Can Travel Insurance Save You From These Deadly Creatures?
- By CompareHero.my
- August 16, 2019
Travel insurance is pretty good at making sure that travelers get home safe and sound after something nasty has happened, or be fairly compensated for mishaps or flight delays. For some, a holiday could be to a safari or a skiing trip. So being airlifted off a mountain after a skiing accident, for example, or getting someone on the next flight home should they fall ill on holiday are some of the examples how travel insurance helps a person.
In the case of going on a safari, or even jungle trekking, where animals are unpredictable, ensure you follow advice of the tour leader or guide! Travel insurance policies won’t cover you if you put yourself at a needless risk or don’t follow the advice of the experts. And should someone fall foul of any of these deadly creatures below, then the travel insurance could well save a life… if one has long enough!
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[FLASH DEAL] Credit Card Promotion from CompareHero.my
- By CompareHero.my
- August 13, 2019
[13 – 15 AUGUST 2019] FLASH DEAL
Apply for a Citibank credit card through us, during the Flash Deal sign-up period, and make a minimum of 8 times retail spend (any amount) after you activate your new card. The fastest 70 new cardholders to make 8 times retail spend will receive an Apple iPad 9.7-inch, 32GB Wi-Fi (worth RM 1,447) for FREE!
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How Fast Is The Personal Loan Process? [INFOGRAPHIC]
- By CompareHero.my
- August 12, 2019
You’ve heard of fast loans, but just how fast is the fast in fast loans? Let’s find out with this handy infographic that traces the steps from comparing personal loans on from application, all the way to disbursement. And aside from learning just how fast the loans are, you also get to find out which documents you need to be ready with so that you can make the application process smoother.
See also: What Are Fast Approval Loans? And How Do You Get One?
At least one point in an adult’s life, we take out a loan to buy things, pay for things, or even start a business. Personal loans can be a wonderful solution when you need fast cash with no collateral and a few questions asked. Sometimes, you get approved for your personal loan almost immediately. Some lenders these days boast of 5-30 minute approval to cash-out, but it can range while some still take 24 hours up to 5 business days or a week to process loan applications and approvals.
See also: 7 Costly Mistakes You Make When Taking Out A Personal Loan
Before applying for a loan, it helps to first estimate the maximum loan amount you could borrow from a lending institution. While banks often have their own distinct standards of loan eligibility, they tend to use the same range of data to calculate how much they can lend you.
Tips for fast loan processing
- Be ready with your requirements
- Documents required include copy of MyKad, latest payslips, EPF statement, and details of your disbursement account.
- You have to be at least 18 years old.
- You have to be a Malaysian citizen or a permanent resident
- Not all banks disburse loans as quickly as an hour. Take not of the process before you choose the loan.
- Getting a personal loan from a bank you have a relationship with can also speed up the process.
You have shopped around for the best deals on personal loans, even asked friends and family for recommendations and compared the different personal loans available, to find that “perfect” loan to suit you and your financial situation. Seems like the perfect plan to cover all the bases and make an air-tight application. Yet, it still leads to a “REJECTED” stamp. So why did the bank reject your application? READ HERE.
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The Best Credit Cards for Different Income Groups – 2019 Edition
- By CompareHero.my
- August 11, 2019
* Updated Nov 21, 2019
Having a credit card can be a boon, especially when you are strapped for cash and you need to make important payments. However, the wrong credit card can do you more harm than good. Therefore, identifying the best credit card for your income level is vital to prevent yourself from ending up neck deep in debt.
To save you the trouble, we’ve done all the hard work on your behalf and compiled the best credit cards for Malaysians across various income groups – from RM24,000 per annum right up to more than RM100,000 yearly.
Contents
Best Credit Cards for Yearly Income of RM24,000 – RM48,000
Citi Simplicity+ Card – minimum annual income requirement: RM24,000
Being one of the most prestigious financial institutions worldwide, it should not be surprising that the bank offers one of the best credit cards available today. One of the best benefits that this card offers is 10% interest back on purchases and cash advances every month when you pay at least the minimum monthly due amount on-time.
Befitting its name, the card offers added simplicity for users whereby the rebates will automatically credited in the upcoming month’s statement.
Another reason to consider applying for this card is Citibank’s renowned exclusive deals programme, Citi World Privileges, which allows users to enjoy special deals and discounts locally and in 95 other countries.
Maybank 2 Gold Cards – minimum annual income requirement: RM30,000
As one of the country’s oldest and most established banks, it’s not surprising that Maybank’s credit cards are featured on this list. Coming in a pair, Maybank’s 2 Gold Cards consist of an American Express and a Mastercard credit card.
The Amex card gives users 5% Cash Back for all purchases (except for government bodies and utilities) on weekends (capped at RM50 per month), which are plus points to consider – especially if you are often out and about.
If you are just starting out in your career, these cards are a great option to apply for because of its zero annual fee – making them great introductory credit cards for mid-income earners.
Maybank Petronas Visa – minimum annual income requirement: RM30,000
As far as rewards points go, this card is one of the best cards to have. The card offers up to 8x rewards points on weekends and 5x on weekdays per RM1 spent at Petronas petrol stations nationwide. Moreover, you can also use the accumulated TreatsPoints (rewards points) to redeem for Petronas petrol vouchers, enabling to save more on fuel!
This card is most ideal for individuals who are often on the road, as they can take full advantage of it to redeem TreatsPoints while refueling at Petronas petrol stations.
Meanwhile, the card offers 8x TreatsPoints for groceries purchases every weekend and a lifetime annual fee waiver.
Best Credit Cards for Yearly Income of RM48,000 – RM96,000
Standard Chartered WorldMiles World MasterCard – minimum annual income requirement: RM90,000
If you are a globetrotter, then this card is the one for you. This card grants its holders a myriad of travel privileges, including unlimited access to the Plaza Premium Lounges when you travel internationally, enabling you to indulge in the best luxuries that KLIA and KLIA2 have to offer.
This card also enables you to collect 4.5 WorldMiles points for every RM3 spent overseas, which in turn can be converted into AirMiles for your preferred frequent flyer programme.
AmBank BonusLink Visa Signature – minimum annual income requirement: RM80,000
Are you always on the hunt for the best entertainment events and the trendiest dining spots? This card was created for you to live life to the fullest. First off, you’ll be able to collect 30 BonusLink points for every RM20 spent on Shell petrol, Parkson purchases, dining, grocery shopping, online transactions and entertainment expenditure!
By applying for this card, you’ll also have complimentary access to Plaza Premium Lounge with a minimum spend of RM500 within 30 days before and/or 30 days after each lounge access. You’ll also be entitled for up to RM2,000,000 worth of travel insurance.
Best Credit Cards for Yearly Income of RM100,000 and Above
Citi PremierMiles Visa Card – minimum annual income requirement: RM100,000
Unlimited access to Plaza Premium Lounge in Malaysia all-year round? Check.
PremierMiles points that never expire? Check.
Deals and discounts in over 90 countries globally? Check.
Travel more miles and in style with less hassle with this card. Earn 2 PremierMiles points for every RM3 spent overseas and on selected travel merchants such as AirAsia.com, MalaysiaAirlines, Agoda.com, AirBnB, Cathay Pacific Airlines, Expedia.com, Singapore Airlines, and Traveloka.com.
Moreover, as a Citi PremierMiles cardholder, you’ll be rewarded with 10,000 PremierMiles every year on your card anniversary upon paying your annual fee. Best of all, these rewards points have no expiry period – meaning that you have your whole life to enjoy the benefits they offer.
In addition, PremierMiles can be used to redeem Frequent Flyer Program (FFP) Miles from participating airlines. For every 1,500 PremierMiles, you can redeem 1,000 FFP Miles.
With all that is said and done, you have to keep in mind that regardless of how good a credit card is, you should still use it responsibly to avoid yourself from falling into the treacherous pit of debt. If the recommendations above are not what you’re looking for, you can access our comprehensive list of credit cards here!
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Malaysians Will Have To Pay To Leave The Country
- By CompareHero.my
- August 10, 2019
Source: The Star
Malaysians will have to pay a departure levy ranging from RM8 to RM150 when travelling out of the country starting Sept 1. In a gazette published on July 31, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has fixed Sept 1 as the effective date for the departure levy.
According to the Departure Levy (Rate of Departure Levy) Order 2019, anyone leaving Malaysia for Asean countries will be charged RM8 for flights in economy class and RM50 for other classes.
For flights to countries outside Asean, Malaysians travelling in economy class will be charged RM20 while those in other classes will have to fork out RM150.
Asean countries listed are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Under the Departure Levy (Exemption) Order 2019, it is pointed out that infants and toddlers aged below 24 months, pedestrians and individuals riding by themselves in any type of vehicle for personal use, including any passenger in or pillion rider on such a vehicle, will be exempted from the levy.
Exemptions include any crew on duty on board the aircraft and passengers in transit arriving at any international airport in Malaysia heading towards their next destination not exceeding 12 hours.
The order also exempts commercial vehicles operators carrying workers to an oil rig or platform, government vehicles carrying passengers from Malaysia, and water or land vehicles.
Update source: The Malay Mail
How does our exit tax compare against Asean neighbours?
Here’s a quick recap of Malaysia’s new departure tax:
Children aged below two years are exempted, and in case you are wondering, it is an international standard.
Just be aware that this departure levy collection is to be paid to the government, and is separate from the passenger service charge of RM35 (Asean destinations) and RM70 (non-Asean international destinations) that is already being collected and paid to Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad — the main airport operator in the country — for the maintenance and improvement of airport facilities.
Please do note that the terms used by different countries on the fees may not be the same. It is also not always clear if the fees are airport taxes (which seem interchangeable with Malaysia’s passenger service charges) or actual departure taxes, as different terms may be used depending on the source.
1. Thailand
According to IATA, an airport tax of 700 baht (RM94.93 at current exchange rates) is charged on transit passengers if they leave the transit area and if the tax has not been included in their flight tickets. IATA says the 700 baht tax is to be paid in Thai currency before these transit passengers (who leave the transit area) depart from Thailand.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand’s information on PSC as of November 18, 2016, the rates collected depends on which operator handles which airport. For example, 700 baht (RM94.93) and 100 baht (RM13.56) is the PSC for international destinations and domestic destinations at the six airports operated by Thailand Public Company Limited and perhaps most familiar to tourists (Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai and Phuket).
Thailand’s official tourism website states that international departure taxes are now included in flight ticket prices, but did not specify the rates. It said there are no official departure taxes for domestic flights, but said some privately-owned airports such as Koh Samui Airport has been known to impose such fees.
2. Myanmar
According to IATA, everyone flying out of Myanmar has to pay an airport tax of US$20 (RM83.14 at current exchange rates), while the airport tax for domestic flights is in its currency 3,000 khat (RM8.25 at current exchange rates).
This airport tax has to be paid at the airport of departure, with those exempted being passengers on transit using the same plane or crew members on duty.
3. Philippines
A travel tax is imposed on those who fly out of the country, with 50 per cent going to its Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza), 40 per cent to the Commission on Higher Education for tourism-related educational programmes and courses, and the remaining to the country’s National Commission for Culture and Arts. Those exempted from paying the travel tax include overseas Filipino workers (Filipinos who are permanent residents abroad and with a stay period of below a year in the Philippines), infants aged below two, crew members, students on government scholarship, government staff on official trips.
The full travel tax rate is applicable to both citizens and non-citizens travelling on economy class at 1,620 pesos (RM130.72), or first class ticket-holders at PHP2,700 (RM217.86). A standard reduced travel tax rate for economy class at PHP810 (RM65.36) and for first class at PHP1,350 (RM108.93) applies to children from the age of two years and one day to 12 years, accredited Filipino journalists on a work trip, those authorised by the Philippines president for national interest. Even cheaper rates under the category of privileged reduced travel tax apply to those on economy class at PHP300 (RM24.21) or first class at PHP400 (RM32.28), if they are an overseas Filipino worker’s legitimate spouse, disabled child with no age limits, or unmarried children below the age of 21.
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