Comments on: Why the Discover Motiva Card is Not a Bright Idea for You

By: sunfsh

sunfsh — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:02:13 +0000

This card is actually a great deal for someone like myself who has a balance transfer on a card with a company I HATE (BofA). 3.99% interest for the life of the transfer and I get a month’s interest back if I’m on-time sounds pretty good to me. Those of us carrying balances will love this card. Those of you who don’t should obviously consider other cards.

By: Funny about Money

Funny about Money — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:01:59 +0000

What an annoying “plan.” The name “Motiva” presumably means “let’s motivate our customers to run a month-to-month tab on the credit card. Make ‘em think it’s good for them!”

Argh.

By: Dad

Dad — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:21:43 +0000

Good catch. Obviously the card companies are in it to make money. No surprise. The only way to be a good customer to them and good to yourself is to spend a lot regularly and pay in full. They make money from the transaction. But if you manage the card right, you pay no fees or interest.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:23:46 +0000

You have to be careful with Discover in general: they will automatically sign you up for their “protection” plans if you don’t watch them. This whole “reward for carrying a balance” doesnt surprise me…unless it applies to balance transfers (which I doubt)

By: BeThisWay

BeThisWay — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:26:23 +0000

You’re so right. Zero is what I’d get, too.

They say “up to 1%” because the reward is in steps; .25% for the first $1000 in purchases, .5% for the next couple of thousand, etc until you max out at 1%.

I do have a Discover card, but I use it rarely. My other cards get much better rewards.

By: Fabulously Broke

Fabulously Broke — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:19:05 +0000

That is the silliest thing I’ve ever heard

I hope people don’t fall for that

By: deepali

deepali — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:47:14 +0000

I believe either Citi or Chase has this card as well (or was it BoA?). Nuts.

By: Vered

Vered — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:18:12 +0000

This is a great example of brilliant marketing. Thanks for pointing it out.

By: ChristianPF

ChristianPF — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:09:04 +0000

ahhhh.. just another clever ploy from those credit card companies to lure and seduce more customers into debt…

By: StackingPennies

StackingPennies — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:42:41 +0000

I agree that this is a crappy deal for responsible CC users.

It is worth noting that Discover has a couple other flavors of rewards cards that are much better for people like me–a OpenRoad gas card (5% on gas and car stores) and a More card which is 5% in various categories that change through the year. And you still can shop through the discover store, something which I do (sometimes, when I shop )

But the motiva card? Not for me.