Diners Club--Great Corporate Card, Misleading Name
Written: Apr 21 '00 (Updated Apr 21 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Excellent Customer Service and Payment Flexibility
Cons: Limited Acceptance
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| lap0530's Full Review: Diners Club (Citibank) |
Diners Club Corporate Card
When I changed employers last May, I was given a corporate Citibank Diners Club card. My new employer pays the annual fee for the card, and I pay the $75 enrollment in the Rewards Program, making the Diners Club card a good deal for me.
Having used American Express Corporate Card accounts (both the standard and the Optima accounts), I can safely say that Diners Club wins the corporate contest hands-down. Diners Club's statements are thorough and easy to understand. Unlike Amex, Diners Club does not bombard the corporate account holder with unsolicited (and usually unwanted) mailings of offers for everything from insurance to merchandise.
Diners Club's distinctive advantages include excellent customer service, member rewards, and flexibility. The price for all this is a card that is not as widely accepted as others. American Express and corporate MasterCard and Visa accounts get the nod for wider acceptance, but Diners Club is typically able to get me through most business trips without having to resort to Amex, MasterCard or Visa.
Customer Service
Customer service representatives--real people--answer the phone when a customer calls. There is no IVP (interactive voice program) that demands that a user enter the card number and press 1, 2, or 3 depending on the type of call.
Instead, a pleasant voice from a knowledgeable Diners Club representative simply asks the customer's name (or account number). I have never felt so well-treated or pampered by any charge card company. My questions have been quickly answered and my concerns and issues quickly resolved.
Member Rewards
Diners Club's Member Rewards Program allows corporate card holders to accumulate points very quickly. Each dollar charged on the account results in two points. These points can be exchanged for frequent flyer miles on a number of airlines or for a wide variety of merchandise available through the program catalog.
Flexibility
Business travelers who must turn in expense reports and be reimbursed often experience a delay of 30, 45, or even 60 days before expenses are reimbursed. Diners Club, unlike every other corporate card, permits its account holders a 60-day grace period for payment before delinquency charges are assessed.
A Few Disadvantages for Diners Club Users
Getting my new Diners Club card was the biggest problem I've faced thus far. I was told that it had been sent out, but after two weeks without having received the card, I called and requested a replacement. Diners Club canceled the old account and reissued the card. Needing to use the card for an upcoming trip, I called and asked for an expedited card. Diners Club readily complied with my request, and the next day I received not one but two cards for the new account--both the one that had been mailed earlier and the expedited one.
The most significant disadvantage with Diners Club is that the card is not accepted in as many places as other cards. Diners Club is accepted by most major airlines, hotels, and rental car companies. Most "fine dining" establishments also accept Diners Club. The card is also accepted at most gas stations and many stores. Surprisingly--given the name--restaurants are less likely to take Diners than Amex and the bank cards (or even Discover). The only other card perhaps less widely-accepted than Diners Club is Carte Blanche.
Some online travel sites (for example Preview Travel) do not permit one to use Diners Club for charging tickets, rental cars, or hotel rooms. Also, until very recently, Diners Club did not allow online access to member account information. That situation was recently remedied by the inclusion of a password-protected area on the Diners Club web site where members can retrieve their account information.
Overall Evaluation
The airlines, hotels, and online travel services I use all accept Diners Club. And since I can also pay for my car rentals and most food purchases with the card, I prefer to use this corporate card over all other charge and credit cards for business expenses.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
lap0530
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 - Top 1000 |
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Location: Anderson, SC
Reviews written: 122
Trusted by: 332 members
About Me:
Psychology and management professor and business consultant
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