British Airways Visa (First USA)

Pros: Might be able to tolerate it long enough to get miles
Cons: almost impossible to pay your bill; they charge you when they are late in processing

A few years ago, my husband and I went on a trip to Italy. We used British Airways. Sometime in the course of this trip we were told that since we had quite a few miles, we should open a British Airways Credit Card. We, naively thinking that the ...

Pros: British Airways air miles
Cons: Systems issues, bad customer service

I never had any problems with a credit card company until I got a British Airways Visa card 2 year ago. I don't think I ever even spoke to my credit card company. I just pay my full balance every month, and that's it.

This changed in a pretty...

Pros: Getting BA miles
Cons: Horrible customer service, annual fee, no fraud protection

The customer service is horrible. They did not fight a merchant on my behalf despite the evidence I provided them, clearly showing this was an unauthorized charge. I had to call numerous times simply to file the complaint, as well as fill out piles of...

Pros: Fine Concierge Service and Customer Service.
Cons: None.

I have had my British Airways Signature Visa for about a year and a half and have never had any problems with customer service. The concierge service is very personal and handles your needs with speed and professionalism. The concierge is able to locate fine restaurants were I can take my clients to and not have to worry about if it will be a fine dinning experience. I am a business owner who travels frequently and uses my credit cards often. I only carry two cards and they are this one and my American Express Centurion. I only carry these two cards because they allow me to have no spending limit and offer me special perks for using their cards.

Pros: mileage
Cons: horrible customer service

I, too, was steered toward this card by BA personnel during a rash of work-based US to UK travel a few years ago. I have since lived to regret this as one of the least intelligent decisions I've ever made.

Double charges, misapplied payments, bogus late fees - you name it, First USA tried it on me. Then, joy of joys, the card was sold to Bank One - and now I'm sad to report that First USA seems dreamy by comparison. Aside from the mileage rewards being the lowest I've found, I have never received such abysmal customer service from a company as I have for this BA card from Bank One. I am in the process of closing this account now and will, as long as I can speak and type, do my best to prevent others from being shafted by this non-responsive, wildly anti-consumer organization.