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

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.

 

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?

 

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?

 

Something like the AmEx Gold if the “coupons” are something you’d normally use.

 

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

 

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?

 

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.

 

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.

 

RSS feed for doctorofcredit.com

 

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)

 

For anyone who has a Bilt card, you may have missed an email about them changing how you verify rent payments each month. Reddit sub forum has more info. Sounds like the initial change got met with so much backlash they changed it slightly.

https://www.reddit.com/r/biltrewards/

 

It’s my oldest card, so I don’t want to dump it, but the United Mileage Plus credit card is such a garbage rewards credit card. Probably one of the most ubiquitous credit cards on the market too. I don’t use it, but thought I’d check in on it again to use to book travel. 1x miles for United to further devalue when booking reward travel? Fuck out of here.

 

I like to churn and burn these when they have their top mileage offers, especially since they waive the AF first year. No way I'd regularly keep one open though.

Got stuck with over 300K United miles after having to cancel our honeymoon to SE Asia during Covid and now I fly it to Denver for work regularly so don't mind throwing some more on there.

 

YMMV but opened my chase business app today and had a 75k point offer on the Business Unlimited. $0 AF and $6k spend in 3 months. Perfect timing for tax payment.

 

I’m looking at the Chase business ink cards to maximize travel points. Seems like the unlimited is the best for that since I don’t have any advertising or shipping business expenses?

I have a chase sapphire reserve already so I’d be combining points.

 

I’d just got with whichever has the largest sign up bonus, but yea the $750 for $0 AF is tough to beat.

See if my link works for it, always appreciate a referral.

https://www.referyourchasecard.com/21s/SDDT6MNRXG

 

I used your referral

 

Used the link. Now we wait. Ha ha

 

Did you get the 7-10 day approval notice?

 

Be in touch soon email.

 

I’ve had it happen before and still ended up approved having done nothing. Idk if this guide is still up to date.

 

Mine did the same and I got approved this AM

 

post your link (when it’s live)!

 

If you’re an existing card member and they do these SUBs, can you call in and request the same promotion by a friendly threat to cancel the card?

 

What year is it.gif

 

we only fly United out of Denver and have had the United Infinite card for a few years. Use it as our primary card. expense two to three flights a year with that card, including a big international flight. don't have many complaints. wife loves the lounge access and the boosts in getting to a higher United status. I don't mind the new changes, especially if it decreases the crowds at the lounges.

 

I just got a notification they are increasing the annual fee to $150. F that S. Closing the card.

 

didnt realize that you can get the venture sign up bonus even if you have the venture x (assuming you havent had a standard venture card in last 48 months).

pretty juicy sign up bonus for a low end card.
-$250 travel credit through cap one travel and 75K bonus miles with 4K spend in 3 months.

in case anybody is interested, no pressure, but i felt dumb not knowing i could get this one.
https://i.capitalone.com/G3e73gKhU


i also was a dipshit and havent done anything with my chase sapphire card in 10 years, so downgraded that one and gonna reapply after i hit the spend bonus on the venture. so might be the market for a referral there soon.

 

My gripe with capital one is they hard pull all three major credit monitoring companies. Like wtf why.

 

What are the chances I can downgrade my Sapphire Preferred and get a new one before the 100k SUB ends?

 

as long as you are eligible for another sub, the guy i talked to today said i would be able to apply as soon as tuesday

 

Got an email stating what my business ink card credit limit is. They’re under the impression I’m running a lemonade stand I guess

 

Enjoy your bonus.

 

I called in and they moved $5k from one business card to this one.

 

I think I also read if you unfortunately signed up right before the 100k announcement they have been giving it to folks who call or visit a branch.

 

I got rid of my CSR years ago and have been out of the "premium" travel card game for awhile so maybe I've just forgotten but my Venture X arrived yesterday. Fucker is heavy. Much heavier than my CSP and than I remember the CSR being.

 

I have a CSP with my wife as an “authorized user” or whatever it’s called. She should be eligible to apply for her own card still, yeah?

 

Started an LLC for my rental house and AirBnb to try to shift some finances that direction. Still early and still learning some stuff but want to get a business card. Looking a the Chase ink cards right now and will likely be asking someone for a referral.

Ink business cash seems to make more sense than the ink business unlimited. Quick question - the cash says

“Earn up to $750 bonus cash back
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months after account opening.”

Is that $6000 total or $3000 plus another $6000?

 

That reads like a 9k spend in total. Happy to share my referral if needed.

 

Assume its a poorly worded way to say 9k