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. The_Baumer

    The_Baumer Go Mordecai!
    Donor

    My wife is coming up on her 48 months without a Sapphire. Is there a way to be sure that you’re eligible for the sign up bonus prior to applying? I want to make sure she’ll get it.
     
  2. Det. Frank Bullitt

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

    I believe Chase agents on the phone can tell you, or maybe that is Amex.

    At worst, wait another 60 days.

    It might even be worth to see fine print. For instance is it from account opening or from the date you actually qualified/earned the last welcome offer?
     
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  3. Uncle Tupelo

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

    I think its from the 48 months from the month you earned the bonus, not from when you were approved from the card. I would even go a month beyond that, just to play it safe.
     
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  4. Jimmy the Saint

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

    Round up to at least the next month. I ran into this issue with Chase when they claimed I wasn't under 5/24.
     
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  5. laxjoe

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

    so i had previously applied for the Amex Platinum card but was told I wasn't eligible for the bonus offer due to history with amex, other bonus offers received, etc. (whatever that standard answer is).

    and then out of the blue, I just got a targeted email offer for 100K MR points for the card. if i get that targeted offer, does that mean I'm eligible for the bonus points or would I still have to apply and see if get that same message? and how long are those targeted offers open for? I just opened two other cards in the last 2 months and I'm not sure i want to open a 3rd so soon.
     
  6. C A N E

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

    Youd have to apply to see if you get the popup. Doubt it if you were targeted. The recent new accounts could make things a little weird.

    I’d get the vanilla platinum first and then move on to Schwab platinum for that sign up bonus once you get all your other bonuses accumulated.
     
  7. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    You can see if you get the pop up or just call them. Does the email or link in the email not have an offer expiration date?

    If you're worried about meeting minimum spend or impact on your credit score with another hard pull then maybe don't open the card. If not, I'd go ahead with that offer. 100K MR is just about near the top of Amex Plat.

    I took a 70K offer two years ago and got a 10K bonus immediately after opening and enrolling in Pay Over Time. I took the 50K MR retention offer last year and plan on canceling and opening the Schwab Plat at the end of this year.
     
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  8. Alshon

    Alshon Well-Known Member
    Donor
    South Carolina Gamecocks

    ty chase for knocking $100 off the reserve af this year.
     
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  9. laxjoe

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

    100k MR points are on their way to the lax household. Let’s go:chatzy:
     
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  10. The_Baumer

    The_Baumer Go Mordecai!
    Donor

    Yup, with the travel, Peloton, and DoorDash credits, this card pays me to keep it in my wallet.
     
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  11. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

  12. tjosu

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

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  13. Tecumseh

    Tecumseh Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Cleveland BrownsOhio State Buckeyes

    I got a Venture card in January of 2018. Does anyone know how long you have to wait to get another bonus? I can't find any language about it on the CO site...
     
  14. BellottiBold

    Donor
    Oregon Ducks

    any of you use that cardmatch tool TPG has for finding targeted offers? Just wondering what experiences folks may have had...
     
  15. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    I haven't but I can assure you its goal is not to help you
     
  16. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    Well I'd like to add 1 caveat - not sure if it's the same as cardmatch.com but that's one of the few ways to get a targeted 100k amex platinum offers. Well it worked in the past anyway.
     
  17. BellottiBold

    Donor
    Oregon Ducks

    Well sure, it's teeing you up for their advertisers, for one.
     
  18. ButchCassidy

    ButchCassidy Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesColumbus CrewUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamSneakers

    What am I missing here?

    I made a purchase for $24.05 on my Chase Amazon card on March 31. I paid the entire balance on the card ($24.05) on April 2nd. I check today, and have a $7.88 PURCHASE INTEREST CHARGE on April 5th.

    I thought if I paid the balance off by the due date, I wouldn't get any interest fees?
     
  19. NoNatty

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

    i imagine the payment on April 2nd (Friday) didn’t clear before the due date. The Amazon card takes way longer to post than other chase cards in my experience.
     
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  20. ButchCassidy

    ButchCassidy Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesColumbus CrewUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamSneakers

    So I just shouldn't use it late in the month/close to closing date, gotcha.

    Closing date is the 5th, so I need more time for payment to process, doesn't actually go by the date I paid.
     
  21. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCincinnati BengalsXavier MusketeersFC CincinnatiTottenham HotspurUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Just setup automatic monthly payments and pay the full amount.
     
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  22. Where Eagles Dare

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

    What's the easiest way to cancel a chase card? I need to cancel my two chase business cards. already paid the AF on the 1st one in January and hte AF just hit on the second
     
  23. NoNatty

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

    are they less than 2-years old? If so, downgrade them to a no fee card by calling the line. They’ll prorate a refund for the annual fee.
     
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  24. laxjoe

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

    if it's not already, definitely set up automatic payments for the card. that said, that doesn't seem to make sense. wouldn't the charge from march 31 be part of the next statement (payment due in may)? did you have any charges in February that you may have not paid in full?
     
  25. laxjoe

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

    downgrade to the ink business no fee card. it's super simple and you'll get your AF refunded (prorated)
     
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  26. Where Eagles Dare

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

    Both of them are at their 2 year mark. I already paid the 2nd AF on one b/c I was lazy and didn't downgrade or cancel. Now the 2nd AF on the other just hit.

    can I do this online? I didn't see an easy option in the chase portal
     
  27. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    There is no way those two are related. That's a 30% hit when your DPR is certainly under 0.1%
     
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  28. ButchCassidy

    ButchCassidy Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesColumbus CrewUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamSneakers

    I'm not really sure. I paid off the remaining balance on 03/19. Was buying something small on amazon on the 31st, so figured I'd just use the card and then pay it off right away.

    Maybe the interest charge is from earlier in the month, just bad timing on my part?
    upload_2021-4-9_11-20-33.png
     
  29. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    You paid the minimum on the 12th and the rest in full on the 19th. The $7 is your interest from March 12 to March 19 on $1,175
     
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  30. ButchCassidy

    ButchCassidy Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesColumbus CrewUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamSneakers

    Thanks.

    So moving forward, as long as I pay off each purchase, there should be no interest? Do you pay it off BEFORE the closing date?
     
  31. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    Sign up for auto-pay and choose "pay in full" and never think about it again

    You'll have between 31-60 days to pay off a purchase without interest. So for example your March 31 purchase (and any other purchase between March 6 and April 5) would normally go on your April 5 bill which is likely due on May 4. You paid it off early but you could've paid it off on May 4 and been fine.
     
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  32. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    For chase, when setting up your autopay, select "statement balance".
     
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  33. BellottiBold

    Donor
    Oregon Ducks

    (Fwiw I realized this isn't TPG's thing... allllll the points/miles blogs have their own referral links to it, a third party tool)
     
  34. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    Got 20k MR for activating Pay over time on the wife's amex plat. Not bad at all..
     
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  35. laxjoe

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

    Anyone have thoughts on Marriott cards? We have a wedding and new ac unit so we’re trying to maximize cards. Already have the Amex plat (me), and sapphire preferred (her), plus aa and United cards (me) over the past few months. We’re looking at this one for her
    https://apply.americanexpress.com/marriottbonvoymclp17/

    We already have the Hilton cards and will be staying at a Marriott in August as part of our honeymoon.
     
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  36. Weedlord420

    Weedlord420 Well-Known Member
    TMB OG
    Florida State SeminolesWashington NationalsWashington CapitalsOlympics

    Chase hit me with a preapproval for the 80k/$50 grocery bonus and I’m having a real hard time saying no
     
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  37. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    Having a planned Marriott stay where you would presumably eat into the $300 credit makes the card more valuable.

    I also prefer the AMEX Marriott over the chase version because the Chase 35k free night misses out on a lot of properties since Marriott devalued their points. The AMEX version gets you a free night up to 50k. That along with the enhanced signup and $200 restaurant credit made it worth it a no-brainer for me, at least for one or two annual cycles.


    Here's my referall link for the 125k signup if you're into that sort of thing

    Apply for an American Express Card with this link. We can both get rewarded if you're approved! http://refer.amex.us/BONNIN55O1?xl=cp01
     
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  38. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    Do it for those of us who aren't eligible
     
  39. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    For the CSP?
     
  40. Weedlord420

    Weedlord420 Well-Known Member
    TMB OG
    Florida State SeminolesWashington NationalsWashington CapitalsOlympics

  41. C A N E

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

    There’s a Amex Biz Gold offer for 80k MR points with $6k spend that I can’t fucking generate.

    Easy cash out through Schwab.
     
  42. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    Got a mailer for 100k Amex platinum a few months ago and went forward with that. Few days ago I got another mailer specifically to me for the Amex platinum for 125k. I assume even if I apply for it they wont let me get it or is there some loophole? Can I use it for my wife?
     
  43. pratyk

    pratyk Arsenal FC, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
    Rutgers Scarlet KnightsArsenal

    You can't have 2 amex plats (unless one of them is the schwab version). You can try call up customer service and match the bonus but that doesn't always work with Amex.
     
  44. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    Side note, hit 48 months on my sapphire bonus posting date so I applied for the chase sapphire preferred bonus of 80k and was approved. The specific language is that it has to be 48 months after the closing date for the statement in which your rewards bonus appeared.

    I also signed up for a site called Walletflo (its free). You can log all of your cards on their including if you have P1 & P2 and it does things like tell you all the cards you have open and closed, fees and when they hit, applications you are considering and the specific rules for getting approved and if you meet them, best cards to use for different purchases based on the cards you have, etc. Really good tool it seems like
     
    #13294 LSU90, Apr 22, 2021
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2021
  45. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    How much info do you have to give them?
     
  46. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    You dont link your cards or accounts or anything. Literally just tell them the card you have and the details on the card. To get an account you can just put a bullshit name and all that if you dont want to give them that but they will need an email address as a login and verification.
     
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  47. laxjoe

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

    Didn’t realize that chase extended the pay yourself back to 9/30/21. That’s nice
     
    tjsblue, CoastalOrange, LSU90 and 5 others like this.
  48. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    AMEX Plat Users

    I was offered 20,000 MRs for enrolling in the Pay Over Time feature two days ago. Just got my points today. Second time I've gotten MRs for simply clicking a button in the less than two years I've had the card. Check your account to see if you're eligible.

    Also, if you still don't have your Rakuten account linked, I highly suggest you do. If you don't have a Rakuten account, message me for a 3,000 point referral.
     
  49. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    Two things. How do I check for the Pay Over Time 20k points? What is Rakuten?
     
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  50. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    The Pay Over Time popped up for me under Amex Offers & Benefits on the main landing page once you log in to your Amex account. This was on my laptop, not sure what it would like on the app. Simply click 'Enroll Now' and the 20,000 points showed up two days later. You don't have to actually use the service.

    I also just found this link which may help you determine if you're eligible https://thepointsguy.com/guide/amex-pay-over-time-enrollment-bonus/

    Rakuten is a simple cash back site. It's free to sign up. Just make sure to start your online shopping trip through the Rakuten website (or add the browser extension) and you receive cash back. It seems just about every online purchase gives you cash back/MRs outside of Amazon. Anywhere from 1% to 20% or more. The added bonus is that you can link your Rakuten account to your Amex account. So instead of cash back you get membership reward points, which are move valuable. No reason not to do it. I've gotten another 30,000 MRs in that past year just by shopping online through Rakuten.

    Here's a Rakuten/Amex FAQ https://www.rakuten.com/american-express
     
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