Discover More or Chase Freedom as your first credit card?

Quote from xNico : Will putting my name onto my sisters banking/checking account increase/give me a credit history?

a checking account will not give you credit history - a credit account would

Quote from xNico : Will putting my name onto my sisters banking/checking account increase/give me a credit history? She always pays her dues and has never been late. Edit:Will probably just start out with a Secured card, which is better BOA, or Capital One?

Only a credit card will help build credit history.
I used Bank of America. So I'd recommend that.
But I'd assume that they're all pretty much the same.

based on the shitty customer service at Discover card id go for Chase. What credit company would shrug its shoulder when you try and report a potentitially fraudulent charge and tell you to wait 30 days. To me a company that charges for an item (that hasnt shipped in close to 2wks) and then has no way for you to contact them. To me seems highly fraudulent.

I would look into a secured card that can later be converted into a credit card (as in won't always be a secured card), although the big banks aren't too good with this, usually local credit unions/etc. are better

Quote from Scampsters : based on the shitty customer service at Discover card id go for Chase. What credit company would shrug its shoulder when you try and report a potentitially fraudulent charge and tell you to wait 30 days. To me a company that charges for an item (that hasnt shipped in close to 2wks) and then has no way for you to contact them. To me seems highly fraudulent.

Wow! That's insane. What was the end result?


I've never had a problem (yet) and find that they're excellent with cashback. And I'm grateful that their customer service is located in the United States.

Quote from slapshot136 : I would look into a secured card that can later be converted into a credit card (as in won't always be a secured card), although the big banks aren't too good with this, usually local credit unions/etc. are better

I had the BOA secured card. Had it for a year and then went to the back and requested that they convert it into an unsecured card. They requested a check and converted the card to an unsecured one.

Quote from the.J129 : Wow! That's insane. What was the end result? I've never had a problem (yet) and find that they're excellent with cashback. And I'm grateful that their customer service is located in the United States. I had the BOA secured card. Had it for a year and then went to the back and requested that they convert it into an unsecured card. They requested a check and converted the card to an unsecured one.

i have to wait 30 days before they will do anything its only been 17 days

Quote from Scampsters : i have to wait 30 days before they will do anything its only been 17 days

Very odd. i've had my cards "compromised" twice and a few false alarms, all but once triggered by Discover itself (e.g. they called ME to check on a few transactions)

Quote from Dr. J : Very odd. i've had my cards "compromised" twice and a few false alarms, all but once triggered by Discover itself (e.g. they called ME to check on a few transactions)

it was very weird but if they bitch on dec 15th ill tell them my call was recorded and i tried to report it.

Quote from Dr. J : Very odd. i've had my cards "compromised" twice and a few false alarms, all but once triggered by Discover itself (e.g. they called ME to check on a few transactions)

Oft late, Discover has been getting too many false alerts.
Bought an iPhone on Apple.com. Didn't go through.
Bought some clothes on Express.com. Didn't go through.
Bought a guitar for $900. Didn't go through.


All this in the month of November. In each instance, I had to call them and ask them to approve the transaction which they then did.

Quote from Dr. J : Very odd. i've had my cards "compromised" twice and a few false alarms, all but once triggered by Discover itself (e.g. they called ME to check on a few transactions)

Yeah, I tried to use my Discover card to buy a TV a few years ago and they wouldn't let it go through. They called me to see if it was fraudulent 30 mins later and I told them I bought the TV using a different card.

Just purchased one on BF, though. Of course, my credit limit is higher now.

Quote from bonkman : Yeah, I tried to use my Discover card to buy a TV a few years ago and they wouldn't let it go through. They called me to see if it was fraudulent 30 mins later and I told them I bought the TV using a different card. Just purchased one on BF, though. Of course, my credit limit is higher now.

Most recently, a refrigerator and a washer/dryer set from Lowes didn't go through, neither did a TV. All purchases were $2000+ though. A call to the CSR cleared it up though.

I've had them catch fraudulent activity twice. So with maybe 8 false alarms and 2 positives over 14 years or whatnot, that's fine. I'd rather have false alarms than have fraud slip through and have to deal with it. When you catch it quickly, closing the card and reissuing is a much easier process.

the best false positive was also the first - I'd had the card for a couple years but was a student so my spending wasn't crazy, then my GF and I decided to drive from CT to FL. So, there was a charge for a rental car and gas all down the eastern seaboard..... yeah I'd agree that looks fishy.

My first card was Discover. Gave me a $500 limit, since then its increased to $2500. My second card was a sony card, but then I applied for a freedom (both are Chase) and closed the sony card. Aside from my discover card, my Chase freedom is my oldest card. Both are great, but I prefer Chase's cashback program (no minimum spending requirement before you get 1% on general purchases)

My first card was the Chase Amazon card with an $800 credit limit. Personally, the Amazon card gave better rewards (3% cashback on Amazon purchases and 1% everywhere else) since most of my purchases were from Amazon. As a student without a car, it was convenient to have stuff shipped directly to my dorm (plus the free/discounted Prime membership was nice...).

Edit: Someone mentioned Capital One. I advise against it! They send loads and loads of junk mail.

Quote from xNico : Will putting my name onto my sisters banking/checking account increase/give me a credit history? She always pays her dues and has never been late. Edit:Will probably just start out with a Secured card, which is better BOA, or Capital One?

Neither. If at all possible, try to get one through USAA.