Visa or Mastercard?
By brady2moss
@brady2moss (700)
Singapore
March 17, 2009 9:50pm CST
I faxed over a completed credit card application to my agent, and notified her about it. After a few minutes she called me and asked if I would like a Visa or a Mastercard. I told her "I don't care, just give me anything they're both the same anyways". Then she replied by saying "Visa is actually better", so I went for the Visa card. After our conversation I googled the pros and cons of Visa over mastercard and vice versa, and the results are really confusing. Some say Visa is better, while some say Mastercard is better, I don't really know anymore. Then there are some establishments with "Visa preferred" or "Mastercard preferred" posted near the cashier or paying counter, but will accept any credit cards anyway. So when applying for a credit card, do you even care if it's a Visa or a Mastercard? Do you prefer one over the other? Do you know which one is better from your experience, or knowledge? Personally I don't care, as long as I can use it then I'm cool with it. But I often use my Visa over my Mastercard, because it's the first one on my wallet 
Cheers!
Cheers!3 people like this
15 responses
@margaux08 (1094)
• Philippines
18 Mar 09
Hi brady,
From personal experience, both cards work overseas, both are accepted to almost all establishments. The only difference as I have observed is that my Mastercard award me an increase of credit line every 6 months. It's an automatic increase for as longas I keep my account in good standing. It's around Php10,000 per 6 months. And it is not like that with my VISA card.
@brady2moss (700)
• Singapore
18 Mar 09
Hey there margaux! I agree both cards work overseas, but I don't think my mastercard credit limit increases every 6months, in fact I'm pretty sure it doesn't. Do you view that as an advantage?
@margaux08 (1094)
• Philippines
18 Mar 09
It is an advantage as long as I keep my balance within my preferred spending limits only. And I never use both credit cards for Cash Advances! I also don't carry the cards with me always. I guess it's an advantage for people who knows how to control their credit.
@brady2moss (700)
• Singapore
18 Mar 09
If you put it that way then that's great. I'm completely the opposite though, as I never carry cash more than a $100, and carry my cards around.
@brady2moss (700)
• Singapore
18 Mar 09
Hey there jenintn(Okay forgive me for being naive, but your username just made a whole lot of sense to me when I found out where you are from ). I guess we can live without a mastercard, or a visa depending on which one you choose. I have yet to see an establishment that accepts Visa and not accept a Mastercard, or vice versa. Thanks for replying.
). I guess we can live without a mastercard, or a visa depending on which one you choose. I have yet to see an establishment that accepts Visa and not accept a Mastercard, or vice versa. Thanks for replying.
@j47lee (740)
• Canada
23 Mar 09
hmm..i would prefer a credit card where i can collect points and redeem them for something... and there are various credit cards that have that option... for example... in Canada we have pc financial mastercard... which for every dollar you spend you get 10 points..and after collecting you can redeem for groceries.....hope this helps...
@brady2moss (700)
• Singapore
24 Mar 09
That's cool! I have mine set-upped to receive mileage points so I can redeem free air tickets. Cheers j47lee.
@maezee (41988)
• United States
18 Mar 09
To my knowledge, Visa is more-accepted than Mastercard at this point, but to me, they're pretty much the same, too. . The only card I wouldn't consider getting is American Express, because it seems as though not too many merchants take American Express (because they have higher fees, I hear). I don't really care, either, and had I been given the choice of Visa vs. Mastercard when I signed up for my credit card, I'd probably have them decide for me too. lol.
. The only card I wouldn't consider getting is American Express, because it seems as though not too many merchants take American Express (because they have higher fees, I hear). I don't really care, either, and had I been given the choice of Visa vs. Mastercard when I signed up for my credit card, I'd probably have them decide for me too. lol.@brady2moss (700)
• Singapore
18 Mar 09
I didn't know about that about AMEX, I always thought it would be more popular in the US. I did that once, and received both a Visa and Mastercard, lol. Thanks for responding maezee.
@eddieok (12)
• United States
21 Mar 09
heyy!
if you are interested in getting a new credit card or a guaranteed approval debit card to control your spending and build your credit too then check out this site!...
http://highlimits.newcreditapplications.com
take care!
=]
@brady2moss (700)
• Singapore
19 Mar 09
I use my visa almost exclusively as well because I know it's accepted globally, but the mastercard users are saying the exact same thing, hmmm. Anyway thank for responding marc1874, cheers!
@dreamblur (25)
• United States
18 Mar 09
I don't really care either. They're pretty much the same to me. Just like you, I just use whichever one I can get my hands on first.
@brady2moss (700)
• Singapore
19 Mar 09
maybe I should start switching them cards so I can use the other as well 
. Thanks for responding dreamblur.
. Thanks for responding dreamblur.
@youless (112481)
• Guangzhou, China
18 Mar 09
In fact I can't see the difference between Visa and Mastercard. I have both of these credit cards and they both work good. So when I apply for a credit card, I don't mind whether it's Visa or Mastercard.
I love China
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
18 Mar 09
My husband and I have had both Visa and Mastercards for years and we've never had a problem using either one so, as far as I'm concerned, they're both the same. The only thing that interests me about *any* credit card is the interest rate anyway. I've transferred my balance to other cards that offered a lower rate and closed the ones with higher rates over the years because the bottom line is...my bottom line.
@sxrxnrr45601 (1171)
• United States
18 Mar 09
I personally have always used MasterCard and have never had any problems with it really! I can not saying nothing about visa I have not used one!
@brady2moss (700)
• Singapore
18 Mar 09
Hey there sxrxnrr45601(I have no idea how to pronounce this ). As long as you're happy with your mastercard, that will do. cheers!
). As long as you're happy with your mastercard, that will do. cheers!
@lazeebee (5461)
• Malaysia
18 Mar 09
Hi, I don't know which is better. Since I have both, I could use either one. Sometimes some shops/hypermarts have promotions with Visa or Master; then I would use whichever gives me better discounts or value.
@brady2moss (700)
• Singapore
18 Mar 09
This is quite possibly the only reason why I keep a Mastercard around . Thanks for replying lazeebee.
. Thanks for replying lazeebee.@brady2moss (700)
• Singapore
18 Mar 09
I pretty much do the same thing, only I use my Visa more. Thanks for responding ds6413.
. Thanks for responding ds6413.
@alexandra777 (643)
• Philippines
18 Mar 09
Hello! I don't even know the difference because i've been using mastercard eversince. I rarely go over Php5K a month and there were some months that there's nothing on the bill but a monthly fee of Php75.00. My husband's credit card is also mastercard and he did not even apply for it. It's almost a year since he received it and yet he has never used it. He just leaves the card at home and he prefers paying in cash. I always bring mine with me though because you just never know when an emergency comes.
Hi brady2moss!
@brady2moss (700)
• Singapore
18 Mar 09
Hey there alexandra777. I don't think I can do that, I mean pay everything by cash. My mentality has always been to use my card as much as possible, take advantage of the discounts and card promotions, then get the reward point's at the end of the month. I just find it more useful and advantageous that way. Thanks for responding, cheers!
@callahanb78 (529)
• United States
18 Mar 09
We use a Mastercard. I never really thought about the difference. I dont think I have ever seen a place or done business with a place that takes one and not the other. Maybe Ill have to see who doesnt. Hmmmm. I dont really care too much which we have so long as it works. :)
@brady2moss (700)
• Singapore
19 Mar 09
Yeah me too, as long as it lets me buy what I want then I'm cool with it. Thanks for responding callahanb78.
@HelloMickey (1655)
• Hong Kong
18 Mar 09
I just don't know the difference between Visa and Matercard. They make no difference to me, I find the same using these two. In my point of view, Visa is more universal than Mastercard. So if the agent asked me what do I prefer, I might answer her I would like Visa.
@sophie_dfuss (2365)
• Philippines
18 Mar 09
I think Visa card is much better as it is more preferred to be used in paying in restaurants and its also secure to use when paying online.
@brady2moss (700)
• Singapore
18 Mar 09
Since you mentioned paying online, do you know the visa bill pay thing? I'm not sure if it's just in Singapore, but it allows you to pay certain bills online using your Visa card. Score one for Visa, yaay. Thanks for responding sophie.
