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. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
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    JacobPalmer If they don't want to deal with travel cards, I would almost always recommend the Capital One Spark to businesses that have relatively high yearly spend: https://www.capitalone.com/small-business/credit-cards/spark-cash/ . Unlimited 2% cash back with a $95 annual fee, waived the first year.

    If they have travel aspirations or are interested in churning, that's a whole other game, but we can offer recommendations on that too.
     
  2. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    Definitely worth to look forward to make sure their transaction needs can be facilitated with AMEX, especially w/r/t historical cash payments and possible rural (low tech?) angle.
     
  3. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    If they're just going to get 1 card I'd rather just get a Doublecash. By year 6 they're ahead of the game

    This. But even a light churn would be hugely helpful for a business
     
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  4. JacobPalmer

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    About $1M in spending annually. No interest in travel cards.

    I’ve already made a few calls and some of the stuff can’t be put onto a card. The fuel company (think thousands of gallons at a time) adds a 3% fee for paying with a card so that’s out. Even if 25% of their spending can be put on a card that’s more than worth it.
     
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  5. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
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    Yeah, I was considering the doublecash, but I guess I was thinking about the credit limit Citi might offer for a personal card vs. getting a designated business card. If the business has alot of monthly spend, you might be bumping up to that limit frequently. But yeah either would work.
     
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  6. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
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    Like ohhaithur said if they want just 1 card, the Citi double cash is an option. Unlimited 2% cash back. No annual fee, but no welcome bonus

    The Spark I linked above has a welcome bonus of $500, but has an annual fee of $95.

    Either way, they'll be looking at an extra $60,000 if they can put even 25% of spend on their cards. I wouldn't mess with Amex or Chase cards in this case, since it sounds like they don't want to mess with the points systems/Travel.
     
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  7. Nelson

    Nelson Can somebody please get Ja Rhule on the phone
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    JacobPalmer I would think Double Cash + something that occasionally rotates onto 5% cashback. Then they can use that one when it’s fuel, etc.
     
  8. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
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    I doubt the fuel company selling them thousand of gallons at a time will be an eligible gas station for 5% cash back.
     
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  9. comrade static

    comrade static i love french fries
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    I very rarely stay in a Marriott property. I try to find Hilton first, then Hyatt, then ihg
     
  10. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    i really need my delta amex bonus to post quickly that i hit spend on today but knowing amex it'll take 3 months
     
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  11. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Points change behavior. Hyatt is the GOAT and now I try to Hyatt when I can. Then Hilton
     
  12. Nelson

    Nelson Can somebody please get Ja Rhule on the phone
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    It’s probably a co-op and they regularly run retail gas stations in tandem so I wouldn’t be surprised if it does qualify
     
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  13. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    With marriott's devaluation I don't think I'm going to recommend their cards anymore
     
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  14. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    the points game getting a lot less valuable

    if they zap delta mileage upgrades, virgin atlantic partner fare charts, and/or devalue hyatt I might just do it all completely casually
     
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  15. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
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    Yeah it seems like the last few years has been really tough on the points and churning game. Devaluations, closed loopholes, clawbacks, shutdowns, etc. Seems like only a few really good options exist anymore.

    On another note, I transferred out the majority of our UR points to cover our expected travel through 2021, then cashed out the rest. Will probably downgrade the CSR in a few months and move out of the Chase ecosystem soon. Feels weird to see 0 in my UR point balance.
     
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  16. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    What's your new plan? The preemptive cashout gives me anxiety but good on you
     
  17. The B1G Kucktis

    The B1G Kucktis 2 years, VARSITY!!
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    The American Airlines of hotels. These mega mergers have been a killer.
     
  18. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
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    Yeah, only cashed out like 20% of my points. I realize its not good value but, but I've been pushing pretty hard with the CIP loophole, and am nervous about Chase going the way of AA and disabling accounts. If that happens those points are worth 0 cpp. I realize I'm more risk averse than some people though.

    I have alot of wedding expenses coming up, so I plan on moving on to Amex to start accumulating MR points, either for a Schwab cashout, or some F or J airfare for a big trip in 2022. Amex minimum spends can be hard to hit for me organically, so now might be the best time to go for it.
     
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  19. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Can never argue with trading mystery points for beer and tacos

    Amex sucks for me too. I'll really need to evaluate a plan now that I've burned nearly every bridge
     
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  20. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    Going to make some changes and wanted some feedback, as I see benefits/drawbacks to the various options.

    I currently have Amex Gold and Citi AAdvantage Platinum. I'm cancelling the Citi card due to AA's devaluation of miles, plus I fly enough to keep Platinum status so I already get a lot of the benefits that come with the card.

    Thinking of two options:
    1) downsize to one card and upgrade my Amex to Platinum. I don't have a great use for lounges because so many of my flights are direct from DFW, and due to the nature of my work most of the time I'm within 3 miles of the airport I'm flying in/out of, so I don't spend a lot of time waiting at airports. However, the Centurion and other lounges would be beneficial every now and then, especially traveling with the wife on vacations. I also really like the Amex points system. I'm using points for our vacation to Brazil in May, and they have more value than AAdvantage miles now. Between work expenses and personal I have put around $100k on my current gold card so the points add up quick already, and would even quicker with the upgrade. One downside is that in addition to the $550 fee it looks like I'd have to pay $175 for my wife to have a card on the same account, which blows.

    2) keep the Amex Gold and then also get the Hilton Aspire. We typically vacation in Airbnb type places, but use Hilton points more for weekend trips, which we are able to take more of because of the elimination of hotel cost. Downside is I'm already Honors Gold from work travel, so I don't know how big of a difference Diamond would make for me. Room upgrades on work trips when I'm by myself are worthless, but would definitely be a plus when with the wife. The reason I'm thinking of this one is that I can see the additional points accumulation being valuable to me for trips like what we have next weekend, where we have 3 nights in Cabo. It was something like 170k points per night or almost $400, so we're staying somewhere else instead. If I had the points (I have just under 350k now) I'd have used them.

    thanks
     
  21. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Don't product change if you do Plan 1, get a new Platinum bonus

    Diamond >>> gold in Hilton. And the Aspire is a good card (and not just because I have a referral)

    Either card would be a good new choice...why not both :wink:
     
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  22. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    thanks

    I'm just wondering if Diamond is enough of an improvement over Gold to make the Aspire worthwhile. Do both have the fee waived the first year?
     
  23. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    team just get a platinum, the Gold restaurant 4x is worth keeping especially if out of the CSR world

    I have a referral for it too please pick me, but the best move is to wait for the 100k bonus if you can
     
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  24. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    i too am thinking of moving out of Chase in the mid-term, the combo of Amex Gold and Amex Plat is strong with 4x restaurants with gold and 5x flights on plat especially now that plat has travel insurance

    problem just becomes internationally when amex is trickier to use and I don't really know how to deal with that
     
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  25. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
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    Will do, I'll hit you up for a refferal when I'm ready. I'm not likely to get the 100k point offer because I wouldn't be a new Amex customer.

    Honestly for international stuff, I plan on taking my amazon prime card as a backup for places that don't accept Amex. No foreign transaction fees or annual fee on that card. And Visas are almost universally accepted from what I've seen.
     
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  26. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Neither have fees waived.

    And I loved having Diamond when I traveled a lot. It was absolutely worth it.
     
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  27. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
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    Fuck Marriott
     
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  28. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    going to just do hyatt and hotels.com ecosystems now on I think

    the free night for every ten stays is pretty good
     
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  29. Todd Bonzales

    Todd Bonzales Sex with old ladies for money aaaand bear traps.
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    upload_2020-2-6_11-2-16.gif
     
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  30. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
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    Amex Plat has been a dud for me. Went to the brand new centurion lounge in PHX Sunday. Limited seating. No forks. A damn mess. Have had to wait to get in the SEA one. IAH has been pretty good.

    Could barely use the card at all in Egypt and Brazil. However, it was accepted at camping outposts in Patagonia.

    Only use I’ve found for the MR points has been delta flights. Hotels and flights through the Amex portal is typically more expensive than you’ll find elsewhere.

    7 more months of my first year and I’m cancelling it.
     
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  31. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    My opinion on AMEX is well chronicled but I'm surprised how bad they're letting their Centurions get. That was the only part that interested me (besides bonuses, obviously)
     
  32. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    This is disappointing to here, hopefully that's just due to the PHX one being new.

    I was thinking about the Plat mainly just for that since PP hasn't had a lounge at PHX for over a year now.
     
  33. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
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    Talk to me about Patagonia. It's been on my bucket list for a few years
     
  34. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
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    Sitting on the shitter at work...

    If you wanna hike Torres Del Paine start planning now. It’s easier to stay in the refugios than actual camping IMO. Find out when availability for refugios opens next season and go from there.

    You can rent any and all gear in puerto Natales for relatively cheap.

    I flew to Santiago then Puerto Natales. Stayed a night in PN then bus into the park. Hiked for three days. Most people do the W trek, which is what I did. There’s also the O trek which I believe can be about 7 days.

    Bussed back to Puerto Natales. Bus to punta arenas for a night. Then a 12 hour bus to Ushuaia for three nights. Flew to Buenos Aires.
     
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  35. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
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    :respek:

    If I ever get around to booking a site or plane tickets, I'll circle back to this
     
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  36. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    my biggest benefit from it is using it to get into delta lounges when flying delta, which i basically exclusively fly delta. centurion lounges are definitely busting at the seams, i'm not sure how they fix that as the entrance requirements are already pretty tight.

    I only kept mine this second year because they gave me a retention offer. I really don't know where I'm going next year now that the Delta Reserve Amex gets you into Delta lounges and iirc Centurion lounges. Maybe that way, wife would be upset if we lost delta lounge access.
     
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  37. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
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    The delta lounge access is great. Unfortunately I rarely ever fly them so it isn’t much of a perk.

    If they had the equivalent for United then I would keep the card.
     
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  38. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    Woke up and had an alert from Credit Karma that my credit score dropped 41 points. The only significant change is I paid off the last $300 of a balance transfer AMEX I got like 2 years ago (bringing my utilization to 0%). Is that normal?
     
  39. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Amex sucks for traveling abroad
     
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  40. $P1

    $P1 Ball State #1
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    No, that's not normal. I know the scoring algorithm they're using changed for this year, but nothing that should have made that much of an impact. From what I understand, more info about personal loans and payment history will be in the updated FICO methodology going forward

    Far from an expert, though.
     
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  41. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    It's not normal. Your utilization improved. I assume the drop is because you killed a debt that was helping your credit mix, which shows you how bad the system is (or it's a glitch)
     
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  42. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
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    Credit mix is the dumbest metric ever.
     
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  43. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Received a 100k offer from the Delta Plat. Never even heard of the card before now. The companion pass seems nice (though I haven't looked too deeply into it to see what the "catch" is to it) and the bonus points at supermarkets also looks solid.
     
  44. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    The companion pass is probably beneficial if you live near a hub (or don’t fly from a hub airport). Flying from PHX Delta is usually too cheap to use it or too expensive compared to other options and I wash out the benefit of the pass having to pay more for the cash ticket.

    It’s domestic only and a certain class of ticket. And there’s a required amount of time you have to be at the destination (3 days I think?). It was a real headache trying to use the thing. This past year I ended up using it to fly to Green Bay. I probably broken even or barely benefited compared to if I just booked on AA.

    With it being $250 AF now I’m definitely canceling.
     
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  45. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    is there anything I should be doing to try and correct it? Both transunion and equifax dropped on Credit Karma and it dropped on mint (not sure what formula they use). Best I can tell there hasn’t been any fraud across my accounts.
    097B7EDB-D22E-4F4A-8125-6317B1C55CA5.png DCF0EF90-78FE-4A03-9C22-7EC6DD39F09C.png
     
  46. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    What was it before the balance transfer? Is it just regressing to what it originally was? Or did this balance transfer move hurt you?
     
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  47. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    the balance transfer was 2 years ago (bofa to amex). The 0% period was ending, so I just paid off the last $300 on it. I don’t remember what my score was then, but looking at the last year it has never been this low. I haven’t closed/opened any accounts since June (besides CIPs).
     
  48. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    It sounds counter-intuitive but my score went up when I had a little credit card utilization since it added to my "credit mix" more than it hurt my "utilization"

    The system is preposterous
     
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  49. Uncle Tupelo

    Uncle Tupelo Well-Known Member
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