firsts

[snoopydoops]

what was the world's first charge card

[shaneystar2]

Could be ....In 1914 Western Union offered the first charge card for consumers.

[jno]

Diner's Club, see here

[jno]

oh, you're right shaneystar (as usual); I didn't read the question properly and thought it said credit card. <hangs head and shuffles away>

[Pinotage]

Problem I have with the link to About.com is that she calls Diners a credit card, which it is not. It is a charge card.

I've not heard about the Western Union card - would appreciate more info.

I think it usually accepted that Diners was the first card where you could sign for goods/services from a range of different suppliers that you - the card holder - had not arranged credit with.

Businesses have offered account services to clients for years before, and thats what the Western Union one sounds like.

[shaneystar2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Union
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diners_Club
Diners Club is in theory also a charge card..but it was not founded until 1950.

[shaneystar2]

And here is their website
http://www.westernunion.com/info/aboutUsHistory.asp

[Pinotage]

Thanks shaneystar for the link.

Seems what WU was first at was offering a card to the customers to prove they were entitled to credit, whereas Diners was the first to offer a charge card where buying goods/services on credit was available from a number of merchants, like a modern credit card.