# REI Visa, doper experiences? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 1, 2007, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rei-visa-doper-experiences/421175 "2007-10-01T18:21:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rei-visa-doper-experiences/421175/1 "2007-10-01T18:21:40Z")
I’m thinking of getting an REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) Visa card. No annual fee. The interest rate is a little high, but I never carry a balance, so that is no big deal. 5% dividend on all REI purchases INCLUDING sale and clearance items, and 1% on any other purchases. Because they are one of very few stores that stock size 14 shoes, I spend a bit of money there…never got much in the way a dividend, because I look for bargains in the way of sale and clearance prices. I’ve had a MasterCard for years that is my “main” credit card. It was with MBNA, which recently was aquired by Bank of America. While I was not too thrilled with MBNA, BofA makes them look good by comparison: -BofA’s site does not work correctly with Opera. -When paying on-line, the “schedual payment” date field defaults to a date that will incur a late fee. -They move my billing due date around. -Apparently they need to send me a new cardholder agreement every 3-4 months, about 4 pages of fine print to go through. Reading through the REI card offer, I can’t find what bank this is through. BofA would be a dealbreaker. So are Dopers aware of any “gotchas” with the REI Visa card? ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rei-visa-doper-experiences/421175/2 "2007-10-01T18:52:22Z")
My REI Visa card is with US Bank. Can’t say I’ve ever had a significant problem with them. I agree that the interest is too high to want to ever carry a balance on it, but with regular use the 1% rebate adds up to a nice dividend. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rei-visa-doper-experiences/421175/3 "2007-10-01T20:04:01Z")
[QUOTE=Kevbo] -BofA’s site does not work correctly with Opera. [/quote] It does work with Firefox FWIW. > [@](#): > > -When paying on-line, the “schedual payment” date field defaults to a date that will incur a late fee. ?? Mine defaults to the next day. > [@](#): > > -They move my billing due date around. > > -Apparently they need to send me a new cardholder agreement every 3-4 months, about 4 pages of fine print to go through. Never had them move my billing date, but then again, I got my card from BofA, they did not buy out an existing card. They do send out new card agreements with great regularity. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rei-visa-doper-experiences/421175/4 "2007-10-01T21:21:17Z")
I’ve had one for about 10 years. Currently they’re using USBank. About the only problem I had with them occurred when I first started using online bill payment through my credit union. The first two months they seemed to take just long enough to process the check to incur a hefty $39 late fee. Both times I called to complain and they reversed the charges. The second time I told them to knock it off or I’d cancel and haven’t had a problem since. I also schedule my payment for a week in advance instead of the recommended 3 days (supposed maximum amount of time needed for an electronic payment) just to be safe. But I love the 1% on all purchases, and getting 5% dividend on REI sales items, (usually there’s no dividend on stuff that’s on sale). Like you, I never carry a balance. Overall, I think it’s worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rei-visa-doper-experiences/421175/5 "2007-10-02T14:28:27Z")
Thanks for the opinions. Off to google USbank and see what sort (if any) of nonsense they are known for. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rei-visa-doper-experiences/421175/6 "2007-10-03T19:33:09Z")
Googling was interesting. Looks like lots of folks have had serious issues with U.S.Bank checking accounts. Several instances of them refusing to refund overdraft and other fees caused by bank errors. On the REI Visa specifically, can anyone confirm the following: -There is a $40 annual fee if you DON’T use the card. -There is a $40 fee to close the account. Those would put a damper on my idea of “I’ll try it out, if I don’t like it, I’ll just not use it, or close the account.” ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rei-visa-doper-experiences/421175/7 "2007-10-03T22:05:51Z")
Hmmm … never heard of such a thing, and I can’t find it in the fine print anywhere. If it were true, it would sure keep me from doing business with them! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rei-visa-doper-experiences/421175/8 "2007-10-04T00:35:04Z")
[QUOTE=Twoflower] My REI Visa card is with US Bank. Can’t say I’ve ever had a significant problem with them. I agree that the interest is too high to want to ever carry a balance on it, but with regular use the 1% rebate adds up to a nice dividend. [/QUOTE] Same here. Don’t pay at the last minute unless you are paying at a branch- but this advice applies to most CC now. As to "On the REI Visa specifically, can anyone confirm the following: -There is a $40 annual fee if you DON’T use the card. -There is a $40 fee to close the account." No, not anywhere I have seen. Sounds unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rei-visa-doper-experiences/421175/9 "2007-10-04T03:01:37Z")
I’ve had my REI credit card for… I don’t know how long. Over the years I’ve used the dividends to buy Christmas presents, birthday presents, a Yakima rack system for my Jeep, clothes, two pair of Vasque hiking boots, and gobs of other stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rei-visa-doper-experiences/421175/10 "2007-10-04T04:25:55Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] Same here. Don’t pay at the last minute unless you are paying at a branch- but this advice applies to most CC now. As to "On the REI Visa specifically, can anyone confirm the following: -There is a $40 annual fee if you DON’T use the card. -There is a $40 fee to close the account." No, not anywhere I have seen. Sounds unlikely. [/QUOTE] Well reading the terms and conditions for the credit card I find this > [@](#): > > Annual Membership/Program Fee REI Visa® Gold: $0.00 > REI Visa® Classic: $0.00 > Minimum or Fixed Finance Charge $2.00 minimum finance charge when interest is due, $2.50 closed Account management fee if you voluntarily close your Account with a balance. > Other Fees > Cash Advance Fee: > 4.00% of the transaction amount, $5.00 minimum > Balance Transfer Fee: > 3.00% of the transaction amount, $5.00 minimum > Cash Equivalent Fee: > 4.00% of the transaction amount, $10.00 minimum > Late Payment Fee: > Balance over $0.01 up to $99.99 > $19.00 > Balance of $100.00 up to $249.99 > $29.00 > Balance of $250.00 and up > $39.00 > Overlimit Fee: > $39.00 > Convenience Check Advance Fee: > 3.00% of the transaction amount, $5.00 minimum > Overdraft Protection Advance Fee: > 3.00% of the transaction amount, $5.00 minimum > Foreign Transaction Fee: > 3.00% of the amount of your transaction in U.S. dollars Based on this, I don’t think those fees you read about exist. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rei-visa-doper-experiences/421175/11 "2007-10-04T18:30:15Z")
My wife has one…and I haven’t seen any ‘gotchas’ or complaints from her about it. I’m not sure the specifics though…but I do know she gets cash back around December which she uses to buy $100 sandles the next Spring. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rei-visa-doper-experiences/421175/12 "2007-10-04T18:57:45Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] Well reading the terms and conditions for the credit card I find this Based on this, I don’t think those fees you read about exist. [/QUOTE] Are you replying to me? 😕 Since I came to the same conclusion.