JREF Credit Card

[kosai]

In the latest SGU podcast it was mentioned there is now a Capital One JREF card with Randi's photo on it and using it helps the JREF, does anyone know where we can go to apply for this card? It sounds like a great idea.

[RecoveringYuppy]

Randi is a magician. If you're qualified for the card it's already in your wallet. What's in your wallet?

[jasonpatterson]

Was it a joke? Google knows not this card, at least in the first 3 or 4 pages I looked through.

[ejk]

I think they said it was just about ready to roll out, expected to be available around the release date of that SGU episode, but perhaps there's been a delay of a couple days. Presumably there will be an announcement when it's actually available.

[NoZed Avenger]

Randi is a magician. If you're qualified for the card it's already in your wallet. What's in your wallet?

Unfortunately, you can't tell, because the magician has your wallet. And watch.


And your card was the three of spades.

[hcmom]

http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/jref-news/778-earn-50-for-the-jref.html

[godofpie]

Mine is supposedly in the mail. I am giddy with anticipation.

[Careyp74]

the APR looks very enticing, especially since my Citi is raising its APR even though I have excellent credit. 0% for a year, I haven't seen that with a basic card in a long time.

[skeet]

Nice. It will become my new book buying card.

[bethgsd]

I figure I had Capital One spinning in glee. They have bombarded me for years to open one of their cards. I finally put myself on a do not mail list for credit offers. And then along comes Randi! In 7-10 days the Amazing One will be with me and used for my hobby expenses.

[I Ratant]

I got so tired of the endless Capitol One ads in the mail box and phone calls I told them I would never ever accept a Capitol One card.

[Careyp74]

I got so tired of the endless Capitol One ads in the mail box and phone calls I told them I would never ever accept a Capitol One card.

Why? What's in YOUR wallet? :)

[I Ratant]

Why? What's in YOUR wallet? :)
.
Two too many of those damn things! (which is 2)
I can spend up to my credit limit without ever leaving home!
Frapping Internet with its connectivity to everything! Grump! Grump!

[ToddH]

My wife had a Capital One card and it was quite possibly the worst credit card company I've ever seen. They'd charge her late fees even though the payment was sent a good 20 days in advance. They then jumped the APR to some outrageous number. Finally, she just closed the account. Of course, a year later she got a bill from Capital One for an annual fee (the card never had a fee to begin with). After arguing with Capital One over the phone, they again supposedly closed the account. A year goes by and, wouldn't you know it, she gets a bill again. I had to go all the way to the corporate office to get her account eventually closed.

Just google Capital One and you'll see how bad they are. You've been warned.

[Pope130]

I had a Capitol One card once. No problems for the year I used it, but they failed to send a replacement card. Repeated contacts always resulted in a very friendly, helpful response assuring me the new card was on the way. No card ever arrived. Statements kept arriving, stating, of course, nothing due. Because of my record of no late payments they kept raising my credit limit, and charged no renewal fee. I was a preferred customer.

Eventually I got them to close the account. I got a call from one of their VP's asking why I had closed my account after being one of their preferred customers for five years.

Customer service is not their strong suit.

Robert

[Careyp74]

of course no one would ask the masses before signing up to a credit card company. Capital One is not the only game in town. There are a lot of banks that will participate in a charity card, with a customizable image.

[plumjam]

Quite a grubby move from JREF.
Feathering their own nest by encouraging their supporters into debt.

[Soapy Sam]

Quite a grubby move from JREF.
Feathering their own nest by encouraging their supporters into debt.

Well- we might hope people will apply rational thinking to use of any credit card.
I tend to share your opinion of this though. As a fund raising technique it's somewhat tacky.
I suspect that may be a UK v US perceptual shift though.

[I Ratant]

Memory serving, I got Capitol One to stop stuffing my mail box every week by using their pre-paid envelopes to return the stuff, along with a page of phone sex ads from the back of old Penthouse magazines, when I noticed the return address was in Salt Lake City.
I can imagine the concern at the receipt of this stuff. :)
Took about 3 such returns, and I haven't gotten anything since.

[psychictv]

It's a nice idea but if you pay off your balance every month, there are cards with better rewards. Some give 1% on all purchases and then 3% on things like gas & groceries. Then you could donate an even larger amount directly to JREF each year. But this is a clever idea because it's an automatic and unseen donation which probably will yield better results overall for JREF than expecting people to hand over a big chunk of change all at once.

[bethgsd]

I don't normally use credit cards and when I use the one I have I pay it off monthly. I do have a hobby where I travel and occasionally get reimbursed for expenses. I figure the JREF can benefit from those travels.

[rjh01]

This will generate a huge amount of revenue for JREF. Imagine 500 people each spending $2,000 per month. That is $10,000 per month for JREF.

[ejk]

Well- we might hope people will apply rational thinking to use of any credit card.
I tend to share your opinion of this though. As a fund raising technique it's somewhat tacky.
I suspect that may be a UK v US perceptual shift though.

It is an extremely common fundraising practice for US charities.

It's hards to navigate modern life without a credit card, and it is entirely possible to use it responsibly, not incurring any debt you can't pay off each month. Why shouldn't a preferred charity get some benefit from that?

Quite a grubby move from JREF.
Feathering their own nest by encouraging their supporters into debt.

The JREF doesn't get extra funds from people who carry a balance, just from people getting and using the card. I do not see how your second sentence is supported.

[Darat]

Well- we might hope people will apply rational thinking to use of any credit card.
I tend to share your opinion of this though. As a fund raising technique it's somewhat tacky.
I suspect that may be a UK v US perceptual shift though.

Not at all - they have been popular over here for quite some time, from the National Trust to Shelter: http://www.pricebyprice.com/credit-cards/charity-credit-cards.aspx

[Darat]

Quite a grubby move from JREF.
Feathering their own nest by encouraging their supporters into debt.

I know just like those grubby folk at the RSPCA, The National Trust, NSPCC, Cancer Research, WWF, Ramblers Association, Save the Children, Help the Aged, Oxfam, Actionaid, and those really grubby lot the Woodland Trust.

[Careyp74]

This will generate a huge amount of revenue for JREF. Imagine 500 people each spending $2,000 per month. That is $10,000 per month for JREF.

I don't spend $2000 a month, and EVERYTHING in our family consumption goes on the credit card.

People who practice this probably won't use a new card for their purchases to benefit JREF.

I don't see more than 20 people getting the card, and they probably won't charge more than $200 a month on it, but, hey, that is an extra $40 a month they wouldn't have had otherwise.

[plumjam]

The JREF doesn't get extra funds from people who carry a balance, just from people getting and using the card. I do not see how your second sentence is supported.
Yeah, like none of the people who take out the card are going to get into debt.

I know just like those grubby folk at the RSPCA, The National Trust, NSPCC, Cancer Research, WWF, Ramblers Association, Save the Children, Help the Aged, Oxfam, Actionaid, and those really grubby lot the Woodland Trust.
I would condemn any organisation for profiting from encouraging its supporters into debt. Seems like a crappy way to treat those who take an interest in you, and upon whom you depend.

[Almo]

Guys.

Capital One.

Carry on.


ETA:
I would condemn any organisation for profiting from encouraging its supporters into debt. Seems like a crappy way to treat those who take an interest in you, and upon whom you depend.

o_0

Many people don't ever carry a balance. Like me. This way I could easily donate to JREF without ever thinking about it or paying an extra dime.

[Lanzy]

My current cards send me money every month, why would I change that to send it to someone else?

[Darat]

...snip...

I would condemn any organisation for profiting from encouraging its supporters into debt. Seems like a crappy way to treat those who take an interest in you, and upon whom you depend.

So would I so it's good job none of them are doing that - or at least if they are it has nothing to do with offering a credit card.

[ejk]

What Darat said. No one at the JREF is encouraging anyone to go into debt. If credit cards were really hard to come by and this promotion were opening a door to consumer debt that few would otherwise be able to access, I might agree with your characterization. As it is, I think your criticism makes less sense that if someone were to accuse the organization of encouraging people with a gambling problem to lose their house because it holds TAM in Las Vegas.

[Gib]

It looks like this card is only available in the USA ?

Can I get one in the UK ?

[Soapy Sam]

Not at all - they have been popular over here for quite some time, from the National Trust to Shelter: http://www.pricebyprice.com/credit-cards/charity-credit-cards.aspx


I can only say that I have never known anyone this side of the pond to use such a card. I know they are widely accepted in the States.

If it works, fair enough. Not to my taste though.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

My wife had a Capital One card and it was quite possibly the worst credit card company I've ever seen. They'd charge her late fees even though the payment was sent a good 20 days in advance. They then jumped the APR to some outrageous number. Finally, she just closed the account. Of course, a year later she got a bill from Capital One for an annual fee (the card never had a fee to begin with). After arguing with Capital One over the phone, they again supposedly closed the account. A year goes by and, wouldn't you know it, she gets a bill again. I had to go all the way to the corporate office to get her account eventually closed.

Just google Capital One and you'll see how bad they are. You've been warned.

I've had 3 Capital One cards (MC, Visa and a business Visa) for at least 15 years each, and my experience has been exactly the opposite.

I would encourage anyone from the US who travels overseas to get this card, as Capital One does not charge those annoying "service fees" on foreign transactions. You know the ones that show up on your statement that come with every transaction you make - $80 for dinner, followed by a $2.50 "foreign currency exchange fee".

[godofpie]

I got mine. I took a picture of it to post here but the file size is too big and I have no idea how to edit that so here is a video of my new card.
BM4DH9XbELg
You don't have to be smart to be a skeptic, right?

[MattusMaximus]

So want!!! :D

[rjh01]

One simple way to reduce the size of a picture is to take a picture where the credit card is only a small part of the picture and then crop the picture. Take several pictures where the credit card is a different % of the whole card and one of them would be OK.

Load onto the albums here and they will fix the rest.

[godofpie]

Thanks rjh01. I never even considered that. Thanks.

[KS_SKEPTIC]

Nice. It will become my new book buying card.

Ordered my Capital One JREF Platinum Visa card today!!! :)

[Geek Goddess]

Yeah, like none of the people who take out the card are going to get into debt.


I would condemn any organisation for profiting from encouraging its supporters into debt. Seems like a crappy way to treat those who take an interest in you, and upon whom you depend.

You realize it's extremely difficult to travel on business without a credit card, right? Not impossible, just very difficult. Plane tickets, hotel bills, meals, rental cars. In fact, I think most rental car companies won't even accept cash anymore,and if you use a debit card (rather than credit card), they take a large security deposit which is not refunded for several days.

A lot of businesses won't give their employees cash advances for travel any more, they expect you to use a card and turn in an expense account. When you travel internationally, you can use it without having to acquire local currency (often with fees or less-than-perfect exchange rates).

Condemn all you like, but people who misuse credit will be in that boat regardless of who gets a bit of a commission.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

You realize it's extremely difficult to travel on business without a credit card, right? Not impossible, just very difficult. Plane tickets, hotel bills, meals, rental cars. In fact, I think most rental car companies won't even accept cash anymore,and if you use a debit card (rather than credit card), they take a large security deposit which is not refunded for several days.

I've always wondered how one books a flight without a credit card? Do you just go to the airport and pay by cash or check? I guess you could go to a travel agent too, as long as you're not flying Southwest. Seems like a heck of a lot of hassle.

[Hokulele]

For air travel, most hotels, and almost all rental cars, you can pay with cash, but you have to make the reservations with a major credit card. The only easy way around this is to book everything through a travel agent and pay them with cash or a check.


ETA: And to the OP, since I now have a corporate card for my new job, I can finally destroy my Citibank card and pick up a nifty JREF CapitalOne card for personal use. Yippee!

[Klimax]

You realize it's extremely difficult to travel on business without a credit card, right? Not impossible, just very difficult. Plane tickets, hotel bills, meals, rental cars. In fact, I think most rental car companies won't even accept cash anymore,and if you use a debit card (rather than credit card), they take a large security deposit which is not refunded for several days.

A lot of businesses won't give their employees cash advances for travel any more, they expect you to use a card and turn in an expense account. When you travel internationally, you can use it without having to acquire local currency (often with fees or less-than-perfect exchange rates).

Condemn all you like, but people who misuse credit will be in that boat regardless of who gets a bit of a commission.

This is interesting as here(Czech Republic) debit cards are still in vast majority and AFAIK credit cards are way underused. And since a lot of smaller shops don't accept cards (too high fees) we still have a lot of cash.

Banks are trying to change situation and get people to use credit cards,but so far not much of luck. I might try credit card,but is this("JREF") card even available for my country? (I didn't find it there)

(FTR: So far I refused all offers on credit cards as it is considered bad idea to get unnecessary debt and it is preffered to do "credit-less" payment only and there were no advantages for me - when I don't have enough on something,I won't have enough to settle credit)

[Geek Goddess]

I've always wondered how one books a flight without a credit card? Do you just go to the airport and pay by cash or check? I guess you could go to a travel agent too, as long as you're not flying Southwest. Seems like a heck of a lot of hassle.

Airline cash tickets raise suspicion, because a cash transaction leaves less paper trail. The 9-11 hijackers, for instance, all paid cash for their tickets, IIRC. I once called the airline directly, and booked a ticket, with a credit card, while I was on my way to the airport, as I had a last-minute trip plan change and couldn't get near a computer. When I got my ticket, it was marked for a random 'extra security' check where I had my purse searched, a pat-down, etc. My co-worker, whose ticket I got at the same time, was also searched. When I asked about it, I was told that last-minute ticket purchases were usually flagged.

This is interesting as here(Czech Republic) debit cards are still in vast majority and AFAIK credit cards are way underused. And since a lot of smaller shops don't accept cards (too high fees) we still have a lot of cash.

Banks are trying to change situation and get people to use credit cards,but so far not much of luck. I might try credit card,but is this("JREF") card even available for my country? (I didn't find it there)


I primarily use my debit card. At car rentals, when you check out your car, they run a 'pending transaction' against your card to see if you have enough credit to cover the expected cost. if you try to use a debit card, as I mentioned, they debit the expected amount of your car rental plus some additional amount. It used to be somewhere in the range $250-$400. When you. Their idea is that if you use a debit card, and then return your card and have no money in your account, they are stuck. After you return your car, they will credit the amount back, but it's not instantaneous, it can take several days. The rental companies have signs about this, but they are easy to overlook.

I was in line behind some people renting a car with a debit card, and was held up behind them for quite a while. Apparently they didn't have enough in their account to cover the extra deposit, and were arguing that by the time they returned the car, they'd have a paycheck deposited in the account. I felt sorry for them, they were traveling for a funeral or some family issue, and were stuck at the airport. :(

I also worked with a guy who had declared bankruptcy at one time and had no credit cards. When he went on business travel, he had to drive because he couldn't rent a car, even though it was half-way across the US. Even though employers often issue credit cards for business use of their employees, they typically will run a credit report before they issue you one, since they are responsible for what you charge.

[Klimax]

...
I primarily use my debit card. At car rentals, when you check out your car, they run a 'pending transaction' against your card to see if you have enough credit to cover the expected cost. if you try to use a debit card, as I mentioned, they debit the expected amount of your car rental plus some additional amount. It used to be somewhere in the range $250-$400. When you. Their idea is that if you use a debit card, and then return your card and have no money in your account, they are stuck. After you return your car, they will credit the amount back, but it's not instantaneous, it can take several days. The rental companies have signs about this, but they are easy to overlook.

It won't immediatly tell them that account associated with debit card is empty? I once tried to pay by debit while account was empty and it didn't let me continue.

Or do they sort of register card and debit it later?(that could be;I never had to rent a car - trains go fortunately in every destination I need and where not bus goes)


I was in line behind some people renting a car with a debit card, and was held up behind them for quite a while. Apparently they didn't have enough in their account to cover the extra deposit, and were arguing that by the time they returned the car, they'd have a paycheck deposited in the account. I felt sorry for them, they were traveling for a funeral or some family issue, and were stuck at the airport. :(

I also worked with a guy who had declared bankruptcy at one time and had no credit cards. When he went on business travel, he had to drive because he couldn't rent a car, even though it was half-way across the US. Even though employers often issue credit cards for business use of their employees, they typically will run a credit report before they issue you one, since they are responsible for what you charge.

Thanks. Was quite interesting.(Although sometimes about unfortunate people)

[Geek Goddess]

It won't immediatly tell them that account associated with debit card is empty? I once tried to pay by debit while account was empty and it didn't let me continue.



The car rental place was trying to charge not only the expected rental, but the 'deposit' as well. Which used to be about $250 to $400 US.

[Klimax]

The car rental place was trying to charge not only the expected rental, but the 'deposit' as well. Which used to be about $250 to $400 US.

Sorry, forgot to bold; I was refering to:
Their idea is that if you use a debit card, and then return your card and have no money in your account, they are stuck.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Sorry, forgot to bold; I was refering to:

She meant to say "return your car", not "return your card".

I other words, if they only take out the expected rental, say $300, and no "extra deposit", and you return your car with a big dent in the fender, they are stuck.

[Klimax]

She meant to say "return your car", not "return your card".

I other words, if they only take out the expected rental, say $300, and no "extra deposit", and you return your car with a big dent in the fender, they are stuck.

OK. Nice typo though as it looked like somebody would try to cancel the card/account... ;)

[Reno]

My credit rating is so bad, I couldn't get a card from the mafia. Guess I won't be having the JREF one :(

[Geek Goddess]

She meant to say "return your car", not "return your card".

I other words, if they only take out the expected rental, say $300, and no "extra deposit", and you return your car with a big dent in the fender, they are stuck.

What he said...sloppy typo on my part

[CriticalThanking]

Debt culture is definitely different by country. Puerto Rico, for example, has a very low penetration for credit cards. US Retailers opening there need to be set up for debit cards.

CT

[Soapy Sam]

You realize it's extremely difficult to travel on business without a credit card, right? Not impossible, just very difficult. Plane tickets, hotel bills, meals, rental cars. In fact, I think most rental car companies won't even accept cash anymore,and if you use a debit card (rather than credit card), they take a large security deposit which is not refunded for several days.

A lot of businesses won't give their employees cash advances for travel any more, they expect you to use a card and turn in an expense account. When you travel internationally, you can use it without having to acquire local currency (often with fees or less-than-perfect exchange rates).

Condemn all you like, but people who misuse credit will be in that boat regardless of who gets a bit of a commission.

All true, GG, and if someone wants an extra card for business use only , I guess this may be as good as any- but I don't KNOW that it is. The only time I tried this sort of thing was an AMEX credit card from a UK airline- you know the sort of thing- frequent flyer miles for every purchase. Turned out a surprising number of hotels -even other airlines- flatly refused to accept it. A waste of my time, another entry in Experian's database about my personal affairs and another load of papers in the mail and email spam. Thanks, but no thanks.
I reverted to one card, issued by my bank, (via Mastercard) which has never been refused anywhere. It gives me no special deals, but it works and is paid off by direct debit every month.
I think acquiring additional credit cards is something to be looked into carefully, not done on a whim. Your purchasing plans should be dictated by your needs and wants. Having a third party involved (Oh I'll just buy it- some of the money goes to JREF)- just complicates the issue.
I don't like being offered such cards and I'm a little surprised JREF would do this. I find it distasteful. That's a purely personal response. Darat doesn't. Maybe I'm old fashioned in this.

ETA- Most car hire firms will rent without a card if you show appropriate insurance and pay cash up front. But you're correct it will take a lot longer to sort out.

[SkepticScott]

I got my "Randi" card and used it to trigger the $50 donation. I don't mind the 1% going to JREF -- after all, it's tax deductible.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I got my "Randi" card and used it to trigger the $50 donation. I don't mind the 1% going to JREF -- after all, it's tax deductible.

Likely for the credit card company, not you. :)

Unless they break it out separately on your statement.

[SkepticScott]

From what I've read, yes, they will break it out separately. I'll find out with my first statement.

[ejk]

From what I've read, yes, they will break it out separately. I'll find out with my first statement.

Unless you are given the option of keeping that 1% rather than donating it, there's no deduction allowed.

ETA: I haven't signed up for a card myself so haven't looked at the details of the offer.

[SkepticScott]

If you click through to the offer, in the FAQs they tell you how you can claim the 1% instead of giving it to the charity, so it is an option.

ETA: I also read the reporting is quarterly, so I probably won't know how much I donated with my first statement.

[Geek Goddess]

I'm not advocating anyone getting this card, or not. I have a company-issued mastercard that I use for business, and an American Express I use for nearly all my personal travel, and then my debit card.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

If you click through to the offer, in the FAQs they tell you how you can claim the 1% instead of giving it to the charity, so it is an option.

ETA: I also read the reporting is quarterly, so I probably won't know how much I donated with my first statement.

Personally, I would just go ahead and deduct it. The odds of getting audited are small, and even then they may not even notice it, since it is such a small amount.

[Klimax]

This card looks like better opportunity then what is offered by banks here.(But it appears that I am not definitly eligble as I am not in few countries were they operate)

14 to 25% rate looks better (at least short term I would need credit kart at all) then 20% average. No wonder credit cards are here unused...

[Geek Goddess]

14 to 25% rate looks better (at least short term I would need credit kart at all) then 20% average. No wonder credit cards are here unused...

?? Is that right? My card is 7.9%

[Klimax]

?? Is that right? My card is 7.9%

Looks like I misread rate on JREF card.

As for rates in Czech Republic,they are truly on average 20%. And they wonder why nobody wants them...

[Geek Goddess]

Looks like I misread rate on JREF card.

As for rates in Czech Republic,they are truly on average 20%. And they wonder why nobody wants them...

You may not have misread it, I never looked at the application for the JREF card because I don't need a card, but ...wow on the interest rates.

[Klimax]

You may not have misread it, I never looked at the application for the JREF card because I don't need a card, but ...wow on the interest rates.

Maybe they were already adjusted for my location. ;)

And btw. those rates are common even for ordinary loans and such. (That is probably why we didn't have problems with banks and they only had their profits slightly falling...)