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

[platamama]

Paperless all the way on anything that will let me. No regrets and no issues that I’ve run into. Unless you’re saving items for tax or reimbursement purposes then I don’t see an issue moving to paperless and purging.

Even if you do need a record, moving to paperless would still work just fine. Just download your statements and save in organized folders on your computer.

Uh, maybe you need to talk to this person:

Umm, I don’t have a problem, right? It’s totally normal to have a shoebox full of closed cards from the last 4 or so years, right?

Plus 2 more boxes of money orders, VGC, and Reloadit cards...View attachment 412061

 

[calypso726]

Drive by post! When we checked in last night after midnight at the Residence Inn midtown NY, the hostess greeted us with a loud cheery BONVOY BONVOY BONVOY! I nearly died! I had to smile and returned the greeting.

Just boarded BA to Scotland. We are celebrating our first date 25 years ago today which was to see The Lion King. Thus the Pride Rock shirts. BA has new jammies for first class and they are much nicer than the other ones they used to give out.

 

[WVMomof3]

Umm, I don’t have a problem, right? It’s totally normal to have a shoebox full of closed cards from the last 4 or so years, right?

Plus 2 more boxes of money orders, VGC, and Reloadit cards...View attachment 412061

Is there a reason to keep closed cards that I am missing? When mine are expired or closed I just cut up and throw away.

 

[cajunmommy]

Another vote for a Platinum card, esp. the Biz. We knocked that one out with one tuition payment and got 100MRs plus extra since they give (IIRC) 1.5 points to any spend over 5K.

Why not get MRs? How much is tuition? The Biz Plat is 100k for 10k in spend. That’s $1250 cashed out.

How odd to take Amex but not Visa!

Do you have any Amex cards? If not, you might want to see if you can pull up the personal Plat 100k MR/$5000 spend offer. Even though you're not sure if you want to get into MRs, if you're going to start on Amex, you might as well start with that one since it's less likely to come up after you get other Amex cards. If you start with Amex, you'll want to keep up the relationship (put spend on the cards), so you don't get the pop-up down the road.

As long as the CIPpy cup is going, I wouldn't go for any other Chase cards, so that rules out Hyatt and SW (unless you want a CP).

If you don't want to get into Amex yet, maybe the grAAvy train?

ETA: The Chase Hyatt and SW cards are Visa cards anyways, so that was a moo point!

Ha - I almost said the same thing! "Moo" point regarding any Visas. I agree strange to take AMEX but no Visa, but I'm seeing conflicting info on another part of their website, so I need to get clarification.

Don't forget the Amex Biz Plat earns 1.5x MR for single transactions $5,000 or more.

Are you interested in the grAAvy train? How much is the tuition?

Tuition will be $5000+, so we could knock out a MSR in one fell swoop.

grAAvy train might be an option, since we will be getting AA miles on our flights this winter. DH only has an corporate AMEX, and I've done zero research on whether MRs would be beneficial.

I'm trying to get an answer on how ridiculous CC fees might be. I've seen the word "substantial" mentioned. Anything >4-5%, and this might be a "moo" discussion too!

 

[speedyfishy]

Ha - I almost said the same thing! "Moo" point regarding any Visas. I agree strange to take AMEX but no Visa, but I'm seeing conflicting info on another part of their website, so I need to get clarification.




Tuition will be $5000+, so we could knock out a MSR in one fell swoop.

grAAvy train might be an option, since we will be getting AA miles on our flights this winter. DH only has an corporate AMEX, and I've done zero research on whether MRs would be beneficial.

I'm trying to get an answer on how ridiculous CC fees might be. I've seen the word "substantial" mentioned. Anything >4-5%, and this might be a "moo" discussion too!

The college I went to had no fee for credit cards. I never took advantage. My brother also doesn’t have a fee for paying with a credit card. My dad thinks it’s awesome he uses the CSP every semester. He refuses to get more cards.

 

[ten6mom]

The college I went to had no fee for credit cards. I never took advantage. My brother also doesn’t have a fee for paying with a credit card. My dad thinks it’s awesome he uses the CSP every semester. He refuses to get more cards.

I didn't even know that a credit card fee was a thing. I have one class left at Grand Canyon and I've paid with a CC the whole time. Of course I'm only taking one class at a time... I couldn't drop $30K on a card all at once.

 

[ten6mom]

I just realized that as of yesterday, I'm now only 2/24!

 

[bernina]

Uh, maybe you need to talk to this person:

I’m dying!!! I didn’t say I was consistent though

 

[CyndiLouWho]

You all have such good advice for everything else... do you think there is any reason to keep monthly statements for things like utility/cable bills? I am super organized with files and such but it's such a PITA and I really wonder whether it needs to be done. It's hard to let go of paper. I've only allowed myself to do ONE bill (internet) "paperless" in all these years and it still kinda freaks me out.

Has anyone stopped getting (and keeping!) paper copies and regretted it afterwards?

Do you all get paperless on your credit card statements also? Anyone had any trouble? Has there ever been a time you had to go back and research something and wished you had a paper copy?

All paperless. I have a car loan I have a coupon booklet for and must pay by check, plus property tax bill. Otherwise, no bills and no payments are paper. At tax time, most of the banks I use don’t even send tax forms, I download and print them, and print any other docs I need. Of course, I file electronically so I don’t need most of the forms.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

And unless something has changed, CM's get discounts on DVC

Hasn’t changed...cp does too!

 

[mmmears]

Ha - I almost said the same thing! "Moo" point regarding any Visas. I agree strange to take AMEX but no Visa, but I'm seeing conflicting info on another part of their website, so I need to get clarification.




Tuition will be $5000+, so we could knock out a MSR in one fell swoop.

grAAvy train might be an option, since we will be getting AA miles on our flights this winter. DH only has an corporate AMEX, and I've done zero research on whether MRs would be beneficial.

I'm trying to get an answer on how ridiculous CC fees might be. I've seen the word "substantial" mentioned. Anything >4-5%, and this might be a "moo" discussion too!

My DD's college didn't take credit cards at all, for any fee. We had to use Plastiq but it was totally worth it. But this was just part of one semester's tuition - I don't think there's any way we would have been ok paying an extra 2% on 4 years of college tuition, although I do think about all those points we missed out on because we didn't realize this was an option for the many years of private school we paid for by check.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

A small piece of me was thinking about working at the Disney Store a shift a week just to get the discounts. Someone said once that they get the perks for the parks as well.

I’ve had the same thought. Then I think about Black Friday...

 

[disneybirds]

Anyone know if you can buy Disney GCs with a Safeway GC? I did it last summer in Portland, but wondering if it is still valid. We are headed out in a few weeks.

Amazon has their 20% off when you pay with MRs again and I qualified. Here is the link from FM to see if you qualify: https://www.amazon.com/b/ref=as_li_...28fe604cb47dcb889011dae404c545&language=en_US

 

[Natgridenergy]

You all have such good advice for everything else... do you think there is any reason to keep monthly statements for things like utility/cable bills? I am super organized with files and such but it's such a PITA and I really wonder whether it needs to be done. It's hard to let go of paper. I've only allowed myself to do ONE bill (internet) "paperless" in all these years and it still kinda freaks me out.

Has anyone stopped getting (and keeping!) paper copies and regretted it afterwards?

Do you all get paperless on your credit card statements also? Anyone had any trouble? Has there ever been a time you had to go back and research something and wished you had a paper copy?

Everything paperless. Less to throw away and get in the wrong hands.

 

[StephPlum]

Is there a reason to keep closed cards that I am missing? When mine are expired or closed I just cut up and throw away.

Another inquiring mind who wants to know. Right after I close a card, it goes into the shredder. Any reason to keep them?

 

[kandb]

Not to make light of this frustration at all, but are you sure you didn’t apply for the Barclay AA card. I haven’t heard of anyone in verification purgatory with Citi, only Barclay.

I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this. We’re a month in with Barclay and no further than the day we applied.

No, it's definitely American Airlines AAdvantage Citibusiness Platinum Select and has the mastercard logo on the back. I just got the Barclays JetBlue Business card and haven't had any problems with it. One thing that is strange is that when I applied online the application didn't go thru right away and then showed a message "we're having problems with the website but we have received your application, you will hear from us" or something like that. Then I received a letter stating I was accepted and got the card and now this mess.

 

[kandb]

Citi can be absolutely crazy. I’ve personally never experienced their verification issues with a card getting declined but I’ve heard stories similar to yours. I’m not sure how you resolve it but I would call back in and ask to speak to a manager and voice your displeasure over the experience and how you were treated. I had an issue clearing verification and getting the card shipped out initially before and the mgr helped me and then expedited my card.

I might also speak to the embarrassment of the card getting declined and try to fish for some courtesy miles. They may throw 5k at you for the trouble

Good luck!

(I’ll also second what @bernina said that the issue you describe sounds more like recent Barclays issues BUT I also have heard of citi getting crazy with fraud protection so maybe it’s an AA thing all around LOL!)

After speaking with the third person, I did ask for a manager (all from India) and the manager just said she was sorry I was experiencing this BUT there was nothing she could do. I even told her I will probably just cancel the card since the first year AF is waived but she said I couldn't because there was a "hold" on the card. Just don't understand not verifying my info BEFORE they approved and mailed me the card, that's the part that aggravates me. I asked where their corporate headquarters was and she said someplace in Maryland but I couldn't understand where with her accent.

 

[mom2elal]

I'm hopelessly behind after our 2 week WDW trip, but I just wanted to pop in to say this... Hilton is notorious for a low cpp value, but man are they good for earning if you ever do paid stays! Our ten nights at the DS Doubletree cost us about $1800 (minus $500 credit for our two Aspires), but we earned around 100k points! Isn't that crazy??

My dh also had a one night stay at some HH hotel for work in May that cost $120 and he earned around 10k points somehow. Most of these points are coming from the bonuses on our HH accounts, like for WDW we had base points, 3x points on next stay, Diamond 100% bonus and Diamond myway bonus. The other approx. 24k were from the credit cards.

Other churning highlights of our trip--
Free flights from a combination of RR points and SW gc bought with 2x Aspire $250 credit
$300 CSR travel credit towards 4 nights at POR (LOVED it!!)
Tickets to Kennedy Space Center free with UR points

If Chase hadn't taken the WDW hotels off the portal, our hotels would have been free. But, it was an awesome trip!!

 

[MrPTato]

Curious what your take is on artificial sweeteners triggering an insulin response. I did some (minimal Google) research on this a while ago but gave up because I couldn't find any good science--just lots of hype.

I have seen some good youTube videos by both FledgeFitness and Thomas Delauer and they both talk about it. I personally don't use any sweetener and I don't drink coffee and I am ok with just hot black tea. To me, if there is doubt that it could cause an insulin response, I will avoid it.

Umm, I don’t have a problem, right? It’s totally normal to have a shoebox full of closed cards from the last 4 or so years, right?

Plus 2 more boxes of money orders, VGC, and Reloadit cards...View attachment 412061

I want to touch them all and run my fingers through them.

You all have such good advice for everything else... do you think there is any reason to keep monthly statements for things like utility/cable bills? I am super organized with files and such but it's such a PITA and I really wonder whether it needs to be done. It's hard to let go of paper. I've only allowed myself to do ONE bill (internet) "paperless" in all these years and it still kinda freaks me out.

Has anyone stopped getting (and keeping!) paper copies and regretted it afterwards?

Do you all get paperless on your credit card statements also? Anyone had any trouble? Has there ever been a time you had to go back and research something and wished you had a paper copy?

I am all paperless where I can be. My father is the opposite and has paper for everything. You can typically download the PDF and save it if you wanted it, but most seem to be available for a few years. I hate mail in general, so less is more!

Is there a reason to keep closed cards that I am missing? When mine are expired or closed I just cut up and throw away.

I wished I had kept mine to see how they have changed through the years. My first cards the day I turned 18 where the AmericaOnline Visa and the OldNavy card.

I’ve had the same thought. Then I think about Black Friday...

I did Black Friday in Toys R Us for 20 years in one of the top 3 stores in the country. I bet I could handle Disney Store with my eyes closed.

 

[cajunmommy]

Working on plans for next year.
Spring Break= New Orleans. Looking at Hilton, anyone have recs?

We're local, but have spent more than a few nights in NOLA when we'd rather not drive home after ahem...celebrating.
I can only comment on the Riverside Hilton - probably have spent more time in the lobby/common areas vs. actual rooms (waiting on conference/competition participants, etc), but no complaints about the stay. Just a word of caution if you book a low floor with a river view. Be prepared for horns from the departing riverboats & cruise ships! DH was quite startled one morning, totally forgetting that his awesome view was that of an active port!

My DD's college didn't take credit cards at all, for any fee. We had to use Plastiq but it was totally worth it. But this was just part of one semester's tuition - I don't think there's any way we would have been ok paying an extra 2% on 4 years of college tuition, although I do think about all those points we missed out on because we didn't realize this was an option for the many years of private school we paid for by check.

That's the part I need to wrap my head around. Over a decade of private tuition was paid for via auto draft/check because the fees outweighed the points/rewards. No way was I paying an extra 2-5%!! But, now that I've been educated in the ways of SUB math, I'm slowly changing my philosophy.