The annual fees and interest rates are much more competitive now as lenders want to attract maximum potential customers. Also, the income level required to be eligible for these cards nowadays is also lower than it has been in previous years. Not only this, but it is easier than ever to collect points with the respective programs.

Collecting Rewards Points Faster

When a person wants to take advantage of having a rewards points credit card, it is important to be able to build up the points faster. The gold and platinum cards help a person out with this immediately by offering more points per dollar spent. While the standard card usually offers a point for every dollar spent using the card, the gold offers up to 1.5 points per dollar spent and the platinum offers up to 2 points per dollar spent with the card. This means that the cardholder has the opportunity to earn 50% or 100% more points with these cards.

Bonus Rewards

With the gold and platinum cards, the cardholder usually has plenty of opportunities to obtain extra points with various bonuses available from the affiliates of the lenders. There may be bonus points for activating the card or for making the first purchase with the card. In terms of purchasing items at affiliate retail stores or eating at affiliate restaurants, sometimes there will be double the points added to the account and so on.

Other Benefits Received

Aside from the actual points and the rewards that the cardholder receives from these cards, there are other benefits to gain from as well.

Customer Service: There are many different forms of customer service but individuals with the gold or platinum card have much more access to either one of them. In most of these privilege cards, the customer can use online or telephone banking at any time of the day. Also, customers can even use concierge services for booking travel, evening plans, or other such things using these Platinum/Gold cards.

Insurance Coverage: Lenders often include complimentary insurance with their credit cards. This includes travel, health, and purchase protection insurance. Whilst the levels of coverage can actually vary depending on the lender, this is undoubtedly a very practical feature at no extra cost.

Comparing Cards

It is important that before choosing the card to apply for that the individual complete some comparisons. There are a number of aspects that a person should take a look at.

• The interest rates are very good for these cards, yet they can be found somewhat lower than the average points card. The individual is advised to compare these interest rates.
• The annual fee is also something worth looking at. These fees can be higher, but lenders are making them more competitive these days.
• There may be other fees to be concerned with on these cards such as transaction fees, monthly fees, and so on.

Making the Right Choice

It is important to make the right credit card choice. Take a look at all of the aspects carefully and consider which one is better suited to your lifestyle before submitting the application. This will increase your chances of getting the best credit card for the situation.

Are you interested in obtaining the best platinum credit card? Not all platinum cards are equal, so you should consider the features of different cards before going ahead and applying for one. Remember that you will be using this card for many years to come (hopefully) so it is important to obtain the card that will be the best platinum credit card for you.

There are a number of features you should consider when comparing the best platinum credit cards. These include:

Eligibility

Although you may be a high income earner, you might not be eligible for all the best platinum credit cards. Cards vary greatly in their minimum eligibility requirements. Some require you to have a minimum annual income of $50,000 while some require a minimum annual income of $100,000. Other cards have age requirements, for instance, some cards will only accept customers who are under 25 years of age, while others will accept older customers. Being rejected for a credit card will affect your credit report adversely. So before you apply for what seems to be the best platinum credit card, make sure that you are eligible to obtain it.

Rewards scheme

One of the major benefits of the best platinum credit cards is the generous rewards schemes that they offer. These schemes allow you to accumulate rewards points by doing your shopping with the card. The reward points can then be exchanged for a number of rewards, such as shopping vouchers or travel services.

Before you sign up for a card because of its rewards scheme, consider what kind of rewards you are most interested in. If you like travel, for instance, you could sign up with a frequent flyer credit card; if you prefer shopping to travelling, you could sign up for a card that offers shopping vouchers.

Services

Many platinum cards offer additional complimentary services to cardholders. Consider what kind of services are on offer with the card.

The most common complimentary service offered is that of a concierge service. This is like a personal assistant whom you can ask to do the mundane things in your life, like picking up the dry-cleaning, making restaurant reservations and so forth. Other cards offer complimentary limousine service to the airport, something that might benefit you if you are a frequent flyer.

Rates and limits

Most platinum cards offer higher credit limits and lower interest rates for their card holders – make sure that you card offers the limits and rates that will best suit your lifestyle.

Are you trying to decide which is the best platinum card? If so, there are a number of factors you should keep in mind.

Eligibility

The best platinum cards are not available to everyone. There are some strict eligibility criteria that need to be met. For instance, your income has to be over a certain threshold, such as $50,000 or $100,000 per annum. In addition, there may be certain age criteria that need to be met – some cards are only available to people aged between 18 and 25, while other cards accept older individuals. Check the card requirements before you apply – a failed credit card application will reflect badly on your credit report.

If you are eligible to apply for the best platinum cards, then you are in a position to compare the different cards and determine which one is the best platinum card for you.

Rewards

One of the major benefits that come along with the best platinum cards is the more generous rewards scheme. Since platinum card holders are higher income earners, they tend to be higher spenders as well. This means, that you can earn a greater number of rewards points by using your credit card for your spending. Many cards offer exclusive rewards options, such as frequent flyer programmes, shopping vouchers and more. Think about which kind of rewards you would prefer. For example, if you enjoy travelling, you might like a rewards programme which offers free limousine service to the airport, frequent flyer miles, and more. On the other hand, if you prefer shopping, a rewards programme which offers shopping vouchers might be more suitable for you.

Credit limit

The best platinum card will usually offer a very high credit limit. Since you are a high income earner, the banks do not consider you to be much of a credit risk and are more willing to give you a greater limit on the card. Consider how high a limit you are interested in. Having a high credit limit will make it easier for you to purchase big ticket items, such as cars and electronics, with a simple swipe.

Interest rates

If you plan on having a rolling credit card balance, without repaying it in full each month, you need to consider the interest rates that are being offered. The best platinum cards will offer much lower interest rates. Consider cards that offer low purchase rates as well as low international transaction rates.

Further, you must understand how the terms of your agreement will change when the introductory offer expires to ensure it remains the best card for your budget.

Determining the best intro credit card offer can be a challenge. There are all sorts of offers to choose between including balance transfers, low introductory purchase rates, or no annual fees are some of the most popular offers. Within these offers are varying terms that depend on the card issuer and your eligibility.

Remember that the purpose of all of these offers are to get your business and in most cases are temporary. One of the biggest mistakes people make is neglecting to consider the rates their card will have after the introductory period expires.

In order to choose the best intro credit cards for your budget you first have to know what is important to you. To do figure this out examine your spending habits and your financial goals. If you are trying to get out of credit card debt you may want a balance transfer deal. If you have a holiday or big purchase coming up a low introductory rate might be best for you.

If you do not use your card often and prefer not to spend money on annual fees then you might only consider those cards that waive annual fees.

In each of these cases there are terms that apply to the introductory offer that you should consider. You may discover that a specific offer does not actually meet your needs. A good example of this are those no annual fee offers. Whilst some cards actually have no annual fee for the life of the card a great number only offer it for the first year or under certain spending quotas.

If you will not use the card often you will likely no meet those spending quotas and therefore spend money just to own the card. Each consumer has to carefully examine the terms of any credit card agreement to find the one that best meets their needs.

Along with the best intro credit card offer has to be the best credit card for you. Even if you get a smoking hot deal on your introductory purchase rate it will eventually expire. At that point the rate could be so high that you could wind up in serious debt due to interest fees if you do not pay your bill in full each month. We all know that credit card agreements are tedious to read and can be hard to comprehend.

But, only you can protect your finances in the long term by reading everything twice and comparing all options and costs of owning a specific credit card.

If you can contemplate the option of owning a Gold credit card then you are in an enviable position. Compared to the majority of credit card users, you would be placed at a higher status level immediately. Gold credit cards provide a host of extra benefits on top of normal credit cards, and project a symbol of prestige as well. For the lucky few who can afford the higher costs and income requirements, a gold card does make a difference. There are a number of gold card offers in the market, so be prepared before you go card hunting. Our brief guide on the best gold cards that are out there right now will help you select the best gold card for your needs.

How is a gold card different?

The following list of points clearly delineates the differences between gold cards and regular cards. Not all gold cards offer all these extra benefits though, but you can expect most (if not all) of them to be present in the best gold card:

• Rewards scheme – gold cards typically involve a rewards scheme which is wider in scope than others. There are greater opportunities for gathering reward points, and those points can be redeemed for a bigger range of goods and services. Often there will be reward partners who provide bonus points or some extra discount on their products for these gold card users.
• Expanded credit limit – the best gold cards have a very high credit limit, so that cardholders have more shopping potential. Card issuers consider these customers to be of very little credit risk, hence they are willing to extend very generous levels of credit. They also have the incentive of charging high interest rates on any outstanding balance. A greater credit limit increases the chances of larger interest payments.
• Complimentary insurance – this is what separates the best gold card from the rest. All of these prestige cards offer additional insurance cover for free, but the number of complimentary insurance policies is what sets them apart from each other. A high end gold card will at least offer these covers: purchase protection insurance, travel insurance, and extended manufacturer warranty.

Apart from the above features gold cardholders also enjoy extra service priority and numerous smaller benefits. The best gold cards, while difficult to obtain, are very much worth the extra effort and cost.

Platinum Credit Cards Explained

There was a time when Platinum credit cards were issued by invitation only to certain customers. These days the approval criteria is not quite as harsh, although there are some requirements customers will need to fulfil in order to qualify for this credit card tier.

Offering card holders superior service and benefits as well as some extra perks not available on other types of credit card, the Platinum credit cards can be ideal for many customers. Unfortunately, they’re not for everyone.

Benefits of Platinum Credit Cards

One of the primary benefits of Platinum credit cards is the availability of a range of complimentary insurances. These can include online fraud protection, purchase protection, extended warranty cover and international travel insurance.

Enhanced Credit Card Rewards

Most Platinum credit cards also offer cardholders the opportunity to earn more than the usual rewards points per dollar spent. This can help customers to accumulate points faster, which can then be redeemed for items such as flights, electronics, homewares, gift vouchers and much more.

Superior Customer Service

Card holders can enjoy exceptional personal service that includes 24/7 access to a personal concierge service. Your personal telephone assistant can be available on standby to arrange flights and travel, accommodation, make restaurant bookings or hotel reservations, order gifts, book tickets or generally assist you in finding the things you need no matter where in the world you are.

Higher Credit Limit and Higher Fees

The approval criterion for Platinum credit cards is stricter than that of a normal credit card. Typically, customers will need to verify an annual income of more than $50,000 and will need to have an exceptional credit rating.

In return for the more stringent assessment policies, the available credit limits tend to be higher.

Unfortunately, the annual fees charged on this type of credit card are also higher than a standard card. However, the benefit of earning increased reward points as well as access to so many other benefits can often make up for this, as long as the card holder is responsible about repaying the outstanding balance regularly.

While the interest rate on purchases is also higher than many comparable cards, customers do have the advantage of up to 55 days interest free on purchases with most card providers.

If you’re the type of customer who uses a credit card frequently, but is willing to pay the outstanding balance in full before the statement date each month, you won’t pay any interest at all on your purchases.

Benefits of a the Best Platinum Credit Card Deals

• Personalised service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This means you can call on your platinum card service for anything from booking a table at any of the best restaurants in Australia, to a balance enquiry when you are on the other side of the world.
• Premium extra features. The special offers and discounts of a platinum card deal will be exclusive to the credit card provider, but when you take advantage of a platinum credit card deal, your credit card company works hard to make sure you feel like a star – some even go so far as to make sure you are rubbing shoulders with the stars, by including invitations and tickets to the hottest events and parties as part of the deal. Others will give you exclusive access to concert or event tickets before they have been released to the public.
• No credit limit. That’s right, the sky can be the limit if you choose a platinum credit card deal with no set spending limit. While your provider will monitor your spending in line with what they know about your income and financial situation, you can spend as much as you can afford to repay.
• Extensive travel insurance. If you like to use your platinum card to spend on travel, then you are likely to be covered with extensive travel insurance options so you’ll be ready to go. The cover will typically extend to any family travelling with you, and can be for up to six months coverage for you, your possessions and public liability.
• Extensive purchase insurance. A platinum credit card deal will also offer you the best protection on your purchases by covering them for up to six months against being lost, stolen or damaged, and in some cases can add another 2 years to a manufacturer’s warranty for free.

How to Apply for the Best Platinum Credit Card Deal

• You will need to earn a minimum of $65,000 a year in most cases. If this excludes you, don’t worry because some platinum credit card companies will allow you to complete a joint application and combine your income.
• Apply online in minutes. With an online application form you can take just 10 minutes and have a response in 60 seconds telling you if your application was approved.
• You can be a platinum card holder in a matter of days. Once your application is approved you just have to wait for it to be processed. Depending on the provider this can take several working days or a week to two weeks, but rest assured, you will have access to what will feel like the whole world, in no time.

If you’re looking for something a bit better than a standard credit card then take a look at the best platinum credit cards available. These cards offer a lot and you are sure to find one that is perfect for you.

All of the following credit cards offer different rewards and perks such as, extended warranties, discounts and security on purchases, free insurance for home contents, access to airport lounges, travel insurance for international and domestic trips for free, a concierge service and many other rewards as well.

You can get one of the best platinum credit cards if your credit history is excellent and can prove that you have a strong income coming in. You will have to pay an annual fee that is higher than a standard credit card, but the fee is more than worth it with the added value you will receive.

Best platinum credit cards:

Here are some of the features of the best platinum credit cards available.

• Every one dollar spent earns you 4 Skywards Miles.
• Around the world 24/7 personal concierge.
• annual fee.
• Chauffeur driven service to airports in Australia, and lounge access in airports in Dubai and Australia is complementary.
• purchase rate.
• p.a. cashadvance rate.
• Balance transfers offered at .

• Purchase rate a low .
• Purchase rate a low .
• Extended warranties.
• 24 seven personal concierge service.
• Family or friends can receive up to three additional cards.
• Insurance for inconvenience on a domestic flight.
• Enjoy one card banking with the Platinum card linked to your other accounts at St.George.
• Balance transfer rate of .
• Low annual fee of .

• Up to $100,000 credit limit.
• Automatic free insurance on international travel when your tickets are purchased with the Citibank Platinum Card. Coverage includes damage or loss to personal items, personal liability, trip cancellation, and unexpected travel or medical expenses.
• A rewards program that is personalized.
• Get 20,000 points using a special Internet offer.
• Balance transfer rate of .
• Annual fee of .
• as Cash Advance.
• as purchase rate.

• Domestic and overseas travel insurance.
• 24 hour a day access to Platinum Travel and Concierge.
• Every dollar spent gives you 1.5 points in the Membership Rewards Ascent program.
• Payment must be made in full every month.
• Annual fee of .
• Introductory APR with free days.

• For every one dollar spent receive 1.5 Awards points.
• Use the card for US online stores that will not accept an Australian credit card.
• MasterCard applause access.
• Global service by MasterCard.
• Protection against Internet fraud loss.
• Emergency assistance for travel.
• purchase rate.
• Cash Advance rate.
• Annual fee of .
• Balance transfer rate of .

• Introductory Purchase rate of
• Cash advance rate of
• annual fee.
• Low balance transfer rate of
• Accident and airline travel insurance protection worldwide.
• Extra 12 months added to the manufacturer’s warranty.
• Free cards for up to three additional cardholders.
• 24/7 concierge service available.

• Online fraud guarantee, Purchase Protection2 and Refund Protection.
• Free supplementary card.
• 24 hour support.
• Discounts and deals with American Express Selects.
• Earn Moneyback by using your card

• Annual fee of .
• Low balance transfer rate of
• Interest rate on purchases is .
• Cash advance rate is .
• A low rate card with all the benefits of a Platinum card.

These are the best platinum credit cards deals we have found on the Internet. If you believe that it is time for you to move up to a platinum card, then take a look at the ones mentioned above for more information.