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

[havaneselover]

On the citi aa biz $250 statement credit, how long does it take to show up? Or do you not see it until the statement closes?

ETA: Never mind. I see it says 8-10 weeks.

 

[DisneyMandC]

This is a really weird story. They were all on the same plane... why didn't the daughter just walk back & talk to her mother instead of trying to call her on the phone? Why would they remove an existing passenger to accommodate someone else due to "overbooking?" How did this situation result in $75K worth of damages?

I read another article when it first happened that said the flight attendant refused to let the girl go back and tell her mother. Still kind of weird story, but that was reported in other articles anyways.

 

[miztressuz]

Gotcha, but how do I know when the AF is due? Also, if I downgrade CSR in a year to a CSP, will I still be hit with the AF for the CSP, or is the AF still delayed a year for that card?

Chase will put a note on your statement 2 months ahead of the AF charge stating the date it'll be charged. Even if you have a $0 balance, they'll cut a statement to send you that note so just check the statements each month. In practice they charge the AF the first of the month following your anniversary date. My CSR/CSP anniversaries are this month so I'll get the fees on May 1 (and I got the notice last month about it).

If you downgrade the CSR to a CSP you will get the lower $95 fee. The first AF is only waived for new card applications, it was part of the sign up offer. You can also downgrade to a CF or CFU instead for no fee if you already have a CSP.

We currently have 4 cards with annual fees. I have a Chase Disney Visa that earns 2% and we pay an annual fee of $49. I have a Chase Marriott Vis with an annual fee of $85 that we keep because we receive one free hotel per year. DH just took out a CSP and the $95 AF will hit sometime this fall. I was just approved for the CSR and we will definitely get our money’s worth from that. So, I’m not opposed to AF’s, but am just more concerned I might be duplicating benefits with us both having a CSP and CSR, but really don’t want to get rid of the CSR, just worried I won’t get enough out of it to justify keeping it a second year. We do not seem to be benefiting as much from the $49 AF Disney card, but we have earned more than the fee already in rewards. We have 2 other Disney cards that are 1% rewards that both DH and I have that we considered closing. These do not have an annual fee, but we are not benefiting from them, so it seems silly to keep them. We also have an Amazon Visa that doesn’t have a fee, but is older and I’m reluctant to cancel. One of the 1% Disney Visa’s is DH’s oldest credit card, so I’m reluctant to close that one. I have much older cards, so was considering closing or PC’ing my Disney Visa, but no clue what I would PC it to?

Unless they cause you anxiety, I wouldn't close the no fee Disney or Amazon cards. They aren't really hurting anything keeping them. If you don't use them you can reduce the CL on them to free up available credit for new cards. Just put a charge on each once a year to keep them active and let them help anchor your age of accounts. The Disney Premier card you could cancel if you won't be continuing to use it to the fullest. You can always PC one of your no AF cards back to it if needed and even sometimes Chase sends out offers to do that with a statement credit to offset the AF. EDIT: Forgot to say, if you stay under 5/24 you could always reapply for the bonus after 24 months too.

As for the keeping the CSR or CSP, there's a few strategies for that. Like the Disney Visa, if you have a 10k CL on a CF/CFU/CSP you can PC back to a CSR when needed (likewise to a CSP if you have a 5k CL). So unless you need to transfer UR's to DH's FF/Hotel account, you could probably downgrade his CSP while you hold the CSR and then evaluate what you'd like to keep going forward when your CSR comes due.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

Thank you! I realized after I booked I did not select a seat. The JetBlue website seems to be down right now, but I see the reservation in my mobile app and it looks like it assigned me to 7D. I selected aisle so not a huge issue. I will call JetBlue and confirm. I am traveling solo, but if I were with a group I would really want to select seats!

Sadly I do not have a JetBlue CC (yet?). I did a Blue Plus fare. Glad I am figuring all this out on a solo trip.

ETA I just checked the flight map and it looks like my seat has an X so maybe its mine? IDK if its "ticketed" yet. It also looks like it will let me pick anything within the plane through the app. Still going to call to confirm. I can always cancel under 24 hours

That’s good! When I booked it was a little over a year ago and we were never able to pick seats on the app etc so it sounds better now. JB being JB they were great and made sure I was with both my kids and put DH a row up in an aisle. We were in the very last row but didn’t care.
Now delta was a totally different story! Separated us but we worked it out when we got on the plane.
I think since you picked Blue plus you are set for bags. Even if you had the ability to get the free bag sounds like you got the better deal. Plus I wonder once you link the Ressie it might give it to you

Good to know. So far I haven't bought seats with URs, so I had no idea this would be the case, but I guess it's how it works. I'll have to remember that one.

Delta was the worst. Wouldn’t put my DS11 with an adult. Put me in last row with DD8 and hubby way up in front. Luckily someone in my row switched with DS thank god.

 

[miztressuz]

Also, just to add, we have become more attracted to stats at Hilton properties, but I’ve had the Marriott card forever and am a Gold Member (not sure if that means anything anymore?), but just seems as though lately it has been more of a hassle than it’s worth to try to use points, and especially our annual certificate with Marriott. I’d like to branch out and try new rewards, but I’m reluctant to stray from Chase. I’m just starting the get a handle on UR, and feel as though branching out will ultimately not be as beneficial to us in terms of rewards earned.

I think diversity is more beneficial, but I can see a point if you spread yourself too thin where you don't have enough points in any one program to make sense. For us we did IHG and Marriott and, for the most part, where we couldn't find a Marriott that worked with our plans we could find an IHG and vice versa. In the last 7 or 8 years it's been rare that we stayed somewhere outside of that. However, in the last year or so, where we were headed Hilton's have popped up that were a better fit for our plans so we branched out and added them into our portfolio. Worked out perfectly for our Alaska trip later this year as there's a Hilton property right by the train station we're using whereas most other hotels are several blocks away. We're catching an early train, after getting in very late, and we're not morning people at all so saving that extra travel time is worth it. Best part since we jumped on a Hilton CC offer, we had enough points to cover the night

However, if the Chase travel portal has a decent selection of hotels and you're not interested in any status perks of a program, then sticking with UR can be flexible enough to work with that. I feel that if you don't have a particular future need it's not a bad thing to build up what you have before branching out. But don't let that stop you from picking up something specific that will help with a particular goal.

 

[Alexle2007]

What did we do before Informed Delivery? It has saved my panic that I was going to need to call AmEx and ask them to overnight by Hilton Biz for the tuition payment since I can that it is arriving today.

 

[schmass]

I think since you picked Blue plus you are set for bags. Even if you had the ability to get the free bag sounds like you got the better deal. Plus I wonder once you link the Ressie it might give it to you

Yes, if you have the card you will get the free bags even if you didn't use the card to book the flights! I learned that last year when we went to Hilton Head on a flight I had booked prior to getting the card. I think as long as it's linked to your account you are all set!

 

[disneybirds]

I don’t have an exact answer for you, but I am sorry you are having such problems. That is odd that it is still not showing as paid on the state side, so it is not like you are just dealing with the usual delay on Plastiq’s side to post the most timely update as to the payment status, it seems that legitimately the payment has not been received by the recipient yet.

I don’t know much about tax payments, but is it an option to “wire” the money for it? One time when I had a payment through Plastiq that was delayed and I REALLY needed it to get to the recipient, Plastiq offered to cancel the check and same day transfer the money straight to a bank account instead, for no extra fees (I’m not sure if they usually charge for this or not?). I’m not sure if this would work for taxes though? I don’t really know the proper terminology for the different types of transactions, so I hope that’s not a confusing explanation.

I have had payments cancelled and refunded, I think it took the normal amount of time that a credit card refund would normally take from a retailer etc.

Thanks for the response. I appreciate it! I cancelled both payments yesterday since they still hadn't posted. Even though Plastiq says they will cover the late fees, I figure it is 50/50 whether they will pay them. I am just hoping that the CIP payment is credited back quickly so I can pay it again on Tuesday before more fees apply on May 1st. Would love to meet that MSR quickly.

Plastiq mails checks to the IRS and State revenue departments. As far as I know, they don't have a way to ACH funds to them. I do pay our DD's rent via ACH through Plastiq and never had any issues on Plastiq's end. Just irritated since they have had our funds for over 2 weeks at this point and it is going to be a hassle to fix.

 

[elgerber]

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[schmass]

I got an email that I have a Lyft promo for 25% off all rides through May 7th. We'll be at WDW starting May 3rd so I'm hoping this includes Minnie Vans. I think I could justify an extra Minnie Van or two if we got 25% off plus the Discover It bonus!

 

[WVMomof3]

Chase will put a note on your statement 2 months ahead of the AF charge stating the date it'll be charged. Even if you have a $0 balance, they'll cut a statement to send you that note so just check the statements each month. In practice they charge the AF the first of the month following your anniversary date. My CSR/CSP anniversaries are this month so I'll get the fees on May 1 (and I got the notice last month about it).

If you downgrade the CSR to a CSP you will get the lower $95 fee. The first AF is only waived for new card applications, it was part of the sign up offer. You can also downgrade to a CF or CFU instead for no fee if you already have a CSP.

Be checking your CSP for it to appear sooner. All of my other cards have shown up on the 1st of the following month. The CSP must have shown up on the anniversary. I can't find any trace of it now because it never made it to the statement but I double dipped in mid December. I know the AF posted before I cancelled and I was able to downgrade that one in December. My statement dates for that card was Dec 10- Jan 9 so sometime in between there I was charged the fee and downgraded Dec 26. The fee post and refund did not show up on the statement. My CSR showed up January 1 and I downgraded that one late January. I liked that I could spread out my downgrades. Was almost as nervous about downgrading both as I was about the double dip itself.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Just thought I'd share that I had a Marriott booked for tomorrow night that I just found out I needed to cancel. I called the Marriott customer service number and was flat out told "no" they couldn't cancel it and I'd be charged for it. I hung up and immediately called the hotel itself to ask if there was anyway they could cancel the room and not charge me for it. I was on the phone for less than 30 seconds and the woman very nicely canceled for me and told me not to worry about it at all. Before I could even hang up the phone, I refreshed my Marriott reservations page and saw it had been removed!

 

[Alexle2007]

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[Kawnipi]

On the subject of closing and/or PCing Cards, are most people closing or PCing their CIP #1 before going for a second one? DH’s AF hit April 1 and I am paralyzed with indecision on what to do with it. If I close it before May 1 will they just reverse the AF? And I can do that through SM? That may be easiest since he doesn’t really want to call. He has a CIC already and was planning to get the CIU but it seems like it may be smarter to go for a new CIP instead. This hobby gives me anxiety, lol.

My P2 got CIP1 in January 19 and got CIP 2 in April 19 so no need to pc or close CIP1. Getting another CIP over the CIC or CIU would always be the way to go if you can swing the 5k spend. You can self refer so it's 100k points versus 50k.

 

[miztressuz]

Be checking your CSP for it to appear sooner. All of my other cards have shown up on the 1st of the following month. The CSP must have shown up on the anniversary. I can't find any trace of it now because it never made it to the statement but I double dipped in mid December. I know the AF posted before I cancelled and I was able to downgrade that one in December. My statement dates for that card was Dec 10- Jan 9 so sometime in between there I was charged the fee and downgraded Dec 26. The fee post and refund did not show up on the statement. My CSR showed up January 1 and I downgraded that one late January. I liked that I could spread out my downgrades. Was almost as nervous about downgrading both as I was about the double dip itself.

Well, so far they are keeping their word. It stated it'd be charged on May 1, anniversary was 4/16 and no charges so far. That's how it worked for my CSR last year as well. Double dipped on 4/16, CSR AF posted on May 1. Both March statements showed the message that it'd be charged on May 1. I guess it's good to keep an eye on your statements to look for the date.

 

[elgerber]

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[hsmamato2]

Ok I'm here looking for some direction,since our */24's are coming up...
My goals? accrue more Hh points if I can- MORE UR always-possible more AA (for Disney) I don't MS ,and organic spend limit isn't that high (have to be careful)
I'm thinking of what I can do before I'm 5/24,and what to do after.
CIP from P2 referral for me? when? Should I PC one of P2 FR?(we never jit the quarterly on all 3 FR) I'm looking for a path....I know some of you here are excellent at seeing what I can't in the numbers....TIA
*******************************************************
CK scores- 862- me (P1) I'm 5/24 until 5/26/19(I'm calling it 6/1)
currently have 11 open cards-FR,FU,Dis(no af),CSR(keeping)IHG,SPGbiz,HhBiz,Hh pers.,BarclaysJB,DiscoverIT,SWA(canceling)(plus i'm AU on 2)
Amex Hh AU (sigh) 5/17
IHG 7/17
BCE (au sigh) 8/17
Jetblue 1/18
Discover 2/18
**************************************************
P2-score 830-
14 open cards-BarcAA,BCE,HhAscend,SPGBiz,HhPers.,Dis(no af),FR,FR,IHG,FU,SWA+,SWABiz,CIP,WoH-
AmexHh(au)5/17
BCE 8/17
SWA+ 11/18
AmexHh 12/18
WoH 1/19
BarcAA 2/19
*CIP 1/19
*SWABiz 11/18

No opinions at all?

 

[calypso726]

We currently have 4 cards with annual fees. I have a Chase Disney Visa that earns 2% and we pay an annual fee of $49. I have a Chase Marriott Vis with an annual fee of $85 that we keep because we receive one free hotel per year. DH just took out a CSP and the $95 AF will hit sometime this fall. I was just approved for the CSR and we will definitely get our money’s worth from that. So, I’m not opposed to AF’s, but am just more concerned I might be duplicating benefits with us both having a CSP and CSR, but really don’t want to get rid of the CSR, just worried I won’t get enough out of it to justify keeping it a second year. We do not seem to be benefiting as much from the $49 AF Disney card, but we have earned more than the fee already in rewards. We have 2 other Disney cards that are 1% rewards that both DH and I have that we considered closing. These do not have an annual fee, but we are not benefiting from them, so it seems silly to keep them. We also have an Amazon Visa that doesn’t have a fee, but is older and I’m reluctant to cancel. One of the 1% Disney Visa’s is DH’s oldest credit card, so I’m reluctant to close that one. I have much older cards, so was considering closing or PC’ing my Disney Visa, but no clue what I would PC it to?

Also, just to add, we have become more attracted to stats at Hilton properties, but I’ve had the Marriott card forever and am a Gold Member (not sure if that means anything anymore?), but just seems as though lately it has been more of a hassle than it’s worth to try to use points, and especially our annual certificate with Marriott. I’d like to branch out and try new rewards, but I’m reluctant to stray from Chase. I’m just starting the get a handle on UR, and feel as though branching out will ultimately not be as beneficial to us in terms of rewards earned.

I have an old Amazon and old no fee Disney Visa kept for their age too. I have the limits lowered on each one and buy something once a year to keep them active. In our household, 2 CSRs actually work better for us. But we tend to be the exception on 2 CSR cards as opposed to the norm. Sometimes duplicating benefits is better and sometimes not. Every situation is different. You can PC the CSP to a Freedom. Those 5x quarterly categories really help pile up the UR points. CFU is great for non category bonus earning.

When it comes to hotel cards, we always opt for duplicating benefits. I find great use on all my free night certs with Marriott, Hilton and IHG. DH and I each have our own card for each so we can get 2 free night between us and can make a weekend getaway out of them. Club Carlson gives us great options for free hotel stays in Europe with the annual anniversary points. It is the only US Bank card I have. The Hilton Aspire card has such potential value each year that not only do we each have a card to duplicate the benefits, we are each going for a second Aspire card to quadruple the benefits. I am very content branching out since it allows me to do more. I am actually trying to go under 5/24 to pick up the Hyatt card too.

I am a firm believer in diversification of a points and miles portfolio. It gives me options for both unplanned trips and when the planned ones don’t work out like I thought they would. I do not like putting all my eggs in one basket. More than once I’ve had to switch from plan A to plan B or C or a bit of all three. Hope this helps.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

I have an old Amazon and old no fee Disney Visa kept for their age too. I have the limits lowered on each one and buy something once a year to keep them active. In our household, 2 CSRs actually work better for us. But we tend to be the exception on 2 CSR cards as opposed to the norm. Sometimes duplicating benefits is better and sometimes not. Every situation is different. You can PC the CSP to a Freedom. Those 5x quarterly categories really help pile up the UR points. CFU is great for non category bonus earning.

When it comes to hotel cards, we always opt for duplicating benefits. I find great use on all my free night certs with Marriott, Hilton and IHG. DH and I each have our own card for each so we can get 2 free night between us and can make a weekend getaway out of them. Club Carlson gives us great options for free hotel stays in Europe with the annual anniversary points. It is the only US Bank card I have. The Hilton Aspire card has such potential value each year that not only do we each have a card to duplicate the benefits, we are each going for a second Aspire card to quadruple the benefits. I am very content branching out since it allows me to do more. I am actually trying to go under 5/24 to pick up the Hyatt card too.

I am a firm believer in diversification of a points and miles portfolio. It gives me options for both unplanned trips and when the planned ones don’t work out like I thought they would. I do not like putting all my eggs in one basket. More than once I’ve had to switch from plan A to plan B or C or a bit of all three. Hope this helps.

Curious how 2 CSRs make sense for you. I know the travel credit gets used. Is it for DH to charge dining/travel? Wouldn’t it make more sense to have him as an AU?

 

[miztressuz]

Ok I'm here looking for some direction,since our */24's are coming up...
My goals? accrue more Hh points if I can- MORE UR always-possible more AA (for Disney) I don't MS ,and organic spend limit isn't that high (have to be careful)
I'm thinking of what I can do before I'm 5/24,and what to do after.
CIP from P2 referral for me? when? Should I PC one of P2 FR?(we never jit the quarterly on all 3 FR) I'm looking for a path....I know some of you here are excellent at seeing what I can't in the numbers....TIA
*******************************************************
CK scores- 862- me (P1) I'm 5/24 until 5/26/19(I'm calling it 6/1)
currently have 11 open cards-FR,FU,Dis(no af),CSR(keeping)IHG,SPGbiz,HhBiz,Hh pers.,BarclaysJB,DiscoverIT,SWA(canceling)(plus i'm AU on 2)
Amex Hh AU (sigh) 5/17
IHG 7/17
BCE (au sigh) 8/17
Jetblue 1/18
Discover 2/18
**************************************************
P2-score 830-
14 open cards-BarcAA,BCE,HhAscend,SPGBiz,HhPers.,Dis(no af),FR,FR,IHG,FU,SWA+,SWABiz,CIP,WoH-
AmexHh(au)5/17
BCE 8/17
SWA+ 11/18
AmexHh 12/18
WoH 1/19
BarcAA 2/19
*CIP 1/19
*SWABiz 11/18

P1
CF
CFU
Disney
CSR
IHG
SPGBiz
Hilton Biz
Hilton
SW

Amex Hh AU (sigh) 5/17 1/24
IHG 7/17......………………...2/24
BCE (au sigh) 8/17...…...3/24
Jetblue 1/18...……………...4/24
Discover 2/18...…………….5/24

P2
CF x2
CFU
IHG
Disney
SPGBiz

AmexHh(au)5/17 1/24 [how are you both AU's on the 5/17 card? is this someone else's card?]
BCE 8/17...………..2/24
SWA+ 11/18...…..3/24
*SWABiz 11/18....3/24
AmexHh 12/18.....4/24
*CIP 1/19...……...4/24
WoH 1/19...……….5/24
BarcAA 2/19...…..6/24

So P2 is out of the Chase game until after Aug it looks like. If trying to keep him around 5/24 to go back to Chase then try for the Hilton Biz at some point? I only see 4 AmEx cards so could max him out but it gets you Hilton points while waiting to hit Chase again. Otherwise, hit the Hilton Biz (don't forget to cross or self support!) and board the AA train and don't look back. (well, for a year at least)

If you can do another 5k spend I'd definitely do your CIP next. You've had a long break from Chase so that makes sense. And then since it's you're turn for the SW CP next you could chill while cards drop off and space out a Chase business card run before you're due in late 2020. If P2 boards the train I'm sure that will keep you busy for a while. It's tempting to try for a AA biz card while waiting the last few weeks until June, but since you can't combine AA miles, would that be worth it? Would you use the miles on flights?

If you can't wait that long (out of an MSR now) could see if P2 gets approved for a Citi AA Biz. You can find an offer for the spend you'd like to hit and it wouldn't affect his 5/24. Not sure if it's better to try for the Hilton Biz now so close after the Hilton card in Dec or worse. On one hand you could have more recent spend counting for you, on the other hand, it is so close to when he got the last bonus it might count against you. Won't know until you try and see if you get the pop up or not.

If you goal is Disney it's not a bad circle to run in, the three options you mentioned. Outside of that are cards that erase the Disney ticket purchases but I don't think there's Biz versions of those that don't report to your personal CR so you'd jeopardize your 5/24 stats. Unless someone's remembering a card I forgot? Maybe one of the BoA cards?