I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[Limes96]

Just did my last payment I plan to do this month through Plastiq. Thought I’d mention it just to remind everybody that the deal ends tomorrow.

 

[vanjust14]

Last year I purchased 6 Universal tickets using URs and had no trouble redeeming the forms for tickets at the ticket desk at RPR. Unfortunately I am a little fuzzy on recalling the details, but I do remember that it was super simple to get the tickets (I was a little stressed because we were checking in and then heading right to the park). I don't recall if the person at the ticket counter checked my ID or not and I also don't recall how our names ended up on our tickets but I'm pretty sure that somehow they did.

@SouthFayetteFan , I think you've gotten all the answers you need, but to chime in, my DS20's UR "voucher" was in his name, which is a different last name than mine. He did have to show his ID separately to redeem his voucher at Royal Pacific for an actual ticket. I was able to do the rest of ours.
ETA: This was last August, but I'm assuming it is still the same.

 

[Limes96]

It's so convenient AND in a very nice part of town. I forget if there are 3 or 4 of you but they have tiny single rooms, slightly less tiny single rooms, double and triple rooms (sadly none for 4). DD and I really enjoyed our time there.

We’ll have 4, so would need two rooms. Will probably just go with Air Bnb. We’d really appreciate having a washing machine so we can pack light. I’m going to look it up anyway. I’ve already reserved an Air Bnb in Paris for a couple nights. I found that for the price and location, it was the best deal for us there. I was able to use my Arrival+ to take off the deposit on it.

 

[mmmears]

Best Buy VGCs are extremely YMMV. I haven't been able to find one locally all last year whenever there was a Best Buy Amex Offer. In addition, I recall they max out at $200 and you'd eat a (I think) $5.95 activation fee even if you could find stock. I just added the $250/$25 or 2,500 MR back and the 1 additional MR point at BestBuy .com offer to the same card, and ordered Disney GCs online. Note that BestBuy .com limits you to 3 of each $25 and $50 denominations, so I'm going to have to put in two orders to get to the $250.

I have the BB deal, too and I’m wondering if buying the GCs is still ok. Is it just that I won’t get AMEX points for the purchase or will the points deal not track at all? Or am I just totally worried for nothing here?

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

I have the BB deal, too and I’m wondering if buying the GCs is still ok. Is it just that I won’t get AMEX points for the purchase or will the points deal not track at all? Or am I just totally worried for nothing here?

You Should be fine with BB giftcards pretty sure they don’t report L3 data

 

[Alexle2007]

Hopefully the do the deal last year where they extend the AP season - we got 15 months (in Feb) for $30 upgrade each. AND we charged the upgraded AP's to our room and my arrival + erased the purchase so it was such a good deal!! I think if we upgraded on promo tix it was closer to $100 so spending more on 5 day regular tix with the UR CSR discount ended up being less OOP. The FOMO is real on this forum!!!!

Awesome! Thanks for the tips! How much further down in HGI? I booked the Marriott originally but got an awesome pricematch from Hilton. I found a cheaper price on Expedia and they discounted the rate to $900 for 3 nighs (friend is paying OOP, we are using UR's of course!)
Any tips for BG? We've never been. Im guessing get there early, do big coasters first?

We did the 18 month AP offer which is fantastic! We are hoping they continue doing that.

The HGI is between 33rd and 34th St so you are fine.

I have never been to BG as many times as we have been to Williamsburg. We stay in the GWL bubble. That would be my plan though

 

[Lain]

I have the BB deal, too and I’m wondering if buying the GCs is still ok. Is it just that I won’t get AMEX points for the purchase or will the points deal not track at all? Or am I just totally worried for nothing here?

The RATs can only enforce their terms based on the info they have. BBY does not report L3 data. This is what an in-store GC purchase looks like.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Spent an hour on the phone on 2 separate calls with Chase today - There will be no resolution to my issue. They can't adjust the name, they can't refund the order, they can't refund 2 tickets, they really cannot do anything to help me at all.

Basically - the best I can do is send my sister down there with a credit card with her maiden name on it (I ordered her an employee CIP card today). Give her a picture of my ID on her phone. Maybe I'll give her one of my credit cards too... And hope that she can use the kiosk OR that they'll give her the tickets on Friday evening or Saturday morning.

If they won't, then I'll just have her buy 2 one-day tickets and eat the $300ish. When I get there, I could plead with the desk to refund the tickets since I'll then have the 5 day passes.

I'm honestly going to go in with the attitude that we're spending the $300 for her tickets and anything better than that is a win. That way I'm not upset if the worst case scenario occurs. Very frustrating to say the least... I am totally kicking myself for not waiting a little longer last night for a response - @Artygal90, thank you so much for responding though!!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

@SouthFayetteFan , I think you've gotten all the answers you need, but to chime in, my DS20's UR "voucher" was in his name, which is a different last name than mine. He did have to show his ID separately to redeem his voucher at Royal Pacific for an actual ticket. I was able to do the rest of ours.
ETA: This was last August, but I'm assuming it is still the same.

So you "purchased" the tickets on 2 separate reservations?

 

[havaneselover]

Off topic but boy it's been a tough day. My ex and I just sat through the findings of our son's pyschoeducational evaluation and we both think he really needs to attend a private high school which costs $31,000/year. Then the plumber came and to replace my garbage disposal and fix a leaking tub faucet he quoted $1,000. I give up!

 

[AmyAnne]

Spent an hour on the phone on 2 separate calls with Chase today - There will be no resolution to my issue. They can't adjust the name, they can't refund the order, they can't refund 2 tickets, they really cannot do anything to help me at all.

Basically - the best I can do is send my sister down there with a credit card with her maiden name on it (I ordered her an employee CIP card today). Give her a picture of my ID on her phone. Maybe I'll give her one of my credit cards too... And hope that she can use the kiosk OR that they'll give her the tickets on Friday evening or Saturday morning.

If they won't, then I'll just have her buy 2 one-day tickets and eat the $300ish. When I get there, I could plead with the desk to refund the tickets since I'll then have the 5 day passes.

I'm honestly going to go in with the attitude that we're spending the $300 for her tickets and anything better than that is a win. That way I'm not upset if the worst case scenario occurs. Very frustrating to say the least... I am totally kicking myself for not waiting a little longer last night for a response - @Artygal90, thank you so much for responding though!!

If I were you, I might try to call the ticket desk at one of the Universal hotels and see if they have any suggestions. I wish I could recall if there was a step before getting to the ticket desk where I added our names . . . It seems like there must have been but I just can't recall

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

If I were you, I might try to call the ticket desk at one of the Universal hotels and see if they have any suggestions. I wish I could recall if there was a step before getting to the ticket desk where I added our names . . . It seems like there must have been but I just can't recall

I think they indicated that we’d add names when I pickup the tickets.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Had my first experience today of the wal mart cashier having no clue about Serve lol. She didn’t know what it was and told me I could try customer service. I just left instead lol

 

[StephPlum]

I would seriously consider calling to get the Biz Plat 100K offer (10K spend in 3 months). I just did it, I can give you the name of the girl I used she was amazingly kind and friendly. Anyways here's why - 100K MR, I value that at 1K which wipes away the $595 AF right there. $200 airline credit. I know you fly SW alot. Now the gc spend isnt working but you fly so much you could buy a throwaway cheap flight to anywhere which would trigger the credit (I think needs to be less than $100). That credit would go on your SW account then you could use that towards your real flight. $200 this year and $200 next. Now you're at $1400. You mentioned DS wants a Nintendo Switch. Dell sells them. $100 credit this year for the switch, next year get him a few games ($50 each), use that credit and put the games away for his bday/xmas. Now your at $1600 value for a $10K spend.

You almost have me convinced to go for the Biz Plat. I am looking for the next card. Need to sit out with Chase until sometime in September (3 mo past last card). DH just got Delta Biz and it is already spent on next semester's tuition. I need an MSR! I was thinking of the Hilton Surpass since it is at a high point. That would put me at 4/24 but I have been going slow on personal cards so will drop back to 3/24 in March next year. I think 4/24 is still ok with Chase, right? Already did the Hilton Biz last year so I can't go for that. My biggest hold up is I don't know what I would use MRs for. I don't have any international travel in the works. I guess I could just use to erase charges but that doesn't seem like a good value.

Or dip my toe in MSing and forgo a MSR until I can get the next Chase card. All this serve talk has me contemplating that. Yeah, I know I could do MS and MSR at the same time but that might overwhelm me!! Decisions, decisions.

 

[PolyRob]

My dh has 9 open chase cards, atm - 5 personal and 4 biz. I do feel like I may need to close something before adding another but there is nothing I can close/or am willing to close right now.

Another 9! I am glad I am hearing these numbers because I thought going for number 6 may have been pushing it. I have had one Chase card for 4 years so I do have some history. Going onto 6 (CIP#3) and hoping to get 2 more apps (CIU/CIC and United) over the next year had me second guessing. I will definitely cancel biz cards to make room. I don't have any use for a CIP besides the referral URs. If I get #3 in September that will be my referral card. I can then cancel my others in Jan and May. I want a CIC, but a CIU will allow me to refer to either card so I have a decision to make. I have some plans in my mind about purchases and I am thinking I would like to be able to refer my family to CIC/CIU. Maybe I can PC one of my CIPs to a CIU, refer a relative, then cancel mine to free up space after getting the bonus.

My wife is at 11 lol. I didn’t even realize that until now. 7 personal and 4 biz.

Wow, 11!

I like those numbers! I wouldn't push past 4 biz cards (if Chase will even approve me) and the only other personal I am interested in right now after PCing CSP to CF would be within the United family. Why does Chase have to have the best cards for bonuses, referrals, and rewards?!

 

[PolyRob]

So far, we only have Amex taking back self-refer points and not from all. Will Chase follow in Amex footsteps and begin taking back? We just don't know. It's not a risk I'm willing to take but others are and have been fine so far.

I did it once, but will not anymore after seeing the Amex drama and getting other players! If anything, I hope Chase just follows past history and sends a letter threatening to close the card if the referral abuse continues

 

[PolyRob]

Spent an hour on the phone on 2 separate calls with Chase today - There will be no resolution to my issue. They can't adjust the name, they can't refund the order, they can't refund 2 tickets, they really cannot do anything to help me at all.

Basically - the best I can do is send my sister down there with a credit card with her maiden name on it (I ordered her an employee CIP card today). Give her a picture of my ID on her phone. Maybe I'll give her one of my credit cards too... And hope that she can use the kiosk OR that they'll give her the tickets on Friday evening or Saturday morning.

If they won't, then I'll just have her buy 2 one-day tickets and eat the $300ish. When I get there, I could plead with the desk to refund the tickets since I'll then have the 5 day passes.

I'm honestly going to go in with the attitude that we're spending the $300 for her tickets and anything better than that is a win. That way I'm not upset if the worst case scenario occurs. Very frustrating to say the least... I am totally kicking myself for not waiting a little longer last night for a response - @Artygal90, thank you so much for responding though!!

I feel so bad about this UR craziness with the tickets!

IDK Universal as well as WDW, but is there any way to contact the resort? I know WDW is a call center when you "call the resort," but can Universal put a note on the reservation to release the tickets to her if you called and explained?

I was also thinking, how often do you go to Universal? If you ordered two more promo tickets in her name, could you have the value of the other 2 vouchers converted to different tickets that could be used next year?

 

[Alexle2007]

So you "purchased" the tickets on 2 separate reservations?

Did you book CL? If so, you could call their concierge desk for assistance.

 

[MKTokyo]

Did you call for a retention offer?

P.S. How's your MIL doing?

Not yet. I will when the AF posts. I have my list of talking points, such as the PP devaluation... & I guess we will see what comes of it.

No real news about MIL yet

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Just checked my Chase account and the 20,000 referral points (from referral from CIP#2) are there (they were there last week) and over 85,000 points for CIP #3 !! I decided I'm going to lay low on the CIPs; close out #1 in September when the AF hits or maybe PC to another product. No current plans for Chase.

I need to apply for my Citi card #2 (closed #1 AA biz last week). Wanted to wait a bit since I won't be able to put any spend on it until we get back to Florida on August 19th. Will probably apply next week so the card is there when we get back.