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. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Thing I'm learning about these cash back cards: Discover is the best at getting your cash back to you. Seems like every other card makes you reach a certain level or has some other nonsense caveat.
     
  2. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    They're good at it, but my bank of America and chase are too
     
  3. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    I hope chase is. Seems like AmEx and citi aren't great.
     
  4. Boom TittyMilk

    Boom TittyMilk User Formerly known as Big R
    Donor TMB OG
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesAtlanta HawksAtlanta United

    Capital one just sends me a check
     
  5. Jimmy the Saint

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

    AMEX gives you a statement credit. What's difficult about that?
     
    Sportfan likes this.
  6. Name P. Redacted

    Name P. Redacted I have no money and I'm also gay
    Donor
    Kansas State WildcatsSeattle Kraken

    Discover and Chase are both very easy to use. I can't speak for the others.
     
  7. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    In talking to my roommate, minimums and shit.
     
  8. ned's head

    ned's head Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Just had my chase sapphire card hacked. They picked up on it in a matter of hours and the process was painless.
     
    Det. Frank Bullitt likes this.
  9. Name P. Redacted

    Name P. Redacted I have no money and I'm also gay
    Donor
    Kansas State WildcatsSeattle Kraken

    this is one of the best reasons to use credit cards over debit. the extra buffer between your money and cc companies will nukes those charges with a quickness.
     
    Det. Frank Bullitt likes this.
  10. buy_dont_lease

    buy_dont_lease Ha ha ha. What a story, Mark.
    Donor
    Texas AandM Aggies altTexas RangersDallas CowboysTottenham HotspurDallas Mavericks alt

    Pretty excited about the Capital One Venture card I received this past weekend. 2 miles per dollar, bonus 40k miles on signup if you spend $3k in the first 3 months, no expiration on miles, no foreign transaction fees. Looking forward to some nice vacations thanks to this card.
     
    High Cotton and TAS like this.
  11. Name P. Redacted

    Name P. Redacted I have no money and I'm also gay
    Donor
    Kansas State WildcatsSeattle Kraken

    yearly fee?
     
  12. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    Cap1 also offers free credit score tracking. Worth using if you don't already have it thru some other service
     
    High Cotton and buy_dont_lease like this.
  13. buy_dont_lease

    buy_dont_lease Ha ha ha. What a story, Mark.
    Donor
    Texas AandM Aggies altTexas RangersDallas CowboysTottenham HotspurDallas Mavericks alt

    No fee first year, $60/annually thereafter.
     
    High Cotton likes this.
  14. Det. Frank Bullitt

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

    Really happy with my United card ("Mileage Plus Explorer Card") I just opened through Chase - already my bank of choice. I still highly recommend the Chase Freedom card (effective 2.0% cash back for my use) if you're not interested in points.

    • 27 y/o
    • 10 years of credit history
    • credit score is 775 or so
    • though my utilization is a touch high, I've paid 100% of my statements on time. I need to update my income and get my CL raised to bring my utilization down.
    Perks
    • 1 mile per dollar & 2 miles per dollar on United Flights
    • 1 free checked bag (2 if I have a companion)
    • 2 club passes/year
    • no foreign transaction fees
    • priority bag check
    • priority boarding (group 2) - behind the MM'ers and handicapped.
    • no expiration on miles as long as your card is active

    I've already received in the 6 weeks since I opened:
    • 55k miles to start (more than 4 local round trips in economy, round trip first class ticket if I was to do that.
    • upgrades to premium economy (dat leg room) on a couple legs.
    • $175 'worth' of free checked bags
    Just redeemed my first reward trip - to Portland during one of bye weeks in the fall to watch USC@UO and will try to also make UW@OSU if the KOs line up.

    Card is $95/year, waived the first year. Dont care about the APRs because I never carry balances.

    with all that said, the offer they have right now isn't as good. ask for a better offer or wait till the standard offer is back at 50k miles (its 30k right now)
     
    Toast and High Cotton like this.
  15. LSU90

    LSU90 Well-Known Member

    Just got the same exact card and was going to come here to see if I made the right choice ha.
     
  16. Tilly

    Tilly Souf Cack
    Donor TMB OG
    South Carolina Gamecocks

    Need some advice. Trying to move away from a debit card for obvious reasons. Have an old citi card (like 5 years old) with a 22% Apr. Also have a discover with about an 11% Apr.

    Want to get rid of the citi because of the rate but also want to retain a good visa card because not everywhere accepts discover. Have also considered an Amex, but not sure on that. Should I cancel the citi and get another card or just get another card? Also recs for a card.

    More into cash back as opposed to mile or hotel rewards as I don't travel a ton.
     
  17. Jimmy the Saint

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

    Pay your bill every month and it won't matter.
     
  18. Tilly

    Tilly Souf Cack
    Donor TMB OG
    South Carolina Gamecocks

    No shit...

    But I'm also recognizing that there are better alternatives than sticking to a high Apr with low cash back benefits. Hence, why I asked about canceling/getting a new card and what card to get.
     
  19. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Michigan State SpartansDetroit LionsGeorge Washington Colonials

    Don't cancel your card. It's been said no less than twenty times on here, but your credit score takes into account how long your cards are open. Just put it in a drawer and don't use it.
     
    dahldennsull likes this.
  20. Beachy Toast

    Beachy Toast He wants you too, Malachi.
    Donor
    Chicago White SoxChicago BearsChicago BlackhawksKansas State WildcatsMontreal Impact

    I'd use it every 6 months or so with some small charge. Banks can shut your account down after a long period of inactivity.
     
    dahldennsull likes this.
  21. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Michigan State SpartansDetroit LionsGeorge Washington Colonials

    Sure, they can, but it's not very likely. The only card I've had do this was my Nieman Marcus card that I stopped using for 4 years after I broke up with my high maintenance ex girlfriend. And even then they sent me a letter saying they were going to close the account if I didn't use it in the next three months.
     
  22. Beachy Toast

    Beachy Toast He wants you too, Malachi.
    Donor
    Chicago White SoxChicago BearsChicago BlackhawksKansas State WildcatsMontreal Impact

  23. pearl

    pearl Fan of: White wimmens feet
    Donor TMB OG
    Southern Mississippi Golden EaglesLos Angeles ChargersAvengersSneakers

  24. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    I can refer you if you send me your email
     
  25. Name P. Redacted

    Name P. Redacted I have no money and I'm also gay
    Donor
    Kansas State WildcatsSeattle Kraken

  26. Beachy Toast

    Beachy Toast He wants you too, Malachi.
    Donor
    Chicago White SoxChicago BearsChicago BlackhawksKansas State WildcatsMontreal Impact

    pearl likes this.
  27. MA

    MA Surprisingly normal looking
    Donor TMB OG
    Alabama Crimson TideSan Antonio SpursWashington CapitalsManchester UnitedAtlanta United

    Today I learned that when you do an application online and they approve it, they automatically send you a card. Whoops.

    I thought it'd be more like they approve it, then I decide if I want it or not.
     
    Fusiontegra and allothersnsused like this.
  28. HatterasJack

    HatterasJack Is your refrigerator running? It's Mike Hunt.
    Donor

    I think people overvalue cc's in building/maintaining credit. Once you have bought a home and cars, have good income, the only thing they can do is fuck up your credit if you don't pay. I regularly break every "credit card rule" people talk about (except payment) and my scores are pretty insane.
     
    dcspartan likes this.
  29. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Hope there isn't an AF
     
    MA likes this.
  30. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Not sure if mortgages and what not are weighted heavier, but credit cards are all I got.

    My credit report shows two accounts. Discover and Chase. No student loans, car loans, rent, etc.
     
  31. allothersnsused

    allothersnsused Wow that’s crazy
    Donor
    Virginia CavaliersAtlanta BravesAtlanta HawksWashington Football TeamChelsea

    This happened to me recently. In about a year I'm going to have to decide whether to stick with Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Delta Amex.

    Also - and maybe I'm wrong about this - but can you just cut it up when it gets there and never activate it?
     
    MA likes this.
  32. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    You have the option of downgrading the chase Sapphire to a chase freedom, to avoid the annual fee.

    There are positives (no AF) and negatives (limits how you can use Ultimate Rewards) to doing so, but it's something to consider.
     
  33. MA

    MA Surprisingly normal looking
    Donor TMB OG
    Alabama Crimson TideSan Antonio SpursWashington CapitalsManchester UnitedAtlanta United

    It's the Quicksilver, so there isn't. Thankfully.
    :idk: I'm not even necessarily opposed to having this one, I just didn't realize that it was an automatic thing.

    Was/Am also considering the Discover It or Blue Cash Preferred Card.
     
  34. HatterasJack

    HatterasJack Is your refrigerator running? It's Mike Hunt.
    Donor

    Yeah, in that case you are more dependent on them.
     
  35. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    I have discover and chase freedom. Discover customer service is top notch and their website is super user friendly. The double cash back they're giving for the next year is awesome.
     
    MA likes this.
  36. TAS

    TAS 20_ _ TMB Poster of the Year
    Donor

    Quicksilver is pretty badass for Uber. 20% off all rides and two free $30 rides if you haven't signed up before. I just created a new account under a different email.
     
    MA likes this.
  37. Fusiontegra

    Fusiontegra My life is dope and I do dope shit.#SparedByThanos
    Donor TMB OG
    Miami MarlinsJacksonville JaguarsSporting Kansas CityAvengersMiami HeatSneakersWu-tangBook Club

    What a time for Amazon.com to be on the Discover It's quarterly 5% cashback.
     
  38. Clutch

    Clutch Thanks
    Donor
    Buffalo BillsNew York KnicksNew York RangersEvertonNew York Yankees

    20/student/first card/m/NY

    help me
     
  39. pearl

    pearl Fan of: White wimmens feet
    Donor TMB OG
    Southern Mississippi Golden EaglesLos Angeles ChargersAvengersSneakers

    Discover it card my friend. I'll send you a referral link. Just need your e-mail
     
  40. OleMissFan

    OleMissFan Member

    Discover IT card
     
  41. -Prime-

    -Prime- Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Miami HurricanesTennessee Titans

    NVM duh
     
  42. Clutch

    Clutch Thanks
    Donor
    Buffalo BillsNew York KnicksNew York RangersEvertonNew York Yankees

    difference between me applying by myself and you referring me?
     
  43. Name P. Redacted

    Name P. Redacted I have no money and I'm also gay
    Donor
    Kansas State WildcatsSeattle Kraken

    none. you both get $50 in cahs back points once you are approved and buy something with the card.
     
  44. C A N E

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

    Love my Amex Gold. I use it for almost everything. Since it's a charge card it has to be paid in full every month so it keeps me level-headed when it comes to purchases.

    Will send referral link. :)
     
  45. Det. Frank Bullitt

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

    benefits?
     
  46. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Michigan State SpartansDetroit LionsGeorge Washington Colonials

    I agree. When I was applying for my mortgage they said my score was 805. I asked if that would get me a better rate and they said no, all rates over 740 get the highest rate. Uhh. What the fuck, why have I been paying attention to my credit the last 10 years.
     
    bwi2 likes this.
  47. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    If you don't pay attention to your credit it's easy as fuck to be below 740
     
    Toast likes this.
  48. C A N E

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

    3x points for travel
    2x point at gas stations and restaurants and grocery stores
    1x everything else

    Points can be redeemed for anything.

    I also like the extended warranty and damage protection. Amex extends any manufacturer warranty for a year. So if something breaks and the manufacturer warranty is over, file a claim with Amex and they will credit you back the full purchase price of that item. Did it on my Xbox 360 twice.
     
  49. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Michigan State SpartansDetroit LionsGeorge Washington Colonials

    Maybe if you're a poor. I haven't been under 740 since I was like 19.
     
    49ers169 likes this.
  50. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    Yeah, because you paid attention to your credit. That's the whole point
     
    Caga palo and watson like this.