The story of how your first credit card should actually be your mobile carrier card
Good evening, this is Kazuki.
Thinking, "Maybe it's time I get a credit card."
When you think that, don't these questions come up for a beginner?
There are too many types, I don't know how to choose.
Is the screening process difficult?
I'm worried if I'll be able to use it well even if I get one...
I understand. Your first card is much more
worrying than you think, isn't it?
But today, I'm going to tell those people straight.
For your first one, your own mobile carrier's card is the best choice.
The reason is extremely simple.
・It's a service you already use, so it's familiar
・You earn points on your monthly mobile bill
・The screening hurdle is relatively low
・It's a natural reason to sign up
Credit cards, which you might have felt were "somehow difficult," become
much more approachable when you think of them as a card for the mobile bill you pay every month.
This time, I will thoroughly explain the credit cards of the three major carriers for beginners.
・docomo → d Card
・SoftBank → PayPay Card
・au → au Pay Card
You can read just the article for your carrier, or you can read them all and compare.
☑️To begin with, why are carrier cards recommended as your first one?
Before we get into the introduction of each card, I will organize the
reasons why I recommend carrier cards.
Reason 1. You earn points on your monthly mobile bill
To earn points using a credit card, it is important to "keep using it daily." With a carrier card, points automatically accumulate from your monthly mobile bill from the moment you create the card."A state where you can use it without being conscious of it"being created from the start is a
huge merit for credit card beginners.
Reason 2. Credit history (credit) accumulates
Credit history refers to your credit card usage record.
When this accumulates, it becomes advantageous for future gold card and loan screenings. By using your carrier card consistently every month and continuing to pay without delays, your credit history will steadily grow.
Reason 3. It is linked to familiar services
Rather than a card from a brand you don't know, a mobile carrier card you use every day provides a sense of security. Many apps are also
linked to those of the carrier, making it easy to manage yourself.
Reason 4. It's a natural reason to sign up
Rather than suddenly deciding to "make a credit card," you can sign up with the natural motivation of "if I'm paying my mobile bill anyway, I might as well earn points." The low psychological hurdle is also a major strength for beginners.
Now, let's take a detailed look at each carrier's card.
☑️d Card: The first card for docomo users
Basic specs:
・Annual fee: Free forever
・Basic return rate: 1%
・International brand: VISA / Mastercard
・Electronic money: iD support
What is amazing about the d Card?
The d Card is a credit card issued by NTT Docomo.
If you are a docomo user, it is no exaggeration to say that there is no reason not to have it.
A 1% return rate is top-class among free cards
If you spend 100 yen at a convenience store, you earn 1 yen worth of d Points.If this accumulates every day, it becomes a considerable amount annually.
If you pay in cash, you won't earn these points at all.
Points are added even more with docomo mobile charges and docomo Hikari
When you pay your mobile bill with a d Card, d Points corresponding to the charge are granted. Just by having it automatically deducted every month, points accumulate. This mechanism of "earning points while leaving it alone" is the biggest merit for beginners.
Smartphone payments via iD are super convenient
The d Card supports iD (electronic money).
Once you register it with Apple Pay or Google Pay, you can complete payments just by holding your smartphone over a reader at convenience stores, supermarkets, drugstores, and other daily shops. You won't need to take out your wallet anymore.
I also usually pay with Apple Pay, and smartphone payments are
incredibly convenient. Everyone, please try smartphone payments at least once. It's so easy that you might even be moved by it.
How to use d Points earned with the d Card
・Apply toward Docomo mobile charges
・Apply toward Docomo smartphone device costs
(when changing models)
・Can be used at Lawson, McDonald's, Welcia, etc.
・Can also be used partially on Amazon and Rakuten Ichiba
・Can be used for shopping at d Point member stores
A great point about d Points is that there are so many places to use them, making it unlikely that you'll end up with points you've earned but have no way to spend.
The future potential of the d Card
By building a track record with the d Card, you can aim to step up to the d Card Gold or d Card Platinum. Because it is an
upgrade within the same Docomo group, your past usage history is easily evaluated,
making the screening process more favorable.
Start by building a track record with the (free) d Card, and move to Gold a few years later. This is the golden route for Docomo users.
Recommended for people like this
・Docomo users
・People making their first credit card
・People who want to earn points on convenience store and daily shopping
・People who want to use smartphone payments via iD settlement
☑️PayPay Card: The first card for SoftBank users
Basic specs:
・Annual fee: Free forever
・Basic return rate: 1% (PayPay points)
・International brand: VISA / Mastercard / JCB
・Linked service: PayPay
What is so amazing about the PayPay Card?
The PayPay Card is a card designed through a partnership between
the SoftBank Group and PayPay.
Integration with PayPay is its greatest strength
By registering and using the PayPay Card with PayPay, you earn PayPay points.
PayPay is currently one of the most widely used QR code payment services in Japan.
Convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants, drugstores... etc.
It covers almost every aspect of daily life where you can use it.
If you are a SoftBank user who frequently uses PayPay,
the combination with the PayPay Card is naturally a perfect match.
Earn points on your SoftBank smartphone bill
When you pay your monthly SoftBank mobile bill with the PayPay Card,
PayPay points are awarded.
Since points accumulate on expenses that are automatically deducted every month,
you can create a state where points accumulate without even thinking about it.
Also supports Y!mobile users
Y!mobile users, who are a sub-brand of the SoftBank Group, can also utilize the PayPay Card.
Even for those using low-cost SIMs,
it is a nice point to be able to receive benefits as a card within the same group.
How to use PayPay points earned with the PayPay Card
・Can be used for payments at PayPay member stores
(One of the largest numbers of participating stores in the country)
・Shopping on Yahoo! Shopping
・Shopping at LOHACO
・Apply toward SoftBank mobile charges
The greatest strength of PayPay points is that
there are just so many places to use them.
Because they can be used both in town and online, there is almost no worry about having leftover points you can't spend.
The optimal solution for heavy PayPay users
The PayPay Card shines especially for people who use PayPay on a daily basis.
By linking the PayPay Card to your PayPay payments, you can create a system to efficiently earn points with every payment.
Just by paying with PayPay at a convenience store every day, you'll find that points have accumulated unconsciously before you know it.
You can have such a wonderful experience.
Recommended for people like this
・SoftBank users, Y!mobile users
・People who use PayPay frequently
・People who use Yahoo! Shopping frequently
・People making their first credit card
☑️auPay Card: The first card for au users
Basic specs:
・Annual fee: Free forever (conditional on at least one use per year)
・Basic return rate: 1% (Ponta points)
・International brand: VISA / Mastercard
・Linked service: auPay, Ponta
What is so amazing about the auPay Card?
The auPay Card is a credit card issued by au.
Its greatest feature is its integration with Ponta points.
Earn Ponta points with a 1% return rate
Every time you pay with the auPay Card, you are awarded 1 Ponta point for every 100 yen. A 1% return rate is at the highest level among free cards, and
it is a high-return credit card on par with the d Card.
Extra points on au mobile charges and au Hikari
By paying your monthly au mobile charges with the auPay Card, points are added. Just by consolidating expenses that occur every month, such as communication costs, into card payments, points will automatically accumulate.
Expand your usability by linking with auPay
You can also use the auPay card by charging it to auPay (QR code payment). Since auPay can be used at a
wide range of merchants such as convenience stores, supermarkets, and restaurants, you can consolidate all your daily payments within the au economic zone.
Double-dipping with Ponta points is possible
At Ponta partner stores like Lawson and Kentucky Fried Chicken, you can earn both the auPay card payment points and the Ponta card presentation points at the same time. Since you can double-dip on points for the same purchase, it is quite a subtle but significant benefit.
Ways to use Ponta points earned with the auPay card
・Payments at Ponta partner stores such as Lawson, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Sukiya
・Charging and payments for auPay
・Applying to au mobile phone charges
・Recruit services such as Hot Pepper Beauty and Jalan
Since Ponta points can also be combined with Recruit points, the range of ways to use them expands even further. For those who use Lawson daily or book trips via Jalan, the benefits are particularly significant.
Recommended for these people
・au users
・People who use Lawson often
・People who collect Ponta points
・People who use auPay often
・People making their first credit card
All three cards have no annual fees for life.
The basic specs are on par and all are excellent.
And the way to choose is very simple. Make the card for the mobile carrier you are currently using. That is all.
The benefit of earning points on mobile charges is only maximized when you use your own mobile carrier's card.
Even if an au user thinks, "I'll go with the d Card because its return rate is high,"
they will not receive the point benefits on their mobile charges.
☑️Your own mobile carrier🟰The best card for you
For docomo users, the d Card
For SoftBank users, the PayPay Card
For au users, the auPay Card
You cannot go wrong with this set.
[Summary] Let's start your first card with a carrier card
Let's organize today's content properly.
If you are unsure about your first credit card,let's make a card for your own mobile carrier.
・docomo → d Card(1% return rate, iD payment, d points)
・SoftBank → PayPay Card(PayPay points, PayPay integration)
・au → auPay Card(1% return rate, Ponta integration)
All three cards have no annual fees for life. Points are automatically earned on monthly mobile charges. You steadily build your credit history through daily use.
Even if you thought credit cards were "difficult," if it is a card from your own mobile carrier,
you can start using it naturally.
And once your credit history builds up, options like gold cards and platinum cards will come into view in a few years.
Today is the starting line for your credit card life.
Please try applying from your smartphone today 😊
Thank you for reading the article to the end.
I hope it was helpful to everyone, even a little.
Click here for related articles ↓↓↓↓↓↓