I love credit cards so much!

[Lain]

Nothing changed for Marriott, hubby's account was all the same. It's only SPG accounts had their number changed... they will be assimilated (resistance is futile).

I wish I could “love” the Borg reference. But here, have a “like.”

 

[Mopedmom1]

A window into how I process a potential CC opportunity...

Tonight I received an email from AMEX for my wife to upgrade her BCE (Blue Cash Everyday) to a BCP (Blue Cash Preferred). The offer was for $250 for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months and I have until 10/12/18 to decide.

• I'm very familiar with both of these cards. Both of us have gotten a BCE (mine is closed, wife's still open) and I got a BCP once (also closed)
• The main difference between the cards is 6% on groceries (BCP) vs. 3% on groceries (BCE) (there's also a difference at gas stations and other stuff but those mean nothing to me).
• The other major difference is that BCP has a $95 AF which is not waived in year 1 (on either the signup bonus offer OR the upgrade offer).
• The incognito offer AND support link offer for BCP are both $250 back for spending $1,000 so this requires an additional $1k in spend. (But as I stated, it doesn't include a waived AF so you're net earnings on the signup is $155 + base earnings. If I assume all $1k will be spent on groceries ($60 rewards) it's $215 net @ 21.5%
• On the upgrade offer it would again be $155 + base earnings. If I assume all $2k will be spent on groceries ($120 rewards) it's $275 net @ 13.75%.
• IF my wife does this upgrade she will not be eligible to earn the signup bonus on this AMEX card in the future.
• Do I have a CC slot open with AMEX...hmmm yes, I recently cancelled the SPG biz and only have 4 open CCs for my wife right now
• This upgrade provides a decent return though with NO hard pull and NO new account that would count against 5/24.
• We're currently in the midst of our double dip MSR and need to meet that spend by early November.
• IF I did this upgrade in early October it would carry us through the holidays into early January. Since groceries is the category bonus I could buy gift cards to various stores and VGCs to run ALL my spend through the category.
• The next step on our strategy was an AMEX biz card in November...hmmm this almost functions like an AMEX biz card.
• So if I do this I can't later earn the signup bonus for her on this card...BUT was I ever really going to dedicate a 5/24 slot to a $215 signup bonus value?? I know that I signed up for it in my name...but that was when I was getting every AMEX card under the sun while getting my wife back UNDER 5/24.
• This also would put a 6% earner in my wallet for the next year until the AF posts again. Hmmm I could put some regular AMEX spend on this card and maybe avoid the dreaded "Ineligible Popup". Normally I'd downgrade this card after a year...but MAYBE I need to consider dedicating $6,000 in grocery spend a year to keep on AMEX's good list. AND I pay the $95 AF to earn the 6% back vs. the 3% back and net an additional $85 in rewards a year. (It ends up being $6,000 x 6% = $360 - 95 = $265 @ 4.4% vs. $6,000 x 3% = $180 @ 3%).

Lots to consider here, and I have some time to think about it. BUT with this new 48 month provision and continued crackdowns on churners, I may need to start to consider employing some excellent daily drivers. My 4 Freedom Cards and a Discover card are good. An AMEX BCP might be another good one to have. Right now I'm leaning towards taking the offer.

If this comment seems really scattered it's because this is literally how my brain worked through it, LOL! I take my CC offer evaluations SERIOUSLY folks

Beware, my own personal DP.....I accepted this offer to upgrade to a BCP from a BCE Jan 2016. I got a hp and new opening date adding to my */24 count.

 

[wendow]

Nothing changed for Marriott, hubby's account was all the same. It's only SPG accounts had their number changed... they will be assimilated (resistance is futile).

I had a SPG account, got my Marriott number from Chase yesterday (that goes with my Marriott biz card) and now today I got the email saying here is my new number for the combined Starriott program. I'm so confused! So, my new Marriott number, the one that I wrote on my biz card in sharpie, that one is no longer good??

 

[miztressuz]

I had a SPG account, got my Marriott number from Chase yesterday (that goes with my Marriott biz card) and now today I got the email saying here is my new number for the combined Starriott program. I'm so confused! So, my new Marriott number, the one that I wrote on my biz card in sharpie, that one is no longer good??

Well right now they're both good. At some point you'll want to combine your SPG account with your new Marriott account. They made it a manual process. You should be able to use the Marriott Biz number to create a Marriott account. When you sign into your existing SPG account, it'll have the new number, but otherwise be the same account.

From whatever account you want to keep, you can start the merge and that's supposed to be the account (#, email, password) you'll continue to use. I don't believe they gave a deadline for when to combine the accounts so if you want to leave them separate for now you can. Then when you're ready to merge it'll combine your points and nights and should give you the new status (i'm assuming you have at least 10 nights from SPG and may have gotten the 15 nights from Marriott so you should be Gold when they combine)

 

[wendow]

@havaneselover
Glad y'all had such a great time! Sounds like an awesome trip!
Love your new avatar! Is that your ds? And he's 12yo!? He's so tall!

 

[wendow]

Well right now they're both good. At some point you'll want to combine your SPG account with your new Marriott account. They made it a manual process. You should be able to use the Marriott Biz number to create a Marriott account. When you sign into your existing SPG account, it'll have the new number, but otherwise be the same account.

From whatever account you want to keep, you can start the merge and that's supposed to be the account (#, email, password) you'll continue to use. I don't believe they gave a deadline for when to combine the accounts so if you want to leave them separate for now you can. Then when you're ready to merge it'll combine your points and nights and should give you the new status (i'm assuming you have at least 10 nights from SPG and may have gotten the 15 nights from Marriott so you should be Gold when they combine)

So, I created a Marriott login last night with the number Chase gave me. I started the process from Marriott's page to merge. I just checked and it says I have 20 nights and am silver elite. I don't know how to see where those nights came from.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Beware, my own personal DP.....I accepted this offer to upgrade to a BCP from a BCE Jan 2016. I got a hp and new opening date adding to my */24 count.

Thank you for the DP but that goes against pretty much all the other DPs I've ever read on it. Did you execute it online or via the phone? That is definitely a mistake on how they processed it.

DoC has a nice writeup on how they work too: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/everything-want-know-american-express-upgrade-offers/

Sorry that was your experience though!!

 

[platamama]

@Lain and @platamama So, just got my hands on another US Bank variable load MCGC from my local grocer. I registered it, loaded to MP, and then proceeded to add to my Plastiq account and was able to send a $250 payment again with no errors. However, I did want to note a minor typo on my end from my prior post. While this is a US Bank issued MCGC, the website for balance inquires is NOT prepaidgiftbalance .com, but actually mygiftcardsite . com (sorry, too many giftcards recently to keep track of ). Not sure if this is the 'key', but so far 2/2 on variable loads (both where a portion of the balance was used and where the full balance was unused) on my end.

Thanks. It is a US Bank card, but interestingly the number and website on the back of the card is different from the $200 US Bank MGCG I used successfully.

Thanks for the dp! Quoting myself, but my (fixed value) MCGC that was mygiftcardsite .com is the one that worked. I have finally gotten two charges to go thru Plastiq/MasterPass on my variable load McGC (prepaidgiftbalance) after numerous phone calls (6?). Next time, will avoid the prepaidgiftbalance cards (identifiable on the back of the packaging).

Onto the next experiment...

 

[miztressuz]

So, I created a Marriott login last night with the number Chase gave me. I started the process from Marriott's page to merge. I just checked and it says I have 20 nights and am silver elite. I don't know how to see where those nights came from.

In your account, under the activity tab you can click on the "Details" link under the nights count and it'll give you the break down.

Since I don't have accounts to combine I don't know for sure how's it's been going. But I thought if you had the SPG personal and the SPG biz your 5 nights from each combined for 10 in your SPG account, then the 15 nights from the Marriott biz should have put you to 25 for Gold Elite.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

wow stay away for two days and chase changes the sapphires to 48 mo. hoping the dd still works in a few months. now to decide if its worth keeping my csr after dh gets one to benefit one more year to to let it go in nov.

so keep forgetting to ask with swa can you use a gc to pay the 5.60 fee when using points? Need to book our flights thursday when they release the schedule but cant remember if you can use a gc to pay for the fees. thanks

 

[wendow]

In your account, under the activity tab you can click on the "Details" link under the nights count and it'll give you the break down.

Since I don't have accounts to combine I don't know for sure how's it's been going. But I thought if you had the SPG personal and the SPG biz your 5 nights from each combined for 10 in your SPG account, then the 15 nights from the Marriott biz should have put you to 25 for Gold Elite.

Thank you for the help! Here is how my activity looks but I don't understand it I guess lol!


ETA: I do have both the pers and biz spg but my biz one is new'ish. Maybe I haven't gotten the nights for that one?

 

[Angrose]

I get the mailers too for that promo and I am almost positive you have to go in to open a business checking. I'll read up on DoC to see how easy it looks to be. My Chase always has the same lady working...she knows I only have a 'business'...she was the one who told me I had a 'business', so maybe it would be painless.

It is pretty painless, but you do have to go into the branch and be prepared to spend some time there. My guy was super nice but he kept me there for almost an hour! My $300 should post any day now....

 

[Albort]

Thank you for the help! Here is how my activity looks but I don't understand it I guess lol!
View attachment 346817

ETA: I do have both the pers and biz spg but my biz one is new'ish. Maybe I haven't gotten the nights for that one?

judging by my account, they added my SPG nights with Paid nights.

 

[wendow]

judging by my account, they added my SPG nights with Paid nights.

And this is not what they are supposed to do? If I should have 25 nights and gold, then, by golly, I want that. Marriott already messed with me on the N&F's package and I'm still mad at them...!

 

[Albort]

And this is not what they are supposed to do? If I should have 25 nights and gold, then, by golly, I want that. Marriott already messed with me on the N&F's package and I'm still mad at them...!

i thought they might get added to "Rewards Credit Card" but its not. you need 5 more nights for gold. what cards do u have? Marriott card should of given u 15, SPG should have given u 5. holding 1 marriott card + 2 SPG cards should give u 25 nights... and gold status.

 

[wendow]

i thought they might get added to "Rewards Credit Card" but its not. you need 5 more nights for gold. what cards do u have? Marriott card should of given u 15, SPG should have given u 5. holding 1 marriott card + 2 SPG cards should give u 25 nights... and gold status.

I have the spg personal & biz and the marriott biz. Seems I should have 25 nights!

 

[Mopedmom1]

Thank you for the DP but that goes against pretty much all the other DPs I've ever read on it. Did you execute it online or via the phone? That is definitely a mistake on how they processed it.

DoC has a nice writeup on how they work too: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/everything-want-know-american-express-upgrade-offers/

Sorry that was your experience though!!

I don't remember the specifics. I believe it was either an email or snail mail that they sent me. I honestly don't remember if I did it online or by phone but it was definitely something they initiated originally asking if I wanted to upgrade. They charged me a prorated af from Sept to Jan and then the whole $95 af in January. Hope it goes better for you!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

wow stay away for two days and chase changes the sapphires to 48 mo. hoping the dd still works in a few months. now to decide if its worth keeping my csr after dh gets one to benefit one more year to to let it go in nov.

so keep forgetting to ask with swa can you use a gc to pay the 5.60 fee when using points? Need to book our flights thursday when they release the schedule but cant remember if you can use a gc to pay for the fees. thanks

You can use a GC to pay SW fees.

 

[miztressuz]

Thank you for the help! Here is how my activity looks but I don't understand it I guess lol!
View attachment 346817

ETA: I do have both the pers and biz spg but my biz one is new'ish. Maybe I haven't gotten the nights for that one?

Hm, I got my nights credit 2 days after I applied for the card (didn't even have it yet). But that was in March, if it was around the merger maybe something was delayed? Oh, wait, did you do the SPG biz after it came back a few weeks ago? When they refreshed it you don't get any nights until 2019.

If you didn't stay 5 nights at a Marriott or SPG, I'm assuming those 5 paid nights came from SPG. The 15 in bonus nights came from your Marriott Biz.

 

[wendow]

Hm, I got my nights credit 2 days after I applied for the card (didn't even have it yet). But that was in March, if it was around the merger maybe something was delayed? Oh, wait, did you do the SPG biz after it came back a few weeks ago? When they refreshed it you don't get any nights until 2019.

If you didn't stay 5 nights at a Marriott or SPG, I'm assuming those 5 paid nights came from SPG. The 15 in bonus nights came from your Marriott Biz.

Yep, I bet you are right! I applied for it when it came back at 100k Marriott points a few weeks ago. Boo! So what does this mean? My other 5 nights post in Jan, and then I am 'gold'? No clue what I will do with that but just like the sound