Why do so few vendors accept AMEX? And do all other CC companies charge an interest fee?

Re: the interest question - lots of (Visa & MC) cards are making the interest-free periods shorter & shorter. Used to be you get 30 days, then it went to 25; now some cards actually only give you 20 days before they start charging interest - generally not even enough time to receive the bill & pay it before you're charged interest. Be sure to read the T&Cs carefully when getting a new card.

I also use Amex exclusively & carry a MC that I only use in places that doesn't take Amex - generally smaller places like small restaurants & dry cleaners.

Quote from Jeffbx : Re: the interest question - lots of (Visa & MC) cards are making the interest-free periods shorter & shorter. Used to be you get 30 days, then it went to 25; now some cards actually only give you 20 days before they start charging interest - generally not even enough time to receive the bill & pay it before you're charged interest. Be sure to read the T&Cs carefully when getting a new card. I also use Amex exclusively & carry a MC that I only use in places that doesn't take Amex - generally smaller places like small restaurants & dry cleaners.

I have about 30 cards right now. Not one of hem does that.

1 dispute per month?? geez that seems high.

Quote from vaultaddict : I have about 30 cards right now. Not one of hem does that.

And your point is... if you personally don't experience this then it doesn't exist? Heck, there are even cards that have NO grace periods [blogspot.com] - interest begins acruing the moment you make a purchase.

"...if you pay your credit cards in full each month, you may have a grace period between 20 and 30 days..." [consumerismcommentary.com]

Watch out for credit card company tricks designed to drown you in debt. ... And there is no grace period -- you start paying interest right away. ... Many credit card companies are shrinking that time down to 20 days, meaning ... [bankrate.com]

Grace periods are typically between 21 and 25 days. [about.com]

Grace periods vary by issuer, but are generally around 20 to 25 days. [interest.com]

The recent credit crisis has caused typical grace periods to shorten to 20 days. [bankingmyway.com]

Quote from Jeffbx : And your point is... if you personally don't experience this then it doesn't exist? Heck, there are even cards that have NO grace periods [blogspot.com] - interest begins acruing the moment you make a purchase. "...if you pay your credit cards in full each month, you may have a grace period between 20 and 30 days..." [consumerismcommentary.com] Watch out for credit card company tricks designed to drown you in debt. ... And there is no grace period -- you start paying interest right away. ... Many credit card companies are shrinking that time down to 20 days, meaning ... [bankrate.com] Grace periods are typically between 21 and 25 days. [about.com] Grace periods vary by issuer, but are generally around 20 to 25 days. [interest.com] The recent credit crisis has caused typical grace periods to shorten to 20 days. [bankingmyway.com]

All of those links have to do with people who carry a balance.

Awful foolish to carry a balance.

Maybe the gamers forumites can help.

Regarding the disputes, all of them had to do with bargain companies like serversupply, Amazon or Ebay sellers, companies that have a notorious reputation (but still have a patent monopoly). The AVERAGE was 1 per month, so luckily I haven't seen any in the past few months. I think the most I dealt with was maybe 5 or 6 in April of this year.



With the exception of the one described time that I did not pay off my balance to AMEX, I have always paid my bill in full in the past 15 years of owning credit cards. As I stated earlier, the interest charges coincided with the increases in minimum payments/new credit card laws.

I did indeed call Chase and USBank (REI Visa), and I could not get a straight answer.

It seems that I'll never get a straight answer on this and it is apparent that I am in a select minority on this issue, so at least those cards have been cancelled.

I am also glad to know that MOST cards do not do this, so I have a new Discover card on the way.