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. bigjrock

    bigjrock Pillsbury Geauxboy
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    LSU TigersNew Orleans PelicansNew Orleans Saints

    Well damn. Got my first Amex popup prison notice. It was on a biz card, so I'm hoping it doesn't block me from future cards. Had recently (<6 months) closed an older Hilton Biz card so I'm wondering if that played a part.
     
  2. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    Credit reporting question. I have a really old BofA card that I never use. It has an offer on it for a cash advance with 0% interest until December (2% one time fee). I am extremely cash poor at the moment due to several things, including putting a large down payment on a new house before my current house is sold.

    I want to tap that offer, primarily to start getting new furniture and pay for a fence. My loan officer is telling me not to touch it until we close (on Monday) because he is going to have to rerun credit. However, the closing date on it is 4/6, so I don’t think it will report until then.

    Anyone been in a similar situation and/or know?
     
  3. zeberdee

    zeberdee wheel snipe celly boys
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    Penn State Nittany LionsPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia 76'ersPhiladelphia EaglesPhiladelphia FlyersArsenalPhiladelphia UnionUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    we've had a Disney Rewards card for a while as we had been taking the kids, but don't plan on going back any time soon. what's the consensus best rewards card these days if travel isn't your primary objective?
     
  4. Sportfan

    Sportfan From Six to Dumptime
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    Something like the AmEx Gold if the “coupons” are something you’d normally use.
     
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  5. bigjrock

    bigjrock Pillsbury Geauxboy
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    LSU TigersNew Orleans PelicansNew Orleans Saints

    Especially if you have a lot of spend on restaurants and grocery (doesn't include Walmart) since they both have 4x return on spend. I'm assuming those are big categories since you have kids. But like Sportfan said, you'd need to utilize the coupons to make the higher annual fee worth it. I utilize my Uber Cash every month but my Dunkin credits are just piling up in my app...

    You could also get the Amex Blue Business Plus for 2% back on everything if you want to keep it simple.


    Here’s my Amex referral link. Use it and we could both earn rewards if you are approved and get a Card. Check out offers and Card benefits. https://americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/gold-card?ref=JEREMjuObi&xl=cp19
     
  6. beist

    beist Hyperbolist
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    Do you guys use any site/app/system to keep track of all the coupon-ish offers on your cards? Or even use those at all?
     
  7. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    Every couple months I'll scroll through the Amex offers
     
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  8. WC

    WC Bad Company, ‘til the day I die.
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    If I’m prepping to make a large-ish purchase I’ll scroll chase and capital one to see if they’re offering points back or something for the brand I’m already eying.

    Has worked for Samsung and Under Armour off the top of my head.
     
    #16358 WC, Mar 13, 2025 at 5:45 PM
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2025 at 7:09 PM
    beist and Sportfan like this.
  9. beist

    beist Hyperbolist
    Donor

    Yeah I browse them once a month or so but with six cards between Chase and Amex I just basically have to rely on memory to have any handle on what's out there and on what card. I haven't found anything that makes it easy to track or look up on the fly. Not losing any sleep over it but it would be nice to have something like that.
     
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  10. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    Texas LonghornsManchester United

    RSS feed for doctorofcredit.com
     
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  11. ats

    ats I heard Vance and all of Ohio love couches

    some creditors report right away when you have a large charge not just when your statement is generated.

    which is why your credit scores can be different on different Credit bureaus.

    didn’t realize why a loan showed I had credit utilization when running thousands through each months for reward points that was paid off each month before reporting (literally charge and paid off so statement was always zero). But chase marriott reported middle of month, not when my statement was generated.

    your loan officer could be prepping you for not having to go back through uw, jeopardizing your approval because of a higher dti, having to pay points because of material change in credit, etc.

    if you’re closing next Monday, just wait , most lenders do a final voe and soft pull the week of up to the day before a loan closes even if the loan package is already at the attorney and you’re quote unquote clear to close.

    source me, personal experience buying and selling when HR is closed for the holidays as I yell at the loan officer for doing a voe the afternoon before a holiday at the end of the year and having to write a letter of explanation for a 10k charge I paid off right away (didn’t realize Marriott was pre charging me for a stay I had booked for an extended family block of rooms)
     
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