If you use Amex overseas, it first converts the balance into USD and then into GBP - making it quite expensive to use for this purpose. In the UK it’s fine
I also have both Tymit and Jaja credit cards.
While Tymit is an interesting idea, its app and customer service need a lot of work. As @benbb says the only way to currently pay off a balance is via bank transfer. It’s definitely one for early adopters at this stage.
In comparison, I have found Jaja to be a much better app and a polished experience
If you want a card now and didn’t want to wait, then perhaps consider the Barclaycard Rewards card.
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phildawson
(Sorry, I will have to escalate this.)
22
Amex has a good app and excellent customer service but you may encounter situations where it isn’t accepted. It will also charge for non-GBP spending. If you only want one credit card I wouldn’t use Amex.
I would say Jaja app is better than Amex app (and best I have used for a credit card). Also, you won’t have acceptance issues (being VISA), and there are no charges for non-GBP spending. However I haven’t yet had a need to test their customer service (I suspect won’t be as good as Amex) and an open banking API isn’t yet available - so Jaja not supported by aggregators.
Because of lack of open banking support I use my Nationwide credit card as my VISA card even though Jaja app is superior to Nationwide.
Another vote for Amex. Have corporate and personal cards.
I’ve used a fair few credit card apps over the last few years but - and I know this is cheating - Curve is the best solution I’ve found.
Curve doesn’t work with Amex unfortunately, so I use Curve for everything outside of Amex.
It has all the things I want, which is essentially a list of things I like about Monzo / want in a banking app. It’s simple, immediate, searchable, categorisable, etc.
I think that when (/if) the Apple credit card comes to the UK I’ll move to that fully as it looks like it can give you everything Curve or Amex can. The Apple Card was the only reason I didn’t invest in the round of crowd funding Curve were doing when it came out!
I wish Monzo did a credit card - even if they just fronted it like they do savings accounts - as the app and functionality works well for me.
I just don’t ever spend any money on my debit cards if I can pay with a credit card - nothing in it for me to use debit cards (eg cash back)…
Edit: just went to check out Jaja as people referred to above. Looks brilliant and a cut above even Amex. For me though, I use credit cards for the rewards, so I won’t be trying to get one.
My balance updates instantly when I make a payment or a transaction. If I pay £100 off, I instantly have £100 to spend on Amex. Weird that yours doesn’t.
I’m not going to profess to be knowledgeable about the law here but I think Curve has enhanced protection around this.
Recall looking at this when I started using it and it appeared to be included in the product - well, something similar included, not the same thing as you have with an actual credit card.
Your (very good) point is another reason it would be great to have a credit card from Monzo in future - with their functionality and the protections which come with it.
