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

[havaneselover]

Check you CIC offers: all three of our household CICs have 5% back at Staples up to $5 valid through 7/28. Should overlap fee free Visa starting on 7/20, so you can grab an extra $5 per card with the offer.

(I know these are targeted but, considering we got it on 100% of our CICs, I'm thinking this is a pretty wide offer.)

I used to prefer the Visas because I could use them to get money orders at Food Lion but that died. I do use the Visas at Costco. But I forget if there are disadvantages to the MCs. I need to pay my car insurance and I think tomorrow will start fee free MCs, so I thought I'd pick up a handful.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

But I forget if there are disadvantages to the MCs.

I think only the Visa work to pay the Target red card at the desk with debit. I always just wait for the Visa because of that

 

[Judique]

I used to prefer the Visas because I could use them to get money orders at Food Lion but that died. I do use the Visas at Costco. But I forget if there are disadvantages to the MCs. I need to pay my car insurance and I think tomorrow will start fee free MCs, so I thought I'd pick up a handful.

I use the Visa's mostly at Costco also. However, in anticipation of paying an insurance bill, I was thinking of using my one CIC 5% to buy a variable load Visa this week. Anyone know what the fee is? I would do $500 on the card if that is possible. I honestly only pay attention to the $200 cards.

 

[havaneselover]

I use the Visa's mostly at Costco also. However, in anticipation of paying an insurance bill, I was thinking of using my one CIC 5% to buy a variable load Visa this week. Anyone know what the fee is? I would do $500 on the card if that is possible. I honestly only pay attention to the $200 cards.

I believe it's $5.95.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Sorry, I have been MIA.

I was decluttering, staging , and listing my house in NY. MLS listing went live on 6/18/2025.
We went under contract on 7/3/2025 with a tentative closing date of 8/5/2025.

To keep this credit card related, we had $20k MSR on P2's AmexBizPlat that I was going to use the move to complete. But with the attorney fees, water testing fee, septic pump out fee, auto insurance, auto repair/maintenance, a cruise we are are taking in December, and the first payment on the moving containers, we will meet the MSR easily before the 8/8/2025 cut off date and still have the rest of the move to pay.

I really don't want the stress of trying to apply for another card and MSR to try to put the rest of the move on in less than a month with an address I need to change in 3 weeks... Not to mention ALL the changes to Chase/AMEX I have been seeing but not researching recently.

Getting to my REAL question now!

Anyone use either PODs or PackRat for their move? We are trying to decide which one to pick.

I got quotes from both companies and they are within $100 different between them (I got PODs to match the Pack Rat lower quote), so it is a wash on price. $5103.53 (PODS) vs $5135 (PackRat) for a 16ft container plus an 8ft container.

The PODs quote breakdown is much clearer in writing online. The PackRat one is just the total price. I did get the customer rep at Pack Rat to confirm in an email that the quoted price was the final price including any fuel surcharges after watching a YT video about hidden fuel surcharges by PackRat.

Here's the pros and cons:
PODs:
Pros - Customer service seems better and the pricing breakdown is very clear.
Cons - We had to move the dates back one day (to a Tuesday drop off) because they don't deliver in our area on Mondays, apparently. We read that the garage doors may be difficult to open upon delivery if items shift inside the box during transportation.
Pack Rat:
Pros - We got the exact drop off dates we wanted (Monday). We liked the fact that the container was all metal and that they had barnyard doors that opened out.
Cons - Customer Service was not bad but not as good. I had to email multiple times to get the rep to reply and confirm that my quoted price "was the full price." The quoted price listed in the website portal did not include a detailed breakdown, just the total price plus the taxes and fees.

So, please help me decide between the 2 companies. I need to cancel the one of them ASAP.

TIA

 

[VGCgroupie]

Sorry, I have been MIA.

I was decluttering, staging , and listing my house in NY. MLS listing went live on 6/18/2025.
We went under contract on 7/3/2025 with a tentative closing date of 8/5/2025.

To keep this credit card related, we had $20k MSR on P2's AmexBizPlat that I was going to use the move to complete. But with the attorney fees, water testing fee, septic pump out fee, auto insurance, auto repair/maintenance, a cruise we are are taking in December, and the first payment on the moving containers, we will meet the MSR easily before the 8/8/2025 cut off date and still have the rest of the move to pay.

I really don't want the stress of trying to apply for another card and MSR to try to put the rest of the move on in less than a month with an address I need to change in 3 weeks... Not to mention ALL the changes to Chase/AMEX I have been seeing but not researching recently.

Getting to my REAL question now!

Anyone use either PODs or PackRat for their move? We are trying to decide which one to pick.

I got quotes from both companies and they are within $100 different between them (I got PODs to match the Pack Rat lower quote), so it is a wash on price. $5103.53 (PODS) vs $5135 (PackRat) for a 16ft container plus an 8ft container.

The PODs quote breakdown is much clearer in writing online. The PackRat one is just the total price. I did get the customer rep at Pack Rat to confirm in an email that the quoted price was the final price including any fuel surcharges after watching a YT video about hidden fuel surcharges by PackRat.

Here's the pros and cons:
PODs:
Pros - Customer service seems better and the pricing breakdown is very clear.
Cons - We had to move the dates back one day (to a Tuesday drop off) because they don't deliver in our area on Mondays, apparently. We read that the garage doors may be difficult to open upon delivery if items shift inside the box during transportation.
Pack Rat:
Pros - We got the exact drop off dates we wanted (Monday). We liked the fact that the container was all metal and that they had barnyard doors that opened out.
Cons - Customer Service was not bad but not as good. I had to email multiple times to get the rep to reply and confirm that my quoted price "was the full price." The quoted price listed in the website portal did not include a detailed breakdown, just the total price plus the taxes and fees.

So, please help me decide between the 2 companies. I need to cancel the one of them ASAP.

TIA

I have use Pack Rat twice. Both somewhat local moves. I was very happy with them. I even had an Amex offer I was able to use twice!

 

[SleepyatDVC]

I have use Pack Rat twice. Both somewhat local moves. I was very happy with them. I even had an Amex offer I was able to use twice!

Oh man, an AMEX offer would be sweet! Lol.

 

[Sheree]

I haven't been able to use my quarterly Hilton $$ on 2 cards.
any ideas? we have a Garden Inn , Hampton and Homewood locally but I don't believe any have a restaurant. Do they sell GC at the hotels since can't buy online.

hate for it to go to waste
thanks

 

[DisMommaBear]

I haven't been able to use my quarterly Hilton $$ on 2 cards.
any ideas? we have a Garden Inn , Hampton and Homewood locally but I don't believe any have a restaurant. Do they sell GC at the hotels since can't buy online.

hate for it to go to waste
thanks

I used my credit last month at the little shop our local Hilton has - grabbed sodas, candies, etc. Prices were obviously ridiculous, but better than wasting the credit

 

[mrandmrsthomas0618]

I haven't been able to use my quarterly Hilton $$ on 2 cards.
any ideas? we have a Garden Inn , Hampton and Homewood locally but I don't believe any have a restaurant. Do they sell GC at the hotels since can't buy online.

hate for it to go to waste
thanks

Glad to see this post. Staying at a Hampton inn in a couple weeks and have 2 business platinum cards. Definitely going to take advantage of this.

 

[Sheree]

thanks. just stopp

I used my credit last month at the little shop our local Hilton has - grabbed sodas, candies, etc. Prices were obviously ridiculous, but better than wasting the credit

thanks, stopped at homewood suites. spent $50 on stuff! road trip this weekend! thanks for the idea. I'll see what the garden inn has for the other $50 I have to spend

 

[StephPlum]

Small rant - if Southwest is going to start being like the other airlines and charging for seats and bags, then open the schedule up a year in advance. Will probably fly SW next March for spring break but they aren't open and even when they do the next schedule update it will only go through March 5. UGGH!

Keeping with my spring break thoughts (not sure I should continue to call it spring break now that I'm retired): Plans are San Antonio and San Padre Island/Corpus Christi. Has anyone stayed in Corpus Christi/San Padre Island and have a suggestion? Looking for some place I can walk to a beach. Thanks.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

I'm so mad at myself.

I went to check the AMEX offers to see if there might me ones we could use because of VGCgroupies reminder regarding PackRat offers.

I see a bunch of travel offers including Holland America Cruises and as is my habit, I accept them all and then realize I accepted them all under PP2's Everyday Card instead of the AmexBizPlat card! The cards are linked and the Everyday Card is the default card and the little icon looks silver enough. Lol.

Oh well, we don't normally cruise with Holland America anyway...

 

[VGCgroupie]

I'm so mad at myself.

I went to check the AMEX offers to see if there might me ones we could use because of VGCgroupies reminder regarding PackRat offers.

I see a bunch of travel offers including Holland America Cruises and is my habit, I accept them all and then realize I accepted them all under PP2's Everyday Card instead of the AmexBizPlat card! The cards are linked and the Everyday Card is the default card and the little icon looks silver enough. Lol.

Oh well, we don't normally cruise with Holland America anyway...

I’ve done that many times. The online account platform defaults to my Amex Blue. I open offers and I’m so excited to see them I add it… then remember ughhhh I didn’t want it on this card!

 

[havaneselover]

Did grab nine $200 MC gift cards at Staples today and paid $1800 toward car insurance (Liberty Mutual). Will go back next week for Visas to finish paying my car insurance and for some Costco money. Have an $855 cash card after my Disney cruise which should cover my Costco trips for several months.

 

[happ]

Random DP. I applied for the CSR Biz card while having 3 open Inks. I was not auto approved. Checking the status line said wait for a letter, but I decided to call when I realized they didn't pull my credit in case it was an identity issue. Perhaps that was it because I got approved with a generous limit. If I didn't have tuition and taxes to pay right now, I wouldn't even consider this card because of the high MSR and fee. I'll likely use URs to pay the fee. I did try for an Amex biz card first, but no dice.

 

[havaneselover]

Random DP. I applied for the CSR Biz card while having 3 open Inks. I was not auto approved. Checking the status line said wait for a letter, but I decided to call when I realized they didn't pull my credit in case it was an identity issue. Perhaps that was it because I got approved with a generous limit. If I didn't have tuition and taxes to pay right now, I wouldn't even consider this card because of the high MSR and fee. I'll likely use URs to pay the fee. I did try for an Amex biz card first, but no dice.

I'd love the 200K URs (and can meet the MSR), but not the $795 annual fee! Although I guess with the travel credit it's really only $495.

 

[calypso726]

We left Scotland on Sunday to catch our flight back home. Our connection was LHR-MIA and it was cancelled before we left Edinburgh. Flew into London and found that tons of AA flights were cancelled across the USA. Apparently, there are industry wide issues for all US flights. We were re-booked for this morning and AA gave us a voucher for dinner, breakfast and a Radisson airport hotel. With a bonus day in London, we opted out of dinner at the hotel and headed to the Mayfair Chippy for some fish & chips. We also bought the last 2 remaining tickets to The Play That Goes Wrong on the West End. We not not seated anywhere near each other as one ticket was in the Stalls and the other in Dress Circle. Had a blast and laughed the whole time. A few more pics from Isle of Skye and hiking the Quiraing, Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, The Fairy Glen, and Eilean Donan Castle.

 

[Judique]

Just reading that a wildfire has destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge and surrounding cabins in Arizona. I had recently read @CyndiLouWho 's posts regarding her trip and half remembered that she stayed in a cabin, possibly near this lodge. Absolutely not sure about that as I'm not familiar enough with the area.

At any rate it's a big loss and no longer there for future visitors. I'm always sad when something iconic disappears.

 

[nlenguyen]

Question about President Circle Status. I have it on my account through Venture X but on my latest car rental, I went to the counter and was only given choices in the Gold member area. Has anyone had this experience before?