Black Card (Visa credit card)
Launched in 2008, Black Card is a Visa credit card that allows its members access to various luxuries and rewards.
Although it is often referred to as the Visa Black Card to differentiate it from American Express's black-colored Centurion Card, the Black Card program is not run by Visa Inc. Rather, the program is managed by a company named Black Card LLC, a division of ThinkTank Holdings, while the card itself is issued by Barclaycard.
Features
Holders of the card receive such benefits as cashback bonuses, worldwide acceptance, a 24-hour concierge service and gifts.
The concierge service offers a wide variety of services including entertainment planning, business services, gift arrangement, travel information and assistance.
The company also offers travel insurance for luggage, trip interruption/cancellation, rental car damages, warranty manager service, and purchase security on up to $500 per claim. The $495 yearly fee gives members limited enrollment in the VIP lounge program that provides access to many airport lounges.
Media
In early 2009, the card’s full-page New York Times ad was the focus of a Stephen Colbert segment where he joked, “Visa: it's everywhere you want to be, unless that place is a Jimmy Buffett concert.” The Black Card Visa has also been featured as the première high-end credit card in Vegas magazine, Ocean Drive, Capitol File, LA Confidential.
Legal disputes
Black Card LLC successfully registered the term "Black Card" as a U.S. trademark in 2009. However, American Express offers its own exclusive black-colored card called the Centurion Card, which it contends was popularly known as "the Black Card" well before the launch of the Black Card Visa card, despite never seeking to trademark that name itself. American Express filed suit against Black Card LLC in February 2010, claiming that the trademark was obtained improperly and seeking injunctive relief against Black Card LLC.