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. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
    Donor TMB OG

    Didn’t realize the fee increased. Bastards!
     
  2. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
    Donor
    Oregon DucksPortland Trail BlazersSan Francisco 49'ersManchester UnitedPortland Timbers

    make your CSR the payment method for the subscription. You will get automatic statement credits for 3 months.
     
    PAHokie and RJF-GUMP like this.
  3. laxjoe

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

    aspire card just added a nice offer. spend $20 or more in dining each month and get a $20 statement credit. up to $220 for the year
    upload_2021-2-2_14-16-9.png
    apparently the surpass card has $10/month credit
     
    #13153 laxjoe, Feb 2, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2021
    TAS, CoastalOrange and ohhaithur like this.
  4. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    just before I was going to cancel the fucker
     
    MA, CoastalOrange and laxjoe like this.
  5. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    this is also a targeted offer on a bunch of other amex's

    my wifes delta plat got it

    mine didn't :(
     
    laxjoe and ohhaithur like this.
  6. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    Tons of cards (Freedom Flex, Freedom Unlimited, United, IHG, Marriott, etc) qualify for 5x on grocery, gas, drugstore spend for Feb or Feb-March.


    https://www.chase.com/mybonus
     
    BellottiBold, Menelaus, Lipp and 7 others like this.
  7. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersTennessee VolunteersBarcelonaUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamLiverpool

    Signed up for this with my Freedom and it's only 5% on gas. Was hoping for grocery and drugstore spend as well but the gas is a nice little benefit regardless.
     
  8. EMAW FC

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

    same here - thought it might vary by chase product, but both my freedom and freedom unlimited were 5% cash back for gas

    I'm at 3/24 right now with all three falling off this year. time to dip my toe back in the water. Have two rapid rewards cards for CP, Currently have CSR, Chase Freedom and Unlimited, Chase Ink Biz, Amex Bonvoy, Chase Bonvoy, Citi AAdvantage.

    Hilton Aspire the best play?
     
  9. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    Yeah the freedom cards have lower bonuses than the co-branded cards. I imagine they're seeing more and more people canceling the hotel/airline cards as the pandemic drags into a other calendar year and they are looking for ways to head that off
     
    CoastalOrange and laxjoe like this.
  10. comrade static

    comrade static i love french fries
    Donor
    Oklahoma City ThunderPhiladelphia EaglesOklahoma SoonersBarAndGrillBig 8 Conference

    Anyone have the IHG card for a referral?
     
  11. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    The public offer is for 140k so you should definitely sign up for that, but if you don't, here's my referral

    Earn 125,000 bonus points with IHG® Rewards Club Premier credit card or 75,000 bonus points with IHG® Rewards Club Travel Credit Card. I can be rewarded too, learn more.
    https://www.referyourchasecard.com/210/BWZ0LQGFCI
     
    Lipp and comrade static like this.
  12. comrade static

    comrade static i love french fries
    Donor
    Oklahoma City ThunderPhiladelphia EaglesOklahoma SoonersBarAndGrillBig 8 Conference

    oh ok. Yeah I have a targeted offer for 150k. Wasn’t sure what the referral offer points were going for
     
    TAS likes this.
  13. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    Nice. 150k is the highest offer I've ever seen for that card.
     
    comrade static likes this.
  14. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    Just came up on my 48 month anniversary for sapphire product bonus. My wife & I do P1/P2 and we have kept her CSR open the last 4 years (her 48 month is in July). Would it make sense for me to get a CSP instead of a CSR since I do not really need the CSR benefits, the annual fee is higher, and the signup bonus is less on the CSR? Is the 48 months from the date of opening the card or when I got the bonus?
     
    TAS likes this.
  15. orangeonmymind

    orangeonmymind Well-Known Member
    Atlanta BravesCarolina PanthersClemson Tigers

    I'm going to be the annoying guy who asks a question when the answer is probably in the thread somewhere. I'm taking a trip July 1st and I need to pay for 3 Delta flights. I'm looking for a solution to minimize or eliminate my out of pocket costs. The Delta card offers like 40,000 miles but it also takes them up to 3 months just to give you the miles. Any suggestions of another way to do this? I'll hook someone up with a referral if there is.
     
  16. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    If you do an amex mr or chase ur points-based card you'll get worse value likely (it's tied to cash price) but you'll get it faster which might make them the choice
     
  17. colonel_forbin

    colonel_forbin Well-Known Member
    Donor

    I have to pay $5k+ in taxes for 2020, and the IRS accepts Paypal. If I link my new Amex card to Paypal and pay taxes through Paypal, my guess is that would count towards the $5k spend?
     
    #13167 colonel_forbin, Mar 2, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 2, 2021
    HuskerInMiami likes this.
  18. colonel_forbin

    colonel_forbin Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Also this is weird, but I don't have a credit limit. It says, "This means your spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history."

    What is that about?
     
    HuskerInMiami likes this.
  19. laxjoe

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

    upload_2021-3-2_9-31-9.gif
     
    Struggler and colonel_forbin like this.
  20. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    I assume you got a charge card and not a credit card?
     
  21. colonel_forbin

    colonel_forbin Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Amex Platinum
     
  22. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    That is indeed a charge card
     
    Sportfan and colonel_forbin like this.
  23. phunkybuck

    phunkybuck Your pennies have been in my ass
    Donor TMB OG
    Ohio State BuckeyesCleveland BrownsColumbus Blue JacketsCleveland CavaliersCleveland IndiansGrateful Dead

    I was in this exact scenario a few months ago, wife still has the CSR and my 48 month anniversary hit. To me it was a no brainer to go with the CSP since it has the higher bonus and lower annual fee. I transferred the bonus points to my wife's account for the 1.5x redemption on a trip to the PNW we're planning.

    Just to be safe, I waited until 48 months after I got the original CSR bonus. Not sure on the specifics but I was fine waiting an extra month to not have any risk with it.
     
  24. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Basically my motto
     
    phunkybuck likes this.
  25. strike

    strike Well-Known Member
    Donor TMB OG
    UCF KnightsFlorida PanthersMiami DolphinsMiami Marlins

    So I have both the CSR and the AMEX Platinum and have had them both 4-5 years. Id like to downgrade one or the other or just get rid of it and replace it with something else with a nice bonus. I also have the Chase Freedom Unlimited. Should I just call both and hope one offers a bonus to stay on then cancel the other?

    My wife only has a capital one venture card. I'm considering signing her up for something as well. I see a Southwest Rapid Rewards card with a 60k bonus that looks nice. I live near Houston and Hobby is the closest airport so we fly Southwest a ton within the states. Or United if we go out of Bush.
     
    HuskerInMiami likes this.
  26. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    If you haven't received a retention offer before on the Plat then you should be able to get a 50,000MR or $500 statement credit relatively easy if you call and complain about lack of travel benefits you were able to use over the past year. With a Plat you can only downgrade to Gold or Green, both of which have AFs and you wouldn't get a sign up bonus, so I don't recommend that.
     
    strike likes this.
  27. Where Eagles Dare

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

    IRS takes credit card too
     
  28. colonel_forbin

    colonel_forbin Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Not Amex, apparently
     
    Where Eagles Dare likes this.
  29. Dildo Dawgins

    Dildo Dawgins Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Georgia BulldogsAtlanta BravesGrateful DeadBook Club

    Anyone use a CC for daycare? Starting in August I'm looking at almost $35k in annual daycare which can be paid with Visa or MC. Looking for something that could possibly be redeemed at Airbnb (preferable) or hotel and a good sign-up bonus. I currently use BOA travel card (delta plat is my #1 card but daycare doesn't take Amex) and looking for one that'll get me 2% back on daycare expenses. Google was pretty helpful but didn't know if anyone here had some advice or experience for daycare costs.
     
  30. Where Eagles Dare

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

    Ah, I've paid with my chase card so that's probably the difference
     
    colonel_forbin likes this.
  31. Where Eagles Dare

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

    I wanted to but mine only takes quickbook payments and unless I'm wrong it only does bank transfers
     
  32. Det. Frank Bullitt

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

    no experience.

    If their hands aren't tied by a corporate policy, maybe you can make a deal - prepay for the quarter or something and they let you use amex.
     
  33. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    If you have no choice, either maximize your points with Chase Freedom United (1.5x UR, if you hold Chase Sapphire Reserve, redemption amounts it up to 2.25x) or a card like Double Cash, if they're still allowing signups. To my knowledge, there are no personal cards on the market that give you more than that in terms of cash back for non-bonus categories. Capital One Spark Business usually has a signup bonus and has 2% cash back.
     
  34. HuskerInMiami

    HuskerInMiami Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Miami DolphinsNebraska Cornhuskers

    I just called Amex on my Platinum and they offered me $300 if I spent $2,000 over next 3 months. They also walked me through all the benefits I've been missing (i need to check this thread more) and was so nice I ended up leaving the call like they just gave me a grand.
     
    DuffandMuff and Struggler like this.
  35. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    I’m assuming you know of the spend $100 get $100 credit at both Best Buy and Home Depot?

    There’s also a monthly $30 PayPal credit for the first six months of 2021 which is essentially cash.

    They also just announced up to $800 in cell phone protection if you use your Plat to pay the monthly bill

    https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/01/cnn-...ress-cell-phone-protection-benefit/index.html
     
  36. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersTennessee VolunteersBarcelonaUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamLiverpool

    Depending on the type of hotel chain you are looking for, most in here suggest the Hyatt card for its value (Hyatt points tend to go farther than other hotel chain points). Personally, I have the Hyatt and the SPG AmEx and use both.
     
  37. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    Awesome thanks for the response. When your wife's 48 month hit did you cancel her CSR then apply for the CSR again for her?
     
  38. soulfly

    soulfly Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Seattle MarinersSeattle SeahawksBarcelonaSeattle SupersonicsSeattle SoundersSeattle Kraken

    Let me know how this works out if you end up doing it. I considered paying taxes with a card last year but was looking at 2% additional fee if I did so, so decided against it.
     
  39. colonel_forbin

    colonel_forbin Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Still a 2% fee, but it might be worth it in this limited circumstance
     
    soulfly likes this.
  40. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    How can I see when my bonus was posted to my account? Tried to snoop around but can only see like recent point activity.
     
  41. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Old statement
     
  42. phunkybuck

    phunkybuck Your pennies have been in my ass
    Donor TMB OG
    Ohio State BuckeyesCleveland BrownsColumbus Blue JacketsCleveland CavaliersCleveland IndiansGrateful Dead

    We haven't hit that date and won't for another year, so hard to say what we'll do. I like having the CSR for some of the benefits and assuming we'll be fully back open for travel by then, I imagine we'll downgrade and reapply for the CSR.
     
  43. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    Solid. Planning on getting back in the game (just been doing CSR pay yourself back for a year). Since I cant do a sapphire product for another few months which route should I head?

    Is this still valid - https://kevlarlover.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/Card+Recommendation+Flowchart+v16.html
    I have mainly used Chase, Hilton, and United in the past so that's where I have points but wondering if I should follow the chart and go Barclays AA, World of Hyatt, or hit Amex for the Platinum/Gold?
     
  44. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    Only lets you go back 24 months for statements
     
  45. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    My entire history is available on the chase website.
     
  46. phunkybuck

    phunkybuck Your pennies have been in my ass
    Donor TMB OG
    Ohio State BuckeyesCleveland BrownsColumbus Blue JacketsCleveland CavaliersCleveland IndiansGrateful Dead

    Yeah that's seems to be generally correct. I went with one of the Southwest Chase cards most recently because I was under 5/24 and SW has pretty good coverage out of Columbus. I'm not too familiar with the Amex offerings but others itt thread are. IMO, it ultimately comes down to what hotels/airlines fit with the type of travel you like to do. I've had Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott cards in the past and still sitting on points to eventually use at all three once travel starts opening back up.
     
  47. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersTennessee VolunteersBarcelonaUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamLiverpool

    If you decide to go the Hyatt or Marriott AmEx route:

    - Hyatt
    Earn up to 60,000 bonus points with the World of Hyatt Credit Card. I can be rewarded too, learn More.
    https://www.referyourchasecard.com/205/SZ0MXZC3CO

    - Marriott AmEx
    Apply for an American Express Card with this link. We can both get rewarded if you're approved! http://refer.amex.us/AaRONGlEMt?XLINK=MYCP
     
  48. Det. Frank Bullitt

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

    Thanks for your data point.

    I was in the last ~10 days of grace period after the AF hit on my wifes Amex Plat. She's on her 3rd year as a cardmember I think.

    We got $500 credit w/ no spend requirement. Not sure why we got that lucky, but yeah - I accepted the offer.
     
  49. Tommy Callahan

    Tommy Callahan Well-Known Member
    Donor TMB OG
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta Braves

    I did this last year around April when my af was going to be coming due. Odds I can do it again?
     
  50. pianoman

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

    Normally no, maybe COVID changed that but in past most report one retention offer and that’s it.