Better than cash

With syndi-cates of bag slashers and snatchers hounding the malls, it’s safer to leave your cash behind. I will never forget the slashing incident my friend experienced at a mall one afternoon that I was with her. She had a big bag that fortunately was filled to the brim with a book, suman sa latik, her diary, a scarf, and her huge cosmetic kit.

Then she noticed that during the 10 minutes that we were walking, she got bumped twice, which almost caused her to lose her balance. So we decided to detour to a less crowded alley and enter a small boutique.  She fancied a blouse and when she was about to pay for it she noticed that her bag had a big slash at the back.

Fortunately for her, the suman and the book ensconced her wallet, and the only damage incurred by the thieves was her slashed bag and her bruised ego. She was wondering why the thieves chose to victimize her instead of me. I jokingly told her that her big bag made her look so affluent compared to the puny little bag I was pressing under my armpit like a piece of baguette.  

Nowadays, it is safer to bring just minimum cash for incidental expenses like parking, tipping, lunch allowance for the driver, and to pay for shopping and restaurant bills with your credit card. I am sure a lot of pickpocket victims will agree with me.

Just recently, Visa launched its Visa Platinum for shoppers who demand the highest level of service. As consumer sophistication continues to grow, bank customers increasingly look for a card product that goes beyond the generic features. They want a card with exclusive features, privileges and prestige. Visa Platinum provides all this.

So I would experience firsthand these benefits, I got an invitation to be a Visa Platinum Card holder. I was taken to establishments that were listed in their Platinum Program. I noticed that 10 percent discounts were automatically given to purchases in their partner establishments. At Paul Smith, where I bought a pair of denim pants, a 10 percent discount was immediately given to me without my asking for it. At the La Maison Restaurant in Greenbelt 5, we were given free dishes just because we were paying with our Visa Platinum Card.

Other benefits that impressed me were:

 • Concierge service — a lifestyle concierge service to Visa Platinum Card holders with the best and personalized customer service, 24/7.  Whether at home or overseas, cardholders have access to a host of lifestyle services as well as emergency assistance such as card replacement, card disbursement, medical assistance through a dedicated network of global toll free numbers.  

• Visa access program — comprised of a suite of attractive benefits, ranging from discounted golf at 500 of the finest clubs around the world, unique travel packages, discounts at selected airport duty free shops, among others.

• Global Customer Assistance Service (GCAS) — comprehensive customer services program made available to all Visa Platinum Card holders when they travel overseas, either for business or leisure. With multilingual support, cardholders can access GCAS from practically anywhere in the world, anytime of the day, throughout the year.

• Minimum coverage of  P2 million Travel Accident Insurance and e-year end account summary — a display of the entire year’s credit activity. It provides cardholders with a concise summary of their credit card’s activity for easier record keeping, budgeting and tax planning.

With all these benefits, I think I will consider my Visa Platinum Card a very dear friend and will be one of my plastics that I will not leave home without.