Whether it’s Doublemint® Gum or Double Jeopardy® or double coupons, Americans have long had a love affair with doubles, and Capital One℠ is capitalizing on that love with its current “Double Miles Challenge.”

According to the Capital One website, until May 1st or until the company gives away one billion miles, consumers who open a new Capital One Venture Card can double last year’s miles when they provide a summary of 2011 dollars spent on a competing travel rewards card. The Double Miles Challenge is valid up to $50,000, making it possible for an individual to rack up 100,000 miles.

Travel rewards competing cards accepted for this offer include all major credit cards (American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard®, and Visa®). However, Capital One does have some exclusions; travel rewards on small business or corporate cards, debit cards, prepaid cards and the like are not eligible.

In order to complete eligibility for up to 100,000 bonus miles, new card holders must spend $1,000 within three months of opening their account.

What’s 100,000 Venture miles worth? That’s approximately $1,000 toward travel expenses, including planes, rental cars, and hotels, and Capital One guarantees there are no blackout dates when it comes to using your miles.

A deal like this is worth checking out. Ivan Daniel of DailyMarkets.com, as quoted in the Capital One press release, said, “This 100,000 miles giveaway is the biggest credit card signing bonus so far this year, so it is definitely a deal you don’t want to miss.”

Not only does the Venture Card have an unbelievable introductory offer with its Double Miles Challenge, when it comes to travel rewards cards, it’s recognized as one of the top cards available. This recognition has been bestowed by industry respected publications including MONEY® Magazine, BusinessInsider, NerdWallet and Cardratings.com, and it comes because of the easy to understand and easy to take advantage of policies of the card. It’s a card that’s worth using on everyday purchases.

With the Venture Card, consumers earn double mileage point on every purchase, every day. Points earned never expire, can be used for free flights on any airline, and are never subject to blackout dates. Additionally, when travel is purchased with the Venture card, whether it’s a flight, a rental car, or a hotel, consumers can easily redeem their travel miles before, during, or after the purchase by going online or making a phone call to Capital One. The cost of the purchase is refunded on the customer’s next billing statement.

If you’re shopping for a better deal than your current rewards miles credit card, then Capital One is looking for you! Be sure to sign up before May 1 to take advantage of the incredible Capital One’s Double Miles Challenge!

Discover® Card’s recent move to eliminate randomly assigned special security numbers to facilitate online purchases without use of actual account numbers may leave some Discover cardmembers questioning potential vulnerability in online credit card purchases.

Although the Secure Online Account Numbers program was set to discontinue on Sept. 8, 2011, it will not end abruptly. As of Sept. 8, Discover cardholders will no longer be able to create new virtual account numbers. However, Discover Card’s website explains that long-time Secure Online Account Numbers users will be able to continue to use already created numbers until the expiration date displayed on their Discover Card. The already existing virtual numbers will be able to be used both for new purchases as well as established automatic payments. Cardmembers are advised to contact merchants receiving automatic payments once the card’s expiration is reached or in case of Secure Online Account Number deactivation for any other reason.

Over a decade ago, Discover’s launch of Secure Online Account Numbers came on the heels of a similar program created by American Express®. These two card issuers were soon joined by other major credit card companies, including Citi® Card and MBNA with virtual numbers to protect consumers using the internet to make purchases or payments.

When the Secure Online Account Numbers program first began, Discover promoted its use by stating it was more secure because merchants never had access to a cardmember’s real account information. Prior to making a purchase online, a cardmember simply had to login to Discovers’s website, or use an application downloaded onto their desktop and request a temporary number. Cardmembers even had the option of requesting merchant specific numbers. With Secure Online Account Numbers, Discover Card holders could have peace of mind knowing that their account information never traveled over the internet nor was it stored on any merchant’s computer, network, or server.

Nearly weekly, the news media reports information breaches containing personal identity information, including financial information. These breaches reach every sector of the business world from retailers to financial institutions to insurance companies to hospitals and other medical facilities to city offices and state agencies to universities and public schools. The breaches are attributed to everything from accidentally making sensitive files accessible to loss or theft of computers housing account information to employee information theft to skimming devices to hackers. In the light of reports of consumer fraud, how can Discover Card discontinue its Secure Online Account Numbers program?

According to the Discover Card website, “Since Secure Online Account Numbers launched over a decade ago, we’ve continued to add layers of fraud detection and prevention, authentication and ID verification to protect your account information.

“We have made the decision to discontinue Secure Online Account Numbers as of Sept. 8, 2011 because the above comprehensive security measures help protect your card from unauthorized use online, offline, anytime, anywhere.”

In the last decade, great advances have been made in online protection, one of which is relied on by Discover Card, 128 bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption. This level of encryption is nearly impossible to break as all the secure information contained in your card is broken into tiny bits, encoded, and sent over the internet.

Additional layers of protection used not only by Discover Card but also by American Express, MasterCard®, VISA® and most other major credit cards can include the Customer Identification (CID) code on the back of the card, allowing online merchants to verify you actually physically have possession of the credit card being used, address verification, which checks to see the address given matches the address on your credit card account, and possibly password protection. Discover Card, like most other major credit card issuers, protects their cardholders with zero percent liability on fraudulent purchases.

Protecting account holders from identity theft or credit card fraud is a priority at Discover Card. The website offers other safety tips as listed below.

• Sign the back of your credit card – it is easier for a thief to create a fake ID than it is to forge a signature.
• Sign up for free fraud alerts – delivered via phone, email, or text message.
• Enroll in Discover’s Identity Theft Protection Program – a paid service.
• Check your Discover Card Statements regularly.
• Never give out your user ID or password for your online Discover account access.
• Change your online account password regularly.

To further protect cardmembers, Discover Card has beefed up security on its website by the following:

• Multiple layers of firewall.
• System Monitoring that includes real-time intrusion detection devices throughout the website.
• Enhanced individual account security accomplished through user id, password, and security questions asked upon login and periodically during user sessions.

In its commitment to customer satisfaction, Discover encourages cardmembers with further questions about the discontinuance of the Secure Online Account Numbers program to call 1-800-DISCOVER (347-2683) to speak with an account specialist.

JD Powers and Associates, a highly respected global marketing information services with a solid reputation for over 40 years of business, released results of its 2011 US Credit Card Satisfaction Study℠ showing that American Express® ranks highest of the top 10 US credit cards when it comes to customer satisfaction. American Express has taken top honors all five years the survey has been conducted.

Conducted in May and June 2011, and with over 8,700 responses from credit card customers, the survey ranks the top 10 US credit cards in six key areas.

• Interaction
• Credit Card Terms
• Billing and Payment Process
• Rewards
• Benefits and Services
• Problem Resolution

Results are tabulated on a 1,000 point scale and indicate that overall customer satisfaction with credit card companies is up 17 points from 2010 to 731. The JD Power study indicates increased customer satisfaction was recorded with both customers who typically pay off their credit card balances each month as well as those who take advantage of the revolving credit and maintain an ongoing balance.

The survey showed gains in all six areas measured, but the increase in customer satisfaction in problem resolution was most notable. Customers reported fewer problems in 2011 (down 3%), faster resolution of any problems reported, and fewer contacts with the credit card company in order to resolve the problems.

Although many factors could contribute to the increase in overall customer satisfaction, the JD Power’s survey press release speculates one possibility is there has been a decline in credit card interest rate increases over the last year. In addition, there has been a corresponding decrease in the reports of credit card dissatisfaction based on increased interest rates.

Another factor boosting 2011 credit card ratings is an apparent attempt by credit card issuers to communicate more clearly with their customers. The number of people indicating they understand their credit card terms is up 3% from last year.

“It appears that credit card companies are doing a better job of communicating with customers, which may be an effect of the CARD Act,” said Michael Beird, director of banking services at JD Power and Associates. “This improved communication is key to ensuring that customers fully understand their credit card terms—particularly benefits and fees—which helps reduce the number of problems reported and improves the overall experience.”

It seems significant that on a 5 star ranking system, the only two cards to achieve a 5 star overall satisfaction ranking were American Express and Discover Card. The rest of the playing field ranked average (3 stars) or below on overall satisfaction. American Express scored 786 on the 1,000 point scale, up 17 from last year, and Discover Card was a close second, scoring 779. The next closest card scored 40 points lower.

American Express consistently outranks competitors especially in areas of benefits and services, credit card terms, and rewards. JD Powers and Associates notes the increase in overall customer satisfaction with all cards, credit card companies appear to be making efforts to level the playing field. Striving to level the playing field is definitely tied to the increased competition to gain new cardholders that JD Powers also noted for 2011, making it more important for consumers to educate themselves on credit card terms and services and to evaluate their personal needs before shopping for a new credit card.

Click here for the full results of the survey.

In a recent press release, Discover® Card announced that its website has been awarded first place in Best Overall Customer Experience for prospects in the 2011 Keynote Competitive Research Industry Study of U.S. credit card marketing websites.

In a study that involved 1800 prospective customers and marketing sites of most major credit cards including American Express®, Chase®, CitiCard®, Capital One®, and Bank of America® among others, Discover Card ranked first in an impressive list of categories:

• Credit Card Satisfaction
•  Home Page Satisfaction
• Ease of Applying Online
• Design and Organization
• Acquisition Impact
• Online Adoption
• Customer Satisfaction

According to Discover’s vice president of e-business, Mike Boush, “Our customers tell us their online experience is very important, so we focus on keeping digital interaction with us easy and satisfying,”

Personally speaking, when I can visit a site, easily locate Information I’m looking for, find a means of contacting customer service, and complete my business in a short amount of time without having to put in a lot of effort, I’m not only satisfied with my experience with that merchant, but I also have a greater amount of trust in that merchant. And I’m more likely to return to the site or recommend it to friends. Perhaps the increased level of trust stems from feeling that the merchant has put a high value on both the customer and the customer’s experience.

Discover Card’s site makes it easy for me to find what I want whether it’s information on various credit cards, Discover’s savings programs, or the current cash back bonus. I can even find easy instructions on how to access my discover accounts through my mobile phone application.

Discover’s site simplifies the process of selecting a credit card by presenting the most popular cards on the home page and by providing a credit card builder to make sorting through the possibilities both faster and easier for the customer. Discover’s online credit card application process is simple to follow, and they even provide a link on their home page where a customer can check the progress of the credit card application.

The link for customer service is at the top center of Discover Card’s home page so users don’t have to hunt for it like some other websites. There is also a section of “Help & Support” links at the bottom of the home page. Easy access to a customer service link communicates to me that Discover is willing to talk with users and answer questions on whatever topic they’re concerned about. The page dedicated to customer service makes it even easier to navigate. The ease of contacting customer support is definitely a winner.

In presenting this year’s award list, Christopher Musto, general manager of the Keynote Competitive Research group, stated, “With a site that excels in promoting positive outcomes for the user, Discover won for Overall Customer Experience.”

Discover Card’s website is a site where people are certain to easily find what they’re looking for, complete their objective quickly and without hassle, and be able to contact support with any questions they might have. And you don’t have to just take my word for it…according to the recent Best Overall Customer Experience Award, the majority of 1800 other people think so, too!

It’s April, but there’s “No foolin” on great zero percent credit card offers through Discover® or CitiBank.

From now through April 30th, apply for one of four credit cards, transfer a balance, and get zero percent interest on that transfer in addition to zero percent on purchases. This limited time offer is for Discover More card, Citi Dividend Platinum Select® MasterCard®, Citi® Platinum Select MasterCard, or Citi Diamond Preferred® Card.

These incredible offers come just in time for the spring projects in the house and in the yard. The terms offered on balance transfers extend for a long enough period to save some major interest while making significant progress on paying down the balance you owe.

Besides the appealing terms on balance transfers, Discover and each of the Citibank MasterCards offer additional benefits to the new account holder. Those perks are compared below.

Zero Percent on Balance Transfers

• Discover Card – 24 months
• Citi Dividend Platinum Select – 15 months
• Citi Platinum Select – 21 months
• Citi Diamond Preferred – 21 months

Zero Percent on Purchases

• Discover – 6 months
• Citi Dividend Platinum Select – 15 months
• Citi Platinum Select – 21 months
• Citi Diamond Preferred – 21 months

No Annual Fee

• Discover
• Citi Dividend Platinum Select
• Citi Platinum Select
• Citi Diamond Preferred

Cash Back Rewards

• Discover – 5% on select categories quarterly; 1% on everything else
• Citi Dividend Platinum Select – $100 after $500 in purchases during first 3 months; 5% on select categories quarterly; 2% on everything else for first 12 months, then 1% thereafter

Online Shopping Cash Back Bonus

• Discover – 5% to 20% through Discover Shopping Mall
• Citi (All Cards) – 10 % “Extra Cash Dollars” on all purchases can be used for discounts through “Extra Cash by Citi” site.

Regular APR

• Discover – 11.99%-20.99% (Variable)
• Citi Dividend Platinum Select – 12.99%-20.99% (Variable)
• Citi Platinum Select – 11.99%-20.99% (Variable)
• Citi Diamond Preferred – 11.99%-20.99% (Variable)

So stop foolin’ around and take advantage of a great deal by selecting the card that’s best for you. Act today because after April 30, time’s up.

For those headline readers who are interested in the bottom line, the short answer to the question is American Express.

If you want an explanation as to who says American Express is the best credit card service provider or why American Express can claim to be the best at providing credit card services, read on.

According to a 2010 study just released by JD Power and Associates, consumers have given American Express the highest customer satisfaction ratings of the nation’s top 10 credit card issuers. American Express not only rated highest in in customer satisfaction in the 2010 study, the company also took top honors each year since the study’s inception in 2007.

JD Power and Associates, a global marketing information service that has been in business over 40 years and is probably most well-known for their customer satisfaction reports on new car quality, conducts research on six key areas of credit card customer satisfaction: interaction; credit card terms; billing and payment process; benefits and services; rewards; and problem resolution. The data gathered is then put through a mathematical formula which weights each of the key areas according to importance. The final result for each of the 10 companies will be a numerical value on a 1000 point scale.

Outstripping competitors significantly, American Express scored 769 in overall satisfaction. Discover Card ranked second with a score of 758. US Bank came in a distant third with an overall satisfaction score of 727. Not only is it significant that the American Express Company earned the JD Power Highest Customer Satisfaction Award, but the company’s score was a whopping 55 points above the customer satisfaction average score of 714.

Another item of note is that the average customer satisfaction score has risen from 703 points recorded in the 2009 report. On one hand, 11 points seems somewhat negligible. However, school teachers have repeatedly pointed out to struggling students that it is much more difficult to bring up a low grade than to maintain a high score from the outset. The overall customer satisfaction score in 2009 was the lowest in three years. Perhaps the increased average over last year is another minor indicator that the economy and the public’s trust in the economy is, like the media has recently begun to state, beginning to recover.

From the outset of the study in 2007, American Express has consistently maintained high performance scores in benefits and services. Past reports on the study have also singled out consumer satisfaction with American Express problem resolution. High scores in both billing and payment and in rewards have been highlighted in previous years’ reports. The 2010 JD Power and Associates report simply states American Express “performs well across all six factors that drive satisfaction.”

Two of the most talked about factors driving customer satisfaction seem to be a card’s rewards program or a card’s low interest rates or lack of annual fees. The importance of each of those factors is usually determined by whether or not the card holder carries a monthly balance. People who pay their card balance off each month generally seek a card offering an attractive rewards program while people who maintain a balance from month to month generally place an emphasis on finding a credit card issuer offering low interest rates and no annual fees.

Since the study was begun in 2007, two factors consistently influencing lower consumer satisfaction scores are an increase in interest rates or fees and a lack of clear communication on the part of the card issuer, specifically in relation to credit card terms. Because of legislation that went into effect in Feb. 2010 (the CARD Act), many credit card companies have made huge efforts to help consumers more clearly understand their credit card terms. The JD Power and Associates report indicates that although progress has been made, many consumers still feel they do not fully understand the credit card terms, and some of those consumers do not believe the card issuers are concerned with what is in the customer’s best interest.

In an economy that, over the past three years, has seen an extreme down turn in the housing market, multiple bank failures, and government bailouts of huge corporations, the good news is, along with an increase in the average of overall customer satisfaction, consumers generally believe that their card issuers are financially stable and reliable.

Source: JD Power and Associates

Last week, J.D. Power and Associates released their 2009 Credit Card Satisfaction Study with results of what customers really think about credit card issuers. The results weren’t surprising as most customers this past year have seen rate increases, fee increases, credit lines slashed or accounts closed completely. As a result of the economy, credit card issuers have been forced to cover rising defaults and losses. Customers haven’t responded well to the recent changes and credit card issuers have seen their customer satisfaction ratings plummet.

In fact, the J.D. Power and Associates survey found that the customer satisfaction level has reached a three-year low. Michael Beird, J.D. Power and Associate’s director of banking, said, “Overall satisfaction declines 86 index points when a customer incurs a late fee. Issues with fees also contribute to the high incidence of problems and complaints in 2009, with 18 percent of customers reporting problems, compared with 10 percent in 2008.”

In 2008, only 10 percent of customers reported that their fees and rates were increased. That number has almost doubled in one short year. That’s right…20 percent of credit card customers now say that they have seen an increase in credit card fees and rates. But, does the type of customer affect satisfaction?

Absolutely.

The survey found that those who are among the unhappiest are those credit card holders who do not pay off their credit cards in full each month. Credit card customers who carry a balance from month to month gave credit card companies the lowest ratings. American Express ranked highest in customer satisfaction for the third straight year with an index score of 761. Discover Card and National City came in second and third with index scores of 751 and 740, respectively.

So, what have these companies all done well? Customers reported being satisfied with credit card companies when they received consistent communication from the creditor. Even when a fee or rate increase did occur, customers reported being satisfied 97 percent of the time when they received notification of the increase beforehand.

Although customers are not overly satisfied with credit card companies currently, there is one thing credit card issuers can do to keep customers happy. Communicate. Credit card companies need to keep their customers informed and customers need to do their part by staying informed. Customers can actively participate in the communication process by researching different credit cards and educating themselves before applying.

Surely, the level of overall credit card satisfaction will increase when well-informed customers team up with credit card companies who communicate.

Have you had a good or bad experience with your credit card issuer this past year? Give us your feedback.

In a credit environment where lenders and banks seem to be cutting back at every possible opportunity, Discover Card introduces a new credit card to enhance the companies card offerings. The new Escape by Discover credit card lets cardholders earn airline miles on every purchase they make.

For starters, you can earn double airline miles on every purchase and you’ll get 1,000 bonus miles each month you use the card for the first 25 months. Redeem miles for unrestricted airline travel, other travel credits, gift cards or cash. Receive $100 in travel credits for every 10,000 miles, gift cards at over 90 partners starting at just 1,000 miles or receive $25 in cash for every 5,000 miles.

With excellent credit, you can transfer higher rate balances to the new Discover Escape credit card and receive 0% APR for twelve months. Depending on your credit history, applicants can also receive an introductory APR of 0% for six months on purchases and determine your regular APR. Plus, get enhanced travel benefits like car rental insurance, trip cancellation insurance and more all for an annual fee of $60.

Use the links above to apply online or to read the full terms and conditions.

Discover Financial Services has announced the introduction of the only biodegradable credit card available in the US market. The new Biodegradable Discover® More Card is made from 99% biodegradable PVC, which allows 99% of the card’s plastic to safely be absorbed into the soil of exposed landfills. The card will break down in water, soil, compost or wherever microorganisms are present and is expected to degrade completely within five years.

“The biodegradable Discover Card is another way for environmentally conscious consumers to do their part to help protect our planet,” said Kelly Tufts, director of marketing planning & strategy at Discover Financial Services.

This announcement is part of Discover’s commitment to help fight climate change and encourage responsible resource use. Discover also encourages its customers to help save paper by enrolling in paperless statements. In 2008, Discover saved more than an estimated 4.6 million pounds of paper.

Existing cardmembers can request the card directly through Discover Card’s customers service. The new biodegradable card is identified by a biodegradable symbol located on the back of the card. The biodegradable card still provides the same best-in-class features and benefits that all Discover Card cash rewards cards include.

It is hard to believe that the holidays are just around the corner – big meals, great parties, gaining a few pounds and cash back bonuses from Discover Card. If you want to stretch your holiday spending a little further this year or if you have been thinking about getting a Discover credit card, now is the time to apply. Discover Card is offering a double cash back bonus at grocery stores on several cards and a cash back bonus at over 160 mall locations throughout the US.

Double Cashback Bonus at Grocery Stores

Earn Double Cashback on grocery stores purchases starting November 1st through December 31st, 2008.  That means you earn 2% cash back on your first $1,000 in grocery store purchases. Get your Cashback Bonus on any of these cards when you apply for the Miles by Discover Card, Discover Motiva Card, Discover Open Road Card or the Discover Student Open Road Card. You can also earn 5% to 20% cash back through Discover Card’s exclusive shopping website featuring top online retailers. Using any of the Discover More cards earns 5% cash back at grocery stores through December.

Cashback Bonus at over 160 US Mall Locations

Check Discover’s list of particpating mallsto search over 160 US mall locations to earn a Cashback Bonus when you shop. Spend $200 on any Discover credit card to earn a $20 Discover gift card – a 10% bonus. To get your Discover gift card, take the original sales receipts to your mall location’s customer service desk by 01/04/2009. Supplies are limited, so get there early.

Saving money this holiday season is made easier with Discover Card, the largest provider of 5% cash back credit cards. Get the full terms and conditions of each offer when you apply online.