Premier/Black Credit Cards

quote:I have a £65k Audi A8 being delivered on Monday for a weeks test drive - cost to me? Nothing.

You will enjoy that they are a fine piece of kit I have just sold my late Father's I would have killed myself if I had kept it playing with the sat nav and TV while driving far too fast.

Richard is the earning on the Centurion card 1 MRP per £1.00.

[Decker]

quote:Originally posted by RichardMannion
Finally, in the recent Centurion magazine there was an offer to test drive the new A8, I have a £65k Audi A8 being delivered on Monday for a weeks test drive - cost to me?

Hope you get better service than I've been getting from West London Audi over the past couple of years. I've finally moved to Merc after 15 years of Audis 'cos I got so fed up with WLA. Did they change the insurance specially? (Normally 25+ on test drives ).

[RichardMannion]

Hi,

- Yes the trigger spend should be on a 'charge card' based AmEx product, not been funny but anyoen can rack up a whacking Credit card bill - its about paying it off too - if you know what I mean.

- Yes Platinum is much cheaper than Centurion, but to be honest if you have to quibble over the cost its probably unlikely that the Centurion card is for you.

- Audi should turn up tomorrow, previous person had an 'incident' in it. They have recitified the loan period though.

- Yes its normally 25+ for the test drive, but having a history of Audi's, my current Audi model, clean licence of over 3 years and Centurion card, and they were happy to lower it.

- Earning is normally 1 per pound, but promo's do happen from time to time. Spend on some airlines (inc VS) was up to 2 per £ recently.

- Invite pattern for Centurion is a bit of a strange thing, I have heard of people been invited with around £1500/month spend, normally tthe typical amount is at least 3 times that.

Thanks,
Richard

I use my BA-Amex card as a charge card (I pay it off each month), although I see the point about credit card spending perhaps not triggering interest from Amex's Centurion team.

I have looked at the insurance that comes with Platinum, and unfortunately it doesn't cover everything which is needed, as Decker said. For this reason it wasn't worth moving away from the BA-Amex card which does offer a decent companion voucher scheme (unlike the restrictions with Virgin's credit card).

Regards

Rob

Found the Barclays Premier card:

http://www.barclayspremier.co.uk

They've gone for a gold charge card rather than a black card like Lloyds TSB and Natwest.

[RichardMannion]

quote:Originally posted by TJ
Found the Barclays Premier card:

http://www.barclayspremier.co.uk

They've gone for a gold charge card rather than a black card like Lloyds TSB and Natwest.

Hi TJ,

That's the Barclays Premier Charge card, its looked after by Barclaycard but is not branded as Barclaycard. Used to have one a nubmer of years ago when I was with Barclays Private Banking, and then Barclays Private Clients. TBH, I found it to be of little value, there was an annual fee of £80 and the benefits were appalling, Travel Insurance if you booked on the card kind of thing. Believe BC are now part of Nectar in terms of rewards, and we've all seen the stupid redemption levels for a flight...

THanks,
Richard

[Bazz]

Hi TJ,

I used to have one of those too, back in the days when I only had a Gold Amex, as Richard says the benefits were nothing special, I think I ditched it when I moved up to Amex Plat so that is a long time ago now

Hi Everyone,

Has no-one forgot to mention the Coutts and Co. (http://www.couttsworld.co.uk) World Mastercard (formally world signia) as the most exclusive UK based credit card (actually, charge card)??? I thought I would mention it.

The Coutts World card is "exclusive" since you need to have a Coutts account to get one. It costs £350 but this fee is waived if you spend enough (err... I think £50K p.a. on the card). Usual set of benefits including travel insurance and concierge service.

BC

It's only £250 as I have one. They have also made it the "World Card" now instead of World Signia, new design and new services like nanny, decorators and other things they can sort out for you. New design looks nice as well.
Should have seen the box it arrives in, was huge with gold writing, velvet inlay, etc, very impressive. I suspect it's on the same level as the Black Amex, just less well known ofcourse.

[Decker]

I think you'll find you're in a Centurion fan zone so putting the Coutts on a level with the Amex might attract flak

quote:Originally posted by Decker
I think you'll find you're in a Centurion fan zone so putting the Coutts on a level with the Amex might attract flak

Heh, well as I said the Amex card (I have a platinum and doubt I will be upgraded because I spend on my world signia card mostly, not amex) is known world wide and has this advantage. Coutts is more UK posh value, but only really in the urban areas as most people wouldn't have heard of it. Yet the various reviews I have read around place it actually on top because to get into Coutts is hard enough, but you then may get a normal visa or their gold card, but the signia card itself only comes via invitiation by your private banker and they "expect" you to spend over 50k as a minimum. HOWEVER unlike Amex which gives you a limit based on your normal spending habits, Coutts sets a monthly limit (mine is 100k) which can be raised or lowered depending on your private banker, so again it's not advertised like the Amex as a unlimited card. Still, it's supposedly the bees knees and I have found it by far the best card I've ever had.

[Decker]

We did have a discussion vis-a-vis the Quintessential Card vs Centurion a while back - it was never properly resolved. . I'd suspect the Coutts has more cachet in the City than the Amex but for frequent travellers I'd suspect the Amex wins out.

[fozzyo]

Well I'm quite happy with my First Direct Gold Visa and Maestro card - which is lovely and black. No really I am. Honestly!

Have to admit was rather impressed when I had a client pay me with a Coutts cheque once. Don't know why - it was just a cool thing to have happen. Mind you he didn't tip though. [:(]

Foz )

quote:Originally posted by Decker
We did have a discussion vis-a-vis the Quintessential Card vs Centurion a while back - it was never properly resolved. . I'd suspect the Coutts has more cachet in the City than the Amex but for frequent travellers I'd suspect the Amex wins out.

You're probably right. I have never heard of this Quintessential Card, will look it up on the Net. Have you seen the new US one, "Stratus" card, invite only, supposedly the new hot card. I suspect over the next few years the card issuers will concerntrate on making their cards "exclusive" like the platinum used to be until it's exclusivity was tarnished by everyone being able to get one. (Gee, thanks Capitial One Bank!). End of the day, a few cards from the private banks probably represent the most exclusive since you have to bank with them in the first place before you can even be in with a chance. Hoare & Co, is another Coutts style bank. (Actually, being the only real independant private and oldest bank left). End of the day I have also noticed Coutts website changing from 75,000 customers managing 60 billion or more to 39 billion with 90,000 customers, so it looks like they lost alot of wealth the past year! (Although being owned by the RBS Group makes that not quite right either).

quote:Originally posted by fozzyo
Well I'm quite happy with my First Direct Gold Visa and Maestro card - which is lovely and black. No really I am. Honestly!

Have to admit was rather impressed when I had a client pay me with a Coutts cheque once. Don't know why - it was just a cool thing to have happen. Mind you he didn't tip though. [:(]

Foz )

Yer, they are impressive. Especially the commercial ones which are huge! When I pay with them I either get "oooooo" or "Please give me a REAL cheque, not this fake one!" which has made for some amusing moments. The personal ones are much smaller (sob). I quite like their white switch card too. I agree with you thou, a easy way around the black card issue is getting a first direct account, and let's face it, it's a good bank, good interest, high tech, HSBC's "test division" for their upper coming technologies. Card looks flash... They use First Direct to test out new ideas etc on their smaller customer base before they roll it out on the rest of the group.

[fozzyo]

Didn't realise they did that with First Direct, but agree they are a great bank to use. The Text Message thing they do has been soo useful and stopped me over spending a few times which is good.

This must have been one of the Commercial cheques because it was certainly larger then the standard ones.

[RichardMannion]

I remember writing some long threads over on FT about value and image of Centurion, and in relation to the other contenders.

Don't get me wrong, the Coutts World card is top of the tree when it comes to a Mastercard based product - however the comment about it being on the same level as Centurion I find harder to swallow. Centurion absolutely blows the competition away, I would put Natwest Black, Coutts, Lloyds Black et al on a level par with AmEx Platinum - they are all around the same price point £200-300/per annum and all have similar offerings in benefits. I would think there are more Coutts cards in circulation in the UK than Centurion (~15,000) and yes within the city and the more well off classes, Coutts is a known brand, but AmEx has the wider brand, and of course there has always been the myths and mysteries of Centurion.

I've had a Coutts cheque before and I know what its about, but to your everyday folk they would have no idea - just like 99% of people make no comment about my Centurion Card when I am paying for stuff. My cheques say Executive Banking Suite, London' on them and a few people have commented on that before, but to me it means nothing. If you are having to pay for a credit card for the image and to amke people think better of you, then I think that person needs to get out more - sadly I know of people that have cards like these for exactly this reason, always some arse laying it on with their AmEx Platinum in a shop and you stand and think 'Why?' - my sibling has an everyday job and has a Platinum AmEx on my account - the fun he has had with his card putting these kind of people in their place, and as for me when I use my Centurion card... At the end of the day it is a coloured bit of plastic (well for now, until the metal Centurion cards are launched next year) and I pay the sizeable annual fee for a variety of reasons, but image is not one of them.

Please feel free to comment or ask any questions, I think you'll find my credentials on the subject verifiable

Thanks,
Richard

[RichardMannion]

Oh and I forgot:

http://money.msn.co.uk/Bank_Plan/Cards/ ... efault.asp

Thanks,
Richard

[fozzyo]

Just been reading through the thread before asking a question incase it was answered already. Yes it had - it was about what benefits / services does a Centurion card give you.

It's quite interesting looking at the myriad of credit / charge cards that are around and their benefits offered - or perceived benefits. There is a very distinct line between a standard card (red, silver, gold, "platinum") and a higher end Premier account.

I think the bridge between these two worlds is going to be Amex Platinum. And as you said in an earlier post Richard, if your not happy with the £250 annual fee then any form of Premier card isn't for you. But on the other side of that I think the package offered by Platinum is also enough for a lot of people.

I had a quick look at the Q card site and something struck me about it and the card. Marketing. You then look at the Centurion pages in Amex. This tells you bugger all about the card and its benefits. Standard cards go out of their way to sell you their product and services to try and entice you into it. It would appear to be that is what Q are trying to do.

If a card is that good and offers that good a service to those select few who qualify for it then why do they need to market it in such a way? Surely these people or their bankers / financial advisors would tell them about it.

To me its the snob factor, the guy shouting "Don't you know who I am? I've got a Quintessentially card - I demand blah blah blah waffly cobblers!!!"

Which to be perfectly honest would put me off it. Its the same with Coutts, yeah I was impressed to be paid by a Coutts cheque but I wouldn't want an account there. I want a good account that gives me good service ... and one that doesn't cause a "ooh i dunno if ya can pay wiv that. [Turning head and shouting] Sharron this bloke here gotta wossname card - can he use that can he?"

What use is it really if its only recognised in parts of London and other major cities?

Foz )

[Scrooge]

do have to say that i like the amex plat...the free companion ticket in biz or first is great..the room upgrades is nice--though i already get that(maybe better) through Wyndam...the cruise package is very nice..plus 2 points per $ is very nice..

Hi,

I think you missed out some important ones. Look up Coutts World Card, most exclusive card in the UK in my opinion.

Let me know if you want further details..

quote:Originally posted by TJ
I've been trying to compile a list of all the Premier/Black level credit cards available in the UK, with the aim to see which offers the best set of perks.

Obviously, so far Amex Centurion is pretty much unequaled at the top.

Here are the three that I know of:

Amex Centurion:
http://home3.americanexpress.com/uk/Personal/Cards/benefits/PC_Ben_AmCenturionInfo.asp

Lloyds TSB Premier:
http://www.premiercreditcard.co.uk/

Natwest Black:
http://www.natwestblack.com

I think Barclays do a Black card, but I'm not sure of the website for that one.

Any ideas? Anyone had experience with any of these cards? (I know there'll be a lot of Centurion members out there! )

[fozzyo]

Hmmm, according to their website:

quote:Coutts World Card cardholders can collect AirMiles at a rate of one AirMile for every £15 spent on the card, increasing to one for every £12 whenever card expenditure exceeds £5,000 in a month.

If in the highly unlikely event of ever being in a position to be offered a Black card, this alone would put me off this card. With a FC FC, AMEX Gold or Platinum card I can get one mile per pound. Two per pound for an £80 fee with the FC card.

Obviously there are all the extra's you get with these cards but for the amount of spend on them and the potential for Miles earning with my preffered FF program this quite frankly sucks as an offer.

Foz )

quote:Originally posted by fozzyo
Hmmm, according to their website:

Coutts World Card cardholders can collect AirMiles at a rate of one AirMile for every £15 spent on the card, increasing to one for every £12 whenever card expenditure exceeds £5,000 in a month.

If in the highly unlikely event of ever being in a position to be offered a Black card, this alone would put me off this card. With a FC FC, AMEX Gold or Platinum card I can get one mile per pound. Two per pound for an £80 fee with the FC card.

Obviously there are all the extra's you get with these cards but for the amount of spend on them and the potential for Miles earning with my preffered FF program this quite frankly sucks as an offer.

Foz )

What's the difference in the RBS airmaile scheme versus others? With my Coutts World card (They sent some letter out to members saying "purple" is the new look for exclusive cards, but I like the metal idea for Centurian more, although the card looks nice enough). I have 45,000 airmiles and i like how you can go on the website and cash in on so many things, plus all my company cards, (natwest), etc all get added to the same account, so I personally have found it the best reward scheme. I like Amex's too, but I only have a Plat card and most places in the UK don't take them, nor has my companies got the cards, although their website is fun to browse and cash in points too, with more "normal items" on offer than airmiles, "stuff mainly to do with travel". Are there any better cards/reward schemes you have seen?

I don't really buy the "most places in the UK don't take Amex" message. Sure, my local HiFi dealer doesn't, and neither does my BMW dealer (grr.) However, my last statement includes supermarkets, travel companies (Trailfinders), mail order businesses (Hawkshead), petrol stations and plenty of restaurants.

BC