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

[striker1064]

Congrats!

Thanks for the tips yesterday, by the way. It's appreciated!

 

[Alexle2007]

I made DS’s birthday dinner reservation at the The Signature at Ala Moana Hotel and requested a window view. Let’s see if they honor my request. Less than 2 weeks to go!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Update: CSR approved.

Recon agent asked why I was applying after just being approved for the CSP, ~5 min hold, asked me to re-verify income and housing payment, ~5 min hold, approved.

When I told the agent what we paid for rent, I said "Washington DC be crazy," and I like to think it was my wit and charm that got the approval. But really, I'm happy this all worked out in the end. Don't be like me, do your MDD during the week. Or at least start your MDD on Sunday and make your second application on Monday when recon was open.

Congrats

 

[hsmamato2]

I’ve tried several times this week to register vgc I bought at Kroger on the prepaid gift balance website, but for whatever reason the website hasn’t been working for me. I finally went to one of those websites where you can check if it’s down for everyone or just me and it said the site was down for everyone. So I called the phone number and registered that way, which did work. Since I’m using them to pay tuition online, they must be registered or they won’t work. But it’s a pain in the rear. The first time I tried the website and it didn’t work was Tuesday, so it seems this site has been down since then at least (?) Just thought I’d mention it in case others are stuck unable to register their cards as well.

I was gonna come here and mention this ....last week I got a vgc, and using a chrome browser tried (in vain) for about 45 minutes to register it.... It kept asking me to 'verify' I was human by solving the dice pictures that added up to 14......5 times for each time I tried to get in! If I made a mistake (14? after 2 or 3 I made a mistake) it reverted back,and I had to input all the card info again and start over with verifying
I had just decided no way,this is my last vgc it ain't worth it when I went and tried a DIFFERENT browser (why is Chrome so awful,and why do I keep using it?) On Firefox browser, no problem! It verified a more normal puzzle (dice,total of 5...3 times to verify) and I was in. Moral of the story, try a different browser. FWIW, I can't access the chase site properly thru Chrome either,have to go to firefox to see any offers. (I really need to just switch over)

 

[hsmamato2]

It runs as credit, so it gets a fee. If I try to run them without registering them it doesn't work.

yeah,I thought I needed to register for online use,and I figured it would cut down on fraudulent use(?)

 

[Limes96]

I was gonna come here and mention this ....last week I got a vgc, and using a chrome browser tried (in vain) for about 45 minutes to register it.... It kept asking me to 'verify' I was human by solving the dice pictures that added up to 14......5 times for each time I tried to get in! If I made a mistake (14? after 2 or 3 I made a mistake) it reverted back,and I had to input all the card info again and start over with verifying
I had just decided no way,this is my last vgc it ain't worth it when I went and tried a DIFFERENT browser (why is Chrome so awful,and why do I keep using it?) On Firefox browser, no problem! It verified a more normal puzzle (dice,total of 5...3 times to verify) and I was in. Moral of the story, try a different browser. FWIW, I can't access the chase site properly thru Chrome either,have to go to firefox to see any offers. (I really need to just switch over)

I tried it on four different browsers. the entire website was down and wouldn’t load at all. It’s back now. I was able to register my cards online yesterday.

 

[hsmamato2]

Still watching for my Hyatt 5K points from the 50 transactions. And, I'm quickly finding ways to use those Amazon Gift card reloads - eg: laptop battery.

I'm waiting to...and I NEVER have a problem spending my amazon funds lol

 

[havaneselover]

Off topic but I think it's time to unsubcribe from Nextdoor. Someone in the neighborhood just asked if anyone had seen their two missing pet pigeons.

 

[trenty]

American Express Everyday => Everyday Preferred UPGRADE offer
There are reports on r/churning that a 40k MR for $2k MSR upgrade offer went out via email today. People that would want to watch for this would be Amex Everyday cardholders.

IF you go this offer and you have already earned an EDP bonus, this seems like a no-brainer! If you've never earned the bonus on an EDP, it still might warrant consideration even though it might rule you out from a future EDP bonus.

I am an Everyday cardholder and did NOT get this offer at this point so it is targeted.

I got the email and am thinking about it. I do have a few questions:

1. I would downgrade back down in one year. Would Amex hold that against me in any way?
2. My Everyday Card is my oldest card. Upgrading won't change my AoA - right?

Thanks.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Re: EDP upgrade for 40k is a nice bonus. The normal SUB for the card isn't typically that high! Plus, you gotta ask yourself if you'd ever actually grab an EDP on its own. It would take a 5/24 slot, and carries Amex RAT risk with the SUB. Doing the upgrade seems like a safer play all around.

For me these CIC/CIU bonuses are all about slow and steady wins the race. I get a CIC if I feel like I can put a decent amount of office spend or prepay some of my cable bill. I get a CIU if it's more about everyday stuff. Try to find some MS plays if you need help getting there on the MSR - but overall they do provide a lucrative bonus with no hit to 5/24!

That was going to be my question is the SUB better than the upgrade being offered right now. I guess once I get my MSR hit on the IHG I could look into this upgrade. In Amex land I've been wanting the free Hilton and the Platinum. But maybe an upgrade would appease the RAT too!

And my issue w/ the CIC and CIU right now is hitting $7500. I felt like I was struggling to hit $5k for the Bonvoy and that was with the added holidays spend. So I think $7500 would be darn near impossible for me w/o MS.

 

[Alexle2007]

I got the email and am thinking about it. I do have a few questions:

1. I would downgrade back down in one year. Would Amex hold that against me in any way?
2. My Everyday Card is my oldest card. Upgrading won't change my AoA - right?

Thanks.

1. No.
2. No.

 

[ten6mom]

Can I ask how people are hitting the $7500 CIC/CIU's? Are you doing MS? Do you have that much organic spend? I'd love the URs but w/o MS there's no way I'm hitting $7500. I've thought if I do the $1k downpayment on my DDs car on it, that helps, but there's still $6500, LOL.

Well- for me it was tough last time (I had asked for the elevated bonus when the regular was still only the $400). I paid ahead as far as I could on a handful of bills (through Plastiq for some of them) and I had our WDW trip on there and I STILL struggled. It was all organic spend, and it was tough.

I have some larger expenses coming up (my car has almost 200K miles on it) and such so I am hoping this one will be doable too. I'm sorry I don't have any tips or anything.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I got the email and am thinking about it. I do have a few questions:

1. I would downgrade back down in one year. Would Amex hold that against me in any way?
2. My Everyday Card is my oldest card. Upgrading won't change my AoA - right?

Thanks.

So the answer to number 1 is complicated. When you do an upgrade, American Express will typically charge you a pro-rated annual fee for the remainder of your year until your card anniversary. So if you're 6 months into your card year, that might be $47.50 (or half of the $95). You want to be committed to this upgrade for at least 12 full calendar months from when you do the upgrade. So that might involve paying the full Annual Fee for year 2. And then later in that year (i.e. 13 months from now) you could downgrade for a partial refund.

Personally, when I'm playing around with Amex upgrade offers, I commit to the partial year + 1 additional full year just to avoid unwanted attention from the RAT. We're talking a minimal amount of money here, and it's not worth (further) jeopardizing my future relationship with Amex over $20, $30 or even $95 in my opinion.

And doing this upgrade will in no way impact your AAoA or credit score, etc.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Not sure I saw this posted here yet: Amex has added Cell Phone Protection to its Premium Cards:

Amex Adds Cell Phone Protection To Premium Cards | One Mile at a Time

Effective April 1, 2021, if a Card Members’ cell phone is stolen or damaged, including a cracked screen, they can be reimbursed for the repair or replacement costs for up to two approved claims, for a maximum of $800 per claim or $1,600 per 12-month period, when their cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month’s wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible applies to each approved claim.

Cell Phone Protection will be included for no additional cost for the following American Express Card Members:

• Platinum Card® from American Express
• Business Platinum Card®
• Centurion® Card from American Express
• Business Centurion Card®
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
• The Platinum Card® Exclusively for Charles Schwab
• The Platinum Card® Exclusively for Morgan Stanley
• The Platinum Card® Exclusively for Goldman Sachs
• The Centurion® Card Exclusively for Goldman Sachs

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Minor News:
Ebay has ended its Ebay Bucks rewards program

Thank you for being a Bucks member, and a valuable part of our eBay community. We’re reaching out to tell you about upcoming changes to the eBay Bucks program. After careful consideration, we’ve decided to retire the 1% earnings reward on everyday purchases starting April 1st, 2021.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Credit inquiries.....I'm looking to finance a car and I have 2 dealerships running my paperwork. Will 2 inquiries hurt me?

 

[trenty]

So the answer to number 1 is complicated. When you do an upgrade, American Express will typically charge you a pro-rated annual fee for the remainder of your year until your card anniversary. So if you're 6 months into your card year, that might be $47.50 (or half of the $95). You want to be committed to this upgrade for at least 12 full calendar months from when you do the upgrade. So that might involve paying the full Annual Fee for year 2. And then later in that year (i.e. 13 months from now) you could downgrade for a partial refund.

Personally, when I'm playing around with Amex upgrade offers, I commit to the partial year + 1 additional full year just to avoid unwanted attention from the RAT. We're talking a minimal amount of money here, and it's not worth (further) jeopardizing my future relationship with Amex over $20, $30 or even $95 in my opinion.

And doing this upgrade will in no way impact your AAoA or credit score, etc.

Thank you. I will check my card anniversary date before I do anything. Offer is good until April 30th. I wanted to do this after April 1 if I do in fact upgrade.

 

[Alexle2007]

Velicocoaster looks AMAZING at night!

 

[elgerber]

On the CIU spend...when I got the card, I thought I was going to owe $4k or so in Fed taxes, so I figured that, prop taxes and some vet bills would easily top that out. Now I owe wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy less in Fed taxes, so I am going to struggle some I think. I would see where I am closer to the end of the month but may have to Venmo some funds.

 

[havaneselover]

Credit inquiries.....I'm looking to finance a car and I have 2 dealerships running my paperwork. Will 2 inquiries hurt me?

I'm not sure but here's my recent experience with buying ds's car. I was pre-approved with Capital One at 2.65% up to 72 months. Go to the dealership and tell the sales guy I have capital one pre-approval. Go to the finance guy and tell him I don't want all the extras they try to sell me and I start signing things then ask what the APR is. He's going through BofA at 5.3%. Ugh. So we had to start over and go back through Capial One. At 9 PM two hours from home. I think I only got one hit on my credit.

ETA: It looks like I did have two inquiries (one from C1 and one from Citizens One not B of A) so who knows. I have 8 inquiries in two years which is bad but credit score is above 800, so I don't really care.