More Than Points

I rely on my Dinersclub quite a bit when I travel. I love the fact there are no spending limits. I love you’re given 2 months of grace period before you have to pay any fees. I love the built-in rental car insurance.

Using my Dinersclub also helps me separate business expenses from personal expenses as long as I use it in the appropriate situations. It’s invaluable in ensuring that big purchases, such as plane tickets and hotel bills, are captured and can be cross-referenced with my expense submissions.

My Dinersclub card is indispensible when it comes to business travel. And ever since the partnership with Mastercard, I never have to worry about acceptance whereever I go…usually.

There’s one show stopper – those pesky signs at various merchants that exclaim:

Minimum $xx Purchase Required for Credit Card

That’s the only situation where I’m forced to pay with cash. That’s when I end up with loads of spare change in my pocket and eventually my workspace. Spare change to the business traveler is as good as lost since it hinders our ability to move through the airport security, it’s heavy, and it just ends up, forgotten, in our laptop bags or luggage. It’s a pain in the ass.

Well, I’ve been wrong or rather wronged as this article clearly points out:

Did you know that retailers aren’t allowed to set a minimum purchase amount for Visa or MasterCard? It’s not illegal – it’s just not allowed in their contracts with the card companies.

That’s right – merchants that accept Visa / Mastercard are required to take all purchases with no minimum fee requirements. It’s your choice to make on whether you wish to cut the merchant a break or pay with your credit card, regardless of how much you’re spending.

Knowledge is power – use it how you see fit.