[REVIEW] Rogers World Elite MasterCard
I must apologize for the delay in writing my review on the Rogers World Elite MasterCard, I was convinced that I already wrote the review until I noticed that I started getting several questions regarding the card, especially about the lounge access. Being a cardholder myself, I can also share my personal experience. Anyway, below is my review on the card.
Highlights
Let’s start with the highlights first:
- No annual fee
- Earn $25 cash back sign up bonus
- Earn 4% cash back on foreign exchange purchases
- Earn 2% cash back on Rogers products and services
- Earn 1.75% cash back on all other purchases
- Receive MasterCard Airport Experiences
Annual Fee
What more can I say. No annual fee makes this card a no-brainer. They used to have a $29 annual fee on the Platinum version. There was a way to waive it, but I am glad that they eliminated all fees. This is what makes this credit card highly competitive and why I have it myself.
Sign Up Bonus
Unfortunately for me, I already had the Platinum version of the card before, so I did a switch the World Elite version, which means that I did not qualify for the sign up bonus. Because this is a no annual fee card, I have a hard time complaining about the weak sign up bonus.
The $25 would have been nice, so I guess I could have completed a brand new application. However, the benefit of switching over instead, allows me to keep my account history. Length of credit history is more valuable to me in keeping my credit score stronger.
Earning Ratios
There is no denying that the earning ratios are very competitive. They can justify this more easily because they have a weak sign up bonus. The earning ratio makes this a great every day card, as you will not earn less than 1.75% cash back.
I personally use this card on my Rogers services and foreign purchases.
Cash Back / Rewards
You can redeem your cash back towards specific purchases or receive an annual statement credit:
- Credit towards your monthly Rogers, Fido and chatr bills
- Purchases in Rogers and Fido branded stores (including accessories and phones)
- Online purchases on fido.ca or rogers.com
- Purchases at Today’s Shopping Choice
- Subscriptions to Texture
- Toronto Blue Jays tickets, merchandise at Jays Shop online or in store
- Rogers Centre concession purchases
- *Request (by December 1 each year) an annual statement credit (awarded in January statement)
Lounge Access
World Elite MasterCards allow you to access airport lounges through its LoungeKey membership. Some credit cards offer free lounge vouchers. But not this one. It is probably unfair to ask for free lounge vouchers when it is a no annual fee card. Either way, this card offers the following MasterCard Airport Experiences benefits:
- Access over 850 airport lounges worldwide for $27 USD per person/visit (search MasterCard Airport Experiences for list of lounges)
- Earn up to 15% off at airport duty free shops, restaurants, and spas
- Exclusive offers from hundreds of airport retailers
Conclusion
Seems to me that Rogers Bank had the long term in mind when putting this card together. For this card in particular, I am happy to trade a weak sign up bonus for strong earning ratios, because I intend to keep this card for a long time, rather than churning.
If they continue to improve this card, along with keeping its current benefits in tact, I plan to be a long term cardholder. So thumbs up to this card!
Feel free to share your personal experiences with us in the comment section below.
Re: “I personally use this card on my Rogers services and foreign purchases.”
First off, You can pay your Rogers bill with AMEX (I do). So without getting into all the math, I’m sure there is an AMEX card out there for you that gets at or beyond the 2% reward earned by Rogers which will add to your Amex point gathering goals.
Second, the 4% cash back on foreign exchange purchases is still subject to the apx 2.5% foreign exchange fee which will result in a net gain of only 1.5%. A Home Trust card gets you 1% cash back (no annual fee) and better travel and auto coverage (save real $). So at the end of the day, not so hot on the part of Rogers.
The last issue is retention. This card will make you a more “sticky” Rogers client and perhaps interfere with you periodic decisions (which should be financially based) to decide on service providers.
I respectfully submit that you rethink your decision.
Thanks for the feedback!
Completely agree. There is nothing they can do to make this card ever a consideration. And I am a rogers customer.
Hello. I don’t quite understand the negative comments.
I believe the main reason why Rogers WE shines is the no annual fee 1.75% mastercard. Many were angry when MBNA WE downgraded from 2% to 1.6%, making Rogers WE the highest return non-category non-amex card. One can even argue before the downgrade, MBNA is still not competitive because of 120 annual fee for many people.
The no annual fee 1.5% for forex non-category is also industry leading.
I happy to help you understand, but before I continue, please understand that there is a difference between “negative comments” and substantiated criticism, I am confident that my comments were the former.
First off, this card does NOT give cash back. It provides “Cash Back Rewards” which means it can only be spent on the Rogers family of products. Less choice on how to spend your rewards means less completion, which means much less value.
Furthermore, you are more likely to remain a Rogers customer, even if the market presents a better offer, the investment you put into this card may ultimately lead to decisions that result in more money out of your pocket.
As for the forex, yes a 1.5% return is very good, but remember it’s in “Rogers Bucks” (see paragraph above) and when compared to the HomeTrust card (also no annual fee) you do not get the auto, hotel burglary, and legal services in foreign nation insurance and yet you still get 1% (unlimited) Cash Back from HomeTrust. So in practical terms, the HomeTrust card is a better travel card.
So, while the Rogers MC may look good at a glance, it is not so appealing upon further inspection. A couple of no annual fee MC or Visa like the HomeTrust card and a bank card that gives bonus cash back on groceries and gas, complimented with an AMEX (pick the right one for you) that is your go-to card for everything else is the solution.
Typo: …”means less COMPETITION…”
A card worth having for sure. I am a Rogers customer so getting back 2% is worthwhile (no AMEX card will give you that since it is not in any bonus category). Most importantly, it is my go-to $USD card. The net 1.5% return (after the exchange rate) is unbeatable. I use it online too with Paypal etc. for all my US purchases. NO annual fee … can’t go wrong. I have multiple other cards but this is a must have especially if you are a Rogers customer and travel to the USA.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Frank!
I’m sorry Frank, I don’t see your logic for someone who travels to the USA. Kindly review my examples below and tell me what I am missing for USA vacationing travellers.
Rogers WE $1,000 CDN purchase @ 2%= $20 reward
SPG AMEX $1,000 CDN purchase @ 2 pts per dollar spent = 2,000 pts
2,000/35,000 (free night at a cat 5 hotel ex. W Miami) = 5.7%
Low $383 USD (not including sales tax!) USD x 1.25 exchange = $478 x 5.7%= $27.46 reward
High $589 USD (not including sales tax!) USD x 1.25 exchange =$736 x 5.7%= $41.95 reward
Rogers WE $1000 spent on car rental for 5 days = $15 reward
HomeTrust Visa $1000 spent on car rental for 5 days = $10 + ($20 apx. per day savings in Insurance coverage that HT provides and Rogers doesn’t x 5 days) = $110 in reward and savings
Thanks for the breakdown Christopher.
to me, this is better than hometrust. Not sure why Christopher is so negative.
1.75%vs 1% cad spend, 1.5% vs 1% foreign. This is not even counting the higher fe rate by visa vs MasterCard.
More coverage for insurance. This has medical , trip cancel/interrupt and rental insurance.
You can request statement credit yearly if not used on roger. Not sure about Rogers customer service but ht is not good and with limited hours. Imagine getting your card declined when their office is closed even after you called in advance to notify travel, happened to me.
Seems definitely superior to ht
It is a close calculation. At the end of the day, it will matter more of there is higher volume of spending.
Thanks for this post – I think I’ll sign up!
I like the card!
Agreed with the author. With no annual fee and travel benefits (e.g., interruption and cancellation) that most (if not all) cards give those benefits only with an annual fee, this is really a no brainer. If you only care about the cashback part, this card is still a winner, as most cards that have a higher cashback in various categories come with an annual fee again (e.g., TD cashback Infinite Visa). For cashback lovers, I suggest to use this card along with Costco CapitalOne MC that has a 3% and 2% cashback for restaurants and gas, respectively (with no annual fee).
Thanks Harrison!
People don’t get it. For me, I use Rogers WE for things like clothings, and electronics (from best buy or apple, etc), gas (if I can’t get to Esso or Mobil cause I usually use PC Financial WE for those), and recently a lot of furnitures since I moved into a new house. Some of these categories are mostly not included in bonus points for all credit cards, even high ends. Especially if there is no annual fee. Thus, 1.75% for those is great. All groceries and most gas, I use PC WE, and get tons of points. For recurring bills, I am eligible to get TD Visa Infinite cash back to get 3% (9% promotion going on I think), and if I go for All Inclusive checking account, I get this credit card annual fee waived. I’m just not wanting to force myself to not be able to go below 5k in my checking account, so I’m a little hesitant to apply . So I’m using Tangerine mastercard for recurring bills. I know other credit cards offer big signup bonuses with high recurring bill rewards with 1st year annual fee waived, but I just don’t want to churn credit cards for now, as I’m still quite young (mid to late twenties, with not crazy long credit history yet), and I want to apply for another mortgage next year.
Anyway, what Rogers WE covers is all the categories that other credit cards don’t cover. That’s what you should use it for. This is not a great travel credit card imo, nor grocery, nor gas, nor restaurant.
Good point Shelton, use it for what it is good for! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
From what I’ve read recently on the Rogers site and elsewhere the redemption options are changing so that rewards can be used to pay for pretty much anything at just about anytime, not just Rogers related purchases. If I’m understanding this change correctly this card is now an excellent option, even for non Rogers customers.
Thanks Joe! Looks like it!
Tried a promo offer and got the World Elite card
Used once and then they sent to security for review, no one ever called and when you call them they have no answers. That was 4 days ago. I have since cancelled card
Trying to get anything accomplished with customer service is beyond an embarrassment for this company. Do not bother with this joke of a company and “bank”.
Since then I have also switched cell phone provider for wasting my time
Thanks for sharing your experience with us Mike! Good or bad it is always valuable.
Rogers bank card and services is really bad which make me feel disappointed. As long as you disclose your info to them. Digital calls keep calling afterwards.
Extremely bad service!!!!
Thanks for sharing your experience with us!
Similar to a previous commenter, I had my card sent for “security review” after a single purchase with the card. I had to call to find out why I couldn’t use my card. It is now day 6, and After daily calls I have yet to be able to find out why my card is under review and how long it will take them to resolve. It is extremely risky to recommend this card, and Anyone who does apply for it make sure you have a back up at all times.
Thanks for sharing your experience Andi!
Nothing but “Does not qualify” trying to purchase items using the app and my reward points. If they have made changes to be able to use on purchases other than Rogers products Im not seeing it…
That is weird. Probably need to give them a call to find out what the glitch is about.