Earth changed

[JohnK]

This card was very attractive when I first applied for it nearly 2 years ago. Since then they have implemented too many changes for my liking. Recently I missed a repayment by 1 day and I noticed a late payment charge on the next statement.

I will be offloading this card as soon as possible.

[albatross710]

JohnK I had a similar thing with a payment overdue by 1 day. It was something like the Bpay went through from my other bank at 1:30am instead of prior to midnight.

I talked them into reversing the charge but still cancelled the card as they seem to be 'trigger happy' on this one.

[TonyD]

This card was very attractive when I first applied for it nearly 2 years ago. Since then they have implemented too many changes for my liking. Recently I missed a repayment by 1 day and I noticed a late payment charge on the next statement.

I will be offloading this card as soon as possible.

That's wierd because the one thing I DO like about this card is I have paid, even by Bpay 1 day after the due date without penalty and been told by Westpac that they givew a few days ??

Anyone got any best deal sugestions for a Amex AND a MC or Visa ?

Cheers Tony

[SeaWolf]

After the Citibank No-fee Gold card, I think Earth+ with a $79 fee was probably one of the cheapest cards offering travel insurance. But now that it has lost that draw, lost the low interest rate, and lost the discount international fees, it's a pretty mediocre card.

What other cheap cards with travel insurance are out there?

[Alanslegal]

If it's purely for O/S travel insurance and car rental excess waiver in AUS, I'd look at the ANZ Gold ($79pa iirc). No FF points though.

Guess CB Gold (if you have a fee free card) is a must and possibly the fee free Amex Gold plus $80 Ascent membership fee maybe an alternative choice.

(or Amex Rewards Maximiser is also a good choice, abliet $195pa)

However, there are many CC offers at different times of the year, so guess you have to be in the right place at the right time.

[oz_mark]

That's wierd because the one thing I DO like about this card is I have paid, even by Bpay 1 day after the due date without penalty and been told by Westpac that they givew a few days ??

While they haven't given me the late payment charge, they have hit me for interest! In my experience, Citibank are a little more lenient when a day late.

[Chicken]

No mention of cheap international transactions on earth+ anymore either. Looks like another feature that's gone.

I just called WBC, and was told that because I got the card before, when forex commission was exempted, this will continue to apply to my cards.

Only new customers need to pay forex commission.

So old customer who got all the benefits before this watered down new plan came in will continue to enjoy old benefits.

[oz_mark]

I just called WBC, and was told that because I got the card before, when forex commission was exempted, this will continue to apply to my cards.

Only new customers need to pay forex commission.

So old customer who got all the benefits before this watered down new plan came in will continue to enjoy old benefits.

For the moment at least But yes, I recently made a purchase in a foreign currency and it only had the scheme charges on it.

(Oh, and if you want to know why the Aussie dollar is on the way down, its because I booked to go OS!)

[JohnK]

While they haven't given me the late payment charge, they have hit me for interest! In my experience, Citibank are a little more lenient when a day late.

I got hit with another $35 late payment fee. I got carried away looking for accommodation in Brisbane and I Bpayed the payment on the 4/07/08 which was the due date. Apparently they did not receive the payment until the 7/07/08. Their word against mine. Still this is not good enough.

I have actioned some balance transfers and I will be cancelling the card and I wiil give them the reason if they are interested. They were actually making some good every month from the interest I was paying. I will also continue to re-apply for the Earth card with the QFF point promotions, take advantage of the balance transfer, cancel the card when the low interest rate expires and then repeat again. If they think they can play games with me then I can play the same games....

I

[oz_mark]

I got hit with another $35 late payment fee. I got carried away looking for accommodation in Brisbane and I Bpayed the payment on the 4/07/08 which was the due date. Apparently they did not receive the payment until the 7/07/08. Their word against mine. Still this is not good enough.

I thought one of the conditions in the bpay scheme was that payments were to apply from the date the bpay was made. Also, you should have some record from the bank as to when you did the bpay.