you my Maybank AMEX overseas conversion rate is LOWER than my Maybank Visa Infinite, UOB Visa Infinite and Alliance Bank Visa Infinite.

boss, these transactions only 2x tp not 5x tp.

hahaha you are right, somehow the word "except" disappeared between the words "spending" and "for"

haha, i have guessed so...

Hi fly126, do you mind telling me how did you come to the conclusion that Ben's and all the others stores stated in your reply is under MCC 5411? If there's a list stating so, it'd be great if you could provide the source to it. I'm looking to purchase some of my groceries in Ben's but have not been able to confirm if they are under MCC 5411 despite the definition clearly stating groceries and supermarkets.

I've seen reports in the Hong Leong thread that AEON purchases are not classified as groceries consistently.

am sure fly126 didnt pluck this from the forbiddden tree

here's the source from horse's mouth.

only banks will know exactly what is the MCC associated to each transaction goes through them.

even asking from the merchant, most likely they wouldnt know (I've tried asking numerous times from various merchants).

I've actually called in HL Customer service and even them can't be sure if Ben's is classified as MCC 5411. When I google it, the only respond came in the form of fly126's reply.

the only way you can be sure is to actually make the transaction then call HLB to check MCC code.

Yeah, that looks like my only option at this point

i did the same with Alliance some time back with their dining promo, that way you won't get any further surprises.

I can 100% Confirm to You: Ben’s Independent Grocer (B.I.G.) - categorized under the MCC 5411
(Maybe or Except that HLB do Having Categories Captured Which's Different from Others)...

Because Recently I got Enrolled into Cash-Back Campaign with 2 Different Banks, so got the Info from Their T&Cs...
i) “Choose Your Own Cash Back on Dining, Groceries, & Petrol Campaign” by Citibank (19 April 2014 - 27 June 2014)
http://www.citibank.com.my/english/promo/e...endCampaign.pdf

ii) "STANDARD CHARTERED BANK MALAYSIA 10% CASHBACK 2014 CAMPAIGN" (14 June 2014 - 5 September 2014) https://www.sc.com/my/campaign/credit-card/...10_cashback.pdf

You can See that... Both Banks also have categorized Ben’s Independent Grocer (B.I.G.)- under the MCC 5411 (definition as: Groceries Stores, Supermarkets) stated in Their Campaign T&Cs ...


cybpsych & bearbear

Guys Thanks for the Head-Ups, do Appreciate that...

This post has been edited by fly126: Jul 21 2014, 10:21 PM

Alright ! Thanks a bunch !

1. Annual Income: 28k

2. Free Lifetime Annual Fee: preferable

3. Card required for: Petrol, Gym, Phone Bill, Online transaction (google play mostly) , planning to purchase furniture (instalment)

4. Existing credit cards if any: List them or Nil.

5. Looking at CC from: no idea

6. Others: rebate/cashback > treatpoints

UOB One Card https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...&#entry68505615
OR
CIMB Cash Rebate Gold MasterCard http://www.cimbbank.com.my/creditcard/atta...2028%20July.pdf

1. Annual Income: RM150k

2. Free Lifetime Annual Fee: No

3. Card required for: cash back or good reward points on groceries, petrol, utilities bills (mobile, internet, electricity, astro)

4. Existing credit cards if any: Mbb2 platinum (active), citibank clear (terminated), hsbc visa signature (terminated), cimb directaccess platinum (terminated)

5. Looking at CC from: HLB Wise (gold for cheaper af)

6. Others: I always get rm50/month from amex mbb2. Looking for better options

This post has been edited by azeL_Inc: Jul 19 2014, 12:15 AM

pb visa signature: https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/3219080