I love credit cards so much! v4.0 - 2021 (see first page for add'l details)

[MarBee]

Just found out yesterday that someone applied for unemployment using DH’s SS#. I’ll gladly accept any advice on things we need to do. We have put a freeze on his credit at all three bureaus, reported it to our state, and been in touch with his employer. In process is SS and I’ll have to look into IRS today. Nothing else seems out of place so far. Any recommendations re identity theft insurance? Currently don’t have it, but I guess maybe it’s a good idea.

eta we also added a fraud alert to the credit bureaus

I had my identity stolen about 4 years ago. Not to scare you, but it can be such a pain to deal with. It sounds like you’ve taken all the right steps so far. However, this will most likely be a lifelong issue. As someone told me, “once you info is out there, it never comes back.”
One thing I’ve found though is filing a report with your local police seems to expedite fraud investigations with credit card companies. The police won’t investigate or anything but they’ll take a report and give you a file number. When you have to deal with any credit card companies in the future, once you tell them the file number, things speed up.
Ultimately, I chose not to get life lock or a similar company because friends that had it said it was really annoying to constantly get alerts every time they bought something. So far I’ve been lucky to not have needed it.
One other thing- the fraud alert expires in a year so I set a calendar reminder for the week before its expiration and renew each year.
I’m sorry you have to go through this!

 

[Haley R]

I think the Hilton 5th night free is a good deal, so I'd do something that takes advantage of that. I'm planning to do 5 nights at the Hilton Tokyo Bay. Planning to go to Odaiba when we're there since looks like it takes about the same amount of time as from the Tokyo Andaz.

Odaiba is cool. We liked it there. The team lab borderless digital art museum is awesome

 

[KPK02090]

Would love some thoughts on this plan. We have a big spend coming up $19,500, we can pay by credit card, but there is a 2.85% fee for doing so.
What I'm thinking is have DH apply for a Capital One Venture with 100,000 sub after $20,000 spend in first year, $95 AF.
After the fee we'd be paying $20,055.75
That would give us 140,111 points (40,111 points from the spend plus the 100,000) worth $1,401.
Subtract what we're paying in fees ($555.75 and the $95 AF) we are still ahead $845.
Does this seem like a good idea? Is there another card you'd recommend that has a high SUB, low AF that would make sense for this?
Thanks!

ETA: I was also thinking about a CIP, but I don't think they'd give us a high enough credit limit based on how it's been going with Chase business cards lately.

 

[becauseimnew]

I was able to move our SW July 1-8 flights.

 

[becauseimnew]

I was able to move our SW July 1-8 flights.

Just found out yesterday that someone applied for unemployment using DH’s SS#. I’ll gladly accept any advice on things we need to do. We have put a freeze on his credit at all three bureaus, reported it to our state, and been in touch with his employer. In process is SS and I’ll have to look into IRS today. Nothing else seems out of place so far. Any recommendations re identity theft insurance? Currently don’t have it, but I guess maybe it’s a good idea.

eta we also added a fraud alert to the credit bureaus

This happened a lot when the pandemic started, in my workgroup of 12 people it happened to 2. Our employer denied it and they haven't had any issues since then.

 

[disfanforlife]

Just found out yesterday that someone applied for unemployment using DH’s SS#. I’ll gladly accept any advice on things we need to do. We have put a freeze on his credit at all three bureaus, reported it to our state, and been in touch with his employer. In process is SS and I’ll have to look into IRS today. Nothing else seems out of place so far. Any recommendations re identity theft insurance? Currently don’t have it, but I guess maybe it’s a good idea.

eta we also added a fraud alert to the credit bureaus

We found out the same thing a few months when my DH tried to apply for UI. Still waiting for the DOL to get back to him with anything but a case number. We were told that he “ could be a victim of fraud” not that someone even actually got UI with his SS. Can’t even talk to a case worker because the system is so backed up. His credit is also frozen and everything else seems ok. I didn’t think of contacting SS or IRS since we don’t really have any info to give them other than the fact that he can’t file for UI until it is investigated. In the meantime, he went back to work.
Needless to say he is not applying for any new CC anytime soon.

 

[Jmazzuca243]

Just got a pop up to upgrade my Amex gold to platinum. 75,000Mr for $5,000.
I have a platinum that I opened around 6m ago. Can I have two? Anything I need to know?

You can have as many as you want (up to 10 charge cards). I have 2 vanilla, 1 Morgan Stanley, and 1 Charles Schwab. Each gave me a separate SUB.

In your case, you should upgrade and earn SUB, and then downgrade after 1 year.

 

[Princess Michele]

I feel like I just won the lottery!! I was approved for the CSR today so my MDD attempt was successful. Thank you for all the great information and help on this forum.

 

[wanderlust7]

Odaiba is cool. We liked it there. The team lab borderless digital art museum is awesome

It's in my plans!

 

[havaneselover]

Bought one $200 visa from lowes and claimed my $15 egift card. Also picked up a $300 kroger gift card since it's 4x fuel points. Used my CF.

My engagement ring auction ends tonight and it's hit the reserve price. So glad to have that almost wrapped up.

And got my second shot today at Target. They did it in the fitting rooms. It was sort of odd, but it worked!

 

[pinkxray]

I am full of questions today.

I am short on dvc points for all the trips I am planning. I think I might rent a few days of points to make up the difference. I will be laying through PayPal. Is it an issue with Amex to pay with paypal when meeting an MSR?

 

[wanderlust7]

Still seeing DPs that people have to call to get the 5th Amex cc pushed through. Doesn't sound like the automated system's been updated yet. The public elevated Delta offers expire today, but lucky the support ones expire 5/5. So holding off on DH's Delta gold biz app. If it's still not updated by then, I guess I'll have him call. At least we don't have to cancel a card.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Sorry to respond so late, but a friend recommended the tomato soup farm restaurant (somewhere on the Golden Circle tour) and we loved it. You eat inside a huge greenhouse where they grow tomatoes hydroponically. They also keep bees there to pollinate the plants. The soup was great, the bread was fantastic, and it was just plain fun. I think you're coving the areas I'd recommend in terms of locations.

Umm, it's like you intimately know us! My son spent a lot of time in middle school with aquaponics and he's now an engineering student. Hydroponics is right up our alley! Thanks for the recommendation- I will check it out. Iceland really loves their soup, hey?

 

[becauseimnew]

Would love some thoughts on this plan. We have a big spend coming up $19,500, we can pay by credit card, but there is a 2.85% fee for doing so.
What I'm thinking is have DH apply for a Capital One Venture with 100,000 sub after $20,000 spend in first year, $95 AF.
After the fee we'd be paying $20,055.75
That would give us 140,111 points (40,111 points from the spend plus the 100,000) worth $1,401.
Subtract what we're paying in fees ($555.75 and the $95 AF) we are still ahead $845.
Does this seem like a good idea? Is there another card you'd recommend that has a high SUB, low AF that would make sense for this?
Thanks!

ETA: I was also thinking about a CIP, but I don't think they'd give us a high enough credit limit based on how it's been going with Chase business cards lately.

I'm guessing you can breakup the payments? What about 2 chase Biz cards? CIC/CIU you would earn 150,000 URs + support links URs, 20K for each use.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Would love some thoughts on this plan. We have a big spend coming up $19,500, we can pay by credit card, but there is a 2.85% fee for doing so.
What I'm thinking is have DH apply for a Capital One Venture with 100,000 sub after $20,000 spend in first year, $95 AF.
After the fee we'd be paying $20,055.75
That would give us 140,111 points (40,111 points from the spend plus the 100,000) worth $1,401.
Subtract what we're paying in fees ($555.75 and the $95 AF) we are still ahead $845.
Does this seem like a good idea? Is there another card you'd recommend that has a high SUB, low AF that would make sense for this?
Thanks!

ETA: I was also thinking about a CIP, but I don't think they'd give us a high enough credit limit based on how it's been going with Chase business cards lately.

I just did something similar with the CIP. Got a $6,000 credit line and cycled it over several days. Paid 5,000, then paid it off. Paid $5,000, then paid it off. Rinse, repeat. Not ideal but the 100k URs was awesome.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Still seeing DPs that people have to call to get the 5th Amex cc pushed through. Doesn't sound like the automated system's been updated yet. The public elevated Delta offers expire today, but lucky the support ones expire 5/5. So holding off on DH's Delta gold biz app. If it's still not updated by then, I guess I'll have him call. At least we don't have to cancel a card.

Oh dang. Maybe I see if Amex is happy with me and if I can sneak in on the Delta Platinum offers (I'm thinking Biz). I have the gold biz now. I've already had the gold personal. And I did get the offer to upgrade my Gold biz. I haven't been able to shake the damn popup. But maybe upgrading my everyday and dropping $2k on it last month, with spends of $1k+ on my other 2 amex (surpass and delta gold biz) will make Amex happy.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Southwest free change window is reported to be open 6/9-7/10. I was able to "save" $616 each on 8 flights, so nearly $5,000. Now, I don't count it as real savings, as I would have never paid $1100 RT each to go to Cabo on Southwest. But I still have that "I got a deal" feeling!

 

[wanderlust7]

Umm, it's like you intimately know us! My son spent a lot of time in middle school with aquaponics and he's now an engineering student. Hydroponics is right up our alley! Thanks for the recommendation- I will check it out. Iceland really loves their soup, hey?

They do lol! Soup with bread and free refills is one of the cheaper food options in Iceland. That and hot dogs.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

I can't refer myself w/ Amex, right?

 

[wanderlust7]

I can't refer myself w/ Amex, right?

No, you don't want the wrath of the RAT!