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

[striker1064]

has anyone that bought DVC resale paid a portion with a credit card? Trying to do the math and see if it makes sense to buy direct if I can pay with a credit card and get the extra welcome home points.

It's entirely dependent on the title company on whether they allow you to pay with a credit card, and some will make you pay the processing fee as well. Usually you can pay the deposit - which is only $1k up to $2k - on a card, and that's it.

Saw you mention Fidelity - their prices tend to be lower because they sell a lot of distressed contracts, meaning people that need to get rid of it now.

Lol this is what I need to do.



I’m not seeing a lot of loaded contracts on the resale market. A lot of the ones that are available are stripped. Maybe it has next years points. I do eventually also want the membership card. This is probably BS but the guide said soon resale contract sales will only be allowed to stay at the resort they buy at. He said they are doing that now for the Rivera and the older resort resales can’t stay there but soon if you buy poly resale you can’t stay at the Boardwalk. I think that’s BS and he was trying to get us buy direct. I’m pretty sure that restriction would have to be in the deed.

That is correct for Riviera, but BS for the other resorts. Current thinking is if they COULD do it for all resorts, they would have done it at the same time as making the Riviera restriction. But since they didn't, there's something with the wording in the original 14 resorts that's making it much more difficult. Regardless, if you go the resale route, as long as you buy before any new restrictions come on, you should be grandfathered in (that's how all the other restrictions have worked).

 

[Lain]

Anyone get the Biz Plat upgrade offer? I got it on my BGR and Green biz. I know I’m better off getting the card on its own instead of upgrading but I’m slightly tempted since I was planning on closing both those card in August and want to stay in AMEXs good graces (especially with DH on the naughty list). If I take the upgrade I can never open a biz plat at a later date for a bonus, correct?

Did you see this?

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/bzpu3i/_/eqvyhod

Good point about upgrading now to take advantage of the 1/1 to 6/30 Dell credit. That's another ~$100 value that helps to offset the big Biz Plat fee.

Now I've got a bit of a dilemma that I'm going to noodle through. I checked the link on DoC and got the upgrade offer on my BGR and Biz Green. I'm seriously considering the offer, but which card should I upgrade? The spend isn't an issue.

I got the Biz Green in late July 2018 and the BGR in early November 2018. Both have their AFs waived for the first year, so there's no prorated AF to be refunded on either card.

I was planning to keep my BGR another year because I actually use the 3x gas category and value the 20k support links. But, I've already used two of the BGR's 20k support clicks this year, which leaves only one 15k support click left. If I upgrade the BGR, will that reset the 55k support click limit on the card, allowing me a fresh set of 3x 15k clicks and 1x 10k click? Not sure. I couldn't find a clear answer searching reddit.

I was planning to cancel my Biz Green (it really is a sh*t card) after it hits a year next month; or I could upgrade it. If I upgrade my BGR to the Biz Plat, then I could upgrade the Biz Green to Biz Gold (BGR is no longer available) after next month to keep Amex happy and probably get some 20k support links out of it (At only 5k per click, I haven't used any of the Biz Green's 55k support click limit so that's not an issue). But with the BGR, I'm AF free until probably December. If I upgrade the BGR to the Biz Plat, I'll be on the hook for the Biz Plat's $595 AF; and if I upgrade the Biz Green to the Biz Gold, that's another $295 AF.

Yeah... leaning towards upgrading the Biz Green to the Biz Plat and keeping my BGR AF free for another half a year.

I also got the Biz Plat in late July 2018, so that's coming up for renewal.

I accepted a retention offer to keep my personal Plat for another year. (Interestingly, my personal Plat is a converted MB Plat, so even though it's now a vanilla Plat it still doesn't generate any support clicks.) If I upgrade the Biz Green to the Biz Plat, that's three Platinum cards in my wallet. Upgrading the Biz Green to a Biz Plat means I'll be canceling my existing Biz Plat after it hits a year next month. Normally, I'd call Amex to fish for a retention offer before making a decision whether to keep or close an AF card, but I don't need three Platinums. And frankly, I don't think I'd get one a retention offer. Spend on my Biz Plat has been mediocre (but apparently enough to keep Amex happy). I'm also a bit embarrassed at the thought of calling Amex for a retention offer and having the rep read off all my Amex cards, including the Plat and an upgrade Biz Plat, and ask why I'd even want or need to keep another Biz Plat. So I'll treat the upgrade offer like a retention offer; points are points.

TL;DR: I think I'm going to upgrade my Biz Green to the Biz Plat, but I don't want to make a decision while I'm sleep deprived.

 

[schmass]

@Lain I just checked and I also have the offer to upgrade my Biz Green to a Biz Plat. I wasn't planning on keeping either my Biz Green or current Biz Plat due to the AFs, but I also don't want to make Amex mad again. Now I'm thinking: upgrade Biz Green to Biz Plat and then cancel existing Biz Plat next month. Or is there something I can downgrade my Biz Plat to?

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

Did you see this?

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/bzpu3i/_/eqvyhod

Good point about upgrading now to take advantage of the 1/1 to 6/30 Dell credit. That's another ~$100 value that helps to offset the big Biz Plat fee.

Now I've got a bit of a dilemma that I'm going to noodle through. I checked the link on DoC and got the upgrade offer on my BGR and Biz Green. I'm seriously considering the offer, but which card should I upgrade? The spend isn't an issue.

I got the Biz Green in late July 2018 and the BGR in early November 2018. Both have their AFs waived for the first year, so there's no prorated AF to be refunded on either card.

I was planning to keep my BGR another year because I actually use the 3x gas category and value the 20k support links. But, I've already used two of the BGR's 20k support clicks this year, which leaves only one 15k support click left. If I upgrade the BGR, will that reset the 55k support click limit on the card, allowing me a fresh set of 3x 15k clicks and 1x 10k click? Not sure. I couldn't find a clear answer searching reddit.

I was planning to cancel my Biz Green (it really is a sh*t card) after it hits a year next month; or I could upgrade it. If I upgrade my BGR to the Biz Plat, then I could upgrade the Biz Green to Biz Gold (BGR is no longer available) after next month to keep Amex happy and probably get some 20k support links out of it (At only 5k per click, I haven't used any of the Biz Green's 55k support click limit so that's not an issue). But with the BGR, I'm AF free until probably December. If I upgrade the BGR to the Biz Plat, I'll be on the hook for the Biz Plat's $595 AF; and if I upgrade the Biz Green to the Biz Gold, that's another $295 AF.

Yeah... leaning towards upgrading the Biz Green to the Biz Plat and keeping my BGR AF free for another half a year.

I also got the Biz Plat in late July 2018, so that's coming up for renewal.

I accepted a retention offer to keep my personal Plat for another year. (Interestingly, my personal Plat is a converted MB Plat, so even though it's now a vanilla Plat it still doesn't generate any support clicks.) If I upgrade the Biz Green to the Biz Plat, that's three Platinum cards in my wallet. Upgrading the Biz Green to a Biz Plat means I'll be canceling my existing Biz Plat after it hits a year next month. Normally, I'd call Amex to fish for a retention offer before making a decision whether to keep or close an AF card, but I don't need three Platinums. And frankly, I don't think I'd get one a retention offer. Spend on my Biz Plat has been mediocre (but apparently enough to keep Amex happy). I'm also a bit embarrassed at the thought of calling Amex for a retention offer and having the rep read off all my Amex cards, including the Plat and an upgrade Biz Plat, and ask why I'd even want or need to keep another Biz Plat. So I'll treat the upgrade offer like a retention offer; points are points.

TL;DR: I think I'm going to upgrade my Biz Green to the Biz Plat, but I don't want to make a decision while I'm sleep deprived.

OMG yes saw that. I’ve been mulling the same offer. I’ll post more in a bit but mine would require me to get a biz plat soon first and then upgrade. Mine says expires 4/20/20 so we have time but these offer do tend to just disappear

 

[Lain]

@Lain I just checked and I also have the offer to upgrade my Biz Green to a Biz Plat. I wasn't planning on keeping either my Biz Green or current Biz Plat due to the AFs, but I also don't want to make Amex mad again. Now I'm thinking: upgrade Biz Green to Biz Plat and then cancel existing Biz Plat next month. Or is there something I can downgrade my Biz Plat to?

Same dilemma.

You can downgrade the Biz Plat to only the Biz Gold ($295 AF) or Biz Green ($95 AF).

I'm not canceling all my cards. The Amex Gold is a keeper. I've already kept my MB Plat, SPG Biz and SPG past a year. I've been trying to get good retention or upgrade offers and weighing the monetary value of a card's benefits to justify keeping them open. I will be canceling some cards, likely the Hilton Biz later this month (I just don't put that much spend on it) and the Biz Plat next month (especially if I upgrade the Biz Green to a Biz Plat). I plan to keep my SPG Lux and BGR (at least another year). I'm hedging that Amex values spend over closures.

 

[miztressuz]

Did you see this?

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/bzpu3i/_/eqvyhod

Good point about upgrading now to take advantage of the 1/1 to 6/30 Dell credit. That's another ~$100 value that helps to offset the big Biz Plat fee.

Now I've got a bit of a dilemma that I'm going to noodle through. I checked the link on DoC and got the upgrade offer on my BGR and Biz Green. I'm seriously considering the offer, but which card should I upgrade? The spend isn't an issue.

I got the Biz Green in late July 2018 and the BGR in early November 2018. Both have their AFs waived for the first year, so there's no prorated AF to be refunded on either card.

I was planning to keep my BGR another year because I actually use the 3x gas category and value the 20k support links. But, I've already used two of the BGR's 20k support clicks this year, which leaves only one 15k support click left. If I upgrade the BGR, will that reset the 55k support click limit on the card, allowing me a fresh set of 3x 15k clicks and 1x 10k click? Not sure. I couldn't find a clear answer searching reddit.

I was planning to cancel my Biz Green (it really is a sh*t card) after it hits a year next month; or I could upgrade it. If I upgrade my BGR to the Biz Plat, then I could upgrade the Biz Green to Biz Gold (BGR is no longer available) after next month to keep Amex happy and probably get some 20k support links out of it (At only 5k per click, I haven't used any of the Biz Green's 55k support click limit so that's not an issue). But with the BGR, I'm AF free until probably December. If I upgrade the BGR to the Biz Plat, I'll be on the hook for the Biz Plat's $595 AF; and if I upgrade the Biz Green to the Biz Gold, that's another $295 AF.

Yeah... leaning towards upgrading the Biz Green to the Biz Plat and keeping my BGR AF free for another half a year.

I also got the Biz Plat in late July 2018, so that's coming up for renewal.

I accepted a retention offer to keep my personal Plat for another year. (Interestingly, my personal Plat is a converted MB Plat, so even though it's now a vanilla Plat it still doesn't generate any support clicks.) If I upgrade the Biz Green to the Biz Plat, that's three Platinum cards in my wallet. Upgrading the Biz Green to a Biz Plat means I'll be canceling my existing Biz Plat after it hits a year next month. Normally, I'd call Amex to fish for a retention offer before making a decision whether to keep or close an AF card, but I don't need three Platinums. And frankly, I don't think I'd get one a retention offer. Spend on my Biz Plat has been mediocre (but apparently enough to keep Amex happy). I'm also a bit embarrassed at the thought of calling Amex for a retention offer and having the rep read off all my Amex cards, including the Plat and an upgrade Biz Plat, and ask why I'd even want or need to keep another Biz Plat. So I'll treat the upgrade offer like a retention offer; points are points.

TL;DR: I think I'm going to upgrade my Biz Green to the Biz Plat, but I don't want to make a decision while I'm sleep deprived.

That was the first thing I came up with as it reduces the AFs to keep a portfolio you want. Plus gives purpose to that Biz Green. Probably doesn't hurt to show it open past the first year when nearly everyone would be cancelling it. Unless having the higher earn rate on the Biz Gold would cover the AF, I probably wouldn't do that shuffle just for support clicks yet. Could you downgrade the existing biz plat into the Biz Gold to achieve the same thing later?

And I've heard mention a few times on r/churning about the formerly MB Plats not getting to generate support links. AmEx reps are ever so helpful and just say not everyone is selected to do so. Which is a stupid policy so it must mean there's an IT bug that's way low on the list to get fixed for these cards.

 

[speedyfishy]

Starting with riviera, anyone who buys resale at riviera can only use those points to stay at riviera. Same for reflections and all others going forward. And anyone who buys resale in the "legacy 14" (i.e., currently anything other than riviera) can use those points at the L14 but not riviera. So if he told you otherwise, that's

Yeah, definitely was trying to scare me into buying direct. I shouldn’t have brought up resale.

It does seem like he was trying to force your hand. I have to say the guide I was randomly assigned is super laid back and has never pressured me. It may be best to get a different one.

He was nice I don’t really fall for that stuff but our guide in disneyland was much nicer. We thought the new resort that got cancelled was going to have dvc so we told him to call us when that started to sell because we would have bought.

I understand wanting direct first for immediate points. I did the cheap direct and then jumped on the resale BLT. If I were you I would have a hard time paying $220 for Poly direct when they are going resale for $145 and passing ROFR. I bought through Timeshare Store and it was painless. Made the $2000 deposit on credit card but rest had to be certified check or wire transfer. Title company decides if anything by credit card. I would ask ahead of time.

Direct would have cost us $5,500 more for 75 points. They Disneyland trip that I wanted was 3,500. So a $2,000 difference to get the membership card and credit card funding wasn’t a big deal.

We also used the Timeshare Store and had a great experience.

They have a show on YouTube now with the DIS and their inventory has dropped lol

When we bought in direct our guide lied to us about quite a few things. They are salesmen and many of them stretch the truth or tell rumors to try and get you to buy.
It worked out ok for us, and we are very happy that we did buy direct, but I wish I knew as much about it as I do today because I would have bought at a different resort.

He was really pushing the riviera. It’s cheaper you can stay anywhere etc but I know how it’s hard at 7 months to get a studio and the riviera isn’t my style. He had to go “check” if they had any of the poly or blt available and they did.

It's entirely dependent on the title company on whether they allow you to pay with a credit card, and some will make you pay the processing fee as well. Usually you can pay the deposit - which is only $1k up to $2k - on a card, and that's it.

Saw you mention Fidelity - their prices tend to be lower because they sell a lot of distressed contracts, meaning people that need to get rid of it now.

That is correct for Riviera, but BS for the other resorts. Current thinking is if they COULD do it for all resorts, they would have done it at the same time as making the Riviera restriction. But since they didn't, there's something with the wording in the original 14 resorts that's making it much more difficult. Regardless, if you go the resale route, as long as you buy before any new restrictions come on, you should be grandfathered in (that's how all the other restrictions have worked).

Yeah, this is my thinking as well. I don’t think Disney can restrict the original 14 contracts. Probably with how it’s worded in the deed. They pushed the whole you can stay anywhere and if they got rid of that for resale it would effect the value of the deed.

 

[miztressuz]

AmEx offers:

Marriott, Spend $200+ get $40 back, expires 9/3
Does not have the "single transaction" language like that Hyatt offer had.

Rover .com, Spend $50+ get $10 back, expires 9/10

I did have the Marriott offer on a SPG card, but if you didn't and want it on one I'd hold off adding it just yet. There's usually been a way to get it on there figured out.

 

[striker1064]

Direct would have cost us $5,500 more for 75 points. They Disneyland trip that I wanted was 3,500. So a $2,000 difference to get the membership card and credit card funding wasn’t a big deal.

While this math makes sense, I just want to make sure you realize they would use the points you purchased to book that trip if they were able to do it - it's not free. It would cost whatever room type and the points cost from the chart for those dates.

Not all guides are as forthcoming about how all this works, and while I don't necessarily advocate for resale over direct in every circumstance, I just like to make sure all the information is out there to make the best decision possible.

 

[havaneselover]

AmEx offers:

Marriott, Spend $200+ get $40 back, expires 9/3
Does not have the "single transaction" language like that Hyatt offer had.

Rover .com, Spend $50+ get $10 back, expires 9/10

I did have the Marriott offer on a SPG card, but if you didn't and want it on one I'd hold off adding it just yet. There's usually been a way to get it on there figured out.

I also had a new zappos offer (I think it was new). $20 off $100. And macy's $10 off $60 on the kids' cards.

And yay--I had the marriott offer on my spg lux so once I hit my anniversary I'll use it to get a gift card which should be covered by the $300 credit.

 

[speedyfishy]

While this math makes sense, I just want to make sure you realize they would use the points you purchased to book that trip if they were able to do it - it's not free. It would cost whatever room type and the points cost from the chart for those dates.

Not all guides are as forthcoming about how all this works, and while I don't necessarily advocate for resale over direct in every circumstance, I just like to make sure all the information is out there to make the best decision possible.

Yeah, they would use 2019s points and the resale that I’m seeing a lot don’t have 2019s points so I kinda consider it an extra. But i think we will do the resale market after the wedding.

 

[speedyfishy]

Oh another thing that ticked me off about the DVC tour. I signed up at the kiosk and SO was hanging back looking at the book. I put my name down and all my information and they just added SO. We get to the van to confirm our name we say my last name and he was like is there another one so we say SOs last name. That’s fine. We go check in when we get there and again they don’t have my last name. I was a little pissed. My last name should have been on there too. especially because I was the one who made the tour reservation. Like why would they only use my SOs last name? If they picked one shouldn’t it have been me because I made the reservation. I just kept telling myself it’s not because he is the man but that’s probably it lol my last name is before his alphabetically and it is shorter and easier to say sooooooooo it’s not that lol

 

[striker1064]

Yeah, they would use 2019s points and the resale that I’m seeing a lot don’t have 2019s points so I kinda consider it an extra. But i think we will do the resale market after the wedding.

Ok great! With Poly especially, this is the way to go. There are quite a few contracts scattered across the resale sites, and I think more and more will be coming within the next year. If you're patient, you'll find exactly what you want, and you can add direct down the line if it makes sense.

 

[MKTokyo]

Oh another thing that ticked me off about the DVC tour. I signed up at the kiosk and SO was hanging back looking at the book. I put my name down and all my information and they just added SO. We get to the van to confirm our name we say my last name and he was like is there another one so we say SOs last name. That’s fine. We go check in when we get there and again they don’t have my last name. I was a little pissed. My last name should have been on there too. especially because I was the one who made the tour reservation. Like why would they only use my SOs last name? If they picked one shouldn’t it have been me because I made the reservation. I just kept telling myself it’s not because he is the man but that’s probably it lol my last name is before his alphabetically and it is shorter and easier to say sooooooooo it’s not that lol

I'll say it. It's because he's the man. It happens to me more often than I want to think about & it drives me crazy.

Though, for me, it's also a race issue. As a foreigner AND a woman, I basically don't exist as my own person in certain situations.

 

[amalone1013]

Marriott, Spend $200+ get $40 back, expires 9/3
Does not have the "single transaction" language like that Hyatt offer had.

This is perfect. 6 nights of resort fees at Swolphin is $202.50. And we can charge Shula's to our room! I am way too excited about this lol.

 

[kmc8826]

Oh another thing that ticked me off about the DVC tour. I signed up at the kiosk and SO was hanging back looking at the book. I put my name down and all my information and they just added SO. We get to the van to confirm our name we say my last name and he was like is there another one so we say SOs last name. That’s fine. We go check in when we get there and again they don’t have my last name. I was a little pissed. My last name should have been on there too. especially because I was the one who made the tour reservation. Like why would they only use my SOs last name? If they picked one shouldn’t it have been me because I made the reservation. I just kept telling myself it’s not because he is the man but that’s probably it lol my last name is before his alphabetically and it is shorter and easier to say sooooooooo it’s not that lol

It sounds like you are in a domestic violence relationship with Disney just like I am! My husband jokes how they treat me like crap but I come back for more. All the time. Case in point: I keep going back and forth about a quick trip in August. I realize FP’s are up so go to book just in case. Somehow Disney has lost my AP. It shows everyone else has one but that “oops Kimberly needs a ticket.” Seriously. I don’t want to deal with that. Now I a back to never mind I will just wait until October to go again.

 

[WVMomof3]

I can now review a 3rd Hyatt in DC. Just going through them all. Lol. This one is Hyatt Place/National Mall. It is nice and decent location. This one is south of the mall, couple blocks from the Air and Space museum. Free breakfast. Tagging along on another DH work trip so this one is free to us. Will explore by myself for a little bit before meeting a friend.

 

[miztressuz]

I also had a new zappos offer (I think it was new). $20 off $100. And macy's $10 off $60 on the kids' cards.

And yay--I had the marriott offer on my spg lux so once I hit my anniversary I'll use it to get a gift card which should be covered by the $300 credit.

I think you're right about the zappos offer, I went back to check and I don't have it. Bummed about the Macy's, I have the extra MR point offer just hanging out taking up space waiting for a good offer to pop up so I can add both to the same card.

 

[Alexle2007]

AmEx offers:

Marriott, Spend $200+ get $40 back, expires 9/3
Does not have the "single transaction" language like that Hyatt offer had.

Rover .com, Spend $50+ get $10 back, expires 9/10

I did have the Marriott offer on a SPG card, but if you didn't and want it on one I'd hold off adding it just yet. There's usually been a way to get it on there figured out.

Awesome sauce! This works out perfectly timing wise! I was debating whether to change from the Renaissance at SeaWorld to the Fairfield or Springhill instead but since DH and I both have the offer on our Bonvoy Biz cards. I think I'll stick the Renaissance since they have a nicer pool and delicious breakfast buffet and the $80 helps negate the resort and parking fees.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

That one is pretty strange. So your "AF Anniv Date" would have normally been August 1st. You PCed in August, and somehow your new AF is now charged on May 1st? HAHA! Ok Chase - you just keep being you!

I posted a couple days ago how DH's CSR is and it is really weird too. It was upgraded from a CSP. The AF posting date and the travel credit date make no sense to me at all.