FIRST THINGS FIRST --- IF YOU CAN'T PAY OFF THIS CARD EVERY MONTH, DON'T USE IT. Unless you have horrible credit, I'm very sure you can find lower rates from some other card. Plus, getting 1%/5% back in free gas probably won't make up for the interest you pay.

SECOND -- IF You don't have shell stations in your area, I can't recommend this card.

For everyone else -- you need to seriously consider this card --- why?

1) NO ANNUAL FEE (just make 6 purchases with the card annually) [Note: this wasn't true a few years ago -- if you weren't a charter member, you could expect to pay $45 annually and in return you got roadside assistance.... now neither the $45 fee nor the roadside are part of the package... I suppose you could check epinions for auto clubs if you are looking for roadside assistance]

2) 5% back on every gas purchase at shell stations... (must be taken as free gas charged to the card in future months)

3) 1% back on every purchase from anywhere (again, must be redeemed as free gas...) This is where I make most of my free gas!! I charge anything & everything. I charge much more than I did before reward cards became popular. The key is to be able to pay off the balance each month!

4)grace period of at least 22 days

5)EXCELLENT on-line services. I use their website to deduct my credit card payment directly from my checking account (you can schedule your payment for a specific date)... no checkwriting, no stamp, no trip to the mailbox, and no lost -- or late -- payments because of the postal service!! You can also see your recent transactions on screen, and of course download the information into Quicken or Microsoft Money.

6)frequent opportunities to use 4.99%+/- cash advance checks, but be careful, they will apply any money you send in to the low-interest cash advance, while your purchases will continue to run at 15.80% [again, pay off the ENTIRE amount each month]

7) An organized monthly statement. First they list any payments you made, then any shell station transactions, then other transactions. A convenient snapshot of your account is listed at the top [new balance, payment due date, credit line, available credit, cash line, available cash, statement closing date]

8) On-line discounts that change every month or two.

9) In 10 years of card ownership, I have never had a bad experience with their customer service dept. WOW!!!

DISADVANTAGES

1) relatively high interest rate (15.80%)

2) generous credit line can be a problem for some.

The basic bottom line is: this is a good card from a great company that you should consider if you can pay the entire balance each month.




Recommended: Yes