I love credit cards so much! v3.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[SouthFayetteFan]

Who are the mods here on the budget board?

I will say that anytime I’ve reported something on budget board, it does get a response quickly from somebody. So they are out there They just aren’t as...ummm...”overbearing” here...(trying to be nice there hahahaha)

 

[elgerber]

For those of you that are using Free Tax USA I wanted to provide a data point. Filed my Federal and State returns Sunday Feb 2nd - Federal return was deposited into my account this morning the 12th. 10 days

Also used Aspire SW airline credits this past week. EBCI and points booking fees reimbursed 6 days after purchase.

Wait what? We are supposed to get tax refunds?!?! LOL, not me! I miss those days.

 

[IFlossU]

Wait what? We are supposed to get tax refunds?!?! LOL, not me! I miss those days.

normally I have it so we break even. I hate giving the government a loan during the year. But with the changes last year we’re now getting refunds. I probably should get around to adjusting our payroll deductions, but HR

 

[Psychodisney]

As a WVU fan (the whole Rich Rod debacle) and a default OSU fan (born in Ohio all my family is in Ohio) I will NOT love it. Lol I was not very happy he applied. Lol. My sister used to live near Ann Arbor, so I do agree it is a cute town. But he can’t make me like UM. I say this as I’m wearing a Notre Dame sweatshirt that I also told DD she couldn’t make me like. Darn kids.

It's not about you lolGreat suggestions above. If you're looking for something casual and popular, Frida Batidos downtown is fun and great BBQ at Blue Tractor. We had great sushi on campus at Sadakos. Breakfast at Angelos is awesome. There's a place near the Hyatt called Anna's House that is good too. But you also get a nice breakfast at the Hyatt Place.

 

[LynnTH]

Trying to find a hotel PreCruise in Fort Lauderdale by the Port Everglades Cruise Port in December. My plan was to use a Marriott Certificate but all the hotels near the port are 40,000 points or more, so that plan is out the window. So next plan was to use UR's with CSR at 1.5 value. Found a Hyatt there for around 23,000 UR's. Then went to the Hyatt site and same hotel is only 12,000 points. Room rate is about $320 a night so think that is a great deal.

It also says World of Hyatt Members get free breakfast. So, just by transferring my UR's to Hyatt and booking that way - we get free breakfast? I don't need their Credit Card? The card is on my list one day when it gets a higher sign up.

 

[Alexle2007]

Trying to find a hotel PreCruise in Fort Lauderdale by the Port Everglades Cruise Port in December. My plan was to use a Marriott Certificate but all the hotels near the port are 40,000 points or more, so that plan is out the window. So next plan was to use UR's with CSR at 1.5 value. Found a Hyatt there for around 23,000 UR's. Then went to the Hyatt site and same hotel is only 12,000 points. Room rate is about $320 a night so think that is a great deal.

It also says World of Hyatt Members get free breakfast. So, just by transferring my UR's to Hyatt and booking that way - we get free breakfast? I don't need their Credit Card? The card is on my list one day when it gets a higher sign up.

You got it!

 

[Calfan]

Ok I’m out of patience. Applied for CIP last Saturday and have been at 30 days since then. I never get approved on the weekend but always on Monday, usually am approved when I wake up that morning. But now it’s Tuesday night.

Still likely to be approved right?

I've had this experience (status line at 30 days for a long time) with my last 2 Chase apps. The first was with the SW Performance Biz when I decided on a whim to apply for it on the last day of the 80k SUB offer. That one sat at 30 days for weeks. I did punch through on my phone from the status line to talk to a person, and all he would say is that everything on my app looked to be in order and I'd be notified within 30 days. (It turns out those people apparently can't see a fraud alert on an account.) That one FINALLY changed to 7 to 10 days, and I punched through on my phone again. This time they guy just said it had been denied and I'd be getting a letter. I never did get the letter, but I decided to just let that one go because I had applied spur of the moment and opted to go back to my original master plan of having me get the CP for 2021/2022 since DH has it through the end of this year.

The second time was with my recent CIU app. This one also sat at 30 days for a number of days. I punched through once from the status line and got the same story as last time: everything looked good with my app and I'd hear within 30 days. This time, I decided to try to catch it immediately if it went 7 to 10 and call recon instead of punching through to a person on the status line. This was a much better strategy. I called the status line a couple of times a day. Sure enough, it went 7 to 10, so I called recon. This time, after verifying my identity, I was told that there was a fraud alert on my account and that it had been denied for that. This rep transferred me to the Fraud Dept. They spent about 1 to 2 minutes re-verifying my identity due to the fraud alert, then went away for about 30 seconds to get a decision and came back with "congratulations, you've been approved." So my advice would definitely be to keep checking the status line to see if status changes from 30 days (it will eventually). If it goes to 2 weeks, you should be good. If its goes to 7 to 10, call recon and see where you go from there.

I'm behind and I saw calypso's reply, but I don't know if anyone else has replied. I've booked multiple nights in my dh's name and they've never asked to speak to him. I also always call the hotel ahead of time to link the reservations.

Thank you!

 

[becauseimnew]

Trying to find a hotel PreCruise in Fort Lauderdale by the Port Everglades Cruise Port in December. My plan was to use a Marriott Certificate but all the hotels near the port are 40,000 points or more, so that plan is out the window. So next plan was to use UR's with CSR at 1.5 value. Found a Hyatt there for around 23,000 UR's. Then went to the Hyatt site and same hotel is only 12,000 points. Room rate is about $320 a night so think that is a great deal.

It also says World of Hyatt Members get free breakfast. So, just by transferring my UR's to Hyatt and booking that way - we get free breakfast? I don't need their Credit Card? The card is on my list one day when it gets a higher sign up.

Yup! As long as you are a member but they do t check.

 

[becauseimnew]

Thanks to whoever posted the tip about calling in the Chase payment to add the account when it wouldn't link. I just did that, now I can set up the auto pay!

 

[LynnTH]

Friends, what is the best strategy for reduced (free) WDW tickets? Is it still a card like Cap One and purchase through Undercover Tourist to erase? We are doing Food and Wine in September so I need to get on the ball, planning for the tickets.

DH could get the Barclays Arrival+ but I can't.

The price on hoppers went up today in addition to the passes.

I have done both Barclays Arrival + and Capitol One Cards. I just recently got DH the Citi Premiere which you can call and get tickets with Thank You Points at 1.25 value. 60,000 Points is current SUB so worth $750 if booked with travel with them. (Tickets count as I am told). I will then get me the Citi after DH is done with the MSR so will have $1500 to work with.

 

[StephPlum]

Hyatt benefits question. I am the lowest tier; just a member. It does look like on points bookings, resort fees are waived. Can anyone verify that for Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando? @Alexle2007 Did you just visit there? I am assuming no free breakfast though.

Looking for somewhere for long weekend in September. Want a nice pool and dining variety close by. Oh and "free" with points.

 

[ski_mom]

Yay! So your subscriptions posted fast?

Yes, I received an email to add my companion the day after my points posted. I actually waited a few days to do it because I wasn't in a huge hurry. I finally did it this morning and it was quick and painless!

I think you should get another CIP before you cancel that one, that way you don’t lose the 1.25x portal redemption. But once you have another CIP in your portfolio you can close that one, is there a reason why you are keeping the CIC open? You can also close that one if you don’t need it.

I should have mentioned that DH has the CSR, so I usually transfer points to him. I keep the CIC because I think it's the only card I have that still earns 5x points on internet, cable, phone and office. I do tend to use it quite a bit for those things.

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[LynnTH]

You got it!

Thanks. Just transferred 12,000 points. Transfer was instant and room is booked!! Yeah!! Now to get room in Anchorage for Pre Cruise there in June. Maybe my Marriott Certificate will work there.

 

[disfanforlife]

Wait what? We are supposed to get tax refunds?!?! LOL, not me! I miss those days.

Its been years so we got a refund too.

 

[disfanforlife]

normally I have it so we break even. I hate giving the government a loan during the year. But with the changes last year we’re now getting refunds. I probably should get around to adjusting our payroll deductions, but HR

We used to do that. But now we always have to pay. We did own our own business so that was part of the reason for many years.

 

[IFlossU]

https://world.hyatt.com/content/gp/en/landing/award-category-chart-updates.htmlHyatt’s 2020 updated Award chart

ETA: I held my breath for this one. After Marriott’s changes I was nervous. I’m currently trying to get enough UR’s to transfer to Grand Hyatt Kauai for a stay this Fall. I was so afraid it would be on this list, but it looks like it I lucked out. Hopefully these changes don’t hurt too much. The only one that stood out to me is MCO Hyatt is moving a category.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Yes, I received an email to add my companion the day after my points posted. I actually waited a few days to do it because I wasn't in a huge hurry. I finally did it this morning and it was quick and painless!




I should have mentioned that DH has the CSR, so I usually transfer points to him. I keep the CIC because I think it's the only card I have that still earns 5x points on internet, cable, phone and office. I do tend to use it quite a bit for those things.

Thanks for the suggestions!

I close mine after a year....same situation have a CSR to hold and redeem points

 

[TarraLee]

Anyone familiar with steamboat springs? Trying to decide if worth the premium to stay at Sheraton at the base or go for the Homewood Suites in town and shuttle. Or if there’s a condo building you’d recommend, I would appreciate the advice. First time to steamboat, Dh, me, and two boys 9 and 13, going to ski.

 

[Judique]

I have found it easier just to pay with my DGC as I go along. That way like others mentioned you don’t have to wait in line or worry about forgetting and have it charged to your credit card.

Exactly what I do and in addition, I haven't put a card on my room since I got a 'your card may have been compromised.' letter back 10ish years ago. This means I can't use online checkin, but at the same time, I like the contact with the desk cm's and it often works in my favor to make a face to face contact with them. This trip I had 2 Bwv nights but they weren't the same category - I'd been piecing it together. So the guy is super nice and I say, 'I'm also staying here tomorrow night.' He says, let's see what we can do, and I said, oh it's 2 different views - I figured you really couldn't help me much.

And I followed that up with, I'm actually willing to take whatever you can give me as I won't be in the room much since I'm hanging with family this trip. So he says, so the same room is most important? And I said, yes, absolutely. He said let me work on it and I'll give you a call. Thanks, see you later and I left. I started back to my car and the guy called me before I made it down the hallway more than a few rooms (going to parking lot) and says you've got room 20xx and it's ready now! Great room!

I love all my cast members at BWV and I recognize many this trip as I've been here 3 times in 4 months. Usually year to year there are many new faces. I think most really go the extra mile to make our stays comfy but I have also come across a few random characters.

 

[GZanta77]

https://world.hyatt.com/content/gp/en/landing/award-category-chart-updates.htmlHyatt’s 2020 updated Award chart

ETA: I held my breath for this one. After Marriott’s changes I was nervous. I’m currently trying to get enough UR’s to transfer to Grand Hyatt Kauai for a stay this Fall. I was so afraid it would be on this list, but it looks like it I lucked out. Hopefully these changes don’t hurt too much. The only one that stood out to me is MCO Hyatt is moving a category.

I don't see anything too terrible here for my purposes - I will continue to be happy to focus on Hyatt and say Bonvoy! to Marriott.

More reasons why Hyatt is treating members better than Marriott:-

- Almost as many properties decreasing a category as increasing
- If you have already booked an award at a hotel that goes down in category - you will automatically receive a points refund.