21.08.2020

Apple Card: Pros and Cons

The Apple card has been available since August 2019, currently in the testing phase only in the United States. It is a credit card in partnership with Goldman Sachs and whose arrival on the market is causing some small emulation in the financial sector.

 

Intuitive and customizable application: 

Firstly, the Apple Card is available in physical form but also in digital version. A very well thought out and very readable application is linked to it and allows you to track all your expenses.  It is a direct competitor to Revolut, another very interesting card, especially for purchases in foreign currencies.  

The latter are sorted by colors according to what they concern (entertainment, food, bills etc...) and you can see where you made these purchases thanks to Maps.  

Thanks to its MasterCard chip, it is possible to make payments where ApplePay is not available. 

Everything is secured by fingerprint and facial identification. You will also need to enter a one-time code for each purchase made on the internet.  

Of course, the system is designed for an Apple environment and it is impossible to use the card without an iPhone running iOS 12.4 or higher.

 

Interesting advantages: 

First, there are no activation or usage fees. If you exceed your limit (on credit) and are unable to repay on time, you will not be charged any late fees. 

Be careful, this does not mean that you will not have interest on this late amount.

It simply means that you won't have to pay any additional fees when you pay off your overdraft.

 

Attractive Cash-Back: 

Cash-back has been around for a while now. However, it is not yet very common around the globe. The Cash-back method consists of receiving an amount of money back in your account for each purchase made using the Apple Card. 

With this card, you will receive back 1% of the amount spent when you make a purchase with the physical card, 2% when you make a purchase with the virtual card and 3% when making purchases on Apple platforms (iTunes, AppStore, Apple Store etc...). There is no daily CashBack limit. 

However, cash-back is likely to be an unavailable feature for many countries if the Apple Card is launched internationally. 

Indeed, it seems that Apple is dipping into the interchange fee reserves to pay out the Cash-back to its users.

As a reminder, the interchange rate is a kind of "commission" that the merchant's bank (the one selling a product or service) must pay to the customer's bank (the one buying) when a card purchase is made.

The problem is that in Switzerland, for example, the rate has been capped at 0.44% since 2017.

In reality, most European countries have a more or less low interchange rate of between 0.2% and 0.5%. 

 

The bad sides of the card: 

As for the card itself, it is made entirely of titanium and only the Apple and MasterCard logos and the name and surname of the cardholder are visible. 

The Apple Card is a very sober and uncluttered card, as the chewy fruit brand wants. 

However, according to testimonies, the fact that the card is made entirely of titanium leads to rather rapid discoloration when in contact with jeans or in a leather purse (soon an  "Apple Card protection case" for $150?). 

Choosing the Apple Card is like marrying Apple.

To give a concrete example, Apple is your wife and the card is your child, if you divorce and you go back to the side of Samsung or Huawei, Apple will keep the card (fortunately you won't pay alimony) and you won't be able to use it anymore. 

 

How can I benefit from it?

Currently the card is only available in the US, but Goldman Sachs CEO Richard Gnodde announced: "The next step will be Europe. Germany first, then we plan for the UK after that."

Apple expected to make $50 billion in revenue for this service for the period 2020 (without anticipating the coronavirus pandemic which will probably affect consumption and the test phase of the card). 

However, if the actual results are still up to par, we may see the map arrive in our regions sooner than expected.

In the meantime, the Revolut solution,  which also offers cash-back, is available, free of charge when changing currencies and shopping abroad, and is available on all platforms.

If neither of these two options convinces you, or if you prefer to learn about more basic credit cards and payment methods at the top of technology, don't hesitate to check out this article.

 

 

 



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ompare credit offers. It has to be prepared, it has to be done calmly and it has to make sense.

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What exactly are we talking about?

When you want to finance a project, there are various solutions available to you. Credit is a relatively simple financing tool, quick to execute and with a light administrative burden.

For further clarification, a credit is also called consumer credit, personal loan, loan, private loan, etc. This is a loan of a sum of money by a creditor to you, the debtor. The amount in question must be reimbursed within a time limit agreed between the parties. An interest rate is calculated in addition to the principal to be repaid in order to remunerate the services of the creditor, a bank in most cases.

As this is a form of financing that does not require a down payment or guarantee, the rate applied varies according to the amount borrowed, the quality of your file and the repayment period.

Financing platforms such as Milenia are used to offer the best rates on the market and to support you in your efforts. You don't pay anything for this service; The remuneration of these platforms is ensured within the framework of the agreements with the partner banks.

 

Before you compare, ask yourself two questions.

Is credit the right solution for my project?

Am I eligible?

The first question has the merit of judging the relevance and usefulness of your approach. As a responsible service provider, we put your interests at the heart of our attention. Over-indebtedness must be avoided at all costs and your loan must bring real added value and not represent a debt that is difficult to overcome.

Can your project be scaled back? Does your cash flow simply allow you to avoid taking out a loan? Is it the right time?

These are all useful questions that allow you to judge whether or not you need to move forward.

The second question is also important.

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Am I domiciled in Switzerland? If not, you will not be eligible.

Am I of legal age? If not, you will not be eligible.

Am I involved in an action filed in the debt collection? If this is the case, you will not be eligible.

 

One egg, one basket.

If you want to continue with a credit application, don't rush!

Above all, do not file multiple applications with different providers or banks.

Each request is logged and will block your access to a favorable response.

Compare, choose your financial partner wisely and, if the conditions are met, draw up your file with them.

To make a fair choice, take advantage of the service offered by a financing platform. It's online and it's easy.

 

Compare what, exactly?

The quality, the network, the accessibility and, of course, the conditions.

By quality, we mean the clarity of the information provided and the transparency of the platform. 

Are there testimonials from satisfied customers? Is there an independent quality body involved, such as Proven Expert? Is the team running the company clearly displayed? Is the company based in Switzerland?

As far as  the network is concerned, the quality and scope of the network will determine the quality of the offers offered to you. Check the partners page or search for published articles or the platform's blog if it exists. 

It is preferable to do business with a major player in the market that has serious, even exclusive, partnerships with recognized banks.

Accessibility. An online solution is often less time-consuming and just as relevant as if you went to an agency. However, it will be necessary to speak with an expert, go through your file in person and have live advice. 

Be sure that you will be able to access this service.

Lately, the conditions. The rates displayed on the various platforms are often similar. There are criteria to be met, however, and these often make the difference.

First of all, the process until you sign the loan agreement must be completely free of charge! Whether you visit a credit comparison platform or a financing platform, run away if you are asked for a single franc for so-called administrative or processing costs.

Secondly, do not sign anything when you are in a comparative or information-seeking process. Your file must first be well completed and analysed and it is only when you make a credit proposal following the acceptance of your application that you will have the opportunity to sign or not.

Finally, a 0.10% lower rate does not necessarily mean a good deal. All of this must be considered. The quality of your relationship with your advisor, the seriousness shown when drawing up your request, the choice of partners... Confidence and peace of mind knowing that you are in good hands is far more important than a tiny spread in the rate offered.

 

Do you have any questions?

We invite you to inquire via Milenia. You will have the opportunity to simulate your credit, learn about our solutions, get to know our team, ask your questions, browse through our customer testimonials and discover our articles on our blog.

Take your time, compare and when your choice is made, we will be at your side to carry out your project. Under the right conditions, with confidence and transparency.

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You can't get a personal loan in Switzerland. Foreigners as an alternative? It's not the right question to ask yourself and we'll explain why.

When you are denied a credit application, it can be frustrating. It could be that your project is blocked or that you can't get out of debt... Is applying for a loan in France for example or online on a foreign platform a solution? No. First, you need to ask yourself the right questions.

 

What's it like in Switzerland?

The rules in Switzerland are clear and transparent.

A first set of conditions is the need to be of legal age and to reside in Switzerland. Your nationality doesn't matter. If you are over the age of 18 and have the appropriate licence, you are eligible for a loan.

There are rules around your financial capacity. Measures taken by financial institutions leading to over-indebtedness are prohibited in Switzerland. It is therefore essential to study your budget situation and make sure that you have the necessary resources to meet the repayment of your loan.

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If your file is well put together and the databases do not prevent the completion of your credit application, you still have to choose the most appropriate solution for your needs. Term, rate, monthly payments, financial partner are all key elements to consider.

 

El Dorado abroad?

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Also beware of exchange rate fluctuations. This can certainly work in your favour, but the opposite is also possible and any risk factor should be avoided when you go into debt.

Application fees are also often applied. The amounts vary, but be aware that any responsible and professional financing platform in Switzerland will not apply any charge related to the processing of your file.

Recently, regulatory authorities such as FINMA have only been supervising Swiss companies. One of FINMA's tasks is to ensure compliance with sector-specific and ethical rules to protect industry players and their users. Working  with a foreign platform, with no recognized affiliation and which promises you mountains and wonders is a risk not to be taken!

 

The real question!

Why couldn't I get a loan agreement? 

Often, it is a case of  actual or potential over-indebtedness.

You may not have enough financial room to cover your day-to-day expenses and the repayment of an additional loan.

In itself, this is not a big deal if the result is the simple time lag of your project. Maybe it's just a matter of thinking smaller and adjusting the amount involved? Be careful, however, not to carry out multiple tests with various organizations because the history of your applications and the resulting refusals are recorded and do not serve your interests.

More complicated, your financial situation is such that you are already in a situation of over-indebtedness. The key is not to take out extra credit to get by. You need to negotiate with your creditors to establish a repayment plan that avoids litigation and takes into account your personal means. There are organizations that can help you with this type of approach.

At worst, you're on a bank list, already facing prosecution... Nothing is insurmountable, but it is clearly a question of cleaning up your accounts, reviewing your charges downwards and doing your best with the authorities, your creditors, your banking partner or even your employer to put in place a plan that will allow you to get your head above water. Credit is not a solution in this case and even less so via foreign organisations which may not have the right reflexes when they 'advise' you.

 

How do you do it?

As you can see. If the conditions are right, the safest, most fairly regulated and most transparent way is to draw up your credit file with a partner based in Switzerland; a partner who knows the legislation and has local experience.

If you're denied, the right question is why. Moreover, a serious financing platform will quickly inform you of the viability of your file. All you have to do is provide the right information in complete transparency. How much does this service cost? Nothing. You are therefore not taking any risks and you will be informed of the reason for a possible refusal.

What to do next? As previously advised, take the bull by the horns. Don't wait. Make sure you are supported in your over-indebtedness efforts and do not increase your deficit.

 

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