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

I have no idea. I hate having physical currency.

 

I don't really have an issue with it. But I also don't receive a ton of checks.

 

I don't either, but I get a mileage reimbursement check every month. If I do it with Chase, it's done in 1 business day. With Schwab, takes a week.

 

Also 49ers169 for the love of God do not open a Chase account. They are so indescribably horrible from a banking standpoint.

 

Mine process in a day or two Maybe give them a call; that doesn't seem normal.

 

Just write yourself a check

 

Keep your old account open and deposit cash that route? I really can't say enough good things about Schwab. Unless you have to deal with physical currency routinely I don't think there's a better option out there. When I went to Ireland last year for the PSU-UCF game I had zero issues withdrawing with no fx fees and all ATM fees were deposited back by the end of September.

 

Their website is awful.

I love my sapphire but discover blows them away on usability.

 

The chase app is great imo

 

or get a friend to write a check

 

Venture or Quicksilver?

 

I'll give you a referral if you ever decide to get 2nd one for discover

 

disagree. I am a WaMu rollover account. Great for me, but I don't claim to know your experience or how they've treated you.

 

AMEX gold card is on its way. 50k points. Couldn't say no.

 

Is there a new offer for gold? I was thinking about possibly getting that as well.

 

Yeah. 50k points. Was 25k points for a while.
Lower annual fee than platinum. $75 statement credit when you book 2 consecutive nights. $100 airline incidentals. Have no idea what that means. To me it's basically a $100 airline credit. 3x points for us restaurants. 2x supermarkets and gas. 3x points when you book your flight directly from the airport.

Perfect for me.

 

got a chase sapphire preferred today

 

You'll get a statement when your cycle is up. Paper statements if you didn't turn them off, will get emails and texts if you signed up for those too. Payments are due 26ish days after the billing period is up

 

Also Pelican, your due date for payments is basically always the same. I just pay the bills on my pay days that are right before them, works well for me

 

You'll never have interest if you don't carry a balance past the payment due date. You'll get statements, emails, etc. You can also just call and ask when your cycle is up and when your due date is. It'll show when payments are due on the site/app

 

What card did you get again?

 

yeah. set a reminder on your gcal/ apple calendar and set it give you hard notifications.

My two cards are due on the 5th and 7th. Not hard to remember after a couple billing cycles and you get used to your due date.

Never ever let that date pass.

Get the app for your bank. Banks (IMO) are really good these days and have lots of cool features. I can do basically everything within 2 apps for all my banking and rewards needs.

 

Yeah I just do everything from my phone on pay day

 

Those idiots will probably still send you stuff in the mail, at least in my experience, but should stop eventually.

 

Pretty sure they have a bunch of options for text alerts on balances, large transactions, statement closing, payments due soon, payment posted, etc if you sign up for them

 

Chase Sapphire Preferred(Personal Travel/Dining)
Capital One Quicksilver(All of my online stuff)
American Express Platinum(Second Oldest Account - Haven't been using it that much)
BofA Alaska Airlines(Business Visa)
Chase Freedom(Oldest Credit Account - Never use it)

Chase Sapphire Preferred has been my workhorse, lately...ever since Alaska Air changed how some of their lifetime points were kept, I've switched to that. When Chase Freedom started with the rotating points categories, I said fuck that and got a new card, but held on to that account because it looks good, vis a vis credit scores, and there's no fee to keep it open.

 

Use the Freedom whenever you can get the 5%, then transfer the points to the Sapphire Preferred.

 

I use the freedom during dining months and online purchase months for that 5% and then just transfer them to my other ultimate rewards account

 

I did this for awhile, but just kept forgetting to check the categories/points of business. For awhile it was Amazon & gas stations and I killed that motherfucker.

 

anything I need to know about this card. Receiving it in 2 weeks

 

WE ONLY FUCK WIT CASH OVA HERE NIGGA

 

since you are "new to this," make sure to read up on what subtle things can make your credit go up or down

I know I am an idiot, but I didn't know that spending to your max too often hurt your credit score, even if you paid it off every month

want to ensure that while you have the card, it is helping, not hurting your credit score

 

It's been great for me. Chipped so every blue moon you'll be asked to verify, but you double points on all travel and dining related activities, so you can build points fast. I've accumulated points faster than wi any other card, but I fly a lot and eat out a lot, plus I tend to do my drinking at what would be considered a restaurant here in Seattle.

 

1. Maxing your credit card is horrible for your credit score. Ideally, your credit utilization is under 35% of your limit.

2. You should always hang on to your oldest credit account, even if you've afar ride a balance on it a couple of times, or accrued some late fees.

3. You want to have at least three, but no more than 5 credit cards, as a rule of thumb, combined with loan history(auto is obviously most common).

4. Your workhorse card should be the one with the highest limit. Specialize with the others. Never carry a balance. Use autopay so you are never behind.

 

I know this now. I normally don't max it, but did when I bought the flights and hotel for me and my g/f in a group trip to the PNW

I plan on keeping my Bank of America Travel Card but likely won't use it much. Don't spend enough to have 3 cards... but soon

 

The next freedom categories suck ass.

I'm currently rocking the Discover IT; 10% cash back for using Apple Pay, then it's doubled next August.

 

like every single bar is considered a restaurant everywhere ive ever been

 

Call them and they will overnight it for free, fuck waiting 2 weeks.

 

I remember when I got my first credit card and getting antsy because I hadn't made a payment. Felt like something wasn't right. I ended up paying my balance before the billing cycle ended. I had to get used to finally paying for something that I had bought 6+ weeks prior.

 

I thought October-dec was Amazon purchases