Credit Card Thread - Now with a Beginner's Guide to free travel/FAQ

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by blind dog, Apr 10, 2015.

  1. Struggler

    Struggler Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCincinnati Bengals

    Just got the 100,000 platinum Amex offer in the mail. I’m 1/5.
    Is this still a value at $550?
    Have CSR and Amex Hilton Aspire (probably cancel this month after $450 fee hits)
     
  2. pianoman

    pianoman my drinks are free
    Donor TMB OG
    Michigan WolverinesChicago CubsDetroit Red Wings

    100%

    $100 Saks credit
    $200 Uber credit that can be used for UberEats
    There's work around that you can use the $200 airline credit for flights for Delta
    And the 100,000 points make it probably altogether a $2,000 total value
     
    Det. Frank Bullitt and Struggler like this.
  3. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Yeah, aren't they doing huge MR kickbacks for grocery and restaurant spending now too?
     
  4. C A N E

    C A N E Let justice be done though the heavens fall
    Donor
    Miami HurricanesMiami Heat

    Called to cancel my Schwab Platinum today. Offered 50k MR points. Easy kop.
     
    DuffandMuff and pratyk like this.
  5. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    I'm about to call tomorrow. Cashed out 250k MR via Schwab just in case.
     
    DuffandMuff likes this.
  6. i am a bammer

    i am a bammer Ben Eblen>Jamychal Green
    Donor TMB OG
    Alabama Crimson TideSan Diego Padres

    Is the 70k offer good for the Amex gold? I'm in a high-spend situation at the moment so it'd be good to know.
     
  7. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    sheesh that's a ton of points
     
  8. C A N E

    C A N E Let justice be done though the heavens fall
    Donor
    Miami HurricanesMiami Heat

    If you didn’t get a retention offer last year on the same card, you should be good.

    I chatted (said called in my first post, not sure why) with them and was done in 10 mins.
     
  9. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Green Bay PackersNew Orleans SaintsGrateful DeadMississippi Rebels

    Looking into planning a new honeymoon for when covid passes, and it seems that currently the best non-airline/hotel specific offer is the 100,000+ Amex Platinum offer.

    two questions. The first is whether there is any way to check for offer eligibility aside from credit cards.com? The second is whether I should 100% sign up before 12/31 or if it can wait. I’ve seen conflicting info.

    Amex Platinum features and current sign up bonus are pretty hard to resist, not gonna lie
     
  10. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
    Staff Donor
    LSU TigersTexas RangersNew Orleans SaintsFulhamDulwich Hamlet

    I got a 60k points offer in the mail to upgrade my Amex Gold to Platinum. What do I need to do to get the 100k offer? Just wait?

    Anyone have any experience with asking them to match?
     
  11. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    They used to pop up on cardmatch if you checked using their prequalified tool or something.
     
    BayouMafia likes this.
  12. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Not sure how available 100k offers if you already have an Amex
     
    BayouMafia likes this.
  13. BellottiBold

    Donor
    Oregon Ducks

    any bonvoy types doing the amex card?
    thoughts? I like the sound of that bonus and the current annual fee/perks seem to make it pretty comparable to CSP
     
  14. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Are you referring to the 125k point bonus? $450 annual fee so it's comparable to the CSR IMO. Includes Priority Pass.

    The Bonvoy Visa card doesn't so bad. Three free nights after $3k in first three months. Only $95 AF.
     
    BellottiBold likes this.
  15. BellottiBold

    Donor
    Oregon Ducks

    yep. Yea I meant csR... bloops.
    and I already have the visa, probably drop it.
     
    DuffandMuff likes this.
  16. LeVar Burton

    LeVar Burton Knee deep in a dynasty, ROLL TIDE!
    Kansas JayhawksAlabama Crimson Tide

    Any ideas on what to do with Amex Platinum airline fee credit?
     
  17. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
    Donor
    Oklahoma State CowboysHouston AstrosHouston TexansTiger Woods

    United Club passes for me
     
  18. pianoman

    pianoman my drinks are free
    Donor TMB OG
    Michigan WolverinesChicago CubsDetroit Red Wings

    If you apply a Delta gift card on a flight that’s more than $250 to get the cost down to between $200 and $250, it’ll mark the rest of the payment as additional collection if you use your Platinum to pay the difference and that triggers the credit. I do it each year with refundable flights and then cancel the flight and they’ll give you the entire cost of the flight back as an Ecredit. I’d check flyertalk to make sure it’s still working because I do it in January each year.
     
  19. LeVar Burton

    LeVar Burton Knee deep in a dynasty, ROLL TIDE!
    Kansas JayhawksAlabama Crimson Tide

    I have southwest chosen and I just read sub $99 flights also trigger the credit. Cancel and take the points? Any word on that in here?
     
  20. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    United Travelbank
     
  21. THEBLUERAIDER

    THEBLUERAIDER Well-Known Member
    Donor
    St. Louis CardinalsTennessee TitansNashville PredatorsMiddle Tennessee State Blue Raiders

  22. LeVar Burton

    LeVar Burton Knee deep in a dynasty, ROLL TIDE!
    Kansas JayhawksAlabama Crimson Tide

    Apparently if you pay per month for Amazon with the platinum card it would trigger the streaming credit.

    Free prime with $7 credit left over every month.
     
    #13022 LeVar Burton, Dec 30, 2020
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2020
    Struggler likes this.
  23. Struggler

    Struggler Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCincinnati Bengals

    I believe CSR 2020 DoorDash $60 expires today.
     
    Lyrtch and ohhaithur like this.
  24. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    "You can earn up to a total of $60 in statement credits for DoorDash food purchases for the first year until December 31, 2020."

    Nice catch, thanks
     
    Struggler likes this.
  25. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
    Donor TMB OG
    Texas LonghornsManchester United

    Struggler and ohhaithur like this.
  26. TheBabyShrimp

    TheBabyShrimp Well-Known Member
    Clemson Tigers

    I've never used door dash and already have dinner plans. Can I buy a gift card or something? Hate to leave $60 sitting there
     
    PAHokie likes this.
  27. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
    Donor
    Penn State Nittany LionsGreen Bay PackersChelseaHartford WhalersPhoenix Rising

    Just order something you can reheat easily tomorrow?
     
    ohhaithur and TheBabyShrimp like this.
  28. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    around here theres ice cream places that sell pints and stuff on it, can go that route too
     
    ohhaithur and TheBabyShrimp like this.
  29. TheBabyShrimp

    TheBabyShrimp Well-Known Member
    Clemson Tigers

    I should have specified wifey has meals planned for days since we have family here (yes we got COVID tests).

    Good thinking. One red velvet cake from cold stone creamery on its way.

    The other dessert places listed were Applebee's, McDonalds, and Hooters.
     
    ohhaithur, Jimmy the Saint and Lyrtch like this.
  30. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    I'm going to just get booze :yousoright:
     
  31. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    delta award booking on virgin just got devalued to an insane degree

    if I can't go to japan in May or can't reschedule i'm going to get smoked by it
     
  32. C A N E

    C A N E Let justice be done though the heavens fall
    Donor
    Miami HurricanesMiami Heat

    Lots of good Amex offers loaded up today on platinum cards. $50 off when you spend $50 at Home Depot and Best Buy (up to 2x)
     
    DuffandMuff, $P1 and pratyk like this.
  33. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    Also had a Container Store spend 150 get 50 back (2x). All expire in June 2021. Great way to start the week.
     
  34. C A N E

    C A N E Let justice be done though the heavens fall
    Donor
    Miami HurricanesMiami Heat

    Bought some new silverware from home depot. It'll last about one month because my wife loves leaving her containers and shit at work.
     
  35. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    I’ve already bought a lot from Home Depot and container store in December but I’m sure I’ll use it all up by the time we move next month.

    Ofcourse, who (more precisely, who's wife) doesn't like all of those sweet sweet containers.
     
    #13035 pratyk, Jan 4, 2021
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2021
    ohhaithur likes this.
  36. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
    Donor TMB OG
    Texas LonghornsManchester United

    Considering paying property taxes on amex plat. I'm looking at a 2.15% fee but should have earnings closer to 3.0% (or more depending on redemption) in Amex MR points.

    I assume you fellow point mongers do the same when the earnings exceed (even slightly) the fee to pay via CC?
     
    steamengine likes this.
  37. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
    Donor TMB OG
    Texas LonghornsManchester United

    These are some of the best offers loaded up IMO.

    It won't be hard to use these and knock an effective $200 off the AF with just these credits. BB credit would get you a free free roku/fire tv device or alexa speaker etc. HD even has Ring/Nest products for the smart home users out there.

    Mine are set to expire end of June, but I'll be using these soon to make sure they aren't removed quickly to lots of users claiming this.
     
  38. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    Amex Plati replaced the 20$ streaming and cellphone credit with a 30$ PayPal credit each month through June.
     
    DuffandMuff and Struggler like this.
  39. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    I got the home depot $50x2 offer but not Best Buy

    this is boolshit

    also just set up recurring $30 paypal to starbucks card reloads (seems like this will work) while the paypal credit is going

    getting a use for the travel credit this year could be an adventure as I have so many ecredits backed up the gift card trick to getting it to reimburse for a flight booking is probably not something i'll even have a chance to do
     
  40. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesWashington Football TeamAtlanta United

    Seems like a great gain for the main board dot com
     
  41. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Hey guys-

    Question...I have a friend with a decent amount of CC debt across four different cards. I’m thinking like $10k-$20k (don’t want to ask for exact detail). What would be her best option to consolidate all of this? I know a couple of the cards have >15% interest rate.
     
  42. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    1. Yell at her
    2. I'd say the doublecash. She'll pay 3% balance transfer but then have 18 months to pay it off and get a 1% discount after she does so

    If she can't pay it off in 18 months she needs to speak with an expert, not us
     
  43. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
    Donor
    San Diego State AztecsSan Diego Padres

    3. Probably yell at her again, just to be safe
     
  44. Struggler

    Struggler Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCincinnati Bengals

    :rules:
     
  45. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    DuffandMuff likes this.
  46. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    Discover is usually an easier approval and I think they also offer 0% balance transfers
     
  47. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
    Donor TMB OG
    Texas LonghornsManchester United

    Re the transfer.

    Or Plastiq 2.85% fee (I think) on any card you like, hopefully one with a long 0% intro period.
     
    DuffandMuff likes this.
  48. Baseballman86

    Baseballman86 Well-Known Member
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta BravesAtlanta Falcons

    My SIL has a charcuterie business and spends probably $50K a year at clubs (costco, Sam’s etc) and grocery. Is there a business card that would best fit her, or just best to go with the personal cards that reward grocery?
    Any recommendations?
     
  49. EMAW FC

    EMAW FC Proud Smucker
    Donor
    Kansas State WildcatsKansas City RoyalsKansas City ChiefsFulhamSporting Kansas CitySneakers

    Chase Freedom has 5% cash back Q1 2021 for wholesale clubs. Obviously not a long term solution but she'd be able to get the welcome bonus along with 5% cash back through 3/31/21. Welcome bonus is $200 with $500 minimum spend.
     
    Baseballman86 likes this.
  50. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCleveland Browns

    Capital one spark. Unlimited 2% back.