Credit Card Deals #8: A Personal Assistant at Your Fingertips

By Eva Norlyk Smith, Ph.D.

May 22, 2009

By Eva Norlyk Herriott

American Express pioneered complimentary concierge services to provide cardholders with a personal assistant to take care of all their travel and entertainment needs. However, with the introduction of the Visa Signature Concierge service, Visa International has entered the arena, and it is taking this credit card deal one step further by covering more than just travel and entertainment needs.

Available to holders of premium American Express cards and Visa Signature credit cards, the credit card concierge service is a great way to take the edge off your busy life. Once you’ve enrolled in the program, you have access to complimentary personal assistance to help you 24 hours a day. Whether you’re looking for those hard-to-find dining reservations at top-rated Zagat restaurants, recommendations for a hotel, or tickets to a hot concert or show, all you have to do is call your friendly neighborhood concierge.

Going on a business trip to a new city? Your credit card concierge will help you select the right hotel with all the meeting rooms, visual aids, and refreshments you need. Traveling to Europe and want to get a Eurail Pass? Check. Going on a road-trip in France and want to wine and dine at the best gourmet restaurants along the way? Just give your itinerary to the concierge service, and your credit card concierge will pick out the best restaurant in each town, and even make sure your table is waiting for you when you arrive.

According to the Visa Signature Concierge program, this service isn’t just useful for assistance with entertainment or travel-related requests. Let’s say that you need to locate the nearest all-night pharmacy, which will also deliver. Simply call Visa Signature Concierge, and they’ll look find the nearest pharmacy for you.

Need a place for your pooch to stay while you’re at work? Your credit card concierge can give you a referral to a good doggie daycare center. Need a personal shopping service to buy and deliver your groceries or a referral to a plumber you can trust? It’s no more than a toll-free phone call away.

Need help convincing your spouse that you’re not such a doodledorf after all? Okay, maybe not. But then again, if you forgot to buy that anniversary present, your friendly neighborhood concierge can help you find that perfect gift and make sure it arrives in time. And if it’s nice enough, your spouse might just change her mind—at least for the time being.

Combined with Visa’s or American Express’ special events programs, the concierge services can turn into a truly slam-dunk credit card deal. If you’re a Visa Signature credit cardholder, for example, you can get first dibs on great offers like VIP packages for the Superbowl or discounted lower level tickets to some Chicago probasketball games.

If you’re a horse fan, you’ll have access to special deals like an exclusive VIP package to the Visa Signature Kentucky Derby weekend, which includes a guided backside stable tour and tickets to the private Winner’s Party after the race.

So what is this all going to cost you? It comes free, courtesy of your premium American Express or Visa Signature card. These do come with an annual fee, typically starting at $125 for American Express Gold, and $55 a year for the Visa Signature card.

In short, both credit card concierge services offer one of the all-time great credit card deals. Of course, you’re still responsible for the cost of the goods and services provided; however, if you use them frequently and calculate the value of the time spent researching, calling, and organizing, the credit card concierge can save you a bundle of money.