Discover it^® chrome Review

Who is the Discover it^®  chrome for?

The Discover it chrome is perfect for people looking for a rewards system that benefits everyday spending. This card offers 2% cashback at gas stations and restaurants for the first $1,000 and an unlimited 1% cashback on everything else. The cashback system makes it perfect for the person that needs to drive to work and eat out.

The cashback system is coupled nicely with the rewards that are offered with it. Discover offers an unlimited dollar for dollar match for all cash back earned during the first year. You can redeem your rewards for cash in any amount, at any time, and it never expires. 

This card is excellent for people who want a reward system that is customer-friendly and does not come with a lot of strings attached. With no annual cost, this card not only gives you many rewards to benefit from but also comes with no out of pocket costs. 

Signup Bonus

The signup bonus makes this card enticing. For new cardholders, during the first year of purchases, Discover will match all cashback that you receive on purchases. There are no purchase minimums, so this may be an opportunity to buy more expensive items to get your money's worth. The money from this cashback program would be credited straight back to your account for your convenience.

Rewards

Now to the reward system. Cardholders earn 2% cashback on your first $1,000 in gas and restaurants together during each calendar quarter. Calendar quarters start on the first of January, April, July, and October. Cardholders earn 1% cashback on all other purchases. The cashback system rewards everyday purchases which can help cardholders accumulate points quickly.

Additionally, You can redeem your rewards for cash in any amount and at any time. Also, your cashback never expires. This gives the cardholder flexibility in how and when they want to use their rewards. Coupled with the extra cashback from gas stations, and restaurants, the reward system is efficient and user friendly. All of the cashback received is credited directly back into your account which gives the rewards quick accessibility.

Furthermore, the cashback can be redeemed everywhere, but they can be used instantly at Amazon checkout. Also, cashback can be used to buy gift cards starting at $20 and to give as donations to select charities. The cashback can be applied to all types of products of any price either online or in-store. All of the rewards are easily accessible and done automatically so the cardholder does not have to go through a process to receive rewards. Since the rewards never expire they can be saved to purchase bigger ticket items. 

Benefits

The rewards you receive on the card come with an introductory 0% APR for 15 months on both balance transfers and all new purchases made on the card. The 0% rates will be useful when financing larger purchases such as cars or other expensive items. We recommend using the 15 month period to your advantage by planning and purchasing any vacations, cars, or other expensive items during this time. After the initial period, the APR will be between 11.99% to 22.99% (variable). Fortunately, there is no penalty APR or penalty fees for late payments.

Additionally, the Discover it Chrome card does not have a late fee on your first late payment. The card also has no over limit fee and no foreign transaction fee. The card is very forgiving and user friendly. This is perfect for people who need more flexibility in their credit line or needs to travel regularly for their job. The card provides many accommodations that would be beneficial for first-time credit card users.

Services and Protections

This card has 100% U.S based, customer service that is available any time of day. If you have a question about the card, your account, or any of the services Discover has to offer there is always someone willing to help you no matter the time. You also have the ability to pay your bill up to midnight (ET) the day it is due by phone or online, providing flexibility. Cardholders can receive a free Credit Scorecard with your FICO Credit Score, a number of recent inquiries, and more. This is a service that is not commonly offered with other credit cards of this nature. 

The Chrome card also comes with many security features. It provides you with free alerts if your social security number is found on any of thousands of Dark Web sites, and when any new credit card, mortgage, car loan or other account shows up on your credit report. It also alerts you when anyone pulls your credit to prevent possible fraud. There is a $0 liability on unauthorized changes. Finally, there is an on/off function for freezing your account to prevent new purchases.

Discover it Chrome card offers contactless payment. Instead of swiping the card, you can just tap your card to the reader providing a more efficient way to pay while also protecting your information.  

Cautions 

When trying to receive your 2% cashback on restaurants and gas station purchases it is important to classify what is a gas station and a supermarket. Gas stations affiliated with superstores and supermarkets may not be eligible (Costco). Restaurants include full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, and fast-food locations. Purchases coded in categories other than these will not qualify for the 2%.

Although the first late payment will not have any fees the next late payment will have a fee up to $40. Therefore, if you were to get this card make sure that your payments are on time. The same is true for returned payments. If you were to bounce a payment there is up to a $40 fee. 

Also, purchases made using third-party payment accounts, tap-and-pay, mobile or wireless card readers, virtual wallets, or similar technology may not be eligible. This means that it is very important to audit your cashback to make sure that you are receiving it on your purchases. Heavy spenders should also be careful because you lose the 2% cash back once you pass $1,000. It is important to keep track of transactions in order to ensure you are receiving cashback on your purchases.

No Annual Fee

Although the card provides many services and reward programs there is no annual fee associated with the card. That means all the initial rewards you receive within the first year and any year after that will not cost you anything. On all the cashback you receive there will be no cost from your end, making it an appealing card for any avid shopper or traveler. 

Conclusion

The Discover it Chrome card is ideal for any person who travels a lot and wants to earn rewards on restaurants and gas without an annual fee. As one of Discover’s cashback cards, the 2% cashback on restaurants and gas, the lack of penalty APRs, and many security features are all great benefits to this rewards card. At no annual cost, people are able to make money back on their daily purchases, making this card perfect for people who need to travel and eat on the go. The card also does not have many drawbacks, only late and returned payment fees, making it a well-rounded cash back credit card.