I love credit cards so much! v7.0 - 2025 (see first page for add'l details)

[LaDonna]

Hi I ummmm feel a little awkward asking such a basic question after reading thru a few pages here…..but I suppose you have to start somewhere….. would love to get into as much detail as I have seen on these pages maybe eventually I will know all the lingo as well

I currently have the og Chase Freedom (I do also have the Chase Disney, but we only did that for some of the benefits in the parks)
That’s it no other cards lol
I’ve kind of ignored for a long time all the other Chase advertisements for newer cards not realizing I could be doing a better job at getting more “free money” is what I call it, my reward points we put everything on our card and pay off every month

I think if I’ve done enough research I should keep my card though and utilize the quarterly bonuses and maybe apply for another card and I was looking at the flex or the unlimited….. I guess the flex has quarterly bonuses as well, but the unlimited gives one and a half percent back versus one percent

We never fly. We only travel on vacation maybe once a year sometimes twice, so not sure if any travel related stuff would way too heavily on decision

So that’s my basic question

I’m just dipping my toes into the water here…..I’d prefer to take it real slow as I currently, for real, have developed a slight headache going down this rabbit hole today

Thanks if you’ve read this far

 

[elgerber]

I am wondering this also. I need to get mine paid, and need to use a CIP

Is this the site to use? And if so, do I just say I will mail a check when I file in turbo tax and then use this site to pay?

https://fed.acipayonline.com/mobile/pc_step_fed2.jsp

 

[georgina]

Just got the dreaded email about a new letter from Chase after a new business card app. But instead of a denial, it says they are suspecting fraud and I need to call in to verify. I just hate putting more eyes on my “business” accounts. Only have 2 cards open now, so thought this would get auto approved but no such luck. Fingers crossed.

They did not ask anything about my business on the phone call, merely asked the standard questions about my identity (mother’s maiden name, etc), sent a code to my phone. Can’t hurt to try. Could be a quick resolution.

My January app ended in a denial after 3 weeks of them dragging it out, requesting I send in a form verifying my SSN, then a week later asking me to upload a copy of my drivers license and a utility bill to prove my address. After the denial they put letters in my account warning that I needed to guard against fraud, I got a letter from one of the credit bureaus that Chase told them I was a potential fraud victim. They wouldn’t believe me that it was my application. But, I was able to get approved on an app in April. They did call me to verify it was me applying!

 

[chattadisser]

Just got the dreaded email about a new letter from Chase after a new business card app. But instead of a denial, it says they are suspecting fraud and I need to call in to verify. I just hate putting more eyes on my “business” accounts. Only have 2 cards open now, so thought this would get auto approved but no such luck. Fingers crossed.

This seems to happen to my DH with every CIC app now. Like @georgina said, all he usually has to do is verify some basic info. A PITA but in the end, an approval.

 

[djmeredith]

Hi I ummmm feel a little awkward asking such a basic question after reading thru a few pages here…..but I suppose you have to start somewhere….. would love to get into as much detail as I have seen on these pages maybe eventually I will know all the lingo as well

I currently have the og Chase Freedom (I do also have the Chase Disney, but we only did that for some of the benefits in the parks)
That’s it no other cards lol
I’ve kind of ignored for a long time all the other Chase advertisements for newer cards not realizing I could be doing a better job at getting more “free money” is what I call it, my reward points we put everything on our card and pay off every month

I think if I’ve done enough research I should keep my card though and utilize the quarterly bonuses and maybe apply for another card and I was looking at the flex or the unlimited….. I guess the flex has quarterly bonuses as well, but the unlimited gives one and a half percent back versus one percent

We never fly. We only travel on vacation maybe once a year sometimes twice, so not sure if any travel related stuff would way too heavily on decision

So that’s my basic question

I’m just dipping my toes into the water here…..I’d prefer to take it real slow as I currently, for real, have developed a slight headache going down this rabbit hole today

Thanks if you’ve read this far

Welcome! There are lots of ways participate in this hobby. Maximizing bonus categories is a good strategy for someone who doesn't want to "churn" a lot of cards. Some focus on churning new cards to get Sign Up Bonuses (SUBs) and then close the card after 1 year. Many do a little of both. If you want a new card for a high SUB, consider the Chase Sapphire. it has an elevated 100K SUB right now. We have a private group on Reddit where we share support links for the various cards. We try to help each other out if we don't have P2 (second player/spouse) to trade support links for the card we want. You can ask on here to join that group if you are interested in participating. You can also trade support links with your spouse, you just can't use your own link to apply for a new card.

A couple of other things to remember as you dip your toes into this hobby. First, never close a card before the 1 year anniv date. Let the next annual fee (AF) hit and then cancel. They will refund the AF as long as you close it within 30 days. Second, do not add your spouse as an authorized user to the cards in your name and vice versa. Chase has a 5/24 rule (no more than 5 personal cards in a 24 month period. That is personal cards from any bank, not just Chase. Authorized users will count as one of the 5 slots. Feel free to ask any questions.

 

[havaneselover]

Is this the site to use? And if so, do I just say I will mail a check when I file in turbo tax and then use this site to pay?

https://fed.acipayonline.com/mobile/pc_step_fed2.jsp

Yes and that should work.

 

[hsmamato2]

when the new card arrived, I went to the activation link and it has an option to sign in and verify or create a new account (if I'm remembering correctly). I signed into his account and it didn't recognize that there were any new cards to activate. The only way I could do anything was by creating a new account.

Since then, I haven't had him do anything with it. If your DS calls, let me know if he's able to link the two accounts. DH will call, but needs to be "coached"

will do! He called in Monday evening- card arrived by around 3 pm tuesday - he will likely call later today when he has the time

 

[hsmamato2]

If it wasn't for Clear I wouldn't be singing high praises for the card with its AF. I love Clear/Precheck so much I don't think I can ever travel without it again.

clear and precheck are 2 different programs,right?

 

[EACarlson]

Hi I ummmm feel a little awkward asking such a basic question after reading thru a few pages here…..but I suppose you have to start somewhere….. would love to get into as much detail as I have seen on these pages maybe eventually I will know all the lingo as well

I currently have the og Chase Freedom (I do also have the Chase Disney, but we only did that for some of the benefits in the parks)
That’s it no other cards lol
I’ve kind of ignored for a long time all the other Chase advertisements for newer cards not realizing I could be doing a better job at getting more “free money” is what I call it, my reward points we put everything on our card and pay off every month

I think if I’ve done enough research I should keep my card though and utilize the quarterly bonuses and maybe apply for another card and I was looking at the flex or the unlimited….. I guess the flex has quarterly bonuses as well, but the unlimited gives one and a half percent back versus one percent

We never fly. We only travel on vacation maybe once a year sometimes twice, so not sure if any travel related stuff would way too heavily on decision

So that’s my basic question

I’m just dipping my toes into the water here…..I’d prefer to take it real slow as I currently, for real, have developed a slight headache going down this rabbit hole today

Thanks if you’ve read this far

My recommendation if you're going to stay with Chase would be to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. That card has a huge sign up bonus and will enable you to transfer the UR to partners where you can get value higher than one cent per point. If after a year you don't think it's worth it, you can downgrade it to the Freedom Unlimited. The only reason to go with a Freedom Flex is if you really need a Mastercard for some reason.

clear and precheck are 2 different programs,right?

Correct. While I've found infinite value with Precheck, I didn't find much at all with Clear.

If it wasn't for Clear I wouldn't be singing high praises for the card with its AF. I love Clear/Precheck so much I don't think I can ever travel without it again.

Most people that I've talked with about it feel the other way. If it weren't for the value they feel they get out of the other benefits of the Plat, they wouldn't have Clear. I only know one person that actually pays for Clear, and even he says that if weren't for the obscene amount of money he has, it wouldn't be worth it. I had it for 6 months, used it a decent amount and saved a grand total of 5 minutes over just using Precheck. In multiple airports, it was actually slower than just using Precheck.

 

[Arcades]

Most people that I've talked with about it feel the other way. If it weren't for the value they feel they get out of the other benefits of the Plat, they wouldn't have Clear. I only know one person that actually pays for Clear, and even he says that if weren't for the obscene amount of money he has, it wouldn't be worth it. I had it for 6 months, used it a decent amount and saved a grand total of 5 minutes over just using Precheck. In multiple airports, it was actually slower than just using Precheck.

Yeah, Clear is definitely airport dependent. I'm a huge fan because I fly through ATL for most trips and they have a dedicated Precheck+Clear line that is rarely more than a 10 minute wait as compared to either Clear or Precheck by itself, which often appear to be much longer. I wouldn't sign up for a new Plat just to get Clear and I wish more airports combined Clear and Precheck the way ATL does.

 

[Budzooka]

Yeah, Clear is definitely airport dependent. I'm a huge fan because I fly through ATL for most trips and they have a dedicated Precheck+Clear line that is rarely more than a 10 minute wait as compared to either Clear or Precheck by itself, which often appear to be much longer. I wouldn't sign up for a new Plat just to get Clear and I wish more airports combined Clear and Precheck the way ATL does.

I have Clear that comes with one of my Amex Hilton cards but there is no way I would pay for it out of pocket. Flying out DAL, the precheck line is usually shorter than Clear. And DFW only has Clear in some of the terminals.

Now precheck is worth its weight in gold. We got it randomly added fo a flight in 2013 and was sold. Scheduled an appt as soon as we got home and have had it ever since.

 

[smallsy]

I have a "You're approved for a CIP" 90K offer showing on my chase homepage this morning. Never noticed an offer like that before and I'm skeptical. What's the deal with these? Is it still just a regular application or is it a sure thing?

ETA: Nevermind. A quick google search seems like it's just a basic application and marketing technique so I'll pass on that high spend.

 

[Budzooka]

This seems to happen to my DH with every CIC app now. Like @georgina said, all he usually has to do is verify some basic info. A PITA but in the end, an approval.

Great to know. It’s actually for DW and she told me last night she wasn’t going to call on a business card. I reminded her how much we get out of these points but she’s feels like we are crossing a line with the “business” cards. Hopefully I can sweet talk her into it.

 

[LaDonna]

My recommendation if you're going to stay with Chase would be to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. That card has a huge sign up bonus and will enable you to transfer the UR to partners where you can get value higher than one cent per point. If after a year you don't think it's worth it, you can downgrade it to the Freedom Unlimited. The only reason to go with a Freedom Flex is if you really need a Mastercard for some reason.

Correct. While I've found infinite value with Precheck, I didn't find much at all with Clear.


Most people that I've talked with about it feel the other way. If it weren't for the value they feel they get out of the other benefits of the Plat, they wouldn't have Clear. I only know one person that actually pays for Clear, and even he says that if weren't for the obscene amount of money he has, it wouldn't be worth it. I had it for 6 months, used it a decent amount and saved a grand total of 5 minutes over just using Precheck. In multiple airports, it was actually slower than just using Precheck.

Hmmm so I can transfer my current chase unlimited points to saphire and they suddenly be worth more? Not that’s intriguing
I don’t usually pay to have a credit card, but I definitely will if I’m gonna come out ahead…… I guess whatever bonus is tied, for it should cover the annual fee….. how long do the bonuses they have attached usually stay good for? wondering if this is something I need to jump on Sooner rather than later

 

[AndreaDM]

Just got the dreaded email about a new letter from Chase after a new business card app. But instead of a denial, it says they are suspecting fraud and I need to call in to verify. I just hate putting more eyes on my “business” accounts. Only have 2 cards open now, so thought this would get auto approved but no such luck. Fingers crossed.

This just happened to me too, I was on vacation last week so didn't see the letter until Monday. I called and he sent me a link to add documentation to prove who I was, etc. I submitted and am still waiting, fingers crossed! I have a HUGE medical bill and NEED a SUB.

Yeah, Clear is definitely airport dependent. I'm a huge fan because I fly through ATL for most trips and they have a dedicated Precheck+Clear line that is rarely more than a 10 minute wait as compared to either Clear or Precheck by itself, which often appear to be much longer. I wouldn't sign up for a new Plat just to get Clear and I wish more airports combined Clear and Precheck the way ATL does.

CLE has a Clear + Precheck lane and it goes so much faster than either alone, we fly out of there a lot so totally worth it.

 

[smallsy]

DH just applied via support for CSP and IA!

Any DP on MDD for sapphires recently? We weren't considering that before, but we just remembered we're about to drop $$$ on braces for 2 kids.

 

[becauseimnew]

Yes and that should work.

Is this the site to use? And if so, do I just say I will mail a check when I file in turbo tax and then use this site to pay?

https://fed.acipayonline.com/mobile/pc_step_fed2.jsp

Thanks for sharing this link. got mine paid with my Amex Biz Gold to meet the $15K MSR.

 

[becauseimnew]

DH just applied via support for CSP and IA!

Any DP on MDD for sapphires recently? We weren't considering that before, but we just remembered we're about to drop $$$ on braces for 2 kids.

MDD is dead.

 

[smallsy]

MDD is dead.

I figured it might be. Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[georgina]

This just happened to me too, I was on vacation last week so didn't see the letter until Monday. I called and he sent me a link to add documentation to prove who I was, etc. I submitted and am still waiting, fingers crossed! I have a HUGE medical bill and NEED a SUB.

I am curious to hear how yours turns out. After I added the documents, I called and was told my credit was frozen so they couldn't process (I had thawed my freezes when I applied, but this was weeks later). Then the next day I called in and was told that they had a problem with the documents I submitted online and I needed to go into a branch. I gave up at that point.