Foreigners get the sign up rewards. I suggest going in and asking for it. When I went in and applied last year they let me choose between a few things including oven, carrefour voucher etc. Just go to a branch… Waste their resources if they don’t make a simple online form for you!
So, just got a call from HSBC, in order to waive the guarantor requirement they asked me other HSBC statements from my other accounts (HK mostly), where I do not have any more money basically and closed my cards.
I therefore asked them to withdraw my application since it is ridiculous, I will not provide any further documents to them. I won’t apply for any other service with them, will just keep my account since it is cheap for the moment.
BTW a very similar card with a cheaper annual fee is the DBS Flying World Mastercard, which I had already in HK. Miles accrual rates are basically the same. Will try to apply for that instead.
You may have issues with DBS too but give it a try
I mean, I have already decent cards, the extra amount of miles received would be marginal, but hey, let’s try!
I think most local credit cards waive the annual fee if you just charge at least once per year. That’s been my and my wife’s experiences over the years.
I never get a credit card with an annual fee, no matter how small.
For cashback cards or normal cards I think that’s the case, however for some, like the Amex charge cards, the annual fee is applied with the first card use and cannot be waived.
For premium cards like the cathay united eva air supreme infinite (that’s a mouthful) I believe cannot be waived too since bringing expensive benefits, like unlimited lounge access basically anywhere, airfare discounts and super advantageous airmiles conversion rates.
I haven’t been charged yet for it, and when I’ll be, I’ll try to get it refunded.
Various AMEX cards issued in the U.S. now have no annual fees , and they have cash back, like $200-300 if you spend like $xxxx in first y months.
The US are amazing for credit cards, that’s why you have so many and with great perks (and so much credit card debt too). In other countries, like Italy, the offer is disappointing and always comes with fees not waivable, that’s why credit use is lower preferring debit cards or cash instead.
In HK most fees can be waived (just by calling the issuer, they’ll do right away), Amex charge cards (green, gold, platinum, centurion) can’t be waived at all.
In TW it seems to be a mixed bag, but for amex charge cards also here the annual fee cannot be waived. As I said for my amex eva air gold I got charged the annual fee upfront with the first transaction, for the other cards I have either waiver due to promotions (like the fubon tw mobile since I pay my phone bill with it) or haven’t been charged at all (yet, for the costco card and the eva air infinite for instance).
Yeah, I now pay €2.90 per month for my German credit card plus another €6.90 for a travel insurance package bound to the card. No other benefits, no cashback. There would be free credit cards available - but not for non-residents (three of my other credit cards were cancelled by the banks when I told them about my move to Taiwan). In the US, banks don’t seem to care about residency when issuing credit cards.
I don’t know - for me, getting a credit card without annual fee and some cashback here in Taiwan already doesn’t seem too bad. I think it’s mostly people complaining about what Taiwanese cards have to offer if they’re used to the US credit cards.
The perks are not bad tbh, I think the offer is even better than HK, just annoying for foreigners to get them (HK instead relatively easy as long as you have the documents in order and you salary is above the minimum requirements).
US cards are in a league of their own, but they are fighting to get customers in a very, very saturated market.
They do care when issuing: a non US-resident or non US-citizen living in Taiwan can’t apply for one (you need social security number and at minimum a US address). But if you already have one, then its not a problem to keep using it.
Did they actually withdraw your application? I usually have to do a lot of drama as well, but whenever I’ve threatened to withdraw they’ve gone ahead and issued the card for me 
Dunno, I just told them to withdraw it since I was not going to give any further documents.
Hi credit card fanatics!
Anyone know of any good Taiwan credit cards for high cashback in Europe? Specifically I’m looking for a good card to use when I visit the UK for about a month around Chinese new year.
I’m also looking for low to no fees on the transactions and a good conversion rate.
This one is what I use when I travel.
But buyer beware… The ID system for China trust is still f###ed up and gives you a separate login so you cannot see your card in the same login like other banks.
Also you cannot link the card up to the digital receipts in Taiwan due to the ID number and other things.
I only use it for when I’m abroad as these things don’t matter and I sorted out the bill payment problem.
(Login to the bank account with China trust and make a transfer with the credit card number as the account number and the normal China Trust bank code)
(https://www.ctbcbank.com/twrbo/zh_tw/cc_index/cc_product/cc_introduction_index/B_EP_Titanium.html)
Gonna be at Citi tomorrow, so gonna apply for their cash back credit card whilst I’m there just to see. I know they are notoriously hard to deal with- with the exception of Marco who they seem to treat well. One interesting thing they told me about opening a bank account is that they require an entry/exit certificate from the NIA, luckily I can get that with my citizen digital certificate online. Anyways, those who have applied for their credit cards in the past, what did they ask for and how did they treat you?
The Citi’s Cash Back card was my first ever card that I applied for and received while on my APRC more than a decade ago. A few other banks were unwilling to give me their CC citing “foreigner” reasons and the need for a guarantor etc.
I went to their Yung Ho branch that day to just update my address and get a new passbook as Citibank had just taken over 華僑銀行(Overseas Chinese Bank). While the lady was keying my info on her computer, she asked if I had a cc with them and I said “No”…she asked why?? I told her the usual reasons… foreigner, we are flight risks, bad bad boys, unworthy etc. To my surprise, she said she understood our ordeal and said there is a “way”…and then she beckoned her colleague (Paul, I still remember his name!) over who is in charge of CCs and then he took me to a corner and started explaining how I can get my card! He said I have to first open a fixed deposit account with at least 150K, keep it for at least a mth and in the same time he will send in my application for my CC. The fine lady then proceeded to open a fixed deposit account right there and I transferred 150K from my Savings account to my fixed deposit account.
Exactly a month later, she called me and said my CC got approved and I can close my FD account and the funds plus a mths interest will be automatically transferred to my Savings a/c. A week later, I got my first CC!!! 
Overall, I would give them an A for their professionalism and efficiency and an A+ for treating me like an Ordinary customer and not just a “foreigner”.
I will not be doing that, so will see if they let me apply anyway. No rule on their site about needing that so fingers crossed
This “opening of a fixed deposit account” for foreigners is not mentioned anywhere because this is not a rule but rather a sort of “secret backdoor” to get a CC from banks who are otherwise unwilling to give CCs to foreigners. According to them, there is almost a 100% chance of getting a CC this way (considering that one has a good track record, has permanent residency or lived/worked here for many years). One of my friends applied at CTBC this same way (initially, they refused his application but then he mentioned about opening a fixed deposit account and it worked! He had to open a 250K FD a/c)
Anyway, I hope they at least accept your application and review it and hopefully, you get it. IIRC, you already have a CC here and have a good credit score. Good luck!
Yep, AMEX and Fubon, with a 723 credit score when I last checked in August. This will be the first card I apply for with a credit score, since my last application was when I didn’t meet the requirements for a credit score yet.