A great way to bump up your Nectar Points (American Express Nectar Credit Card)

Member Name: alexlea88

Product:	American Express Nectar Credit Card
Date:	08/11/09 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Doubles the amount of Nectar Points you collect on purchases

Disadvantages: Amex not accepted everywhere

The American Express Nectar Card, is, unsurprisingly, an American Express credit card from Nectar, the UK-based loyalty scheme. Nectar is used by a range of companies across the UK, including Sainsbury's, BP, Debenhams and Argos.

Being a Sainsbury's customer, and looking for a credit card that gives me cashback over interest-free periods or balance transfer deals, I plumed for the Nectar Amex. The application process was straightforward enough and the new card arrived promptly. The card itself, although an old style now, had an interesting transparent part at the bottom, which made it stand out from the crowd.

The Nectar Amex offers 2 extra points on top of what you would collect for each £1 spent at any participating Nectar retailer, and 1 extra point for each £1 spent elsewhere. These appear on your statement and are automatically swept into your Nectar account each month.

The card also offers occasional special deals, such as 500 extra points for spending over £500 each month, and extra points at specific retailers at specific times. Nectar points can be redeemed for offers via nectar themselves, or can be used for money off bills at specific retailer. 500 points for example, is £2.50 off your Sainsbury's shopping bill.

I only use the credit card for purchases I make anyway and pay the full balance off each month, so I really can't comment on interest rates and transfer fees and the like, but, if like me you are looking for some cashback on things you buy anyway, and use a Nectar card, this card really helps you get a bit more back. Obviously though, you will need to shop around and look at how and where you spend your money before deciding if this is the card for you.

Customer services have been great with me, and I've not had a problem with them at all. Contact has been to a minimum, without loads of junk mail. Online banking, and associated card protection plans are available through American Express in general, with card protection costing £25 a ear and covering all cards, documents and keys at one address.

The only small gripe I have with the card is that, like all American Expresses, they are not accepted everywhere in the UK and Europe in the same way that Visa is (something to do with Amex fees). But then I have an Amazon MasterCard for everything else!

Summary: A great money back credit card