Credit cards without annual fee guide and current comparison with new customer bonuses

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Credit card comparison - test report

On Dontox.We always test and compare credit cards from VISA, MasterCard and American Express as well as current prepaid credit card offers. In our list you can easily compare current credit card offers with each other.

Credit card fees vary widely from bank to bank. Choose the wrong provider or an inappropriate card, you may end up paying too much. Annual fees, for example, can be 0 euros or 50 euros or more.

The credit card should also fit one's needs. For those who travel abroad a lot, z.B. primarily a card that allows you to make free payments and withdrawals abroad. For drivers, a card with attractive fuel discounts may fit the bill.

3 types of cards

Free credit card without annual fee: The best offers are available here without annual fee and only with low fees for payment transactions and cash withdrawals at ATMs. Additional services such as z.B. good insurances though. Free credit cards, z.B. the Barclays VISA credit card is suitable mainly as basic equipment or as a supplement to a free account without credit card.
Prepaid credit card: Here, payment transactions are handled exclusively via credit and not via a loan. Fees are often higher compared to free credit cards. They are particularly suitable for young people or for people with a poor Schufa score. We offer a comparison of prepaid cards here.
Gold and Platinum cards: these are credit cards with additional benefits, z.B. Insurance coverage (especially when traveling), discount schemes, or access to airport lounges. You usually pay higher fees for this.

VISA or MasterCard?

When traveling in areas with poor ATM density, it is recommended to have both credit cards in your wallet. Cardholders have no direct contact with these two companies, as they issue their licenses to banks or savings banks that issue the credit cards.

In addition to VISA and Mastercard, there are also American Express and Diners Club cards. However, since these two providers are accepted in far fewer stores, we don't recommend their cards.

Credit cards comparison: VISA, MasterCard and American Express

In our comparison calculator, we offer you an overview of a variety of different attractive credit cards from different providers.

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If you pay any attention to the news you will have seen Martin Lewis advocating for mortgage advisors. There is of course, a very good case for arguing that the best way to get the best deal is to get the best advice first. Let’s look at five reasons why.

A good mortgage adviser will look at the bigger picture

Getting a good deal is not necessarily about getting the absolute, lowest possible price, not even with a large-scale financial product such as a mortgage. It’s about getting the deal which is most appropriate for your situation, even if that costs a little more. For example, you may have a strong preference for the security of a longer-term fixed-rate mortgage and be prepared to pay a little extra for it.

A good mortgage adviser works on your behalf

Mortgage advisers can receive their payment in different ways, some charge up-front fees, others work purely on commission, others use a combination of fees and commission, but the basic fact remains that mortgage advisers can only hope to run successful businesses over the long term if they keep their customers happy and that means delivering value. Even though using a mortgage broker creates an additional cost which must be paid one way or another, this cost can be recouped and then some by the fact that they can help you to avoid the expense and inconvenience of taking out a mortgage which is inappropriate for your situation. When considering this topic, it’s worth remembering that mortgages tend to carry high up-front costs due to the need to have a home valuation, plus there is the time required to complete the relevant paperwork, both of which facts serve to highlight the importance of making the right choice to begin with.

A good mortgage adviser will understand the mortgage market

In very simple terms if you “go direct” to a mortgage lender, you will have the choice of the products they offer (or at least of the ones for which you qualify). Similarly if you “go compare” you will have the choice of products offered by the companies which work with that particular platform. A good mortgage adviser, however, will be familiar with the overall market from the big players to the niche lenders and will therefore be in a strong position to steer you in the right direction, even if that direction might initially take you somewhat by surprise.

A good mortgage adviser will be by your side throughout the whole process

There are basically two aspects to getting a mortgage. The first is agreeing that the home you intend to purchase is worth (at least) what you have offered to pay for it. The second is confirming that you actually can afford to pay for your mortgage over the long term. Both of these points can involve a fair amount of paperwork and a good mortgage adviser will guide you through it.

Some mortgage advisers can advise you on protection for your mortgage and home

Mortgages and life insurance go pretty much hand in hand, since having the latter is usually a condition of getting the former. Because of this, some mortgage advisers can go the extra mile and offer advice on life insurance and even home insurance, thereby making your life simpler and giving you the opportunity to save more money.

Today I write from Dubai, a glittering and luxurious city, which unfortunately is also hardly ever quiet. Excavators and concrete mixers are constantly roaring, power generators and air conditioners are running. And where it would be quiet, I'm sure there's music playing.

The fact that the economy is doing well here is almost palpable. Hopefully this will remain so in the days of Brexit and the corona virus!

On another topic, two articles have caught my eye lately, or rather helped me along. One deals with the Swiss institution of the Schuldbrief, the other is about a new player in the online real estate market.

What does a promissory note actually do?

A promissory note is an indispensable instrument of real estate financing and is drawn up by a notary on behalf of the parties involved. Hardly anyone used to see it in paper form. With the electronic register debt certificate, this material debt certificate is now also a thing of the past.

The meaning and importance of a promissory note is explained perfectly in an article from cash and needs no further clarification here. Only this much: we too were hardly aware of the importance of the Schuldbrief when we first bought our property. Also z.B. not the consequences of losing a paper borrower's note after all mortgages have been paid off. I can imagine that a Schuldbrief occasionally no longer appears in the case of inheritance. Heirs then have to get a court involved and face high costs before they can dispose of a property.

Tip: Keep paper debt certificate properly and inform descendants in good time. Better still: Switch to the register debt certificate immediately, this is possible at the responsible land registry office.

UBS also wants to broker mortgages in the future

UBS is already a strong mortgage bank in Switzerland, and now it wants to broker mortgages online as well. To prevent this from competing with itself, it has created a complex business model, which in an article by Prof. Andreas Dietrich is explained and discussed and also needs no further words here.

Just my own take on this: I hardly know anyone where real estate financing really went smoothly and according to standard process. There were always stumbling blocks somewhere, minor imponderables and issues or popped up at some point during the process (or over the course of further decades of doing business). Then good advice on online relationships is expensive. In my opinion, a solid bank like UBS should be able to offer both: A viable business relationship AND good conditions. It would be wrong to outsource the good conditions to the online business and obviously exclude the branch customers with an affinity for advice.

3 types of cards

VISA or MasterCard?

Credit cards comparison: VISA, MasterCard and American Express

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