I love credit cards so much!

[Albort]

I got my CSR in Sept 2016 and was planning to product change to a CFU in July 2017 to avoid paying the $450 AF again. Is this not doable? I need to downgrade to a 'regular' Sapphire card first? Not familiar with that card.

No, you have to have the card for a year. When the AF hits again in September then cal and ask for a product change to CFU.

honestly, no one knows if you can or not though. No one has had this card for over a year. :\ The only thing we know is that CSR is basically an upgraded version of the CSP, to which, we know for sure the CSP can be converted down to a Freedom/Freedom Unlimited.
As for the regular Sapphire, people who want to downgrade their CSP before their year ended(aka 4 months into owning a CSP), you can circumvent it by downgrading to a regular Sapphire, then go to a Freedom/Freedom Unlimited.
i would wait for DP to hit on flyertalk forums before we know for sure.

 

[AdamEfimoff]

honestly, no one knows if you can or not though. No one has had this card for over a year. :\ The only thing we know is that CSR is basically an upgraded version of the CSP, to which, we know for sure the CSP can be converted down to a Freedom/Freedom Unlimited.
As for the regular Sapphire, people who want to downgrade their CSP before their year ended(aka 4 months into owning a CSP), you can circumvent it by downgrading to a regular Sapphire, then go to a Freedom/Freedom Unlimited.
i would wait for DP to hit on flyertalk forums before we know for sure.

flyertalk has great luxury community forum and other forums everyone should check it out

 

[wendow]

No, you have to have the card for a year. When the AF hits again in September then cal and ask for a product change to CFU.

Would they refund the AF at that point?

 

[calypso726]

Would they refund the AF at that point?

I haven't looked through the Chase T&C's on the card but this is what all DPs seem to point to. To get the fee refunded you must cancel or product change within 30 days. However, you can't product change unless you've had the card for 12 months. We had our CSPs for several years so product changing was no big deal. I'm, pretty sure it is buried somewhere in the legalese from what others are reporting. Chase will say the refund may take one to two billing cycles but generally it happens right away according to DPs I'm reading.

 

[eeyoresmom]

That is not correct. DH and I each had a CSP for years and when we each got the CSR, I product changed my CSP to a Freedom Unlimited. DH directly product changed his CSP to a second Freedom card. This same advice is given across the travel hacker blogosphere and there are tons of DP where others have done exactly what we did.

Just starting out here and don't want to get too ahead of myself but are you product changing just to avoid the AFs?

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I haven't looked through the Chase T&C's on the card but this is what all DPs seem to point to. To get the fee refunded you must cancel or product change within 30 days. However, you can't product change unless you've had the card for 12 months. We had our CSPs for several years so product changing was no big deal. I'm, pretty sure it is buried somewhere in the legalese from what others are reporting. Chase will say the refund may take one to two billing cycles but generally it happens right away according to DPs I'm reading.

When you product changed, did it put an inquiry on your credit report? I ask because when I changed my SPG Amex to Amex Everyday, I got a hard inquiry on my report. Wondering if this is always the case or if this was just Amex.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Another question about product changing and long term planning.....When you product change you obviously lose the benefits of the original card ( thinking especially of the 1.5 ur with the CSR which is pretty valuable to me). I know everyone is different and has different goals but I'm guessing some people are accumulating points for the short term ( big trip next year, etc.) For someone who travels frequently and will be indefinitely is the advice to keep and use the cards that still benefit you and only open new for the sign up rewards? Still learning here but I intend to this indefinitely.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Another question about product changing and long term planning.....When you product change you obviously lose the benefits of the original card ( thinking especially of the 1.5 ur with the CSR which is pretty valuable to me). I know everyone is different and has different goals but I'm guessing some people are accumulating points for the short term ( big trip next year, etc.) For someone who travels frequently and will be indefinitely is the advice to keep and use the cards that still benefit you and only open new for the sign up rewards? Still learning here but I intend to this indefinitely.

I am keeping my CSR card for the long term. I break even on the annual fee after spending about $3300. I travel a lot for work and so I hit that $3300 spend in 2-3 work trips. Everything beyond that is all rewards profit to me. For example, I organized a meeting in Austin in January. I was able to book everything on my CSR and get reimbursed through work. I put about $6,000 in travel and dining expenses on my card, earning over 18,000 UR points without actually spending a dime of my own money. This card is very valuable given my situation.

 

[eeyoresmom]

I am keeping my CSR card for the long term. I break even on the annual fee after spending about $3300. I travel a lot for work and so I hit that $3300 spend in 2-3 work trips. Everything beyond that is all rewards profit to me. For example, I organized a meeting in Austin in January. I was able to book everything on my CSR and get reimbursed through work. I put about $6,000 in travel and dining expenses on my card, earning over 18,000 UR points without actually spending a dime of my own money. This card is very valuable given my situation.

If I'm understanding correctly, those 18,000 pts are worth $270 in travel reward spending to you with the CSR.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

If I'm understanding correctly, those 18,000 pts are worth $270 in travel reward spending to you with the CSR.

Yes, I got about $270 in travel credit. It was a nice perk for handling all of the work meeting arrangements. That isn't something that is in my normal job description. I am an attorney.

 

[Psychodisney]

Did anyone get the email regarding 4x points on Disney visa for utility and insurance payments? I was so excited...unfortunately when I clicked on the offer it took me to a page where it enrolled a different name and last 4 numbers. I called Chase and the agent knew nothing about it, asked his manager and had me send it to abuse@chase.com.
Dreaming of 4x points on all our auto insurance and home owner insurance coming due next month. Oh well. I wish it was real. I'm still not convinced it's not.

 

[coopcd]

Quick question if anyone has any experience with the SPG card from AMEX. It states that after meeting the spend it will take 8-12 weeks for your bonus points to post to your account. Has this been your experience? I know a lot of times they tell you this but they post quickly so just trying to see if anyone has applied and met the spend for this card recently. Am looking to use it for a summer booking and won't be able to wait that long! thanks for any help!

 

[elgerber]

Quick question if anyone has any experience with the SPG card from AMEX. It states that after meeting the spend it will take 8-12 weeks for your bonus points to post to your account. Has this been your experience? I know a lot of times they tell you this but they post quickly so just trying to see if anyone has applied and met the spend for this card recently. Am looking to use it for a summer booking and won't be able to wait that long! thanks for any help!

My dh and I each have one, and both posted right after statement end. They just offered us bonus points for another min spend, and those points posted as soon as we met the spend, the statement hasn't closed yet.

 

[trstno1]

You can downgrade an CSP/CSR to a freedom/freedom unlimited after 1 year. if you want to do it before your 1 year, the Sapphire card first then Freedom.

Thanks - I wasn't aware of that. I downgraded my CSP at ~6 months, and I was not able to product change to the Freedom cards directly. I had to first product change to a Sapphire card, then a Freedom card.

 

[coopcd]

My dh and I each have one, and both posted right after statement end. They just offered us bonus points for another min spend, and those points posted as soon as we met the spend, the statement hasn't closed yet.

Thank you so much for your quick reply! this really eases my mind. Couldn't find anything on google!

 

[MrPTato]

Did anyone get the email regarding 4x points on Disney visa for utility and insurance payments? I was so excited...unfortunately when I clicked on the offer it took me to a page where it enrolled a different name and last 4 numbers. I called Chase and the agent knew nothing about it, asked his manager and had me send it to abuse@chase.com.
Dreaming of 4x points on all our auto insurance and home owner insurance coming due next month. Oh well. I wish it was real. I'm still not convinced it's not.

Just got it this morning...signed up and cancelled my payments on the 30th...Will pay on the 1st!. We are going in September so I am very excited for this promotion!

Hope they can figure it out for you and you get the points!

 

[Angrose]

Quick question if anyone has any experience with the SPG card from AMEX. It states that after meeting the spend it will take 8-12 weeks for your bonus points to post to your account. Has this been your experience? I know a lot of times they tell you this but they post quickly so just trying to see if anyone has applied and met the spend for this card recently. Am looking to use it for a summer booking and won't be able to wait that long! thanks for any help!

My bonus points posted within a few days of meeting the minimum spend. Also, you can still reserve a room with points on SPG or Marriott site even before you have the points available. There should be a date on your reservation indicating when you need to have the points available or they will cancel your booking. I booked a room at the JW Marriott in Venice for June before I had all the points and it said I needed to have the points about two weeks before I check in.

 

[Kbmas0n]

Okay! I have read all 125 pages over the last week. I can hardly sleep at night thinking about strategy, but knowing my DH will be cautious until proven.

I have missed the 100k bonus for CSR, dangit, and signed up for the CSP before really thinking everything through. But it's done. 50k bonus is great and I think it will be a good card for us overall.

My ultimate goal is to help fund airfare and more for WDW in March 2018.

Once we have completed spend for the CSP, I am going to have DH apply for the Ink Business and hopefully the bonus will go up to 100k at that point. QUESTION: can we transfer his UR to my CSP UR?

Then, I am looking at the SW personal and business to try for the companion pass-doing it near year end and completing spend in early 2018 so that we can have it all of 2018 and 2019. We could easily optimize the pass, but it seems like the SW chase isn't what people get excited about. Thoughts about that?

So between the Ink and the SW (if I do go that route), I will look at other offers to increase rewards-maybe CF and maximize the categories? If there are great bonuses elsewhere I may consider those too.

Calypso, if you are around, can you give an outline of how you funded your DLC? That may be something we consider in 2019 and I want to make sure it's lining up with the cards I have mapped out so far.

This board is inspiring and I am grateful for the info I have already learned! Thank you!

 

[mhartman09]

Did anyone get the email regarding 4x points on Disney visa for utility and insurance payments? I was so excited...unfortunately when I clicked on the offer it took me to a page where it enrolled a different name and last 4 numbers. I called Chase and the agent knew nothing about it, asked his manager and had me send it to abuse@chase.com.
Dreaming of 4x points on all our auto insurance and home owner insurance coming due next month. Oh well. I wish it was real. I'm still not convinced it's not.

There was a post about this over on reddit. It appears to be a targeted offer. I'm hoping I get this offer emailed to me, as I'd love the extra Disney gcs for the trips we have planned soon. I just referred DH for this card today, so it would be nice if he received the offer also since we'll be meeting minimum spend on his card anyway. Hope Chase can get your enrollment sorted out.

 

[amalone1013]

Quick question if anyone has any experience with the SPG card from AMEX. It states that after meeting the spend it will take 8-12 weeks for your bonus points to post to your account. Has this been your experience? I know a lot of times they tell you this but they post quickly so just trying to see if anyone has applied and met the spend for this card recently. Am looking to use it for a summer booking and won't be able to wait that long! thanks for any help!

Just one more datapoint - me, my fiance, and his parents all have this card and bonus points posted a few days after meeting the spend.