I am giving you the AARP Credit Card Review, pros and cons, and some more information about the AARP Credit Card. There are so many credit cards on the market that it can be very hard to select a good one. AARP credit cards, which are available from Barclays, are to help people over 50. But are they really a good deal for your money?
Feature | Detail |
---|---|
Annual Fee | $0 |
Rewards Rate | 1% – 3% Cash Back |
Bonus Offer | $100 Bonus Cash Back after spending $500 in the first 90 days |
Intro APR on Purchases | 0% for the first 18 months |
Intro APR on Balance Transfers | 0% for 18 months on transfers made within 45 days of account opening |
Regular APR | 21.99% – 29.99% (Variable) |
Cash Advance APR | 29.99% (Variable) |
Balance Transfer Fee | $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 3% |
Rewards Expiry | Rewards never expire as long as your account is open and in good standing |
Official website | AARP Credit Card website. |
AARP Credit Card Options
There are some different credit cards that AARP offers.like
- Barclays’ AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard®: If you do not like being charged for the same things over and over, this card is a very good choice for you since it does not have an annual fee. There are many benefits, like:
- 3% cash back on gas and some hospital costs
- 2% cash back on some medical costs (like dental and eye problems)
- 1% cash back on everything else
- Chase’s AARP® Rewards Credit Card: After the first year, this card costs $95 a year, but the first year is free. The flat-rate points scheme lets you:
- 3% cash back at petrol stations and restaurants
- 1% cash back on everything else
Here’s a quick table summarising the key differences:
Feature | AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® | AARP® Rewards Credit Card from Chase |
---|---|---|
Annual Fee | $0 | $0 first year, then $95 |
Rewards Programme | Tiered (3%/2%/1%) | Flat-rate (3%/1%) |
Bonus Offer | Up to $200 cash back after meeting spending requirements | None |
Additional Features to Consider:
With any AARP credit card you choose, you can get some different extras:
- Travel and Auto Insurance: Both cards cover travel accidents and rental car damage caused by impacts.
- Secured Purchases: For a certain amount of time, you can make safe internet purchases with both credit cards that cannot be stolen or damaged.
- Extended Warranty: People who have an AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® can get some things with a longer guarantee.
- Zero Liability for Fraud: Both cards have $1,000 in fraud liability protection, so you do not have to pay for charges that were made without your permission.
- Free Access to Your FICO® Score: With both cards, you can get free access to your FICO® score.
AARP Credit Card Rewards
This is the good thing about AARP credit cards: they have reward programmes.
Mastercard® from AARP® with Essential Rewards:
These cards really shine for some people who spend a lot on things like petrol, drugs and medical bills. And also though 3% cash back is very good, some other cards offer even better deals at gas stations and drugstores, like 5% cash back. There is one perk that you do not see on many other cards: you get 2% cash back on eye and dental bills.
Credit card from Chase with AARP® Rewards:
This credit card can give you 3% cash back on petrol and food, which is okay but not the best. So many other cards give you the same or even better points in some areas, and they give bonus categories that can change often and can be worth more depending on how much you spend. It is not as good as some other cards because it does not come with a welcome gift.
You can earn points with both AARP cards, but they are not the best. You can think about how you usually spend your money and how this card compares to others before you decide.
AARP Credit Card Fees
The AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® has no yearly fee, but the AARP® Rewards Credit Card from Chase does after the first year. And some other possible fees to think about are listed below:
- Balance Transfer Fee: The fee for transferring a balance is around $5 or 3% of the amount being moved, which is greater.
- Foreign Transaction Fee: For some other payments made outside of the US, both credit cards charge a 3% foreign transaction fee.
- Interest Rates: How good your credit is can affect the APR (Annual Percentage Rate) on both cards. Usually, it is somewhere between 16.24% and 22.99% (varying). If you regularly pay your amount in full every month, it is important to avoid interest charges.
Benefits of the AARP Credit Card
There are some credit cards from AARP that have many more benefits than some points and low fees. Here are some of them:
- AARP membership benefits: Both credit cards give you a discount on membership, which can be very useful if you want to join or are already a member. If you are an AARP member, you can get many more discounts and perks, like some different health insurance options, travel deals, and learning materials.
- Vehicle Rental Discounts: When you rent a car from some other partners, both cards give you the best price cuts.
- Travel and Purchase Assistance Services: If you need help with your trip or a purchase, you can use the journey and purchase assistance services on both cards.
- Charitable Giving. The AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® gives you $10 to the AARP Foundation for every new card it gives out, and 1% of your purchases go to the charity also.
But you should also look at these benefits and see how they are very different from some other credit cards. Some credit cards may have better schemes for getting free trips, using airport lounges, or getting credits on your bill for services you may find more useful.
Who Should Consider an AARP Credit Card?
Here are some times when an AARP credit card can be very useful:
- An AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® can help you if you spend a lot of money at gas stations and drugstores, also include medical costs that qualify.
- Affinity Plus members get savings on membership fees and some other benefits. These cards may be a very good choice for you if you are already a member or are thinking about becoming one.
- The AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® does not cost anything every year, and it is very easy to use the rewards scheme. Someone who just wants a basic credit card might like this one.
Who Might Want to Look Elsewhere?
Another reason why an AARP credit card may not be the best choice is if:
- You will like better rewards: If you know how to get your rewards, which are based on how much you spend, other credit cards may have better cashback or trip point schemes.
- You go to many other places. The 3% fee for using either card abroad can really eat up the points you gain. If you travel a lot, this type of credit card may be a very good choice for you since it does not charge any fees when you use it abroad.
- You carry a balance: Both cards have very high APRs, so it costs a lot to do this. If you cannot pay off your balance every month, you may want to switch to a card with a lower interest rate.
Last lines
AARP credit cards do not have the best reward programmes. For the AARP® Essential Points Mastercard®, there is no annual fee, and you can also get points for things like paying for petrol and medical bills. Chase’s AARP® Rewards Credit Card has a flat rate system that applies to petrol and restaurants.
And some other cards may give you better benefits, but it depends on how you spend your money and what you value most. And it is very important to make a good decision, You may want to look at AARP credit cards alongside other choices in order to locate the most suitable one for your financial needs.
You can also visit some more pages of this website for more information on other credit cards in the UK.