The American Express Centurion®, also known as the black card, is only available in select markets, mainly the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, and in parts of Europe. First introduced in 1999, the Centurion®, which is a title given to ancient Roman army officers, has very strict eligibility criteria.

Similarly to the Visa Black Card™, the Centurion® has an annual fee, reportedly as high as $2,500, and for some applicants, an initiation fee of up to $5,000 is collected too. And like the Visa Black Card™, Centurion® offers exceptional concierge, travel planning services, and airport VIP area access.

The Visa Black Card™ is Quite Possibly the Next Best Thing to Centurion®

The world’s rarest American Express credit card is available by invitation only, and while there is not an official record of what the requirements to qualify for an invitation are, it is believed that those who are invited have a minimum card activity on another American Express card of a quarter of a million dollars annually. In addition, the invitee is believed to have both an incredible credit score and history, plus substantial net worth.

Features of owning a Centurion® credit card include such benefits as complimentary companion airline tickets on international flights with certain airliners, first class upgrades, and even a personal shopper at retailers like Neiman Marcus and Gucci should you be unfortunate enough to lose your luggage.

Not only do cardholders have first class access and service to many air-travel related services, such as Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and US Airways Platinum Preferred status, but when it comes to lodging, they also have a multitude of benefits. Centurion® cardholders are offered extended nights for booking a hotel room with their card at the worldwide Mandarin Oriental hotel, for a week or longer.

For those who don’t believe that they’ll ever be invited to become a black card, Centurion® cardholder, you may want to take a closer look at the Visa Black Card™. This card offers very similar services, perhaps not necessarily on the same level as the Centurion®, but the next best thing for those who want exceptional service from their credit card provider.

Related Information
Amex Dollars and Euros Card
Amex Personal Rewards Credit Cards
Consumer Complaints about American Express Platinum Card
American Express Credit Card FAQ and Reviews
American Express Complaints and Reviews

No related posts.

With limited membership, limited to just one percent of residents in the United States, and exclusive rewards, the Visa Black Card™ is one credit card that has been in high demand since its release in 2009. This card features a 24-hour concierge service and boasts that cardholders will receive luxurious gifts from several of the top brands throughout the world.

Here’s what the Visa Black Card™ offers that most other credit card providers don’t:

1. Worldwide travel insurance up to $250,000, which covers accidents, including injury, dismemberment, or common carrier accidental death, when the entire travel expense is charged to the card.

Limited to Only 1% of US Residents to Ensure the Highest Caliber of Service

2. Purchase security, which replaces, repairs, or reimburses eligible purchase items within 90 days up to $500 per claim.

3. Baggage delay insurance that reimburses cardholders up to $100 per day for three days if bags are lost while on a vacation.

4. Travel Lounge Priority Pass™, which allows cardholders to access VIP airport lounges at more than 600 airports located worldwide in over 100 countries.

5. 24-hour concierge service, assisting customers with travel planning, dining information and reservations, and many other personal needs.

One of the only downsides to the patent pending, made with carbon, Visa Black Card™, is that there is an annual fee of $495 and an additional $195 for each authorized user added to the account.

The introductory APR is 0.00 percent for the first six billing cycles, after which, the APR will be 13.24 percent based on individual creditworthiness and the prime rate. Be careful, because the penalty APR is 20.24 percent, also based on creditworthiness. If cardholders want a cash advance, the APR is 21.99 percent and varies with the market, depending on the prime rate. Oh, and late payment fees can range between $15 and $40.

Related Information
Chase Sapphire℠
Credit Card Industry
New Credit Card Law
Dos and Don’ts Of Using Credit Cards Responsibly
World’s Most Exclusive Credit Cards

No related posts.