Visa Black Card Review & Pictures

Thanks for the pics, Doug. It would be extremely helpful if we could get some information about the requirements they look for before accepting an app for this card. Is there any way you’d be kind enough to post your annual income and/or credit score? Thanks.

Admin: If the only requirements are a good credit score, then why do they maintain that only 1% of the population will have the card? I know even 1% is a large number considering the population, but still.

Again, the 1% number is their sales target of 3 million cardholders. It is not a real “exclusivity” as such. The sales target of 3 million is massive for such a small bank (the Delaware Barclays is tiny in the USA) and the “Black Card” was their genius marketing idea to try and make a big push in the USA market.

The requirements are an income of only $15,000 a year. Yes, there are no zeros missing.
It is not a premium card as far as Visa is concerned - it is classified as “Platinum Plus” which is the type of card offered to you if you are declined for a Visa Signature.
The people who will have this card are not wealthy, nor have any particular assets, nor have a high income or credit score. You simply need a “good” score (i.e. above 700 or in some cases even in the high 600’s) and a job, with no bankruptcies in the immediate past.

Again - it is a Platinum Plus visa - and the requirements reflect this (lower) status.

The aim is to get as many people as possible to pay $495 a year. As the customer demographic is not one of high-spenders or high-earners, the major money is not to be made by merchant fees, it is to be made by the $495 annual fee. If they reach their target of 3m members, they collect $1.5 billion from the annual fees. This is more money than Barclays Delaware has ever seen…

The “benefits” are just enough to sound enticing on a commercial to people who cannot qualify for a premium card by Amex Platinum or even Visa (e.g. rejected for Signature).

* The “24 hour concierge” is the same as is offered for below-premium visa cards which have no annual fee. The Visa Signature concierge is by a more premium and expensive company.
* The “lounge access” is only what you receive (for $27 per person, per visit) by having a Priority Pass card, which can either be received for free by other credit cards (again, which have no annual fees) or simply purchased for $79 (or less) a year.
* The “one point per dollar” is a “benefit” offered by every free rewards-card on the market, from Visa, MC, Amex and discover. The difference is that this program only gives you a value of 0.01 per point, to use on flights - which is much lower value than the other cards on the market. There are a plethora of 1.5%, 2%, and above “cashback” cards, which are all free. Visa Black offers 1%.
* The extended warranty is offered to most other (free) visa cards. Many other cards have even more warranty options which exceed this offering.

Bottom line, it is a cute thing to show people, that costs $495. You might choose to by a necklace or a premium wallet for less, also to show people.

“only 1%” is a huge task to pull off by Barclays - it’s a customer target wish, not a limitation.

Odds are, they won’t get 3 million people to pay $495 - but you can’t blame them for having big dreams…

The requirements are below that of most other Visa cards, below World / World Elite Mastercard, and below Amex Platinum. Other online forums have mentioned people who did not get an Amex Gold, yet received “approval” for the “Black” Visa.

If you tried unsuccessfully to get a Citi or BofA premium visa (and as long as you are not bankrupt recently) you should have no problem receiving this card, as long as you are willing to give Barclays $500 for the pleasure.

And by the way, the only “requirements” are a $15,000 income - as it is a Platinum Plus card and not a Signature (even Visa USA does not consider this a premium card).

You can call and confirm this.

I ended up with one of these a few weeks ago. Currently a Amex platinum holder, Needless to say, I won’t be renewing my visa black card next year. I too was caught up (read that as SUCKER) in the marketing, figuring hey - that’s pretty cool, why not get one if they’re hard to come by, but that’s about the only rewarding thing about it. The rewards on the Amex Plat are far superior (although I have to say, I’ve been contacted by the Visa Black concierge 3 times already welcoming me and asking if I needed anything)which is a nice touch, but if a grip of people end up with these, it’s not nearly as cool as marketed. Oh well, lesson learned. I’ll just focus on picking up a Centurion this year

@Avalon: “The “24 hour concierge” is the same as is offered for below-premium visa cards which have no annual fee. The Visa Signature concierge is by a more premium and expensive company.”

How do you know it’s a different concierge?
Also, the fact that this is issued by a “small” Barclay’s subsidiary (BB Delaware) doesn’t really matter. Barclay’s is a huge global player, so $1.5 billion is not “more money than they’ve ever seen.”

First, the carbon graphite is NOT anything like plastic cards. Good luck bending it.
“Avalon” is always on credit card forums dissing all competing cards. Makes me think he/she works for AMEX…

Mark and EK - we’re trying to figure out if you are joking…

Have you read any forums? Have you even read THIS one? There is nobody on this site who has the card who doesn’t say exactly the opposite.

If you read this forum, you would know who the different concierge companies are - there have been discussions and confirmations of each. Or just google it, and read the reviews from elsewhere.

“good luck bending it”? Have you seen all of the pics here, or on the-blackcard.com? or any of the review sites? and all of the Youtube videos?

Even the exact item you are commenting on is the pictures and report posted by Doug (aka “dsf”) on this forum which was (and I quote exactly):

DSF: “Just received the Visa Black Card package today and took pictures, if the admin from here sends me an email I’ll send him the pictures to put up. My credit line was $50k with $10k for cash advance. Issuer seems to be Barclays.
Sad, sad, sad, that’s all I’ll say. Card is razor-thin and feels like the pretend credit card that comes in a new wallet. Thin enough that it easily falls out of your wallet.”

So now you think the Admin of this website works for Amex?
Or the Admin of flyertalk? or of blackcardforums? or of the-blackard.com? or of jblackbelt?

Maybe you work for “BB Delaware” (which you proudly say is a “global player”) who doesn’t care about 3 million new customers and 1.5 billion is ?

lol@ “charlie rol.”

or should I say Avalon. Where you got the idea that anyone think the admin for BCS works for AMEX is beyond me.

Have some compassion, guys. Barclays is hurting. The WSJ today has a long article about their situation, and how private investors who put in GBP 7b may now get a controlling share of the company. Hopefully, this card will help them.

Check the latest on http://www.the-blackcard.com/visa-black-card-demographics/
Looks like they approve a 598 credit score, too. And all of the people arguing above can see the pictures and videos showing the “bendable” card, and the real reviews from actual cardholders.

Here is how simple and complicated to get a black card from Barclays:

1. Apply online is best rather than talking to one of the representative. If you call in, you will be greeted by a voice recording with a British accent of a woman. Thereafter, that is when the service representative becomes really ordinary in terms of service and ATTITUDE. Your FICA score will need to be above 590 and most credit lines are for $ 10,000 to $ 23,000 based on FICA and INCOME.

2. Wait for a letter of notification-usually the letter will state they need to verify additional information. . You are informed that you will receive your card in 7-10 days.

3. You wait and wait. But in the meantime, you will get your first credit card statement before your card arrives with the annual fee billing of $ 495.00.

4. After 4 weeks, you call Barclays and inquire where your credit card is and they come up with a make believe story but of course they will issue you a replacement and the rep will want to make sure that you will be there to accept and sign the fedex delivery of your replacement card the second business day.

5. As expected, you wait on the third day for arrival but nothing arrives.

6. Alas! The card arrives on the fourth day of your original call.

7. Remember, this is the first time you are being introduced to your “BLACK CARD”. You open the fedex envelope, inside is a standard business size envelope with your card inside, printed with your credit limit and a blank check for balance transfer. There is NO provision for phone activation and security as you do with other cards.

8. At this point, you have only several days to hold the Black Card before you have to pay your annual fee because the statement was issued ON SAME DAY you were approved for the card.

9. Without much elaboration, I expected a little but more for $ 495.00 annual fee.

10. I called Black Card customer service and complained about the whole process above and during the entire conversation the rep was indifferent, offered no apologies and immediately said that I can cancel the card!

11. I CANCELLED THE BLACK CARD!

Lesson: With all this hype and marketing of the Black Card, it still proves the leader in the black card is Amex. As much exclusivity with the Amex Centurion Card, the excellent customer service and concierge, I am KEEPING my personal Amex CENTURION card and will continue to use my other VISA Signature for transactions that requires a VISA - Like the Winter 2010 Olympics.

PS: The Black card is a FLIMSY plastic card that is very easily bendable. Reminds me of the plastic card issued to you when you rent a video. Also, the design of the card tried very hard to match the Centurion brownish black color and the gold stamping of name and credit card number. I say, CLOSE but NOT CLOSE ENOUGH.

Amex PLATinum Holder, Blk Visa never crossed my mind, Even with my 190k+ salary a year Im still working to aquire Mr Centurion. Visa BLK 15k salary minimum a year ohh please wheres the chiken soup, bread line. just thought i share my 2 platinum cents

OK…so I just got this thing and called for my credit limit…$8000! Please! I make 700K a year and have mid 700 FICA scores! I was looking to replace my Amex platinum card because they canceled there domestic companion ticket program but they have let me charge upwards of 100k when I needed to (est. taxes for example). Last year I charged over 250K with AMEX but refuse to pay the fees for the Amex black. The only REAL Black card.
The card feels exactly like a playing card and is easily bendable EK!!!
I canceled the Visa Black card the day I got it.
Lesson learned….but for everyone else…if you cancel within the first 60 days you will not be charged the annual fee.
Off to the shredder I go….

Well… I fell into the hype, but was luckier than some of the above.

I was denied, but my credit score is ~800 and I make well over the required 15,000. The reason that they cited was “insufficient debt.”

Not sure why that makes me a risk, but all I can say is PHEW!

got it!! happy with thus far, waiting for Amex black card and will compare at that time..

Got my visa Black Card in January, this thing is a Joke!! No benefits at all!!!Hotel upgrates?Early check in? nooo. I got into the hype and tried to cancel the card but they said that they could not wave the card annual fees!!! so i guest the 60 days in the previous comment does not work.

Just got a replacement card for my Citibank Mastercard “Diamond Rewards” card in the mail, and its Black…clearly they’re trying to cash in on the same thing as the Visa Black folks. But, alas, it aint the real thing.

Yes its a hook that makes you look like a big shot, buy my Mercedes CLS 550 AMG Does that !! But the only reason i got it was cause i knew i would have a high credit limit !!! I have a fico score of 780 and when you apply for a card you dont know what your credit limit will be( the banks today dont give a sh!t about your credit ) ?? i have enough credit cards with 3500 or 5000. Those just sit on the side and i carry the cards with 30,000 and over. Black card gave me 30,000 limit. Discover 40,000 and Chase 60,000. American express dropped me for having to many credit cards ??? WTF As soon as my bill comes up online it gets paid in full !! And u dont ever want to cancel a card its not good for you credit score. Cut it up . So in reality i feel safer with the higher credit cards then to carry 10 cards with a credit limit of 3500. Plus if i wanty to get on a plane and disappear i know i’ll have the back up !!

I was looking for some information but the last few comments made me feel a bit sick.

All those people bragging about their income and their Mercedes (not failing to mention full model & specs, mind you). And the comment saying the only “good” thing about it is it “looks” exclusive. My goodness, what kind of life or achievments do these people have to look for “exclusivity” in a card, regardless of its colour.

And… don’t you all feel that you get your country in enough trouble already through your baosting and conspicuos habits?

Why don’t you try to actually do something worhwhile or at the very least try to write a poem, it’ll do miracles for your self esteem and your regular green card will seem more than adequate.

I want to apply to see if I get the green light. How tricky is the canceling in 60 days thing?

Glad I read this, because there is no way I’m paying $495 for this one! In fact, I’ve been thinking of giving up my AMEX Platinum lately because I just do not use it. Between not traveling much for business any more and doing more family oriented things now that I have kids, I just do not feel like I get . . . oops, in this context, I meant use . . . the benefits any more. I use mostly a Costco AMEX, which gives me cash back. Any suggestions for a higher-end card for a family man?

Wow i cannot believe what i am reading here. I may have to apply instead for a AMEX platinum card.

What are the qualifications for the AMEX platinum instead? I need at least $50,000 as i use the card for business.

Thanks for the warning on the black card guys.

=)

I just got a pre-approval and ‘invitation’ in the mail. A few facts about me:

- Above 700 FICO on all 3 credit bureaus.
- Public interest attorney salary in the mid-40s.
- $90,000 in undergrad and law student loans (’07 law grad).
- Timely payments on everything.
- No secured debt, mortgages, or liens of any kind.
- $0.00 in credit card debt. Which I intend to keep that way.

You know the economy sucks when someone with $90,000 in student debt is sent this thing. ‘Nuff said. This is nothing but an attempt by Visa to get the rest of us to pay the fees for the unfortunate defaulting folks out there, and for Visa’s own sins. Not rising to the bait.

Last but not least; indeed, there are some pretty frivolous people on this thread.

~H.

The mailing I received was a little unusual so I set it aside to do some research on the card. Thanks to the postings I am not a sucker for this offer, it went in the shredder.

I see little point in paying an annual fee for credit when there are plenty of banks offering it with none.

Some people seem to think that a no limit credit card shows a bit of prestige, well, does that really matter? I use only about 10% of the credit offered to me, a no limit card means nothing.

I’ll admit I was pretty shocked when I got the Pre-Approval invitation in the mail last week. NOTHING about me says “Black Card Holder.” Let me prove it to you…

-2 years out of undergrad with less than $4,000 in interest-free loans.
-I make about $34,000 a year. (sorry, no AMG in my driveway)
-No mortgage or secured debt of any kind…I don’t even have a car payment.
-Zero balance on both my MC and VISA credit cards.

The only thing I have going for me is a FICO in the mid-high 700s and a fairly long history of timely payments for my age.

So, if you’re looking for a card that proves you’ve accomplished a lot in life… this isn’t it. Trust me, I haven’t accomplished a thing. Needless to say, I’m gonna have to pass on this one.

Great marketing! The genius is to claim a 1% limitation, but of course to find the 1% of Americans dumb enough to pay $500 a year for basically nothing, you probably have to offer it to 75% of Americans. They are going to make a killing! I feel sorry for the guy who pulls this out at the table to impress and everyone else at the table says they got the same offer, but weren’t dumb enough to pay $500. This thing is a reverse prestige card.

R.

Vp of a company. Visa siginature gives me 75K Without annual fee. These guys better give me a a 100k or it’going back.
I make plenty of $, thanks for your time Jim

@Lane, would have to agree with you on your comments. My husband and recieved an invite a few days ago and couldn’t stop laughing. We’re both in the Army and make a decent living, but far from the Black card status. We figured it had to be a ploy to pay the $495 annual fee and $195 for an additional card holder. We’re both enlisted Soldiers, not officers. So, we didn’t buy into the hype and passsed on this one.

Applied for the Visa Black Card and was denied. Credit score 719 and annual income of $419,000. Reason for denial, too many accounts.(?) Questionable…

I was pre approved for a black card. I sent in the application and received it. The kicker is I have been layed off since February and only receiving unemployment insurance payments. I checked off the box “unemployed” but I guess they want the $495 even if you don’t have a job. I haven’t activated it and don’t plan on it.

Pat: Careful. They will charge you the $495 fee whether you activate the card or not. Check your online account. There will likely already be a $495 balance. They got me that way, too. Now Im trying to get the concierge to call me back to make some reservations for me in Vegas but the “24 hour concierge” apparently is on break. I figure since I got tricked into paying the $495, I may as well try to get 495 dollars worth of service. OTOH, since I cant get ahold of the concierge, I find myself asking why I dont just call the restaurant, club, etc. myself. If they dont satisfy me tomorrow, Im going to cancel the card and refuse to pay the $495. They can contact my lawyer for it and Ill let them fight it out.

PROS: What I like about it is the $20K ATM cash advance line. I go to Vegas alot and need large chunks of cash from time to time. Thats the only good thing so far.

I just received an invitation. I make $50,000 / year and have a credit score north of 750. I think that’s pretty lower middle class and is representative of a lot of people in the U.S. I can’t afford the $495 an simply put the invitation in the trash. The black invitation was cool though.

Waste of money.
1) I tried to use their concierge service travel and the concierge basically was not a travel-knowledgeable person. Also, it was much more expensive to book it using rewards than going directly to the airline. And there is no option to convert reward points to any other reward program.
2) The security is unbelievably sensitive, esp. if you travel internationally. Almost every time I made a purchase the card would lock up. Calls to customer service would unlock the account but it locks again as soon as you make the next purchase.
3) So far (I have been a customer since last November) I have received 2 ‘gifts’ - a Cross pen and cheap Ray-Ban aviator glasses, not exactly the luxury gifts promised.

I’ve had this card but I recently cancelled. The service desk is terrible. I have tried to get into to several airport lounges with this card but was rejected as they don’t recognize this benefit and worse, they have never heard of the BlackCard. I am a frequent international traveller and never had to pay currency conversion fees on any of my credit cards but Blackcard will charge a 3% currency conversion fee.

This card is a lot of hype and not worth your $495 fee. Stay away!

just got the card two months ago, the cust.service so far i s fine with th acct rep calling me weekly. we will see how things pan out. a little worried..jc

I applied, got the letter that said they needed me to call to verify more information just as AIBO ERS7 said. By then, the hype was kinda over for me and I decided I did not want to pay the $495 annual fee. So I never called.

My question is this, do they want the $495 up-front if I were to call and say I wanted the card, or does it just go on-to my statement like a regular purchase to pay over time?

I love the black all carbonite card itself but the benefits seem pretty subpar as far as rewards programs go. I have an AmEx that gives me at least 1% cash back and up to 3% cash back with no annual fee. Although it would be nice to slap this card down to pay for a meal and impress a client

My little brother got one…He is 31 years old makes about 70k a year and has a 800+ FICO. Not nearly as hard to get as the Centurion card but still a very cool “attention” type of card. However if a piece of plastic makes you feel better about yourself you have serious image issues IMHO!

Not falling for Barclays nonsence, its oh so bad that many of you have. Do something worthwhile with your lives instead of self inflating your egos by carrying a black credit card in your wallets. Take a trip, volunteer, explore the natural earth’s beauty that many take for granted…LIVE LIFE…avoid being vain and try being thankfull instead.

They just sent me a black card invite in the mail & I don’t even have a job.

I GOT THE CARD AS A BACK UP TO MY AMEX… WHERE SOME PLACES DONT TAKE AMEX THEY TAKE VISA… I HAVENT HAD THE CHANCE TO USE IT BUT ONCE I DO I WILL GIVE YOU MY REVIEWS ON THE REWARDS… BASED ON WHAT THEY ARE PRESENTING, ITS THE EQUIVALENT TO THE AMEX PLAT. THE FEE IS THE SAME AS ARE THE REWARDS. HOW GOOD THOSE ARE REMAINS TO BE DETERMINE.

This card is worthless. I tried to cancel and was put on hold for over an hour. The benefits are better on my platinum AMEX, w/o the annual fee. I pulled it out and got laughed at, it is so thin and cheap looking.

I just received and activated my BlackCard, based on the reviews here, I am going to cancel this card ASAP.

Am I not going to get any benefit for the 495$ annual fee?

Reply please!!

Thanks,
BG

I had this wonderful Black Card for three days and these are my experiences:
Called the exclusive concierge and got put on hold (it’s VIP Desk, don’t let Barclay’s trick you)
The card honestly feels like a joke
There’s no travel service (like AmEx PTS or CTS)
Finally, called to cancel and it took hours.

I’ll stick with my amex forever

I got a solicitation for this card, which was surprising seeing some of the salaries posted on here.

Granted, my credit is excellent, but my income is more like $70k rather than $700k. My income isn’t bad for someone who is 27, but these exclusive cards don’t care about spreading it around to different age demographics.

After reading the reviews here and compared to the benefits I get with my current AMEX, it is definitely not worth the $495. Nor does it seem very exclusive when they offer it to a 27 year old who makes $70k.

Hello there. The visa black card is a total scam…don’t bother with it. Why in gods name would you pay $495 to earn 1% that you can earn for free on many credit cards out there already. Also, there is a cap of 60,000pts for airline miles, etc. which is crazy considering there is a fee for the card.