Credit card ?

[Homeslice]

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

My electric company would charge me to use my CC... fuck that.

I am surprised your water company lets you.

Businesses accept CC because they think it will help attract/retain customers due to the increased convenience. Restaurants for example. Even fast food places finally woke up and started accepting them because they realized they were losing customers who didn't have cash on them at the time.

But with a water company, there's probably no other game in town, so why should they offer that convenience at their expense?

Same with cable, I mean I really doubt people would cancel their Comcast if they were forced to use bank acct deductions instead of CC.

[OneSickPsycho]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

I am surprised your water company lets you.

Businesses accept CC because they think it will help attract/retain customers due to the increased convenience. Restaurants for example. Even fast food places finally woke up and started accepting them because they realized they were losing customers who didn't have cash on them at the time.

But with a water company, there's probably no other game in town, so why should they offer that convenience at their expense?

Same with cable, I mean I really doubt people would cancel their Comcast if they were forced to use bank acct deductions instead of CC.

Less paperwork, more automated... saves money. AND, more importantly, it ensures timely payments... I know for my company, we prefer CC because of these things... the cost is minimal compared to chasing customers down for payments...

[shmike]

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

Less paperwork, more automated... saves money. AND, more importantly, it ensures timely payments... I know for my company, we prefer CC because of these things... the cost is minimal compared to chasing customers down for payments...

Right.

A 2-ish% fee is nothing when you know you are going to get paid each month on time and not have to send the collection squad out every 30 days.

[fasternyou929]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

OK let's say that you averaged 4% cash back across all your purchases (and that's being generous, since I'm sure most of your transactions only give you 2-3%)..........You would still need to charge $37,500 (more than $3K per month) to get back $1,500. Do you seriously charge that much per month? On what?

Originally Posted by Homeslice

I can see if you're a homeowner, spending on home improvements........or you have a business on the side that you're spending for.......Otherwise I can't see $3K a month on credit cards unless you're a baller who goes out every night.

I can't remember the last cc bill I had that was under $3k, and that's not including any work-related charges. Day to day expenses, a wife that likes to shop, and a few hobbies here and there can grind through $36k a year in a blink.

WTF do you do all year that $3k/month seems exhorbitant? Play XBox?

[Rangerscott]

Id be broke in no time if I spent $3k a month.

If I was to get a cash back card, who should I go with? Ive always had visa and never have a problem with anyone not accepting them.

[Cutty72]

Originally Posted by LeeNetworX

Sure it does. And why should I use a corporate card when I can get a benefit from using my own? And work is just a small percentage in my case - only 1-2 trips per quarter and an occasional sub-$1K purchase.

Exactly, I use my own for work stuff too. I could use my company card, and they would pay the balance. Instead I use my own and get reimbursed.
I guess if one were living paycheck to paycheck it could be bad, but I can cover the costs until I get paid back.

[Cutty72]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

I am surprised your water company lets you.

Businesses accept CC because they think it will help attract/retain customers due to the increased convenience. Restaurants for example. Even fast food places finally woke up and started accepting them because they realized they were losing customers who didn't have cash on them at the time.

But with a water company, there's probably no other game in town, so why should they offer that convenience at their expense?

Same with cable, I mean I really doubt people would cancel their Comcast if they were forced to use bank acct deductions instead of CC.

Our city (water, sewer, garbage) and gas bills *can* be paid w/ a cc, for a 5% fee. They get paid by check.

[fasternyou929]

Originally Posted by Rangerscott

Id be broke in no time if I spent $3k a month.

If I was to get a cash back card, who should I go with? I've always had visa and never have a problem with anyone not accepting them.

Depends on your spending habits, but the best two for me we're AmEx Blue Cash and Citibank MasterCard Dividends. Rewards are capped at $300 per year on the MC, and AmEx gives a smaller rebate % for the first $6,500 you spend each year. Otherwise they were comparable

That was years ago though and terms and conditions change all the time. Best thing to do is search around to see what offers you the best cash back based on your spending habits.

[Porkchop]

Originally Posted by fasternyou929

I can't remember the last cc bill I had that was under $3k, and that's not including any work-related charges. Day to day expenses, a wife that likes to shop, and a few hobbies here and there can grind through $36k a year in a blink.

WTF do you do all year that $3k/month seems exhorbitant? Play XBox?

$3,000??? I don't even MAKE fucking $3,000 in a month. Jesus. I mean I pull a lot of stuff straight from my bank card rather than to the cc. But even if I wouldn't my cc bill would only be about $350-$450 .

[Homeslice]

I guess living in the South has its benefits, what's your mortgage, only $1500/mo?

Also I an accustomed to large employers, they don't want you using your personal card, it's against policy. Why would they go to the trouble of issuing corporate cards and creating an intranet portal that automatically uploads your charges onto a T&E form if you're not going to use it?