Shell Credit Card - Gas Me Up Please!
Written: Nov 15 '02
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Pros: I don't have to worry about carrying cash with me.
Cons: If you don't pay off your balance, you'll pay a finance charge.
The Bottom Line: A solid gas card - nothing more, nothing less.
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| kristinafh's Full Review: Shell (The Associates) |
Preamble
How did I know when I had reached adulthood?
When I had a gas card.
Yep. You may measure adulthood in a different manner, but mine was all about the gas card. When I was little, only "real adults" had gas cards :).
What Is The Shell Credit Card?
This is strictly a retailer-type, revolving credit card that can be used towards gas and other onsite purchases at over 22,000 Shell and Texaco gas stations nationwide. Of all of the cards I have, this is one of the least complicated.
The Details
Applying is easy - you can either do it online or at some Shell and Texaco gas stations. If you do it online, you're approved or declined within seconds.
Once you get your credit card, it's pretty easy to use. Almost all of the 22,000 locations have an option where you can pay right at the pump and that way you never have to deal with the weirdos inside :).
Shell allows you to place other items on this card like their car wash service, and items from their convenience store.
The monthly statement they provide me always shows the transaction date, the location (including the address, city, and state) and the amount of purchase. In the eight years that I have had this card, I've never had an incorrect amount credited or debited to my account.
There is no annual fee. The APR is based upon a variable rate of Prime 13.99%. On my last statement, it showed the APR at 19.74%.
Your minimum balance, should you choose not to pay the entire balance off, is either 3% of the balance or $10.00, whichever is the higher of the two.
Like other credit cards, if you're late with your payment, they assess you a late payment fee. Unlike other credit cards, they do not assess you a fee for over your credit limit amounts. Instead they add that on to your minimum payment due.
One nice feature about my Shell card is that it has an ATM Access feature. That means if I get stuck and need cash, I can use any ATM worldwide to access cash up to my credit limit. Shell issues you a PIN which you can change at a later time. Don't go using this like you would a regular ATM card though. Cash advances can get to be quite expensive.
Manage Your Account Online
One of the latest benefits they just added was the ability to manage your account online. You need to register first, providing them with some basic information and in turn, you get access to manage your account. Once there, you can review your current statement, check unbilled charges, find out when your next payment is due, update your account profile (i.e. address change), check past statements, and submit questions and requests to customer service. Even if you sign up for this service, you will still receive a paper statement in the mail. Moving around their website in order to manage your account is quite easy.
Customer Service
In the many years that I have had this card, I have never had to contact them. My statement is always right and they credit my payment in a timely manner.
The End
So is there anything horrible about this card? Sure, if you don't pay off the balance, you'll end up paying silly finance charges. And that's just plain silly. Other than that, I like having the freedom of pulling out and using my Shell gas card at many locations around the country. That way, there's really no need to clutter up my bankcard with small gas charges.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
kristinafh
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 - Top 50 |
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Member: Kristina Frazier-Henry
Location: Indiana
Reviews written: 1342
Trusted by: 1176 members
About Me:
Cannot breathe. Missing Barbara.
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