Financing tricks for DVC? Please help!

[emacman]

Hello Everybody,
I am in the process of acquiring a resell. Closing papers arrived today and that is great news!
Where there is a monkey wrench in my plans is how to pay and get miles or points from the transaction. The Timeshare Closing services accept Money order or cashier's check only, no credit cards. I called my two favorite card providers and at best is a balance transfer offering no miles or points for the transaction.
I've noticed many of you on this board touting that you paid and received the miles on this type of transaction. So I am looking for your secrets, OK? Please advise.
I have the money to pay, I just want to get the benefit of the "bonus" out of the transaction. I hope Citibank or Bank One isn't reading!
Ernie

 

[kdonnel]

I don't think there is a credit card company that gives miles for convience check or balance transfers.

You only get to charge the whole amount if you buy directly from Disney. They will take a credit card for the entire amount.

 

[zurgswife]

I also think people are only refering to purchases from Disney directly...I'm doing a resale and having to spend a ton of money and not get any points it's killing me...

 

[bobbiwoz]

We mentioned that we got Chase miles, and yes, we bought from Disney. There had to be a benefit for paying more, but also, it was a sure thing, no nail biting! However, if someone CAN help you get some perks, I hope you get them!

 

[emacman]

So, basically without there being a direct purchase, no points?
If there is an advance of any kind ( meaning not a purchase) there can be no points? Wow. That seems like such a waste. Seems like there would be at least one vendor who would like in on the interest and be willing to take that risk. I guess it is call each card until I find a taker.
I'm wide open if anybody else has ideas. This is a half a ticket to see Mickey we're talkin' about here!

 

[kdonnel]

They won't give you the points because you could just write the check to yourself or someone you trust. You get the miles and then repay the balance immediatly. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.....

 

[emacman]

kdonnel-
I see what you mean. Frankly I had never thought about it like that. I'm not trying to cheat the system out of fictitious points or miles, just legitimate ones. I can see that they really cannot tell the difference unless it is an actual charge. Hmmm.
I have called four cards that I have and it is the same story everywhere. Bummer.
Well at least I get some OKW points even if there are no airline miles or Disney points! Focus on the good things that are happening, not what isn't happening.
Thanks to all of you for your responses. If there is anything out there anybody else can think of, let me know.
Ernie

 

[CarolAnnC]

Hopefully the savings you realized by buying a resale vs through Disney may go toward that Mickey ticket! Good luck!

 

[IndyScott]

I received in the mail a few months ago (and used) convenience checks from the GM Card which DID offer the rewards (5% towards GM product) and a reduced interest rate (3.9%), but I'm not sure how you would obtain this offer unless it was sent to you...

Just wanted to note that it does sometimes happen and may be available out there somewhere...

 

[BobH]

I got milage but I had to buy through Disney. Another way to accumulate miles is to pay for college tuition with a credit card that gets you milage. I had kids in college and was lucky enough that 2 of the 3 colleges would accept tuition payments by credit card. Of course I had a plan to pay off the credit card before interest charges acumulated or the interest would have amounted to more than the cost of the airline tickets that I received. You also must be able to put a lot on your credit cards because even a basic card will cost about $55 per year in annual fees so you are really paying the first $55 of any airline ticket you buy. I managed to get about 10 tickets over 3 years so when you subtract the annual credit card fees of $55 x 3 years I managed to get 10 airline tickets for about $165. One free ticket was used to fly to Ireland at a time when tickets sold for about $700 so I figure I got my money's worth. My point is that free tickets are possible you just have to manage your spending and accumulate the tickets in as short a time as possible. I put groceries, tuition, cell phone bills, cable tv bills on my card and whatever else I could get on it. It became a hobby to figure out how to get free travel while going broke paying for my children's education. Maybe this tip will help someone out there.

 

[emacman]

Outstanding! Thanks Bob!
I believe the real key is having the money to pay before you make the charge. I owe zippo on any card and have every intent to keep it that way. I do use cards wherever possible to build miles and then pay off monthly balances.
CarolAnnK - I think we can safely say we did save enough to cover a whole ticket! Just want to get all I can. LOL
IndyScott - That is good to know. I know they are out there, just need to find them.
Thanks to everybody for you help!

 

[bluejean]

I'm in the process of buying a resale through The Timeshare Store. Pat at The Timeshare Store told me to call American Express and tell them that I'm buying real estate and can't use a credit card and request that they send me the money, waive the cash advance fee and give me miles. She said she knows it's been done before and to talk to a supervisor. I called American Express, but they were quite rude to me and insisted they have never done that before. I wonder if I got someone else there, if the answer would have been different. I'm too whimpy and just gave up on the credit card idea. Maybe you could have better luck.

 

[emacman]

I tried the same and got the same result. So I don't think you are wimpy, I know I wasn't! I leaned pretty hard; nothing.
Thanks for the tip.