I love credit cards so much!

[wendow]

3 negative DPs so far on a Saturday morning? Not looking good. I think we can all blame Million Mile Secrets and that Tesla tool for this one. These 1x DPs all started the day CNBC ran that damned MMS Tesla story.

If this is the end, I'll be really sad, because I really love UR points and Plastiq+CIP was a really good way to generate a lot of UR from our high monthly expenses.

I have about $10k in MSR that I need to meet within the next 2-3 months, and I'm planning to add another expected $5k in 3 months with the SPG Lux, so I've had to bench my CIP for the time being anyway. I didn't think it'd be forever. The large bonuses I'll get from the Hilton Biz, Biz Plat, and SPG Lux still make the Plastiq fee worth it, because I don't have enough organic spend otherwise, but when those MSRs are done, I'll need to figure out my next steps.

I'm planning to have my wife apply for the CIU in about a month or two, which will generate 1.5x UR. Transferred to CSR for a 1.5x redemption, that's 2.25 cpp, which doesn't offset Plastiq's 2.5% fee. I've been looking to add an Amex BBP to my wallet, which earns 2x MR, and cashed out through a Schwab Platinum for 1.25x would net exactly 2.5 cpp, so it's not exactly the best deal to pay a 2.5% fee upfront to cash out 2.5 cpp later. I could probably do better by transferring MR to airline partners, but I don't have any redemptions planned right now. Maybe I'll hit up the Amex BGR next to keep me busy until I drop back under 5/24 early next year, because a 75k MR signup bonus would really help me justify the Plastiq fees.

I will be so sad if this is the end...and really ticked at MMS (just what were they thinking!?!?!). The CIP/plastiq 3x has been my best way to get UR's. I don't spend that much on dining or travel or anything that adds up fast. I doubt I keep the CIP if 3x is gone on plastiq. I guess the 'bright side' is that frees up a spot for another Chase biz card (thinking a CIC or CIU for me).

So sad about this.

 

[Lain]

I guess the 'bright side' is that frees up a spot for another Chase biz card (thinking a CIC or CIU for me).

 

[DisneyMandC]

I will be so sad if this is the end...and really ticked at MMS (just what were they thinking!?!?!). The CIP/plastiq 3x has been my best way to get UR's. I don't spend that much on dining or travel or anything that adds up fast. I doubt I keep the CIP if 3x is gone on plastiq. I guess the 'bright side' is that frees up a spot for another Chase biz card (thinking a CIC or CIU for me).

So sad about this.

That’s a good point, I wouldn’t keep it either. Not worried about the cell phone insurance perk.

By the way, a little Saturday funny for you all courtesy of The Onion.

https://www.theonion.com/american-a...ok&utm_campaign=SF&utm_medium=SocialMarketing

 

[kmc8826]

Which categories were your charges that earned 3x?

My last Plastiq charge was back on 7/23 for rent and it earned 3x. I’ll report back when my next rent charge posts next week.

My one was categorized as clubs the other just as other. Both to credit union. It doesn’t seem that the category is the issue. More of the date statement posted. Sadly looking like mine just got in under the wire.

@Lain (and anyone else) you think Plastiq will be ok to meet minimum spend on the Amex MR cards? Is just avoiding gift cards my main concern as far as meeting the spend?

 

[miztressuz]

Anyone know if CapOne push will trigger dd with PNC Virtual wallet? Or push from Chase?

CapOne360 worked for me, just got my bonus 8/3

 

[afan]

That’s a good point, I wouldn’t keep it either. Not worried about the cell phone insurance perk.

By the way, a little Saturday funny for you all courtesy of The Onion.

https://www.theonion.com/american-a...ok&utm_campaign=SF&utm_medium=SocialMarketing

That's hilarious and would be kinda fun.

 

[wendow]

Definitely my thinking too but just got the Marriott biz so not sure I can get both. I'm probably going to go for the CIU first since dh has CIC.

 

[wendow]

@Lain (and anyone else) you think Plastiq will be ok to meet minimum spend on the Amex MR cards? Is just avoiding gift cards my main concern as far as meeting the spend?

I have used plastiq for Amex MSR's and will be doing so again as soon as my new spg biz arrives

 

[Lain]

My one was categorized as clubs the other just as other. Both to credit union. It doesn’t seem that the category is the issue. More of the date statement posted. Sadly looking like mine just got in under the wire.

@Lain (and anyone else) you think Plastiq will be ok to meet minimum spend on the Amex MR cards? Is just avoiding gift cards my main concern as far as meeting the spend?

Plastiq is fine for Amex MSR. It seems Plastiq tries to be very compliant with whatever restrictions Amex wants on payments through the service in order to keep Amex as a payment processor.

Part of this means Plastiq has recently become very literal in enforcing the kind of payments allowed on Amex cards to include only those in the supported categories:

For Payments to Recipients in the United States, the use of American Express cards is not supported beyond the following industries: Government, Utilities, Education, Residential Rent, and Club Fees & Memberships.​

The trade off to stricter rules and enforcement seems to be, if it can get through Plastiq, Amex doesn’t question the legitimacy of the payment.

I’ve used Plastiq to meet MSRs on several Amex cards, and the payments always earned points and counted towards MSR.

 

[wisconsinmom]

Happy Saturday everyone! I'm here and full of questions

I made an $1800 insurance payment yesterday. It helped finish up the last $500 needed on the minimum spend for DH's Venture bonus. I couldn't help thinking that we should have gotten a new card to pay with though so we could use that big payment to knock out a bunch of a new minimum spend.

I'm not exactly sure what our next move will be, I'm 3/24 and I'm saving my last two spots to try for a SW companion pass later this year. I need to contact chase and lower my credit limits though!

DH is at 3/24 (well maybe 2/24 since one was the CIP) but all 3 are since April. Once card in April, one in May, and one July.

We have about 180,000 UR points between the two of us and I have a CSR so I think we can use them for 1.5 through the portal.

We are planning a trip to Europe in June. I found perfect flights on Iceland Air. They are a good price and allow us to have a 2 day stopover in Iceland and are open jaws into London and home from Paris. The problem is the open jaws flight won't show up on the UR portal. I looked for dates in May since the June ones aren't available on the portal. Does this mean using UR points won't be an option?

I'm debating what to do....

I know we'll have enough credit on DH's new Venture card to pay for one ticket.

For the other three not sure what to do:

1. Just pay cash. It would be $1900 total for the three tickets. If I'm paying that I feel like we should take out a new card (probably DH) because 1900 would be a good chunk towards a minimum spend. Which card would be good? Since it is travel I'd want it to have a good travel benefit.

2. Look for different flights that could be booked through the portal. We'd probably have to give up on the Iceland stopover :-(

3. Look for a transfer partner. I'm not sure this is the best option since the tickets I found on Iceland air are priced so well.

Here are the cards we currently hold:

Me- CSR, CF, CFU, SW Pref (need to cancel this one), Disney Visa (oldest card)

DH-CSP (more than 2 years old), CIP, SPG AMEX, Venture

If we decide to pay cash for the tickets to Europe which card would be good to go for? It would be for DH since I'm trying to save 2 spots for SW.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

CapOne360 worked for me, just got my bonus 8/3

Yay. Good to know. DH changed his paycheck to PNC but bonus will post faster if I add push from another source

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Plastiq is fine for Amex MSR. It seems Plastiq tries to be very compliant with whatever restrictions Amex wants on payments through the service in order to keep Amex as a payment processor.

Part of this means Plastiq has recently become very literal in enforcing the kind of payments allowed on Amex cards to include only those in the supported categories:

For Payments to Recipients in the United States, the use of American Express cards is not supported beyond the following industries: Government, Utilities, Education, Residential Rent, and Club Fees & Memberships.​

The trade off to stricter rules and enforcement seems to be, if it can get through Plastiq, Amex doesn’t question the legitimacy of the payment.

I’ve used Plastiq to meet MSRs on several Amex cards, and the payments always earned points and counted towards MSR.

But given those categories, not much I can use to meet MSR there

 

[Lain]

Definitely my thinking too but just got the Marriott biz so not sure I can get both. I'm probably going to go for the CIU first since dh has CIC.

I have used plastiq for Amex MSR's and will be doing so again as soon as my new spg biz arrives

I see you decided to go for the Marriott Biz and SPG Biz before the new rules lock you out. Are you going all out with the SPG Lux?

I think if you decide to close your CIP, space out your Chase biz apps by about 3+ months each, and keep your overall credit limits low before each application, you should be able to get the CIU and CIC while still holding the Marriott Biz.

 

[amalone1013]

Officially booked for Labor Day trip

• Flights on SW with CP:
  • Fri - 10651 RRs
  • Tues - 9054 RRs
• Hotels:
  • All Star Movies Fri night - $137.11/9,141 URs
  • All Star Music Sat-Tues nights - $496.01/33,067 URs
• Tickets:
  • MNSSHP - $159.76 (think I'll just use my gift card stash)
  • Volcano Bay - will buy UCTs 3 park, 3 day + 2 days free tickets and upgrade to seasonal pass for $0
    • Cost $279 each, vs the UCT we were going to get for Sept ($271) plus 1 day VB tickets ($90)
  • Disney Waterparks - $256 for 2 people for 4 days... might try to use UR pts... might upgrade tickets to APs early (we'll definitely upgrade one because discounts plus memory maker outweigh the cost)

I'll probably put off buying the UCT Univ tickets until I get SPG Lux or Marriott card.

Resort restaurants on radar for this trip: Sanaa, Jiko, Boma, Trail's End, Kona, Capt Cook's (yes QS), Mara for Zebra Domes. Any suggestions?

 

[shairpdrh]

My one was categorized as clubs the other just as other. Both to credit union. It doesn’t seem that the category is the issue. More of the date statement posted. Sadly looking like mine just got in under the wire.

@Lain (and anyone else) you think Plastiq will be ok to meet minimum spend on the Amex MR cards? Is just avoiding gift cards my main concern as far as meeting the spend?

Ugh, I forgot about the Amex GC issue and used my new Amex Platinum Business to buy Disney gift cards from Sam's to save a little on my Disney tickets (two day tickets for friends joining us on a trip, so no discounts available). I assume now I have to remove that from my minimum spend calculation? Sigh. This $10K spend is already a lot. I don't MS so I didn't even think about this as an issue. I can cover it as needed, but it would be a bummer.

 

[Lain]

Ugh, I forgot about the Amex GC issue and used my new Amex Platinum Business to buy Disney gift cards from Sam's to save a little on my Disney tickets (two day tickets for friends joining us on a trip, so no discounts available). I assume now I have to remove that from my minimum spend calculation? Sigh. This $10K spend is already a lot. I don't MS so I didn't even think about this as an issue. I can cover it as needed, but it would be a bummer.

Buying Disney gift cards from Sam's Club shouldn't be an issue in counting towards MSR.

 

[happ]

I noticed some gift card promotions in my Shaw's account today. Maybe you have them, too. Could be useful if you are trying to meet a spend.

 

[wendow]

Ugh, I forgot about the Amex GC issue and used my new Amex Platinum Business to buy Disney gift cards from Sam's to save a little on my Disney tickets (two day tickets for friends joining us on a trip, so no discounts available). I assume now I have to remove that from my minimum spend calculation? Sigh. This $10K spend is already a lot. I don't MS so I didn't even think about this as an issue. I can cover it as needed, but it would be a bummer.

You should be fine with those GC's. I've bought them before as part of my Amex MSR and had no problems.

 

[wendow]

I see you decided to go for the Marriott Biz and SPG Biz before the new rules lock you out. Are you going all out with the SPG Lux?

I think if you decide to close your CIP, space out your Chase biz apps by about 3+ months each, and keep your overall credit limits low before each application, you should be able to get the CIU and CIC while still holding the Marriott Biz.

I did go for both of those Maybe happened while you were away...I don't think I'm interested in the spg lux.

That could be a good plan for getting both the CIU and CIC. I just realized though that I may want to keep one of our CIP's open for receiving 'support'. My dh has a CIP too but I was definitely planning to close his at 1-year so he can be open for the SW biz. Or maybe try to see if he can get approved for three biz cards I need to think on all this more and come up with a plan.

 

[shairpdrh]

Buying Disney gift cards from Sam's Club shouldn't be an issue in counting towards MSR.

You should be fine with those GC's. I've bought them before as part of my Amex MSR and had no problems.

Thanks for the reassurance! I will stop worrying.