Credit Cards - If you can't beat em, join em?

[FG Lurker]

I can definitely understand in Japan where credit limits tend to be low. The limit on my one Japanese card (an Amex) isn't even enough to buy a plane ticket home.

In theory Amex cards don't have credit limits. I ran up 1.5mil yen on my bog-standard green Amex a couple of months ago and they called me up and asked for a bunch of bank statements etc etc before they would let me keep using the card. They seemed happy with what I provided but asked that I apply for a business Amex if I need to use more than 1mil yen a month regularly.

[Samurai_Jerk]

In theory Amex cards don't have credit limits. I ran up 1.5mil yen on my bog-standard green Amex a couple of months ago and they called me up and asked for a bunch of bank statements etc etc before they would let me keep using the card. They seemed happy with what I provided but asked that I apply for a business Amex if I need to use more than 1mil yen a month regularly.

Was that an Amex issued in Japan? I know my US Amex is theoretically unlimited but the one that was issued through Shinsei definitely has one.

[FG Lurker]

Was that an Amex issued in Japan? I know my US Amex is theoretically unlimited but the one that was issued through Shinsei definitely has one.

My card was issued directly by Amex Japan. I applied at Costco one day on the way out the door.

[matsuki]

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

If you work for a "famous" company but are a total deadbeat, you'll still get a card. Otherwise, you're fucked.

I'll vouch for that, too.
Have had a card in this cuntry for a couple of decades and used to work at a "name" company. Haven't worked there for years, but continued using the card for exorbitant sums thereafter (mind you, I was religiously paying back on time and incurring no debt).
Had to stop the card for a year, but when I resumed using it, I was stripped of certain rights (borrowing cash and taking out a loan, IIRC) because I no longer work for the name company. I never used either service, nor do I really use my card now at all, but I was a bit pissed at losing the rights despite having continued using the card for years after I left that company.
Mind you, going bankrupt probably had something to do with their stance...

[CrankyBastard]

I have a JCB credit card. I only used it once, to scrape off that black stuff that accumulates on the bottom of the windows in winter, Damn thing buckled.

[FG Lurker]

[JLR]

Never had a credit card and never will.

[FG Lurker]

Never had a credit card and never will.

That is an extremely limiting position to take in the modern world. Credit is tool, no more or less, and when used wisely it is a very useful tool indeed.

[IparryU]

That is an extremely limiting position to take in the modern world. Credit is tool, no more or less, and when used wisely it is a very useful tool indeed.

Very true, I know a few guys who blow money away cause of credit, and a few guys who don't abuse credit, but get too drunk and their card(s) end up missing... then their credit is used up.

I never had the need for credit in this cuntry, but in the US, I just hated carrying cash. mostly because of the area I lived in. but you never know when you need that extra bit of cash to cover you for something.

[matsuki]

That is an extremely limiting position to take in the modern world. Credit is tool, no more or less, and when used wisely it is a very useful tool indeed.

THIS

If every time I needed to pay my suppliers in the US, I was paying in cash, I'd have 10X the wire transfer fees each month. Then there's travel, dealing with BS like ANA thrashing my luggage (and the expensive products it contained)

Very true, I know a few guys who blow money away cause of credit, and a few guys who don't abuse credit, but get too drunk and their card(s) end up missing... then their credit is used up.

I never had the need for credit in this cuntry, but in the US, I just hated carrying cash. mostly because of the area I lived in. but you never know when you need that extra bit of cash to cover you for something.

...and THIS

Though I've had to deal with the PITA of CC fraud far more than I'd like to, I've never once been held liable.

[Mock Cockpit]

Never had a credit card and never will.

I feel EXACTLY the same way about false eyelashes. Spooky.

[Coligny]

I feel EXACTLY the same way about false eyelashes. Spooky.

Add anal bleaching to the list...

[Samurai_Jerk]

Never had a credit card and never will.

You must have shit credit

But seriously how do you book a hotel, rent a car, etc.?

[Samurai_Jerk]

Add anal bleaching to the list...

So you like it dirty when you do anal, eh?

[matsuki]

[quote="Samurai_Jerk"]You must have shit credit ]

He probably likes paying cash for overpriced items

[Coligny]

So you like it dirty when you do anal, eh?

it sells more copy...

[JLR]

[matsuki]

Are you one of those dudes that lives "off grid?"

[Samurai_Jerk]

If I don't have the cash I should not be buying it.

Having a credit card doesn't necessarily mean spending cash you don't have. I personally don't care whether you have one or not but not having one means absolutely nothing about how good you are with your finances.

[FG Lurker]

[Yokohammer]

The way the world is going, especially with the increase in online transactions, not having a credit card just makes life difficult. Shopping, bookings, ETC (road tolls) ... every damn thing. And often paying with a credit card means you get stuff cheaper than if you pay with cash. Online train ticket purchases are a good example, at least with JR East. If I reserve early enough online I can sometimes get as much as 30% off the regular price, and when you're talking about JPY 30,000 round trips it adds up fast.

I held out as long as I could too, but I'm afraid the world pretty much runs on plastic these days.

[Russell]

Online train ticket purchases are a good example, at least with JR East. If I reserve early enough online I can sometimes get as much as 30% off the regular price, and when you're talking about JPY 30,000 round trips it adds up fast.

WTFornicate, how do you do that?

[FG Lurker]

WTFornicate, how do you do that?

Domestic plane tickets are much the same, if you book more than X days in advance they are quite a bit cheaper. Bookings are easiest online and I think they require credit card for payment. (They might support that conbini pay system, I'm not 100% sure.)

[Yokohammer]

WTFornicate, how do you do that?

http://jreast.eki-net.com/

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

The way the world is going, especially with the increase in online transactions, not having a credit card just makes life difficult....

...yet banks in this cuntry will rarely give them to gaijin. I'm glad the banks have at least contributed to the cuntry's coffers over the past decade or so with all the enormous amounts of tax they've paid while racking up tremendous profits.

[JLR]

Are you one of those dudes that lives "off grid?"

If getting paid in cash and not having a credit card means being off grid than yes.

I use plastic because it is convenient, makes tracking my expenses dead simple (my Amex bills come as PDFs), and I get air miles for every business expense I have. It also lets me do things online that are otherwise a PITA, such as booking hotels and flights.

Tracking expenses is easy for me and I don't find plastic much more convenient than cash. I mean if people like to use plastic that's fine. Just not for me.

Also don't have a business and am able to book things online if need be. Have a Visa bank card so can transfer money into there or get a pre-paid card for online purchases.

Honestly I don't find life difficult by not having a credit card.

[matsuki]

If getting paid in cash and not having a credit card means being off grid than yes.

Tracking expenses is easy for me and I don't find plastic much more convenient than cash. I mean if people like to use plastic that's fine. Just not for me.

Also don't have a business and am able to book things online if need be. Have a Visa bank card so can transfer money into there or get a pre-paid card for online purchases.

Honestly I don't find life difficult by not having a credit card.

Well, since you have a bank account, I guess you're technically not off grid but besides everything mentioned above, no ETC card, no credit history for getting any kinds of loans....I'm with SJ on this:

Having a credit card doesn't necessarily mean spending cash you don't have. I personally don't care whether you have one or not but not having one means absolutely nothing about how good you are with your finances.

...but yeah, as you've obviously figured out. You're making your life more difficult than it has to be, being stubborn and basing your mindset on a few false ideas about what having a credit card means.

[Yokohammer]

Or ... is it just a "fear of rejection" type thing?
Like, "I don't need no stupid credit card anyway!"

I can sort of understand if it is, but if that's the real issue you might as well get over it and get in the game. You will get rejected. Don't worry about it, and just keep trying.

And if I'm wrong, feel free to ignore me.

[Coligny]

Or ... is it just a "fear of rejection" type thing?
Like, "I don't need no stupid credit card anyway!"

I can sort of understand if it is, but if that's the real issue you might as well get over it and get in the game. You will get rejected. Don't worry about it, and just keep trying.

And if I'm wrong, feel free to ignore me.

So if you'ze right it's an invitashiun to dry hump you ?