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

[pillow]

My Rockettes saga has ended well. I chatted yesterday and the person told me they couldn't change anything. So I called today and they were able to change them for a $10/ticket fee. Persistence pays off My other options were to sell and rebuy or take a really early flight to NYC but my preference is to take Amtrak.

Good - glad that worked. Phew.

Have you taken Amtrak north from RIC before? If the train originates somewhere south of here, it can run very very very late. On one trip many years ago, our train was so late, we would have missed our scheduled show. We ended up rebooking a train that originated in D.C. and we drove up to Union Station. It was a PAIN, and I was in a panic.

 

[platamama]

Totally except that I found a way to pay tuition via CCs but I am so glad we are moving DS to private school in the fall. It is absolutely the right decision. Apparently, the kids are now making fun of him for being younger as he just turned 12 while the other 7th graders are 13 or will be shortly. This is due to him being a bumped up a year from kindergarten to 1st grade. I thought he was upset because I wouldn't get him a pug but he finally broke down on FaceTime after 30 times calling me to tell me he wasn't going to school today and told me the real issue. He even asked to repeat 7th grade so he wouldn't stand out again at his new school. My heart is breaking for him. Middle school kids are so cruel. Just 37 more days to get through...

A like in support. Sorry to hear your DS is getting such crap from the other kids, as if their age makes them superior somehow.

My DD skipped K as well and is in the same grade as kids 18 or more months older than she is (the older kids having been redshirted). I was advised early on that the age difference would become more important socially as she got into the upper grades. I'm not sure it's the age difference that's the issue, so much as it is that she's not into the things the other kids are into. I don't think being amongst age peers would change that. She actually found her people in middle school (it was a nerdy middle school) and is feeling lost as a 9th grader this year since she's starting over (her friends went to the other high school that's not our neighborhood school). I'm hoping that it's just due to 9th grade being a transition year, but we'll just deal with things as they come.

I hope the new school is a better fit for him!

 

[wendow]

A like in support. Sorry to hear your DS is getting such crap from the other kids, as if their age makes them superior somehow.

My DD skipped K as well and is in the same grade as kids 18 or more months older than she is (the older kids having been redshirted). I was advised early on that the age difference would become more important socially as she got into the upper grades. I'm not sure it's the age difference that's the issue, so much as it is that she's not into the things the other kids are into. I don't think being amongst age peers would change that. She actually found her people in middle school (it was a nerdy middle school) and is feeling lost as a 9th grader this year since she's starting over (her friends went to the other high school that's not our neighborhood school). I'm hoping that it's just due to 9th grade being a transition year, but we'll just deal with things as they come.

I hope the new school is a better fit for him!

Your dd sounds like my cousin's dd (also an only child). She has never been into the things other kids her age are into. As a little girl, she was never into dolls, Barbie's or playing house. She reads WAY above her reading level so she's never reading the same books as other kids in her grade. Her parents aren't into Disney or anything very 'american' and prefer Japanese culture so the few movies she watches are Japanese anime. She's a super sweet girl, and my girls have gotten along well with her even though she is a couple years younger, but in general, she doesn't really have many friends. Thing is, she is completely ok with that. The idea that she would hang out with people she has nothing in common with just so she can say she has 'friends' would be a complete waste of time in her opinion lol.

Hope things improve for your dd as she settles into high school!

 

[Livelovedance]

Amex business cards don’t add to your 5/24 count with Chase

When I’m not instantly approved with Chase I call the automated status line to check on the application

Oh okay, then I'll look into the Amex card a little further and decide if I want to attempt it before the CIC. Thank you for all of your help with my numerous questions!

 

[wendow]

I was really hoping when Disney released the summer promos that I'd see the point costs drop for AA miles but AA is still showing the same numbers There is a RO discount so I would think that would be reflected like it was before but not so far.

 

[havaneselover]

Good - glad that worked. Phew.

Have you taken Amtrak north from RIC before? If the train originates somewhere south of here, it can run very very very late. On one trip many years ago, our train was so late, we would have missed our scheduled show. We ended up rebooking a train that originated in D.C. and we drove up to Union Station. It was a PAIN, and I was in a panic.

Not since I worked in DC in my 20s. I just don't want to deal with LGA/taxi cost. But panic does not sound good to me!

 

[nickle831]

I upgraded my Southwest Visa to Southwest Visa Priority about 2 months ago. Does that change the anniversary date or does it restart the year? I don't want to miss out on the $75 southwest travel redemption before I hit anniversary date.

 

[pillow]

Not since I worked in DC in my 20s. I just don't want to deal with LGA/taxi cost. But panic does not sound good to me!

Uber wasn't too bad from LGA. We used our credits from the Sam's Visa thing. I sure do miss that. Hasn't worked for me in months.

 

[1st*toright]

Just a heads up that the IHG Premier Card's increased 120k points offer (80k points after spending $2,000 within the first three months; an additional 40k points after spending a total of $5,000 within the first six months) is ending on 5/1/19.

See: IHG Premier Card 120K Bonus Ending Soon - OMAAT

This is a card I'd like to get for DW and an offer I wish I could jump on (I think the previous high offer was 100k), since DW tends to stay at an Intercontinental for work and already has a stash of IHG points, but it won't even have been two months since her CIP2 app when this offer expires and I want to play it safe.

P.S. Congratulations on your DH's new business venture. I can "feel" the excitement from your post!

Thanks very much for the heads up. Dilemmas. He could use his old CIP as his business card for a while (currently sock drawered) - no one is going to care that the business name on the card doesn't match the new business name. I was counting on the higher IHG offer - sounds like I should probably get on that and hope that the multiple CIP lasts a while longer.

Yet another example of how posting stuff here can help prevent churning fails!

 

[vanjust14]

I upgraded my Southwest Visa to Southwest Visa Priority about 2 months ago. Does that change the anniversary date or does it restart the year? I don't want to miss out on the $75 southwest travel redemption before I hit anniversary date.

I actually just looked this up recently as I, too, upgraded to the priority. From the terms and conditions: Eligibility for a $75 Southwest Annual Travel Credit for accounts that switch to this product: Account open date is the date the switch is official in the Chase system. Statement credit(s) will post to your account the same day your Southwest Airlines purchase posts to your account and will appear on your monthly credit card billing statement within 1-2 billing cycles.

Same goes for the upgraded boardings.

 

[nickle831]

I actually just looked this up recently as I, too, upgraded to the priority. From the terms and conditions: Eligibility for a $75 Southwest Annual Travel Credit for accounts that switch to this product: Account open date is the date the switch is official in the Chase system. Statement credit(s) will post to your account the same day your Southwest Airlines purchase posts to your account and will appear on your monthly credit card billing statement within 1-2 billing cycles.

Same goes for the upgraded boardings.

Awesome thanks!

 

[mamalovesdis]

Congrats on pushing through and getting some human interaction going! The things we do for points

Thanks! I know some people don’t like to call and speak to a human, but it doesn’t really bother me. You’re right, we go the extra mile for those miles!

 

[Lain]

For some reason, I can't get either my new CIP or DHs to add to Paypal to pay for my ebay shipping? Keeps getting declined... Haven't used either for a week maybe but don't see any issues in DHs account at least (need to set mine up still).

That's happened to me when adding new cards. The reps are no help (they'll claim to "reset" your account or something) and the best I can figure is after an error like that, you need to give it time -- at least a week -- before you try to add the card again, or it'll error out and keep you in this loop. Eventually, I am able to add new cards, but it's irritating.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Not since I worked in DC in my 20s. I just don't want to deal with LGA/taxi cost. But panic does not sound good to me!

Uber wasn't too bad from LGA. We used our credits from the Sam's Visa thing. I sure do miss that. Hasn't worked for me in months.

I've ubered from LGA and EWR. Both were about $50, but neither were too bad in terms of time. We did hit traffic going from LGA into NYC, but we were commuting during prime 8 AM rush hour, so that was really our own fault. The trip from EWR to Times Square in December on a Saturday morning seemed very quick.

 

[1st*toright]

A like in support. Sorry to hear your DS is getting such crap from the other kids, as if their age makes them superior somehow.

My DD skipped K as well and is in the same grade as kids 18 or more months older than she is (the older kids having been redshirted). I was advised early on that the age difference would become more important socially as she got into the upper grades. I'm not sure it's the age difference that's the issue, so much as it is that she's not into the things the other kids are into. I don't think being amongst age peers would change that. She actually found her people in middle school (it was a nerdy middle school) and is feeling lost as a 9th grader this year since she's starting over (her friends went to the other high school that's not our neighborhood school). I'm hoping that it's just due to 9th grade being a transition year, but we'll just deal with things as they come.

I hope the new school is a better fit for him!

Your dd sounds like my cousin's dd (also an only child). She has never been into the things other kids her age are into. As a little girl, she was never into dolls, Barbie's or playing house. She reads WAY above her reading level so she's never reading the same books as other kids in her grade. Her parents aren't into Disney or anything very 'american' and prefer Japanese culture so the few movies she watches are Japanese anime. She's a super sweet girl, and my girls have gotten along well with her even though she is a couple years younger, but in general, she doesn't really have many friends. Thing is, she is completely ok with that. The idea that she would hang out with people she has nothing in common with just so she can say she has 'friends' would be a complete waste of time in her opinion lol.

Hope things improve for your dd as she settles into high school!

Middle school is awful 'cause its often mean, but the transition to high school can be really challenging too. My teen is super quirky, and not good at faking interest in things, or people, so she is often a little out of step with most kids. She is very happy spending time alone, and has an eclectic mix of kids she hangs out with, but no big social group that she does everything with (both a good thing and a bad thing from my perspective). She felt kinda lost in 9th grade, but the older she gets, the easier it gets - everyone is figuring out who they are, and quirky is now considered interesting instead of just weird. And @wendow - your cousin's dd should go to my kid's school - there is an anime club with like 40 kids in it. One of DD's friends has started teaching herself Japanese because she's so into it!

 

[Lain]

I just checked my account and I have met the MSR on my Hilton biz - yaaay! The billing cycle closes in a couple days so I think it will show up on this, the second statement. I hope it’s not too soon for the rats, lol. They sent the first statement with only about 9 days in the billing cycle. I had to be quick to get any charges on that one at all.

Now I can finish off my CIP MSR, which will be easily met.

Amex SUBs (generally) don't post according to billing cycle.

With the exception of your first MR earning card, in which case, the points from which go pending but don't post until the close of your second statement, Amex SUBs usually post to that card's online account within 3-5 days of meeting MSR (when the charge that puts you over posts), and posts to the co-brand's member account about a day or two later, regardless when your statement closes.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Thanks - this is exactly our plan. Question that I can't find the answer to: After hitting the MSR on both CIPs (or any other card with an AF) do you typically cancel the cards, or keep them open so credit rating doesn't drop? Paying the AF every year, esp. when moving on to other cards with biggger rewards, seems like it will get expensive over time (I already have a bunch of card where we pay the AF every year, never use the card, because I'm afraid of my credit score dropping)

Once you've paid an AF for the year, you'll want to leave it open until the next AF posts. The interesting thing about CIP is since it's a biz card, it's not on your report anyways. I'd still leave it open for a year (and then at that point you can downgrade or cancel...whatever fits your strategy best).

You NEVER need to pay a 2nd year AF in this game unless the benefits make sense. I've gotten 68 cards in the last 4ish years and I have only paid a 2nd year AF 3-4 times. Typically I downgrade or cancel at the year mark because I either a) don't get enough benefit from the AF to justify it or b) already have a 2nd version of the card with my spouse or am planning to get the card again so no need to keep multiples open.

 

[mamalovesdis]

What questions did they ask? I also applied for the barclay as biz yesterday and went pending and the online status checker says no applications on file.

I was gonna wait it out.but if the questions about my business selling used baby gear aren’t too bad, maybe I’ll call.

Basically asked about my income, what I do other than the business, and how my total gross for the year is made up. Asked me about my business - name of business, full or part time, what it is, how long I’ve been in business and my annual revenue. I told him I buy things to resell. I didn’t mention the word eBay, but that’s what it is. A lot of the questions are the same as were on the application so remember what you entered so they match up. He also asked what I use my cc’s for and if I keep balances. To get to a human do not choose the check application status option - it will only take you to an automated system. I would press 0 anytime I could. If you’re not intimidated by talking to a person over the phone I say go for it. He put me on hold for a while after the questions and came back with an approval and credit limit. It was maybe a 15 minute phone call. Hope this helps!

 

[wendow]

Middle school is awful 'cause its often mean, but the transition to high school can be really challenging too. My teen is super quirky, and not good at faking interest in things, or people, so she is often a little out of step with most kids. She is very happy spending time alone, and has an eclectic mix of kids she hangs out with, but no big social group that she does everything with (both a good thing and a bad thing from my perspective). She felt kinda lost in 9th grade, but the older she gets, the easier it gets - everyone is figuring out who they are, and quirky is now considered interesting instead of just weird. And @wendow - your cousin's dd should go to my kid's school - there is an anime club with like 40 kids in it. One of DD's friends has started teaching herself Japanese because she's so into it!

Wow! Sounds like a perfect fit for this girl! She enters high school next year so I'm hoping there is more variety of activities for her to participate in.

 

[Lain]

Thanks very much for the heads up. Dilemmas. He could use his old CIP as his business card for a while (currently sock drawered) - no one is going to care that the business name on the card doesn't match the new business name. I was counting on the higher IHG offer - sounds like I should probably get on that and hope that the multiple CIP lasts a while longer.

Yet another example of how posting stuff here can help prevent churning fails!

DoC has a link to the same 120k tiered offer, but with an additional $50 statement credit after your first purchase: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/targeted-chase-ihg-premier-up-to-120000-points/