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

[wed100105]

@calypso726 or anyone else playing the HHonors Aspire game....

I believe I've convinced DH to go to Arizona over Christmas break. I had originally thought of using our free night certificates at the Arizona Biltmore Waldorf Astoria. However, the room rate with $100 per day credit comes to $716.08 for two nights booked directly through Waldorf Astoria. If I book it now and call them directly to make a $516.08 deposit, will that trigger the $100 off $500 Amex offer, $250 Aspire resort credit, and still give us $100 per night at check-in? It seems too good to be true, so I'm guessing it's a no.

 

[Haley R]

We’re at the jets/black hawks game in Chicago!!!

 

[smallsy]

We enjoyed our first weekend as diamond members with a free breakfast (for all 5 of us) both days at the Hilton Garden Inn in Elizabethtown, KY. It's been hit or miss before whether the kids' meals were comped as well when we were gold....so this could be a nice perk or just a lucky break for us. Either way, it was great.

Elizabethtown is my favorite movie, so right now I’m just picturing Chuck and Cindy the Wedding displays up all over your hotel. Glad you had a good time.

 

[mmmears]

DH says applying for a 2nd CIP stresses him out. He's worried it will be a pain, he will have to call again, and then they will notice. He thinks he'd rather just go for a CIC instead. Anyone care to share thoughts on this one? I kind of think he should go for it since there are more bonus points, but I don't want to push too hard and have him refuse to play this game. Thoughts on why one is better than another?

 

[CyndiLouWho]

We’re at the jets/black hawks game in Chicago!!!

Go Hawks! Toews shoots and scores!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

DH says applying for a 2nd CIP stresses him out. He's worried it will be a pain, he will have to call again, and then they will notice. He thinks he'd rather just go for a CIC instead. Anyone care to share thoughts on this one? I kind of think he should go for it since there are more bonus points, but I don't want to push too hard and have him refuse to play this game. Thoughts on why one is better than another?

My husband will not make any phone calls...he’s fine with me applying for him, so far..knock wood...no calls needed or I’d have to work on my deep voice...lol...
How long since his last Chase application.....Do you need a card soon ?
.if he’s not approved...it sets you back 30 days before he can apply again....look at Chase CLs and reduce if needed to increase approval chances

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I'm still waiting to see the balance post to my Brilliant (aka Lux), but thanks to @DisneyMandC's posts (I read DIS when I could!) I was able to load the Marriott Amex offer to my card. I left the bill with a $309 balance to be paid on it, and since my card anniversary was on 3/27, I'm expecting to see a $340 credit ($300 Brilliant credit + $40 Amex Offer).

Used our credit at Swan last week. Charged dinner at Fountain to our room, plus snacks from Fuel and the resort fees, for $270. Checked out Thursday, I think the charge posted yesterday, the credit posted today. Also spent $11 at Java Bar but they wouldn’t let me charge to the room (which T&C say is necessary for credit) but got the credit for that also. Lastly spent $17 at the Springhill at Marriott Village on snacks for the flight home, waiting for that to post.

Your 10 year old made those cakes! I could not make that even with help!

Baking is more science than art, so I make DS follow the directions and measure accurately. He loves math, so the measuring and numbers is fun to him. For the cake he made with his cousin, I did have to supervise to avoid fighting. I divided the jobs, one measured liquids, the other dry ingredients, etc. The recipe required caramel made from scratch, which I did because 2 ten year olds and boiling sugar was too risky for me. The chocolate cake was delish and I would make it again. The rainbow cake everyone agreed tasted like Fruit Loops, which is not my preferred flavor profile.

 

[trenty]

Thanks! Most of what he has been reading is in the 700-800 range like Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Gordon Korman books, Gamer’s Army (he just finished reading it) etc but he needs something in the 1200-1300 range like Great Expectations. I found an AP English Comp list that we are going through. Besides the mention of Goodreads here, I’ve used it since I typically stick to the same authors all of the time. I’ll look into it. Right now we are leaning towards The Radioactive Boy Scout. I think it is just the newness of having to find something in the higher range since he has been getting books in his age range rather than worrying about the reading level. Especially since he is a very reluctant reader.

If you Google "lexile book finder" you will get a few sites that can help you find appropriate books. This one https://fab.lexile.com is pretty good.

 

[Alexle2007]

If you Google "lexile book finder" you will get a few sites that can help you find appropriate books. This one https://fab.lexile.com is pretty good.

Thanks, we were/are using that. Apparently, the issue is resolved. As long as it is from the media center and not pictures, the reading level doesn’t matter. How that is any different than him bringing in his own book, I am perplexed. But whatever, he is reading Swindle by Gordon Korman.

 

[mmmears]

My husband will not make any phone calls...he’s fine with me applying for him, so far..knock wood...no calls needed or I’d have to work on my deep voice...lol...
How long since his last Chase application.....Do you need a card soon ?
For the extra 50k URs I’d roll the dice and go for the CIP2...if he’s not approved...it sets you back 30 days before he can apply again....look at Chase CLs and reduce if needed to increase approval chances

Thanks. He got a CIP 10/18 and that was his last Chase card. Chase's credit to him is around 25% of his income and it's probably too late to lower it now. We are about done with my CIP so getting another MSR would make sense. Plus a few more URs wouldn't be bad.

But if this is risky then maybe the CIC is a better idea... He had to wait until today to drop down to 4/24.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Thanks. He got a CIP 10/18 and that was his last Chase card. Chase's credit to him is around 25% of his income and it's probably too late to lower it now. We are about done with my CIP so getting another MSR would make sense. Plus a few more URs wouldn't be bad.

But if this is risky then maybe the CIC is a better idea... He had to wait until today to drop down to 4/24.

I think your fine it’s 6 months since his last Chase card and 25% of HHI is great

 

[castoral]

Woohoo!!! PNC $300 Bank Bonus hit today! Already re routed my direct deposit back to our main account and going in tomorrow to downgrade my account to the no fees.

I’d like DH to do the $300 Chase business account next but getting him up there may be problematic. May just do his PNC one and find with his new AMEX Marriott Biz.

 

[wanderlust7]

Woohoo!!! PNC $300 Bank Bonus hit today! Already re routed my direct deposit back to our main account and going in tomorrow to downgrade my account to the no fees.

I’d like DH to do the $300 Chase business account next but getting him up there may be problematic. May just do his PNC one and find with his new AMEX Marriott Biz.

If you meant fund, PNC credit card funding is dead. Now coding as cash advance. They don't take AmEx anyways.

 

[Haley R]

Go Hawks! Toews shoots and scores!

Jets up 3-2!! Not playing like they’re winning though

 

[afan]

Is there a way to tell on Amex's site how much of an offer you've used? I've found all the credits I've gotten back but I don't remember when the Staples offer started and I want to make sure I don't go over the $50 of the offer.

 

[MarBee]

Best card for car rentals? Looking for which card gives the best insurance coverage as well as most amount of points earned.
CF
CSP
CIP
Amex Bonvoy Business

Thank you!

 

[NewbieMom]

Wow, I think I would make a complaint on comment like that to a 3 year old.

I thought about making a complaint for a brief moment, but with DS and DH waiting in the car for a supposedly quick grocery run and this woman seemed a bit more senior as the other cashiers were going to her for overrides, I just let it slide. Luckily DD is still a little young to fully understand the words/tone.

 

[GusGus16]

Best card for car rentals? Looking for which card gives the best insurance coverage as well as most amount of points earned.
CF
CSP
CIP
Amex Bonvoy Business

Thank you!

I would use the CSP, as that has primary car rental insurance (make sure to decline any additional coverage at the desk). The CF and Bonvoy Bus do not have coverage. CIP does have some travel insurance, but I think for the car rental they may stimulate coverage for business travel only.

 

[miztressuz]

Thanks! On second thought, maybe I'll leave the money in my Fidelity accounts and close Chase... more money back in my Ally account if I close Chase since I don't think there's a minimum amount required for the Fidelity accounts to stay open.

That was going to be my suggestion Fidelity seems to trigger a lot of other banks, I think most have luck with it coming from the brokerage account but I think I saw some where even the cash account worked. With it not having any minimum balance or activity fees that I recall it seems a handier account to keep.

Ok. So I decided to try for the Alaska Airlines Business Card and see what happens (Don't have any BOA cards) and if all goes well - then sign DH up for one also.

Well, I got this email today:

n addition to this email, you’ll receive a letter by mail listing the information we need. Please read that letter carefully because it contains important regulatory disclosures concerning your credit application that are not contained in this email.

You can provide this information using IntraLinks®, our third party provider. IntraLinks is a secure document exchange tool that you can use to provide information in a secure manner. Look in your inbox for instructions from IntraLinks® on how you can take advantage of this option.

Whether you send information electronically or by mail, you only need to submit the information once.
Please provide the following:

• Proof of business ownership or authorization to borrow on behalf of the business (e.g. corporate resolution, organization's meeting minutes, articles of incorporation, articles of organization or certificate of incorporation).
• Verification of the legal structure of the business. Verification may include Articles of Inc/Articles of Org/Cert of Trade Name/Partnership agreement. For Non-Profit, provide primary mission (U.S or International) & legal classification (e.g. 501(c)(3)).
• The two most recent accountant prepared, year-end business financial statements/tax returns
• Your two most recent years of federal personal tax returns with all schedules. If you filed a tax extension, please provide a copy of your most recent W2 forms or, for sole proprietorships, an internally prepared year-end profit and loss statement.

So, now what?? I applied as Sole Proprietor and used SS #. Has anyone gotten this before and what did you do?? Not sure how to proceed on this or if I just let it go.

Yep, I think that's almost seems standard for the Alaska Biz card. I think if they don't find you in the business credit report agency you get this? I called up to ask what I could submit since I was a sole proprietor and thus didn't have articles of incorporation or any of that stuff. They said to send what I have through email so I sent in my personal tax returns but I haven't filed a Schedule C so it didn't show much. I got a denial because basically they couldn't find my business credit and I had sufficient credit available (I have 2 personal BoA cards)

If you've got anything to back up the business it'll probably help. I'm very much in the "business" space.

DH says applying for a 2nd CIP stresses him out. He's worried it will be a pain, he will have to call again, and then they will notice. He thinks he'd rather just go for a CIC instead. Anyone care to share thoughts on this one? I kind of think he should go for it since there are more bonus points, but I don't want to push too hard and have him refuse to play this game. Thoughts on why one is better than another?

Personally, I'd go with whichever keeps P2 in the game. Do you have a CIC? I think you both went for CIPs, right? It's not a bad card to put in the arsenal and you get a 50k bonus for only 3k in spend with no AF. It's the same sign up bonus as the Sapphires but less MSR to meet and no AF to pay. 5x earning on internet, cable and phone is decent (in addition to the 5x office supply stores that gets the most attention) and also gets 2x on gas (and restaurants) so it's a nice complement to other UR cards.

Obviously the 100k+ is a better short term option, but for the long game having 2 players would probably be more lucrative if he's absolutely not on board.

 

[mmmears]

Personally, I'd go with whichever keeps P2 in the game. Do you have a CIC? I think you both went for CIPs, right? It's not a bad card to put in the arsenal and you get a 50k bonus for only 3k in spend with no AF. It's the same sign up bonus as the Sapphires but less MSR to meet and no AF to pay. 5x earning on internet, cable and phone is decent (in addition to the 5x office supply stores that gets the most attention) and also gets 2x on gas (and restaurants) so it's a nice complement to other UR cards.

Obviously the 100k+ is a better short term option, but for the long game having 2 players would probably be more lucrative if he's absolutely not on board.

Thanks. Yes, I'm thinking about those things as well. And yes, we both have CIPs and the CIC does look interesting with the 5x categories. I appreciate your thoughts on this one.