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

[SouthFayetteFan]

I kind of see it. A common thread in early shutdown reports was a recent Chase application. The theory was an application triggered a closer review of your accounts in general. Many people were approved for new Chase cards, then shut down shortly thereafter (which I think is totally bonkers, but that's another story). The CIP is known to go pending, auto-approvals are rare. It could be he applied, got reviewed, got shut down, but his application was caught up in whatever automated process Chase's approvals use, and as such he was approved. Who knows for sure though.

But that just goes to show you what I think is the big problem with Chase themselves when it comes to shutdowns. In extreme examples like this then yes, go ahead, but for others who are just going too fast, why can't they just deny the application? Why is it ok to take it to such an extreme - a full accounts shutdown?

The key factor here though is his letter says "rewards abuse".

All shutdown letters that I've heard of to this point have these reasons:

• Too many accounts opened recently
• Too many accounts opened in last 12 months
• Too many requests for credit
• Too much total credit extended
• Not enough length on account
• Too many open accounts

Basically all credit related factors. This is a very different DP - truthfully also probably means nothing to any of us. AK doesn't do a lot of MS and I don't think he did anything shady with points transfers AND he received a letter a few weeks ago warning him about his rewards abuse and was told it was related to his referral activity. It feels pretty conclusive to me - I think this was going to happen to him regardless of whether he applied for that CIP or not. IMO, The CIP application doesn't suddenly cause Chase to investigate you for rewards abuse. I can't imagine there's anybody here who was playing the PC game to exceed the max (other than @Andysol who had a tremendous track record of helping folks on r/churning). The people who I potentially see being affected by this would have been AKSurvivorfan, Andy, and OJtheJEWSMAN - otherwise it's likely a non-event. AK also makes reference that he didn't have any more of "that" activity since he got the letter...but how does he know he didn't get more clicks and Chase was now monitoring him and when they saw him do it again they pulled the trigger on his shutdown.

I do understand though that some could be concerned this has something to do with the CIPpy cup... and I certainly am ok with paranoid theories as I have them myself at times.

 

[miztressuz]

A random question... but booking the AAA rate at Marriott through my Marriott account would still earn me a night credit, right?

Yep. That's a normal qualified rate for everything- points, elite credits, whatnot. It's pretty much the main rate we book at on Marriott.

 

[amalone1013]

I can just imagine this conversation with DH.

Me: I'm thinking about moving us all to the Swan before the cruise.
DH: Ok.


The end. Because he won't care about the points or the math, he'll just be excited to be at Swolphin.

 

[amalone1013]

Yep. That's a normal qualified rate for everything- points, elite credits, whatnot. It's pretty much the main rate we book at on Marriott.

I should have checked it for the trip back in April, d'oh! But I'm so used to some other hotel sites where it always seems AAA/senior/reward member rates are all the same

 

[miztressuz]

I would say "I'll try not to let this go to my head"...but it's honestly already TOO LATE!!

<== Legend in my own mind!!

That is pretty hilarious though that I broke the news before Chase did. I swear that I DO NOT work at Chase. LOL!

No, just cultivated a spy like your PNC buddy... oh I'm sorry "anonymous source"

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

No, just cultivated a spy like your PNC buddy... oh I'm sorry "anonymous source"

Oh man - I wish I had a Chase spy!

 

[Alexle2007]

DH is all excited now about purchasing the GCs and getting the fuel perks. He was buying me a new iPad for my birthday present so we got the Freedom URs from the GCs at Weis plus the 2x fuel perks, went through Chase shopping portal for the URs and had the CS rep price match to the Amazon price for the discount. And now I have a nice new iPad and can stop just using my phone again

 

[miztressuz]

I should have checked it for the trip back in April, d'oh! But I'm so used to some other hotel sites where it always seems AAA/senior/reward member rates are all the same

So the AAA rate is interesting. Most of the time it gets us the same rate as an advance purchase but with the usual flexibility of a regular booking. Sometimes it's better than that and sometimes it's worse than the flexible member rate option. That's why I check it all, including packages, because you get some odd accounting occasionally. What's mostly consistent is the Senior/AARP rate is almost always the same as AAA. So if I don't want to futz with putting in the AAA number to see a trip total, I'll switch to the senior rates just to check.

Probably 90% of the time we end up with a AAA rate, but the other 10% has been all over the place.

 

[Albort]

A random question... but booking the AAA rate at Marriott through my Marriott account would still earn me a night credit, right?

yup!

 

[wanderlust7]

Just curious--not going to apply for anything anytime soon other than a CIP for me via dh's--

What AmEx is best for travel purchases---airfare, trains, hotels? And is there a handy chart listing all AmEx cards with their bonus categories? I am stuck on mobile today and am not having good luck w searches

I'd like to see a chart too! I find it pretty confusing and not as flexible as other companies. Off hand, I think plat is best for airfare at 5x direct with airline or with Amex Travel. Plat biz is only through Amex Travel. Hotels are only through Amex Travel. Unless Hilton or Marriott, then use the respective co-branded cards. And probably no extra points for trains.

 

[amalone1013]

Yeah... so I started this day looking at ways we could stay the extra day after the cruise, and now I am about to switch our hotels for before the cruise

Before:

• One night at MCO Hyatt for DH and I, 12k URs transferred ($224)
• 3 nights at Pop, cash out approximately 33k URs to cover discounted GCs ($445) BUT I had blanked on this so currently I'm $400+ short on GCs for the cruise extras plus the rest of this room
• ILs one night at Pop, cash out 9944 URs to cover discounted GCs ($178)
• Need uber from Pop to Dolphin to pick up rental for cruise; will probably uber from MCO, ~$50

Now thinking:

• One night at MCO Hyatt for DH and I, 12k URs transferred ($224)
• 2 nights at Swan, 53k AA miles plus $101.25 resort fee ($761)
• ILs one night at Swan, 17k AA miles plus $33.75 resort fee
• Will probably uber from MCO, ~$35, ILs will have to uber now too but faster than DME
• No buying bottled water!

When I get home I'll ask MIL if she is okay with ubering again (they did for our wedding too) and that will probably be my deciding factor.

 

[happ]

.

 

[miztressuz]

Oh man - I wish I had a Chase spy!

Yeah, that'd be a game changer. Gotta figure out what tee times the Chase guys play.

Watch out travel world, SFF and a Chase "anonymous source"

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Yeah, that'd be a game changer. Gotta figure out what tee times the Chase guys play.

Watch out travel world, SFF and a Chase "anonymous source"

I have been playing A LOT of golf this summer. It might be why I’m quiet on here during the day some.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

I just got my denial letter from Citi regarding Citi AA Biz #2 app.View attachment 406823

Huh? Just your second app?

 

[tink1970]

Thanks!!! Were doing Remy for our anniversary dinner, and I completely forgot that there's a dress code for those onboard adult restaurants. And I would've forgot my retainers too, so thanks for that reminder! My packing list is gettting longer and longer.

Oh, no! I meant to help you make your list shorter! Sorry! But yes, pack your retainers

 

[StephPlum]

I left DH's CitiBiz#1 (from 7/2017) open, used a public CitiBiz offer and he was approved for the card and met MSR but no bonus posted. Got letter saying he was ineligible for the bonus.

Which public offer did you apply under? Was it a dummy booking or straight off the Citi page?

 

[Mopedmom1]

Quoting myself... this could be another vote for switching to Swolphin before the cruise. Then I won't have to buy bottled water like I was contemplating!

Just be sure to check what the water rules and regulations are with your cruise line. Some allow NO water to be brought onboard, while others will allow it but only in your carryon, etc.

 

[happ]

Huh? Just your second app?

First app was dummy booking with ss# in Feb. This app was public offer with ein.

 

[miztressuz]

I have been playing A LOT of golf this summer. It might be why I’m quiet on here during the day some.

See, already a step ahead of me... and now I've outted the plan...