Alas, yet another good offer bites the dust. As of May 1, Discover no longer offers fee-free balance transfers for any of its consumer cards. There is now a 3% balance transfer fee, with a $10 minimum and $75 maximum.
Discover has historically been one of the innovators in the credit card industry. Here’s hoping that this is one trend that does not spread.
Discover just rolled out a new business card that earns travel rewards, as a complement to its existing cash back business card. Its features are very similar to the cash back card, except that you earn Miles instead of cash back. Whereas the Discover Business Card offers 5% on office supplies, 2% on gas, and up to 1% on everything else, the Discover Business Miles Card earns 2 Miles per $1 spent on gas and travel expenses, up to $5,000 in annual purchases, and up to 1 Mile per $1 spent on anything else. The “up to 1%” language is necessary because both business cards only earn 0.25% at “select warehouse clubs, discount stores and their affiliates.”
Redeeming Your Miles
Miles redemption is very flexible and is identical to the personal version of Discover’s travel card:
Book any travel through any airline, travel agent or online travel site and pay with your Miles Card. Then redeem your Miles, for every 5,000 Miles get a $50 travel credit to your account towards your travel purchases.
You also have the option of redeeming your Miles for gift cards from one of Discover’s partners.
Unique features
There are a couple of unique features to Discover’s business cards which are worth highlighting:
For more information, visit http://www.discoverbiz.com or click here.
The Discover Platinum Card has been rebranded as the Discover More card, so don’t be confused by the name. Per FW, there’s the following signup offer:
$60 With Your first $500 in purchases made in the first 3 months after approval. Must be approved by July 15, 2007.
3.9% apr on balances transfers through May 2011.
Balance Transfer Fee 3%, $10 minimum / $75 maximum.
0% apy on purchases through May 2008.
You can apply over the phone at 800-572-9369 or online at apply.Discovercard.com using code #FDHJ
From SD: Apply online here and enter code FCTB or call 1-800-717-9821 and mention that code. You’ll receive a $20 bonus after your first purchase within the first month, then another $60 after $250 in purchases within the next 3 months.
When you apply for a Discover Business card now, you could be entered into a sweepstakes to win $50,000. You’ll also earn a second entry if you refer three friends. This promotion ends March 31, 2007. For more details, see https://discovercardapplication.com/sweepstakes.
Signup at apply.discovercard.com and enter code FCSV or call 800-681-8570 and mention the same code and you’ll receive a $40 cash back bonus after you spend $200 within three months. Credit to FW.
For the first quarter of 2007, Discover cardholders in the “Get More” program will earn 5% cash back on up to $1000 in travel purchases:
To enroll, log into your Discover account online or call 1-800-DISCOVER. For more details, see this link.
Between now and the end of the year, you can get a free $20 Discover gift card by spending $200 on your Discover Card at select malls, per SD:
Get something extra when you shop at the mall this holiday season. Get a free $20 Discover Gift Card instantly by spending $200 on your Discover Card at select malls from November 1 through December 31, 2006. You can get up to five gift cards per Account for the duration of the program.
It’s simple. Take your receipts totaling $200 to the customer service desk of any of the participating malls by December 31, 2006 to receive your Discover Gift Card. Use it as a gift for someone on your list or treat yourself to something special.
The full list of participating malls can be found here.
When you enroll in Discover’s “Get More” program, you’re eligible for 5% cash back on up to $1,000 in purchases per quarter in specific categories, which rotate throughout the year. The categories for the next quarter (October 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006) have been released and this time they have an entertainment theme:
Restaurants—From fast food to fine dining
Movies—From movie tickets to movie rentals
Books, Music and Everything Else
In-store or online from these specific retailers:
- AMAZON.COM
- Barnes & Noble
- Borders®
- Circuit City
- Crutchfield®
- Napster®
- Waldenbooks®
If you have an eligible Discover card, you can sign up by either logging in to the Account Center or calling 1-800-DISCOVER(1-800-347-2683).
As part of its “Get More” program, Discover rotates categories of spending that are eligible for 5% cash back on up to $2,000 in spending on a quarterly basis. For the period of July 1 to September 30, 2006, Discover has released the categories eligible for this promotion on its website:
Tuition
Apparel
Office/Home
To sign up, log in or call 1-800-DISCOVER (1-800-347-2683), then just use your Discover Card to get 5% Cashback Bonus.
Details are here.