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

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

My kids are "grown" now (as much as they can be grown at 18 and 21), but I recall multiple times when I was shocked at the lack of insight shown by some teachers (at the middle school level specifically). Things were discussed and movies were watched that weren't necessarily "bad" - but not appropriate for the age group. Teachers of 12 year olds shouldn't assign Ted Bundy as a research topic, for example. And yes that happened! I mean no disrespect to teachers - most of my kids' teachers were great. But some of those situations still stick out in my mind.

I'll say I taught HS for 13 years before I got moved to the MS. I was NOT ready for 6th, 7th and 8th graders. I said things to some of them that now I'm like....OOOOOPS! Nothing terribly inappropriate, but I was just used to being involved with kids 14-19. One thing was talking about santa in one class. I didn't realize (until I had my own 6th grader) that OMG, some kids in MS still believe. Ooooops!

The REALLY scary thing is, my daughter is going to be a freshman next year. I've spent 20 years teaching, (and 17 of that HS). My daughter is now my "target market". THAT is scary! Because I know what HS students are REALLY like away from mom and dad, LOL.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

They corrected our return one year. I was pretty shocked, I really didn't think people actually looked at them. lol I can't remember the specifics, but they didn't audit us, they just sent us amended numbers and said if you agree with our corrections then do nothing.

I had this happen one year too, but they were in the wrong, and I just sent off all my documentation. They agreed I was right and left me alone. I don't even remember what it was for at this point.

 

[Lain]

Ugh, GCM doesn’t code as 3x on the CIP anymore. I hope Ebates will at least give me 4% cashback or preferably 4xMR. Any idea if I downgrade to a CIC if my annual fee will be prorated?

Possibly not Venmo either. Only one comment about that so far but same date. 2/26, the day the CIP train derailed? Wonder how many who were getting 2 or 3 of them planned it for ongoing activities and not just this bonus? Sad day for some.

Pouring one out.

All good things must come to an end. Because Chase keeps killing them.

 

[platamama]

Ugh, GCM doesn’t code as 3x on the CIP anymore. I hope Ebates will at least give me 4% cashback or preferably 4xMR. Any idea if I downgrade to a CIC if my annual fee will be prorated?

Possibly not Venmo either. Only one comment about that so far but same date. 2/26, the day the CIP train derailed? Wonder how many who were getting 2 or 3 of them planned it for ongoing activities and not just this bonus? Sad day for some.

Thanks for the updates. Boo. Not that I used CIP on either since I was concentrating on MSRs, but I always kept that in the back of my mind like I could do that route.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Indeed! This is a fun question to unpack. As an accountant interested in statistics, I've read a couple studies suggesting your risk of being audited in any year is less than 0.5%. The IRS simply doesn't have the manpower to catch even a fraction of a percent of the returns that come through their office. One study even posed the question of why anyone pays taxes and files returns at all when your individual audit risk is so small that it might as well be zero, and if you DO get audited, you're not going to jail - that's a very last resort for the IRS.

I would never advocate this of course. I just find it very interesting, especially during this time of adjusting valuations for referrals and annual fees. When I did our taxes, I just entered all the 1099s as they were and didn't bother with AFs or anything like that, but I had that thought - logically I know it's extremely unlikely we'd be caught.

The odds.....well after my parents got divorced, my dad started to do his own taxes (and still does, by hand and paper...ugh). And I guess the IRS was interested in his $50k in donations of cash to the local church, LOL. I exaggerate, but let's just say my dad as a salesman w/ lots of write-offs and the guts to go crazy on donations and write-offs got audited for atleast 7 years in a row! This year he was pissed he can't get the deductions he once did.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

I wouldn't necessarily take this as someone attempting to get into your account........Citi does seem to 'lose' passwords from time to time. I've gotten used to it.

I got an email saying it was froze from someone trying to repeatedly access it.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Indeed! This is a fun question to unpack. As an accountant interested in statistics, I've read a couple studies suggesting your risk of being audited in any year is less than 0.5%. The IRS simply doesn't have the manpower to catch even a fraction of a percent of the returns that come through their office. One study even posed the question of why anyone pays taxes and files returns at all when your individual audit risk is so small that it might as well be zero, and if you DO get audited, you're not going to jail - that's a very last resort for the IRS.

I would never advocate this of course. I just find it very interesting, especially during this time of adjusting valuations for referrals and annual fees. When I did our taxes, I just entered all the 1099s as they were and didn't bother with AFs or anything like that, but I had that thought - logically I know it's extremely unlikely we'd be caught.

I've been out of the loop a few days so trying to catch up as I am sitting on my taxes as well. Are people trying to subtract the AFs to offset the referral 1099s?

 

[speedyfishy]

Pouring one out.

All good things must come to an end. Because Chase keeps killing them.

Surprisingly, I’m not that upset. I kinda expected it. Plus, as long as a portal keeps working I’ll find cards to use. I could do the Hyatt free night, was thinking about MSing $110,000 on the Southwest card to get the companion pass when SOs expires in 2020 (have to do the math on that) I was also curious about Delta status before i feel like I’m always flying DCA-JFK/LGA. Hilton nights? The possibilities are endless. I would have preferred cash but I’ll be ok. And maybe the ebates card will fill that void.

 

[Albort]

i was planning on keeping the CIP for Venmo... but now that thats dead... :\

 

[pillow]

Seriously what even codes as 3x anymore lol not keeping a $95 annual fee card to pay my phone bill with and get 3x lol

What about gift cards dot com? Is 3x gone there too? I kinda think $95 is worth it for the phone insurance.

 

[pillow]

Anyone that joined the GrAAvy train BIZ run that we had, get their cards yet?

Not yet . . .

 

[pillow]

I'll say I taught HS for 13 years before I got moved to the MS. I was NOT ready for 6th, 7th and 8th graders.

NOBODY is ready for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders!!! LOL - rough years.

 

[MrPTato]

So it's February 28th and I have not 7sed my Amex dining credit for the month. I guess I'm going to shake shack for lunch.

I thought about it last night...not sure I will make the trek to Cheesecake for a $10 gift card with 2 kids in tow and having to park in a mall parking garage and use elevators...it becomes quite the process when elevators are involved...but who knows.

 

[amalone1013]

Doc lists 2 new AMEX offers, $10 off $15 for Uber and $10 off $50 at Sam's Club online. So far I've only found uber on SPG Lux, no Sam's.

 

[amalone1013]

AMEX has 30 days from annual fee posting to close and refund AF?

 

[speedyfishy]

What about gift cards dot com? Is 3x gone there too? I kinda think $95 is worth it for the phone insurance.

I haven’t tried it but Reddit seems to think it’s not gc.com and GCM along with Simon and Venmo.

 

[punkin]

I thought about it last night...not sure I will make the trek to Cheesecake for a $10 gift card with 2 kids in tow and having to park in a mall parking garage and use elevators...it becomes quite the process when elevators are involved...but who knows.

This credit is not very useful for me. I don't really like any of the options .

 

[amalone1013]

I haven't checked ILs cards for Amex offers in a while. Nothing useful really. MIL has an upgrade offer to the Lux Brilliant

 

[Alexle2007]

NOBODY is ready for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders!!! LOL - rough years.

Most days I'd like to give my 7th grader away OMG, he is so disorganized and everything I have tried to do to help has failed. And to think to ask to actually study for a test? I am hoping his new school can assist since his current teachers are no help. I have asked and asked for suggestions from them with no response. It's like they would rather see the kids do bad.

 

[miztressuz]

AmEx offers -

Walmart Online Grocery, spend $50 or more get $10 back, exp 4/22/19

Uber/Uber Eats, spend $15 or more get $10 back, exp 3/31/2019

And check your Biz cards for this one:

AT&T Wireless for Business, spend $175 get $100 back, x2 ! exp 6/8/2019