MileKing

With regard to cash back cards, particularly the AMEX card mentioned, I would be careful and check the full terms and conditions. Many of these cards offer the cash-back on a graduated scale so you may get only .5% back on your first $10K of charges, then only 1% on your next $25K, etc. You will have to charge a lot to see 3%, and that will only be on a portion of your total charges.

I have researched cash-back cards and have not found a single one that offers even 2% on ALL charges.

Patty

I think I carry the only card (Citibank Dividends) that offers a flat 2% rebate on all purchases. Unforturnately, I don't believe Citibank offers it anymore to new cardholders. I've had mine since college and every year I fear they will change the rebate terms on me (knock it down to one percent or some sort of graduating scale). Perhaps they can't legally? They keep offering to convert me to a 1% rebate, no annual fee card, but I've been quite happy to pay the $20 annual fee for the extra rebate.

gail

Regarding charging car purschase and college tuition - 2 different car dealers would only allow us to put a certain amount (a few thousand dollars) on charge card (did not matter which one) and 1 college capped charges in a year unless a fee was paid - I am sure because of the cost ot them of doing business with the credit card company. If you can find vendors who allow you to charge huge purchases like these, miles do add up quickly.

Dick

Gail,

Re: buying a car on FF card

After negotiating a price, I told the dealer....

It still is a little more than I want to spend...but if you let me charge the car on my FF card, I will buy the car right now.

One dealer intially balked, but when I headed for the door, he changed his mind.

Patrick

I tried to do the car thing, but my dealer made clear they would only take $5000 on the card which I did. I actually did talk to someone who walked out the door when they refused. They let him walk. Range Rover dealers in Naples, Florida don't bargain!

My partner tried also, but his BMW dealer would only allow $3000 on the card. He thought he was going to sneak on an extra thousand, since he did an order deposit of $1000 on the card. Then at closing he said, "now I want to put $3000 on Visa and write a check for the rest." Before he could finish, they reminded him of his $1000, and said they'd only take $2,000 more. Period, end of discussion.

clarkgriswold

FYI I had a United Mileage Plus Visa and called to cancel since I no longer wanted to pay the annual fee. They told me that they have another card with no annual fee, you get 1 mile for every TWO dollars that you spend instead of for every dollar...but you don't have the fee.

Note to MileKing...I have noticed with Continental that they open up more seats as the date gets closer and

puddy

Clark,

Chase does the same with the Continental card. I originally had a no fee card where I got one mile per $2 spent. However, I was able to convert to a one for one card with no fee once I became an Elite member.