Relatively worry-free card--until the bill arrives! ;)
Written: Jun 06 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Cash back, 800 number, bill is easy to read, discount coupons
Cons: Beware: high interest rates!
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| lauren_m's Full Review: Student Visa/Mastercard (The Associates) |
Despite the high interest rates (22% on cash advances at ATM machines--yikes!) I've been very pleased with my Associates Student Visa. I've had this card for about 14 months, mainly because it is one of the card companies that didn't turn me down, being a youngster without established credit.
When I received my card, Associates sent me a free one-year membership to Student Advantage, which offers coupons and discounts to all sorts of stores and services (Foot Locker, Hold Everything, Amtrak)--that membership would have cost $20 on its own, so that was a big plus, and it gave me a good feeling about Associates.
More pros: cash back on balances that are carried for a while (granted, it's only about 3% of the balance, but I always like receiving a check in the mail), automated 800 number where you can check your balance and payment information 24 hours a day, and a helpful staff when you need to speak to someone human. The bill is very easy to read and understand, and the website is okay, although they don't offer any way to pay your bill online just yet. Occasionally, Associates will send me checks, which are great if I want to transfer the balance from one of my department store cards to the Visa card. On top of all this, I get discount coupons in the mail at least once every two months: recent offers included 10% off at Mrs. Field's cookies and 10% off at MotoPhoto. For someone who loves mail AND discounts, Visa definitely stocks up your mailbox with good stuff.
Cons: that interest rate! However, when you're young and you need a credit card, you just have to deal with it. The good thing is, if you establish good credit with your Associates Student Visa, you will be able to shop around later on and get a really good rate on a card with lower rates. Again, despite the exorbitant cash advance rate, it is VERY helpful to be able to stop at an ATM and get cash with this card in an emergency.
I would recommend this card for students with responsibility and self-control; in 14 short months, Associates has raised my spending limit to $1500 because I always pay my bills on time. It would be extremely easy for someone with shaky self-control to run the bills up WAY too high on this card. However, for good customer service, lots of perks, and a card that's easy to obtain, I would recommend the Associates Student Visa.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
lauren_m
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Member: Lauren M.
Location: New Jersey
Reviews written: 156
Trusted by: 41 members
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