The Diners Club card reminds me of when I was a little kid and my grandparents took me out for lunch.
Some who are familiar with the Diners Club card may be shocked to learn it still exists but indeed the Diners Club card lives on.
Launched in 1950, the Diners Club Card was the first charge card that could be used for making purchases in retail locations that accepted the card. It was the start of the financial revolution into what we know well in society today. It changed the way consumers and businesses could pay for services and products.
The card was born after a gentleman named Frank McNamara finished a dinner out in a New York restaurant. When he went to pay the bill, he realized he had left his cash in another suit. From that day on, McNamara was determined to never face such embarrassment again and thusly developed the Diners Club.
Back then and still today, the Diners Club was the premier card for travel and entertainment. It was given to customers of a certain income and required payment in full upon receipt, much like today’s charge cards. Once American Express and then other major card companies started to compete, the Diner’s Club Card lost its steam in the late 60’s.
However competitive the industry, the Diners Club card is still recognized and widely used around the world. According to the company’s website, ‘select and upscale consumers’ and ‘corporations and small business owners’ use the card for its ‘complete array of expense management solutions’. The card is accepted in more than 185 countries and by millions of merchants. The card is owned by Discover Financial Services.
Where the Diners Club Card Works
There is no specific list of where the card is accepted but the card does offer traditional benefits expected from a credit card. The card charges an annual fee of $95 for membership. The membership includes rewards programs and benefits that allow users to redeem points for frequent flier miles and hotel stays, travel discounts, insurance for travel, roadside assistance, and concierge services.
For businesses that utilize the Diners Club card, exclusive Carte Blanche privileges including unlimited companion tickets on British Airways, worldwide access to golfing, hotel incentives, international cell phone rental, and even access to a private jet for business travel.
It seems that Diners Club cards are also accepted and quite popular with online sports betting sites, casinos, and poker rooms. Interestingly, in 2010 the Diners Club International was the official credit card sponsor of fifty-four bullfights in Quito and Ecuador, and around South America.
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