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Discover Credit Cards: Advantages and Disadvantages

Dec 23, 2024 By Kelly Walker

Discover is a credit card company that emerged primarily in the United States of America.

The brand was first issued by a retailer, Sears, Roebuck & Co, in 1985 and was issued nationally in 1986. However, the present owner is an American Financial services company, Discover Financial.

When launched in 1985, the credit card introduced itself as a good company with specific policies. For example, it does not charge annual charges and gives its users a higher credit limit than other companies. Later they also introduced the feature of Cashback rewards on various purchases.

The Discover company has become an independent franchise since 2007. Today, Discover’s credit card stands among the big credit card companies like Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Its success roots back to its wide array of credit card options to satisfy the diverse needs of diverse customers.


Is Discover a good credit card?

According to the research, Discover is indeed a good credit card brand. It is because the company caters to every customer's need with all credit levels. No one is not catered to, and everyone has zero annual and foreign transaction fees. Doesn’t it sound like a great opportunity? Well, the praising isn't over yet.

All Discover cardholders receive a minimum of 1% reward on every purchase. The brand offers a 0% introductory APR on every transfer and purchase. It will even match the new Discover cardholder earnings from the beginning of the first year as an anniversary gift. However, a standard variable rate will be applicable after that.

Discover cards are popular because of their cent-percent emphasis on the US market and customer service. And according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Discover brand has significantly fewer consumer complaints.

In Discover, you will also get user-friendly features such as “Freeze it”, which will allow you to turn off your card temporarily to prevent unauthorized transactions. It also provides you with a feature of “ Free monitoring,” which will ensure that your social security numbers are not showing up on dangerous websites.


Benefits

  • Discover credit card users are charged $0 for annual and over-limit fees.
  • There are no foreign transaction fees to be paid by the users.
  • All varieties of credit card users can get cash-back rewards, and no minimum balance is required to redeem the rewards.
  • Discover credit card users get a free credit scorecard, tier vital credit information, and FICO score. The scores are updated monthly by the brand.
  • The user-friendly feature of “ freeze it” allows users to turn off their cards to prevent it unauthorized purchases.
  • The feature of “Free Monitoring” keeps your social security numbers safe. Once you activate this feature, Discover will keep a check on your SSN and will notify you if it catches any form of fraud.
  • The users will not be liable for any kind of fraud. $0 will be charged to you if anything happens. As a Discover credit card holder, you will not be financially blamed for any authorized purchase.

  • If, in any case, you lose your credit card or it gets stolen, the Discover brand will send you a new card overnight for $0, i.e., free.
  • Some Discover credit cards will also give you a 0% APR offer on every purchase and transaction for the introductory period.
  • The brand limits your transaction to $120 every 24 hours. However, the stores may have their limit.
  • The Discover brand is typically US based, but their excellent customer service is unlike any other credit card company. Discover promises its users they will not try to convince them to purchase other products, especially when you try to contact their consumer services.
  • Discover offers you free access to your FICO credit score. This feature will enable you to monitor your credit score and track its health. Checking your credit score is essential to make effective decisions regarding your credit and financial well-being.

Pros and Cons of Discover cards

There needs to be more than just knowing the positive side of a product; negative aspects are also important.

Pros of Discover Credit Cards:

  • Cashback Rewards-

Discover credit cards gives you cashback rewards on any purchases and transaction. This allows you to earn money while spending.

  • $0 Annual Fee-

Several Discover credit cards do not charge their cardholders any annual or over-limit fee. This makes it cost-effective for the users.

  • Introductory APR Offers-

Discover credit cards offer introductory 0% APR on purchases and transactions. This introductory period is best to save interest charges.

  • Customer Service-

The brand Discover is famous for its premium quality customer service. It ranks very well in customer satisfaction ratings.

  • FICO Credit Score-

As a Discover credit card user, you can access your FICO credit score free of cost. This feature enables you to monitor your credit well-being.

  • Security Features-

You will receive premium quality securing features that include fraud monitoring, no liability for the unauthorized purchase, and the feature to “Freeze It”

Cons of Discover Credit Cards:

  • High APR-

You will get an introductory 0% APR offer, but later the APR is relatively high. Discover credit cards are usually based on your credit score, ranging between 11.99% to 22.99%.

Hence, your credit score must be excellent to gain the full advantage of Discover credit cards.

  • High Transfer Fees-

Discover cards give you an offer of a 3% transfer fee in the introductory period. But later, when the period is over, the transfer fees rise to 5%. This rate is relatively high for a small company.


FAQs

Q: How do I apply for a Discover credit card?

Ans: You can apply for a Discover credit card online through the official site of Discover using any device.

Q: Is there an annual fee for Discover Credit Card?

Ans: Several Discover credit cards do not have an annual fee. However, premium or special cards do have an annual fee.

Q: How do the cashback rewards work in Discover cards?

Ans: Discover cards offer cashback rewards for any purchase or transaction. These rewards can be redeemed against your statement credits or direct deposits.

Q: Can I use my Discover credit card internationally?

Ans: Discover credit cards work very well and are accepted everywhere in the USA, and their acceptance is rising rapidly internationally.

Q: How do I access my FICO credit score?

Ans: Through Discover cards, you will get free access to your FICO credit score from your bank statement, online account, dashboard, or mobile app.

Q: What should I do if I lose my Discover credit card or if it gets stolen?

Ans: First and foremost, instantly Discover customer service and report the incident, then freeze your card and request a replacement o the previous card.


Conclusion

Lastly, the Discover credit card is gaining popularity daily due to its vast range of benefits. They give you cash-back rewards, no annual fees, APR introductory offers, etc. We gave our best to discuss every aspect of Discover cards in detail. Our article was helpful to you in your inquiry about Discoer credit cards.

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