Hi philmuggers, I'm not sure if there was a thread about this but couldn't find one. What credit cards do you use? I'm thinking of changing credit card companies because of bad service (i.e. bpi) and your recommendations will be appreciated. TIA!
Wow. I would have put BPI as my number 1. But anyway, consider HSBC. I have a better experience with them compared to Citibank.
There are so many formalities (bpi); have to send letters for each request. Hassle for busy people like me. Easier to deal with Citibank than them. I'll check out hsbc too. Thanks.
I also was about to suggest BPI but when you said they have a bad service, I don't know now what other banks are better.. The formalities are for your own security and it's a one time enrollment for the convenience of online banking..
they wont even let me have a credit card. denied palagi. people in my profession are supposedly in some sort of negative list. :slanted:
Yeah, I suggest stay away from HSBC. I have 2 friends with bad experiences with them. Kadalasan late sila magpadala ng bill kaya magugulat ka na lang may charges ka na pala. We use Citibank, ok sila pero ayaw pa rin i-waive ung renewal fee namin kasi good payer ata kami. Di sila makakuha ng interest samin.. wahahaha!
I use BDO. No problem so far and their customer service is quite good. It uses Mastercard so it is accepted virtually everywhere. You also get better service if you apply through a branch where you have an account. The tellers and account officers there are quite nice and knowledgeable. And since BDO has LOTS of branches, you can just go to the next branch to open an account if you do encounter the occassional "bad manager". And You can tie it up with their ShopMore card so you get points that you can use to buy stuff in SM or SM-owned stores.
I also recommend BDO. You'll also get an SM advantage card once approved. The reward points are also in Peso value unlike in other CC companies. Plus, you get to choose items from SM stores for you rewards.
Ok, I was particularly referring to HSBC's Mabuhay Miles Visa card. You get lots of free flights here (for constant travellers) that I am yet to see matched by other credit card companies. The 5% Caltex fuel rebate is also great. If these things matter to you, I still say HSBC Mabuhay Miles card is a good choice.
Go with HSBC Mabuhay Miles VISA. The customer service reps are snotty and mayabang, but the miles have been a good bonus - I've personally redeemed 6 roundtrip local flights on my card already. I THINK they're also the only non-BPI credit card that you can enroll into BPIExpressOnline.com for e-payment, in case that's how you like to do your banking. Plus, their 24/7 Day & Night Centers are incredibly convenient for paying bills etc.
Actually, if you can find a good deal for a credit card where they will waive your annual fees it would be a good idea to get multiple credit cards. And you can use the cards for a specific purpose. For example, the Shell Citibank which gives you a 5% (or is it 3%?) rebate when used at Shell, a good idea if you prefer shell over others. Or if you like Caltex, you can get HSBC and so on. You get the picture. But make sure that you will be able to pay off all these balances on time. Getting over dues will bring your credit rating down. But if you can maintain all of these, you will improve your credit rating overall.
BPI is the worst. Metrobank comes second worst. Unionbank is a so-so and so is AIG. EastWest has the lowest rates. Citibank Shell is the best for me. 5% rebate on gasoline. I get 1,500 pesos/month back just because of instant cash rebates. Plus the customer service is top notch. They have the most comprehensive online credit card website also.
I have experience with both HSBC and Citibank. In our case HSBC is a bit more lenient when it comes to payment. I always pay my credit card bill in full every month, but sometimes I forget to do it on the exact date and if I'm one or two days late HSBC does not charge me any late fees. Citibank though would charge me right away for being just a day late in payment. I've heard though that Standard Chartered waives the annual fee if you charge at least Php 90,000/year on your card. I've been meaning to check that out ...
I am very happy with Citibank. They're customer service is tops. But never default on your payments. AIG is very agressive when it come to loans, though.
bpi is very strict in granting cards. anyway, for my cards, i have several but bpi and citibank are the best.
depends on the features of the card you are looking for. In terms of mileage.. I use Citibank's premiere mile since it does not expire unlike HSBC's mabuhay miles which I also have. It is also partnered with 80 airlines. BDO - depends on the card, I have the gold one and I am loving the installment packages for international trips. For high end restaurants with freebies and lots of discounts, I suggest Standard Chartered. I receive these cards as well but I did not activate it since in terms of credit limit and perks, they are not the best: bpi, metro, aig, eastwest and the landmark credit card. Also if you're not the kind of user who pays in full every cut off and always rely on the interest rates, go for local banks since you can talk to them in cases you need help amortizing your debts. Also having lots of credit cards before, I prefer having one visa/mastercard and one amex/JCB
