Department store operator Manor has partnered with card issuer Viseca to offer the no-annual-fee Manor World Mastercard. Here, moneyland.ch answers the most important questions about the new no-annual-fee credit card from Manor.
1. How is the Manor Mastercard different from the myOne card previously offered by Manor?
The Manor myOne credit card was primarily a store card and could only be used to pay at Manor and Jumbo stores and a handful of other partner merchants. It could also be used for ticket purchases from SBB via the SBB app.
The new Manor World Mastercard uses the Mastercard payment network, which means it can be used to pay at around 43 million retail outlets worldwide.
2. What will happen to existing Manor myOne cards?
Existing myOne cardholders will automatically be sent the Manor Mastercard by the end of 2020.
3. How do new customers apply?
To be eligible for the Manor Mastercard, you must be at least 18 years old and hold Swiss or Liechtenstein citizenship of a B, C, G or L permit. You also have to complete and submit a credit card application and you will only receive the card if your application is accepted.
4. Can I use the Manor Mastercard for mobile payments?
Yes. The Manor Mastercard supports Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay and Swatch Pay.
5. Is the new Manor Mastercard free?
The Manor Mastercard does not have any annual card fee. Depending on how you use it, it can be a free credit card.
If you only use the Manor Mastercard to pay for purchases from Swiss merchants, do not make cash withdrawals and always pay your credit card bill on time in full, then you will not be charged any fees.
However, if you use the card to pay for purchases from foreign merchants or to make cash withdrawals, you will be charged fees. If you carry balances past the due date, you will be charged interest on the credit card loans.
6. How does the Manor Mastercard compare with other Swiss credit cards?
The costs of the Manor Mastercard are similar to those of other Swiss no-annual-fee credit cards. These include the Coop Supercard credit card, the Cumulus Mastercard and the Cashback credit cards from Swisscard.
7. What do cash withdrawals cost?
As with most other Swiss credit cards, making cash withdrawals using the Manor Mastercard is very expensive.
When you withdraw money with the Manor Mastercard in Switzerland, you pay a 3.5% cash advance fee, with a minimum fee of 5 francs per withdrawal. Outside of Switzerland, you pay a fee equal to 3.75% of the amount withdrawn, with a minimum fee of 10 francs per withdrawal.
Unlike the Cumulus Mastercard, which can be used to get fee-free cash advances at Migros stores, Manor does not offer fee-free cash advances at its stores.
For this reason, using the Manor Mastercard to get cash at ATMs or at the till is not recommended.
8. How high is the foreign transaction fee?
You pay a foreign transaction fee equal to 1.5% of each transaction when you make purchases from foreign merchants. This applies whether you pay in the merchant’s local currency or in Swiss francs.
Additionally, you pay a markup on currency exchange costs. This markup is set by Viseca. Previous analyses by moneyland.ch show that Viseca’s currency exchange markup is average for Swiss card issuers.
9. What interest rates and penalty fees apply?
If you carry a balance on the Manor Mastercard, you are charged interest at the rate of 12% per annum. If you fail to make at least the minimum payment by the due date each month, you pay a 25-Swiss-franc penalty fee per payment reminder.
10. Are there any other fees?
Like most Swiss card issuers, Viseca charges a fee when you pay your bill at the post office using a postal deposit slip. This fee is 2.10 francs per bill.
A replacement card costs 10 francs.
You are not charged extra for paper card statements and you do not pay to phone the customer service line. That is an advantage over many other Swiss credit cards, which have extra fees for paper card statements and paid customer service lines.
11. Are any complimentary insurance benefits included?
The Manor Mastercard includes complimentary trip interruption insurance. When you pay at least 60% of the cost of a trip using the Manor Mastercard, losses and additional costs resulting from trip interruptions are covered by this travel insurance.
The card also includes complimentary purchase protection insurance which covers purchases against robbery, theft and accidental damage for 30 days from the purchase date. Purchases are covered by this insurance when at least 60% of the purchase was paid with the Manor Mastercard.
12. Do I earn rewards for purchases?
Yes. The Manor Mastercard rewards you with Manor points for all purchases. You do not earn points for cash advances.
You receive 1 point for every 2 francs of purchases charged to the card. Purchases from Manor are rewarded with 2 points per 1 franc of purchases. Once you collect 500 points, your points are redeemed for a 5-franc discount which you can use at Manor department stores, manor.ch or at Manor restaurants.
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