I love credit cards so much! v5.0 - 2022 (see first page for add'l details)

[djmeredith]

Does anyone have any AmEx MS beginner tips? I have to meet this Plat spend asap and have never done any MS. I seem to recall reading that AmEx is much more picky about MS. Feel free to PM if you don't feel comfortable posting your tips here.

Another question. I think I am going to go for my Southwest CP with my next cards. I will be 4/24 in a few days and then another card drops off in Jan. Any reason not to do an MDD in Nov?

 

[iujen94]

Does anyone have any AmEx MS beginner tips? I have to meet this Plat spend asap and have never done any MS. I seem to recall reading that AmEx is much more picky about MS. Feel free to PM if you don't feel comfortable posting your tips here.

Another question. I think I am going to go for my Southwest CP with my next cards. I will be 4/24 in a few days and then another card drops off in Jan. Any reason not to do an MDD in Nov?

This isn’t an MS technique, but I like to pay ahead on my utility bills (electric, gas, water, etc.) to meet a MSR. It’s a bigger cost upfront, obviously, but then nice to go months without those bills.

 

[wanderlust7]

Does anyone have any AmEx MS beginner tips? I have to meet this Plat spend asap and have never done any MS. I seem to recall reading that AmEx is much more picky about MS. Feel free to PM if you don't feel comfortable posting your tips here.

Another question. I think I am going to go for my Southwest CP with my next cards. I will be 4/24 in a few days and then another card drops off in Jan. Any reason not to do an MDD in Nov?

Not really MS, but I pay income taxes, property taxes, and use Plastiq for any allowed categories that don't take cc or the fee is higher than Plastiq's 2.85%.

I guess income taxes can count as MS if you were overpaying for the sole purpose of getting a refund (just an irrelevant observation lol).

 

[Arcades]

Does anyone have any AmEx MS beginner tips? I have to meet this Plat spend asap and have never done any MS. I seem to recall reading that AmEx is much more picky about MS. Feel free to PM if you don't feel comfortable posting your tips here.

Another question. I think I am going to go for my Southwest CP with my next cards. I will be 4/24 in a few days and then another card drops off in Jan. Any reason not to do an MDD in Nov?

With Amex, it depends on whether you can buy Visa gift cards from a store that doesn't report L3 data (and then have a reliable liquidation method). As others have said, you can prepay taxes or utilities. If you ever use Airbnb, you can buy those gift cards in advance and save the credits for future travel while increasing your present day spending for the MSR. On a riskier level, you can try to find a buying group, but if you're brand new to MS you may not want to go there unless you have no other alternative.

For your CP, if you MDD in November, just be careful about meeting the spend after January 1 so you get the full value of the CP. I've seen data points where the bonus miles post early when you get close to the MSR.

 

[reliev]

Not really MS, but I pay income taxes, property taxes, and use Plastiq for any allowed categories that don't take cc or the fee is higher than Plastiq's 2.85%.

I guess income taxes can count as MS if you were overpaying for the sole purpose of getting a refund (just an irrelevant observation lol).

yep, quarterly taxes are 1.87 on pay1040.com easy way to do MS.

also, just to rant as I do on this thread. I don't know why I click on the points guy links sometimes his stuff sucks like he mentions japan award space but does not include the fees nor availability and such. I'm starting to think 90% of what they put out just isn't for me anymore but I also don't know why I don't unsubscribe because of the FOMO over a deal.

 

[afan]

This isn’t an MS technique, but I like to pay ahead on my utility bills (electric, gas, water, etc.) to meet a MSR. It’s a bigger cost upfront, obviously, but then nice to go months without those bills.

Also a safer way to do amex. I'm sure some the msr when they know it doesn't have level 3. I've added in visa cards with my groceries when doing amex cards in the past but it was one or two a month so nothing crazy.

 

[wanderlust7]

Hilton Amex cards--should I go for the Surpass and downgrade next year if I think it's not worth the $95 annual fee? No specific plans to use the bonus points. Just trying to diversity my hotel points stash.

That was my plan for DH's Surpass. I wanted to get the SUB on the no fee first since he hasn't had it before, but then he ran into the dreaded pop-up. I keep hoping he'll get an upgrade offer to the Aspire, but no luck yet (it seems rare these days). I'm thinking of doing the upgrade without a bonus (he'll then have 2 Aspires). If I do it in December, can get the $250 airline credit x3 on 1 AF. Plus the FNC and $250 resort credit, then another FNC and resort credit after his Surpass anniversary in March.

 

[wanderlust7]

No response yet I did request, by SM, a closure of a personal account last week, which they did. I can see both accounts as closed. I mean I (DH) got an email that it was approved, would they look at his account and decide to close it after approval. It was approved 9/18 and closed between Thursday afternoon and this morning when I checked.

Saw a couple DP's on r/churning of this happening when the card was returned to Chase. They were able to get the account reinstated. Hope that happens for you too.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

No response yet I did request, by SM, a closure of a personal account last week, which they did. I can see both accounts as closed. I mean I (DH) got an email that it was approved, would they look at his account and decide to close it after approval. It was approved 9/18 and closed between Thursday afternoon and this morning when I checked.

@FreeDiningFanatic to update on this. The SM reply was
"We'll be glad to discuss on the reinstatement of the Chase Ink. We could not verify the address. I reviewed your account and found that mail was returned to us. Please reply to this email with your complete mailing address for us to confirm and make changes, if needed. "
So of course I replied with the same address which is on all 8 of DHs CC and checking account with Chase. Not sure how mail got returned. We've been at this address over a year. Waiting to hear back.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Saw a couple DP's on r/churning of this happening when the card was returned to Chase. They were able to get the account reinstated. Hope that happens for you too.

Just replied, apparently that is what happened. Fingers crossed they can reinstate it. And expedite the cards as I have an insurance payment due I've been waiting for.

 

[afan]

That was my plan for DH's Surpass. I wanted to get the SUB on the no fee first since he hasn't had it before, but then he ran into the dreaded pop-up. I keep hoping he'll get an upgrade offer to the Aspire, but no luck yet (it seems rare these days). I'm thinking of doing the upgrade without a bonus (he'll then have 2 Aspires). If I do it in December, can get the $250 airline credit x3 on 1 AF. Plus the FNC and $250 resort credit, then another FNC and resort credit after his Surpass anniversary in March.

I've seen at least one other person on r/churning that's looking to do the same thing. They've had the aspire but aren't getting an offer and have use for the card/status coming up. Makes sense when the math works, just sucks the offers aren't there. I keep getting crap upgrade offers on my dl biz gold, but I've never had the others.

@FreeDiningFanatic to update on this. The SM reply was
"We'll be glad to discuss on the reinstatement of the Chase Ink. We could not verify the address. I reviewed your account and found that mail was returned to us. Please reply to this email with your complete mailing address for us to confirm and make changes, if needed. "
So of course I replied with the same address which is on all 8 of DHs CC and checking account with Chase. Not sure how mail got returned. We've been at this address over a year. Waiting to hear back.

Unfortunately it doesn't matter how long you've been there. Sometimes the delivery person or something else just sucks. I had to deal with bad addresses (returned) mail at an old job. Customers would confirm their address was correct and it would be the same as what was returned. Everything from no such number to no forwarding to no mail box and a bunch more. It was annoying cause we'd take the address out just to have the same put back in since it was accurate.

 

[Maryrachel713]

Welcome! This is a wonderful hobby. I'm curious how you're able to fund college savings with a credit card - Gift of College gift cards?

First thing to know is the Chase 5/24 rule. They won't approve you for any of their cards if you've had 5 or more cards on your personal credit report in the last 24 months. Authorized user cards count, so don't add each other. It sounds like you're 0/24.

If you're willing to get business cards, it will significantly prolong your game. A lot of side gigs can count. Reselling is a popular category here. Most business cards don't report to your personal credit report and so won't add to your x/24, but you need to be under 5/24 to be approved for Chase business cards.

You can take a look at the Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP) and Reserve (CSR) first. If you want both, you'd have to use a loophole. Chase UR are very flexible and can be transferred to United, Southwest, Hyatt, among others. The Hyatt transfer is especially valuable. Can be cashed out too at 1 cent per point, or 1.25 with the CSP and 1.5 with the CSR if you do Pay Yourself Back for specific categories.

If your DH has any flexibility in where he stays for work, Hyatt has the best loyalty program.

re: college, I think it let me do it on there but I might be confused and it comes out of our bank account. I don't know that we have anything that could qualify as a side business.
It sounds like Chase is where to start. My husbands been traveling Marriott for so long I doubt he would switch but still good to know! Is booking through Chase for travel fairly easy?

 

[afan]

Does anyone have a travel humidifier they recommend? I've searched before and there's so many options. Would like something for PHX in March for when I sleep so I don't dry out as bad as this past March.

 

[wanderlust7]

re: college, I think it let me do it on there but I might be confused and it comes out of our bank account. I don't know that we have anything that could qualify as a side business.
It sounds like Chase is where to start. My husbands been traveling Marriott for so long I doubt he would switch but still good to know! Is booking through Chase for travel fairly easy?

Using the Chase travel portal is easy, it's when something goes wrong needing customer service intervention (think flight schedule change or cancellation) that can cause a big headache. Plenty of horror stories out there. All things Disney are blocked, including Swan and Dolphin, though Swan Reserve was on there at one point, not sure if it's still the case. You would get 1.25 cent per point with CSP and 1.5 cpp with CSR through the travel portal.

The Pay Yourself Back categories are Airbnb for CSP and Airbnb and dining for CSR through end of the year (we don't know what it'll be after that). If the categories work for you, I think it's easier doing that than going through the portal.

I redeemed through the portal a lot when I first started (before the advent of PYB). Now it's almost all transferred to Hyatt, where I can usually get at least 2 cpp. Since you mentioned Hawaii before, the Grand Hyatt Kauai is really nice. It costs 21/25/29k Hyatt points per night depending on peak/non-peak dates (1:1 transfer from Chase UR). Cash costs is usually $700+. This hobby has really allowed me to indulge in fancy hotels that I could never bring myself to pay cash for.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Unfortunately it doesn't matter how long you've been there. Sometimes the delivery person or something else just sucks. I had to deal with bad addresses (returned) mail at an old job. Customers would confirm their address was correct and it would be the same as what was returned. Everything from no such number to no forwarding to no mail box and a bunch more. It was annoying cause we'd take the address out just to have the same put back in since it was accurate.

Yeah I know the PO sucks a lot. I once had the same piece of mail wrongly delivered to our house 3 times when the address on it was a different street on the north side of town while we're on the south side. I actually took it back to the post office myself twice and it got redelivered to our house the next day. We also had our package delivered to the same house number, wrong street one time by a sub carrier. The regular carrier came back the next day and said he'd find it. Sure enough, he checked multiple houses on his route, some twice because they weren't home, before he found it and delivered it to us. I miss him, he was an awesome guy.

 

[reliev]

Yeah I know the PO sucks a lot. I once had the same piece of mail wrongly delivered to our house 3 times when the address on it was a different street on the north side of town while we're on the south side. I actually took it back to the post office myself twice and it got redelivered to our house the next day. We also had our package delivered to the same house number, wrong street one time by a sub carrier. The regular carrier came back the next day and said he'd find it. Sure enough, he checked multiple houses on his route, some twice because they weren't home, before he found it and delivered it to us. I miss him, he was an awesome guy.

had this happen with a bbq grill of mine once that was fun to move (got delivered 3 blocks away not even remotely the same house) since i recognized the door/entryway like the rest of our neighborhood I was on a mission it took me 2 carloads. (which is why I had it delivered)

 

[atxbound]

No response yet I did request, by SM, a closure of a personal account last week, which they did. I can see both accounts as closed. I mean I (DH) got an email that it was approved, would they look at his account and decide to close it after approval. It was approved 9/18 and closed between Thursday afternoon and this morning when I checked.

Have you checked the notices and letter to see why? Had a similar thing recently with P2. Once they called in and confirmed their identity, it was reopened and bonus remains attached.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Have you checked the notices and letter to see why? Had a similar thing recently with P2. Once they called in and confirmed their identity, it was reopened and bonus remains attached.

There were no notices but they responded to my SM that mail was returned to them. Hopefully it can be fixed and they will reopen the account once my address is confirmed.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

@FreeDiningFanatic to update on this. The SM reply was
"We'll be glad to discuss on the reinstatement of the Chase Ink. We could not verify the address. I reviewed your account and found that mail was returned to us. Please reply to this email with your complete mailing address for us to confirm and make changes, if needed. "
So of course I replied with the same address which is on all 8 of DHs CC and checking account with Chase. Not sure how mail got returned. We've been at this address over a year. Waiting to hear back.

So glad it was something simple like this. During that limbo period, I feel like I would have been fretting, considering transferring all my points out, etc. I always go full in on the worst case scenario

 

[Maryrachel713]

Using the Chase travel portal is easy, it's when something goes wrong needing customer service intervention (think flight schedule change or cancellation) that can cause a big headache. Plenty of horror stories out there. All things Disney are blocked, including Swan and Dolphin, though Swan Reserve was on there at one point, not sure if it's still the case. You would get 1.25 cent per point with CSP and 1.5 cpp with CSR through the travel portal.

The Pay Yourself Back categories are Airbnb for CSP and Airbnb and dining for CSR through end of the year (we don't know what it'll be after that). If the categories work for you, I think it's easier doing that than going through the portal.

I redeemed through the portal a lot when I first started (before the advent of PYB). Now it's almost all transferred to Hyatt, where I can usually get at least 2 cpp. Since you mentioned Hawaii before, the Grand Hyatt Kauai is really nice. It costs 21/25/29k Hyatt points per night depending on peak/non-peak dates (1:1 transfer from Chase UR). Cash costs is usually $700+. This hobby has really allowed me to indulge in fancy hotels that I could never bring myself to pay cash for.

How does PYB work? If you use Airbnb you get extra value per point? The portal sounds like something my husband would definitely not want to do. Can I transfer to other programs too? We actually are under contract for DVC right now so we'd use those points to stay at Aulani (one of the things we bought it for). Thank you for all the info!