I love credit cards so much!

[miztressuz]

...

As far as foreign transaction fees go, it's limited where Discover is accepted worldwide. I know when I went to Europe I didn't see a single merchant accept Discover.
...

Yeah, that's why I think of it as a backup. I think there's only a few no AF cards with no FTFs, Discover's one, Amazon is another. If you don't go too far from North America it's pretty good. Knock on wood, I haven't been somewhere it wasn't accepted, but I know they have dead zones... like much of Europe

 

[tink1970]

Curious, why you are focusing on MR for Australia? We’re looking at a return trip t celebrate 20 years/my 50th/DS entering HS. We went for 2 weeks for our honeymoon and it was amazing

I have the Plat Biz and right now if you use pay with points get a 35% return on MRs used. So I'd spend all my MRs but get 35% back if nothing changes... If that goes away then I'd just transfer to Delta and use the MRs that way.

This reminded me -- curious if you might know whether gift cards will trigger the statement credit?

AFAIK, no. According to the T&C they are specifically not eligible. I haven't read any data points with people willing to try.

Any opinions on the Discover It card? My main cards are the CF, CFU, CSP, and AmEx Blue Cash, and I was considering the Discover It. It sounds like the CF but with cash back instead of URs. Is it worth it with the cards I already use?

Chiming in with others...I would definitely consider any other Chase card you want before obtaining a Discover IT but I am way of 5/24 so have obtained 2 DiscoverIts and they really round out my portfolio, especially in the first year when they match your earnings. Last year I think I earned about $800 cash back between the 5% categories and extra non bonus spend.

 

[SBWB48]

Thanks for that -- good to know. I have been buying GCs at Best Buy recently (like in the last two weeks; thank you amEx offers and Swaybacks) and am wondering whether third-party GCs like Disney earn Best Buy reward bucks and if so, when do they post (and how do I find them)?

They do. It's part of the reason I got "Elite Plus" status which gets you rewards faster because I'm certainly not spending that much at BB to do so. Here's how my in-store purchases online are reflected in my account under "Purchases" and "Rewards History". Once they show up online is when I usually see the rewards credit.

 

[Lain]

This reminded me -- curious if you might know whether gift cards will trigger the statement credit?

Also, thanks for the AmEx discussion -- I want to get a business card or two in the near future. Staying away from personal cards to possibly get under 5/24 by next May . . . I go back and forth about whether I should even try for under 5/24 since there's also the fear of a Chase shutdown, but if I did apply for a Chase card next year, I would be 2/24 with Chase.

Gift cards are supposed to be excluded. I’ve seen one DP on Reddit that said a $50 physical GC purchased in-store credited. (Online, the smallest denomination is $150, which doesn’t make it the best deal to maximize the benefit even if it credits.) But there was some wonkiness with even non-Saks purchases crediting early on, so I don’t know if that was a bug. I’m willing to try it, but I’m thinking I’ll go in-store when another Saks Amex Offer comes around to stack.

 

[Livelovedance]

I have the Discover IT. I like that they match your cash back in the first year. It is like the CF which I also have. Sometimes both offer same 5x categories. But this quarter they are different. Right now it is my main card for most purchases since I am in my first year and they will match what I earn. When my year is up I will use it only on the 5x categories.

That’s what I would probably do if/when I get the card. It seems like an easy way to earn some additional savings that I can use more universally as needed. Thanks!

I like the Discover It card especially the first year since your cash back gets doubled. You can shop through Discover Deals (it's like a portal that offers certain stores) and get 5% cash back and then that can be doubled that first year (so you end up with 10% thru Discover Deals).

Discover did nerf some benefits earlier this year: extended product warranty, return guarantee, purchase protection, auto rental insurance, and flight accident insurance. So if you use Discover for purchases you should know what kind of protections you have for your purchase (or don't have as the case may be).

As far as foreign transaction fees go, it's limited where Discover is accepted worldwide. I know when I went to Europe I didn't see a single merchant accept Discover.

What credit bureau gets pulls seems to vary depending on geographic location. Here's data from a 2016 DoC post https://www.doctorofcredit.com/credit-bureau-discover-pull/

I'd consider getting all the Chase cards subject to 5/24 that you want first before moving on to other companies. Have you looked at CIP?

I’ve never heard of the Discover deals portal. I’d have to see if that’s something I’d be interested in as well.

Thanks for the link. I guess I’ll have to just unfreeze all 3 to be safe. I’d rather that then chance a possible denial.

I don’t think there are any other chase cards I’m interested in at the moment. I already have the CF, CFU, and CSP. I don’t want to apply for business cards, so I think I’m good for now with them. Thanks!

Whichever card you decide to get, consider joining our dischurners reddit group. You will find additional helpful tips and "support" links.

I’m ashamed to admit that I am actually a member, I downloaded the app and everything, but I have NO IDEA how to use Reddit

Chiming in with others...I would definitely consider any other Chase card you want before obtaining a Discover IT but I am way of 5/24 so have obtained 2 DiscoverIts and they really round out my portfolio, especially in the first year when they match your earnings. Last year I think I earned about $800 cash back between the 5% categories and extra non bonus spend.

That’s a great amount of earnings! I think I’m good with Chase for now. The Discover card just sounds like a good easy card for additional savings. I’m going to wait a bit to decide for sure. Thanks!

 

[amalone1013]

My MIL likes to send us houses she finds for sale that are along the lines of what we want (I think because we've talked about moving out of state ). She just sent one that's actually reasonably priced, at least for the market/amount of updating it needs. Maybe not reasonable for our budget yet... but we'd really like one that needs work because we can do it and have several professional family members lined up to help. So I look at the updates and think, look at all of the minimum spend potential...

 

[kayteekt]

Hello all I've used a Plastiq a couple of times to pay my mortgage with my CIP.

Well I just got in my new Citibiz AA Mastercard. With the promo of the $250 fee free I'm debating paying my mortgage again.

A few things on that:
#1 - Is it ok to use plastiq for MSR with a Citi card? This would be a great option for me, but I don't want to raise any red flags.
#2 - I'm nervous about splitting my mortgage pmt into 7 or 8 checks. Should I NOT be? lol.
#3 - To add on to the above, when I logged into plastiq it said verify your identity to send ACH payments. Is that something I could do instead of the checks? That way they would get the payments closer together.
#4 - Check or ACH, can I do them all back to back or do I need to wait a day, hours, etc.. in between?
#5 - Lastly, due date is 8/16, do I have enough time this month?

I did make my masterpass account and link it to plastiq, but that's as far as I got. Got nervous and wanted ask the experts!

 

[SBWB48]

Well I just got in my new Citibiz AA Mastercard

Sorry, I can't help with the Plastiq questions since I haven't used the MasterPass promo (yet) and my Citi Biz AA card is still in transit...which is what I was hoping to ask. How long did it take for you to get your card? I was approved last Wednesday and still no sign of the card...got the "welcome" materials two days ago...

 

[kayteekt]

Sorry, I can't help with the Plastiq questions since I haven't used the MasterPass promo (yet) and my Citi Biz AA card is still in transit...which is what I was hoping to ask. How long did it take for you to get your card? I was approved last Wednesday and still no sign of the card...got the "welcome" materials two days ago...

Sure, I applied July 20th. Welcome materials showed a few days ago. Card was in the mail today. So exactly 7 days.

 

[SBWB48]

Sure, I applied July 20th. Welcome materials showed a few days ago. Card was in the mail today. So exactly 7 days.

Thanks! I applied and was approved on 7/18, yet have only received the welcome materials...sigh.

 

[Lain]

@SBWB48, @kmc8826, @amalone1013, and anyone else considering the 100k MR Amex Biz Platinum call-in offer,

and @calypso726, @tink1970, @platamama, @CaliforniaGirl09, and whoever else has the Biz Plat but has never had the BGR or Biz Green,

READ THIS: https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/92bkky/daily_discussion_thread_july_27_2018/e34qs6j

Last month, I posted about a loophole that /r/churning discovered where you can use your Biz Plat (or other biz charge cards) to refer yourself to Amex's other MR business charge cards (the BGR and Biz Green), and earn the bonus for self-referral and the other card's sign-up bonus, assuming you don’t have and haven’t had that other card before. The big points are with self-referrals from the Biz Plat because a referral bonus from that card is worth 20k MR.

I didn't think much about it at the time because I didn't have a Biz Plat. Now I do. Redditor l3veraged put two and two together and has an excellent write-up about how to maximize the MRs you can get out of these two deals before the call-in offer is supposed to expire at the end of this month and the 20k referral bonus ends on 8/8/18.

The sweet spot seems to be to get the 100k MR/$10k offer on the Biz Plat, refer yourself (and hey, maybe even P2) to the Biz Green for 20k MR per referral; make a single purchase on the Biz Green for another 5k MR and sockdrawer that card [edit: the Biz Green seems to have a quirk that double credits the 5k MR]; meet the $10k MSR on the Biz Plat for another 10k MR. ~140k MR.

Personally, I'm holding off on referring myself or applying for the BGR. The BGR has a public/referral offer of 50k MR (add another 20k MR for the self-referral), but requires another $5k MSR in 3 months, which is not in our budget. While applying for the Biz Plat, the Amex rep pitched me on a 75k MR/$10k/4 months offer on the BGR, and told me to call in for that offer when I'm ready. I don't know if the 75k offer will still be around when I'm ready (it comes and goes), but I know I'm not ready to tackle an additional $5k or $10k MSR on the BGR when we've already got the Hilton Biz and Biz Platinum to work on, and am considering the CIU or SPG Lux for DW and Marriott Premier Plus for me next month.

 

[platamama]

Hello all I've used a Plastiq a couple of times to pay my mortgage with my CIP.

Well I just got in my new Citibiz AA Mastercard. With the promo of the $250 fee free I'm debating paying my mortgage again.

A few things on that:
#1 - Is it ok to use plastiq for MSR with a Citi card? This would be a great option for me, but I don't want to raise any red flags.
#2 - I'm nervous about splitting my mortgage pmt into 7 or 8 checks. Should I NOT be? lol.
#3 - To add on to the above, when I logged into plastiq it said verify your identity to send ACH payments. Is that something I could do instead of the checks? That way they would get the payments closer together.
#4 - Check or ACH, can I do them all back to back or do I need to wait a day, hours, etc.. in between?
#5 - Lastly, due date is 8/16, do I have enough time this month?

I did make my masterpass account and link it to plastiq, but that's as far as I got. Got nervous and wanted ask the experts!

I've made my Citibiz AA (9 mos old) the card on my Masterpass account, linked it to Plastiq. I've made 3 Plastiq payments so far and all of them have coded as a purchase. One of them is a partial mortgage payment, but I won't know until the payment is processed by my mortgage company how they will end up processing it.

#1 - I think it's fine to use for MSR. Well timed for the Masterpass promotion.
#2 - I would be too, and since my partial payment is pending I don't have any advice on this other than it will depend on your mortgage company.
#3 - To send ACH, you need the routing number and account number of your mortgage company which I can't imagine they would give to you.
#4 - See above, I think check is your only option.
#5 - That might be close, especially since you can only send $250 max each time. I submitted my first partial payment on 7/24, and it won't be delivered until 8/2 (because I made a manual entry for the mortgage company since I would like to make payments on my new CIP and wanted to check if this will work first*).

You are probably going to need to call your mortgage company to see how they handle partial payments and do they limit the number of partial payments. I haven't called myself; I decided to make a small payment, in the memo field I put "partial payment" and when it gets delivered I'll log into my mortgage account and see what they did with the money.

* I realize MC allows mortgage payments thru Plastiq and this might not mean that my CIP will work, but it was a fee free way to get my doctored mortgage company name into Plastiq to start.

 

[dirtyjerz]

Need some advice on the Disney Visa. I received what seems like a good offer in the mail. $250 gift card for spending $500 in 3 months and an additional $50 gift card for adding an authorized user. What are your pros and cons of this card? And is this a really good offer that I should take advantage of? Thanks!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Need some advice on the Disney Visa. I received what seems like a good offer in the mail. $250 gift card for spending $500 in 3 months and an additional $50 gift card for adding an authorized user. What are your pros and cons of this card? And is this a really good offer that I should take advantage of? Thanks!

Hi there!

So at first glance, you get back 50% of that you spend in regards to the bonus. Seems great! And easy!

The problem is that disney is a chase card. Chase has a rule called 5/24...meaning you can only get 5 personal credit cards (from any bank) in a 24 month period and they won't give you more if you are over that (aside from few outliers such as the disney card, last I heard). Boo. So ideally, you want to start by getting all the chase cards with the highest/most valuable bonuses, and then move onto other issuers. Authorized user cards count towards this 5/24 count as well.

If you'd like to save waaaayyy more than $250 on a disney vacation, or any vacation, we can help you! Just let us know what cards you currently hold, and when you opened them.

Also, when would you like to travel and where. How many people. Where do you fly from?

We can then point you in the direction of a strategic plan to start racking up some free travel. Yes free. No, it isn't too good to be true!

ETA: Also, please advise how much per month you tend to spend on things...not a full breakdown, but how fast can you hit a minimum spend of $5k, for example? And do you own a business, or pet sit, or sell things on ebay, etc?

 

[tink1970]

@Lain...thank you! Instant approval for the BGR 50MR/5K MSR in 3 months. I have a $5400 bill due Sept 1 so this fits in my plans perfectly, especially if I earn the 20K bonus. I had sort of given up any cards for a while so I'm super excited!

 

[speedyfishy]

@SBWB48, @kmc8826, @amalone1013, and anyone else considering the 100k MR Amex Biz Platinum call-in offer,

and @calypso726, @tink1970, @platamama, @CaliforniaGirl09, and whoever else has the Biz Plat but has never had the BGR or Biz Green,

READ THIS: https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/92bkky/daily_discussion_thread_july_27_2018/e34qs6j

Last month, I posted about a loophole that /r/churning discovered where you can use your Biz Plat (or other biz charge cards) to refer yourself to Amex's other MR business charge cards (the BGR and Biz Green), and earn the bonus for self-referral and the other card's sign-up bonus, assuming you don’t have and haven’t had that other card before. The big points are with self-referrals from the Biz Plat because a referral bonus from that card is worth 20k MR.

I didn't think much about it at the time because I didn't have a Biz Plat. Now I do. Redditor l3veraged put two and two together and has an excellent write-up about how to maximize the MRs you can get out of these two deals before the call-in offer is supposed to expire at the end of this month and the 20k referral bonus ends on 8/8/18.

The sweet spot seems to be to get the 100k MR/$10k offer on the Biz Plat, refer yourself (and hey, maybe even P2) to the Biz Green for 20k MR per referral; make a single purchase on the Biz Green for another 5k MR and sockdrawer that card; meet the $10k MSR on the Biz Plat for another 10k MR. ~135k MR.

Personally, I'm holding off on referring myself or applying for the BGR. The BGR has a public/referral offer of 50k MR (add another 20k MR for the self-referral), but requires another $5k MSR in 3 months, which is not in our budget. While applying for the Biz Plat, the Amex rep pitched me on a 75k MR/$10k/4 months offer on the BGR, and told me to call in for that offer when I'm ready. I don't know if the 75k offer will still be around when I'm ready (it comes and goes), but I know I'm not ready to tackle an additional $5k or $10k MSR on the BGR when we've already got the Hilton Biz and Biz Platinum to work on, and am considering the CIU or SPG Lux for DW and Marriott Premier Plus for me next month.

Should I do it? The problem is the Plats high fee and only a $200 airline credit. Cash is tight right now, but the sign up is worth the annual fee. Ugh, idk.

 

[Lain]

Should I do it? The problem is the Plats high fee and only a $200 airline credit. Cash is tight right now, but the sign up is worth the annual fee. Ugh, idk.

$400 airline credit when you double dip on one $450 AF. Works on Delta GCs in $50s, AA in $100s, and SW in $200 increments.

 

[speedyfishy]

$400 airline credit when you double dip on one $450 AF. Works on Delta GCs in $50s, AA in $100s, and SW in $200 increments.

True, but if I go for it in December I can triple dip still right?

 

[Lain]

@Lain...thank you! Instant approval for the BGR 50MR/5K MSR in 3 months. I have a $5400 bill due Sept 1 so this fits in my plans perfectly, especially if I earn the 20K bonus. I had sort of given up any cards for a while so I'm super excited!

Congratulations!


I love that you were able to use something I posted!

 

[amalone1013]

Ugh, I'm torn but don't know if we could manage $10k in 3 months even with my car at $2k