I love credit cards so much!

[DLgal]

So, I just found out that Chase is waiving fees for all their credit cards for military and spouses (but you have to open the account after 9/20/17). I opened my CSR account in September 2016 and it's in my name, so it doesn't count. DH is an authorized user, so we pay $525/year for this card (minus the $300 travel credit, and minus the $85 TSA Pre Check fee we were refunded the past two years, so effectively, we pay $140/year).

I am debating whether or not to close my account and have DH open one in his name instead. The thing is, we have a bunch of bills autopaid monthly on this card. That would be a pain to change all that stuff over. Plus, my billing cycle closes in 2 days, and I have to decide like, by tomorrow, if we are going to do this. The thing is, I get billed my annual fee on October 1 every year. My statement cycle is the 13th to the 12th of every month. If I don't close my card by the 12th, will I get charged the annual fee, or will I be good as long as I close it by September 30? Anyone know?

I'm pretty sure my husband will get approved for the CSR (his credit score is the same as mine...around 810). But, will he have trouble getting one since he is an AU on mine? Will he still get the 50K bonus? I tried the card match tool with his info, and he didn't have an offer for the CSR, but he did have the AMEX Platinum 100K offer...but he already has an AMEX Gold and I think that offer is only for new cardmembers. He has a standing offer to upgrade to the Platinum with 60K bonus points. So does this mean he might not get the CSR approved if it doesn't show up in the card match tool?

Also, he will only be in the military for a year and a half more. So, we will only get the fee waived for this year and next. Is it worth the hassle to open up a new account just to save maybe $300, effectively? I'm struggling with this. We earn around 100K points annually, give or take, and I got in on the 100K point offer in the beginning, so we have come out way ahead on this card every year. What would you all do?

 

[palhockeymomof2]

So my absolutely insane scenario that I am running through in my head is selling my resale that I bought at 75/point in early 2016 for 95/point or so (seems to be the going rate which is INSANE), use that $ to turn around and re-buy direct at Aulani with developer credit which would run around 150/point but could be offset with the slight profit from my original purchase, a boatload of signup bonuses, and not to mention I could get it fully loaded.

All this nonsense is basically because I have mostly stripped my contract out and don't want to 'waste' money renting points when I could be putting towards an add-on. Lesson learned: Always buy more points that you think you'll need . I was certain we would stay in studios and stretch our points. Turns out we find it way more fun to travel with friends and family so we end up getting 1-2 bedrooms and so we can all stay together.

ETA: Thank you so much @striker1064 ! I seriously have some sort of mental block for understanding the ways of Amex Your explanation laid it out perfectly for me. And @SouthFayetteFan I will look over on dischurners too. Along with updating my links .

Are you buying Aulani to book a DW hotel at 7 months...if so depending on the time of year it could be difficult

 

[palhockeymomof2]

So, I just found out that Chase is waiving fees for all their credit cards for military and spouses (but you have to open the account after 9/20/17). I opened my CSR account in September 2016 and it's in my name, so it doesn't count. DH is an authorized user, so we pay $525/year for this card (minus the $300 travel credit, and minus the $85 TSA Pre Check fee we were refunded the past two years, so effectively, we pay $140/year).

I am debating whether or not to close my account and have DH open one in his name instead. The thing is, we have a bunch of bills autopaid monthly on this card. That would be a pain to change all that stuff over. Plus, my billing cycle closes in 2 days, and I have to decide like, by tomorrow, if we are going to do this. The thing is, I get billed my annual fee on October 1 every year. My statement cycle is the 13th to the 12th of every month. If I don't close my card by the 12th, will I get charged the annual fee, or will I be good as long as I close it by September 30? Anyone know?

I'm pretty sure my husband will get approved for the CSR (his credit score is the same as mine...around 810). But, will he have trouble getting one since he is an AU on mine? Will he still get the 50K bonus? I tried the card match tool with his info, and he didn't have an offer for the CSR, but he did have the AMEX Platinum 100K offer...but he already has an AMEX Gold and I think that offer is only for new cardmembers. He has a standing offer to upgrade to the Platinum with 60K bonus points. So does this mean he might not get the CSR approved if it doesn't show up in the card match tool?

Also, he will only be in the military for a year and a half more. So, we will only get the fee waived for this year and next. Is it worth the hassle to open up a new account just to save maybe $300, effectively? I'm struggling with this. We earn around 100K points annually, give or take, and I got in on the 100K point offer in the beginning, so we have come out way ahead on this card every year. What would you all do?

He will get the 50,000 UR for the new card...if you generate a referral link from your CSR you’ll also get 10,000 URs for referring him.
If he’s approved you could call and product change your CSR to a no fee CF or CFU card

 

[Albort]

ugh trying to figure out edit for my last post... this is what I have figured up on the Lux upgrade....

yes- so I'm thinking of upgrading within the next week or so.... I'll get some of my AF prorated (?) right? then the big one will hit after Nov(?)

i believe they charge u the prorated amount. no refunds then recharge.

 

[DLgal]

He will get the 50,000 UR for the new card...if you generate a referral link from your CSR you’ll also get 10,000 URs for referring him.
If he’s approved you could call and product change your CSR to a no fee CF or CFU card

They allow this within the same household?

Also, I don't want to product change my card. I have too many as it is. I'd just close the account. But what happens if I close an account and have points left to redeem?

EDIT: I don't seem to be able to generate a referral link to my CSR card. Only from my Southwest Visa.

 

[WVMomof3]

So, I just found out that Chase is waiving fees for all their credit cards for military and spouses (but you have to open the account after 9/20/17). I opened my CSR account in September 2016 and it's in my name, so it doesn't count. DH is an authorized user, so we pay $525/year for this card (minus the $300 travel credit, and minus the $85 TSA Pre Check fee we were refunded the past two years, so effectively, we pay $140/year).

I am debating whether or not to close my account and have DH open one in his name instead. The thing is, we have a bunch of bills autopaid monthly on this card. That would be a pain to change all that stuff over. Plus, my billing cycle closes in 2 days, and I have to decide like, by tomorrow, if we are going to do this. The thing is, I get billed my annual fee on October 1 every year. My statement cycle is the 13th to the 12th of every month. If I don't close my card by the 12th, will I get charged the annual fee, or will I be good as long as I close it by September 30? Anyone know?

I'm pretty sure my husband will get approved for the CSR (his credit score is the same as mine...around 810). But, will he have trouble getting one since he is an AU on mine? Will he still get the 50K bonus? I tried the card match tool with his info, and he didn't have an offer for the CSR, but he did have the AMEX Platinum 100K offer...but he already has an AMEX Gold and I think that offer is only for new cardmembers. He has a standing offer to upgrade to the Platinum with 60K bonus points. So does this mean he might not get the CSR approved if it doesn't show up in the card match tool?

Also, he will only be in the military for a year and a half more. So, we will only get the fee waived for this year and next. Is it worth the hassle to open up a new account just to save maybe $300, effectively? I'm struggling with this. We earn around 100K points annually, give or take, and I got in on the 100K point offer in the beginning, so we have come out way ahead on this card every year. What would you all do?

I would refer him from your card ASAP. I believe you have a month after annual fee posts to get 100% of fee back. Even after you will get a prorated fee. You can then product change yours to a Freedom or Freedom unlimited. The number should be the same so all bills should still be good. Then you can take your time moving them to a new card if you want. I would actually have him go for the Amex platinum too because they also waive fees for military. At least I know my DDs bff at West Point was able to get the fee reimbursed on hers. Get the big fee cards now while you can still get it waived! If after it’s been 2 years since you got your bonus and you can still find the 24 month links I think I would reapply for your own card again, because more points!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

8/17. Nothing showing as pending other than regular points for spend though so I'm not confident on it posting tomorrow.

This person waited about 30 days so if that pattern were to continue you’d see yours go pending in about a week.

 

[MrPTato]

Definitely go read more on the DVC forums here, but in my research, it seems Aulani is a very bad buy unless you are using almost every point there. Buying Aulani to use mostly at WDW and only occasionally at Aulani is a very unnecessarily expensive proposition - just look at the dues.

Very good point! I was going to bring that up.

 

[DLgal]

I would refer him from your card ASAP. I believe you have a month after annual fee posts to get 100% of fee back. Even after you will get a prorated fee. You can then product change yours to a Freedom or Freedom unlimited. The number should be the same so all bills should still be good. Then you can take your time moving them to a new card if you want. I would actually have him go for the Amex platinum too because they also waive fees for military. At least I know my DDs bff at West Point was able to get the fee reimbursed on hers. Get the big fee cards now while you can still get it waived! If after it’s been 2 years since you got your bonus and you can still find the 24 month links I think I would reapply for your own card again, because more points!

I don't have the option of a referral from my CSR. Not sure why. It doesn't come up as an option, but it will let me refer from my Southwest Visa.

We have gone back and forth on the AMEX Platinum one, but I really don't like their MR program. It's so hard to use the points and get good value from it. Chase is so much more flexible. Although, it is free money right now, I guess.

Right now, our Disney Visa is in DH's name and we are paying the annual fee. What I want to do, ultimately, is do a switcheroo so we can get that fee waived as well. So, I open a DV card, get that bonus (plus a bonus for him referring me), and then he closes his DV. I close my CSR and he opens that account in his name. That way, we will have both card fees waived, at least for the next two years.

 

[DLgal]

Apparently the CSR "refer a friend" program is over.

 

[miztressuz]

So, I just found out that Chase is waiving fees for all their credit cards for military and spouses (but you have to open the account after 9/20/17). I opened my CSR account in September 2016 and it's in my name, so it doesn't count. DH is an authorized user, so we pay $525/year for this card (minus the $300 travel credit, and minus the $85 TSA Pre Check fee we were refunded the past two years, so effectively, we pay $140/year).

I am debating whether or not to close my account and have DH open one in his name instead. The thing is, we have a bunch of bills autopaid monthly on this card. That would be a pain to change all that stuff over. Plus, my billing cycle closes in 2 days, and I have to decide like, by tomorrow, if we are going to do this. The thing is, I get billed my annual fee on October 1 every year. My statement cycle is the 13th to the 12th of every month. If I don't close my card by the 12th, will I get charged the annual fee, or will I be good as long as I close it by September 30? Anyone know?

I'm pretty sure my husband will get approved for the CSR (his credit score is the same as mine...around 810). But, will he have trouble getting one since he is an AU on mine? Will he still get the 50K bonus? I tried the card match tool with his info, and he didn't have an offer for the CSR, but he did have the AMEX Platinum 100K offer...but he already has an AMEX Gold and I think that offer is only for new cardmembers. He has a standing offer to upgrade to the Platinum with 60K bonus points. So does this mean he might not get the CSR approved if it doesn't show up in the card match tool?

Also, he will only be in the military for a year and a half more. So, we will only get the fee waived for this year and next. Is it worth the hassle to open up a new account just to save maybe $300, effectively? I'm struggling with this. We earn around 100K points annually, give or take, and I got in on the 100K point offer in the beginning, so we have come out way ahead on this card every year. What would you all do?

K, so you have a lot going on here

1. The thing is, we have a bunch of bills autopaid monthly on this card. That would be a pain to change all that stuff over.
So while it's a pain, would getting paid $500 or more to do it be worth it? Basically that's what you're passing up to not do it.

2. Plus, my billing cycle closes in 2 days, and I have to decide like, by tomorrow, if we are going to do this.
Not sure why this is so. You have 30 days from when your AF posts to cancel the card for a full refund. You have up to 40 ish days to PC the card after AF posts for a refund, and there had been reports of people getting pro-rated refunds after that, but not sure if that's still a thing. Since your AF hasn't posted yet, unless your October 1 date is a typo and you meant September instead but even still, you have more than 2 days to decide

3. But, will he have trouble getting one since he is an AU on mine?
That would have nothing to do with it, so not trouble from that aspect.

4. Will he still get the 50K bonus?
He should, this will all depend on if he either currently holds a Sapphire card of any type himself (AU's don't count) and if he's earned a bonus on any Sapphire cards in the last 24-48 months. If he's never held a Sapphire card before then you shouldn't have to worry.

5. AMEX Platinum 100K offer...but he already has an AMEX Gold and I think that offer is only for new cardmembers.
They get crazy with their use of "card members" but really each card is separate. So having the Gold card by itself does not stop him from getting the Platinum card bonus. They're two different cards. What could stop him is AmEx's lifetime language if he's ever held a Platinum card before, even if he didn't get a sign up bonus for it. That could stop him.

6. So does this mean he might not get the CSR approved if it doesn't show up in the card match tool?
I don't know much about this tool but it's not the be all and end all of card offers. It's possible there's something that held back the CSR offer but if you have a good credit score and history (no negatives, etc etc) and stick with the Chase criteria generally outlined he probably has the same shot at being approved for the CSR.

7. Is it worth the hassle to open up a new account just to save maybe $300, effectively?
I'm sure someone's going to give you a bunch of math on this but in my mind that's more than saving $300 if the full AF is waived for two years. You get all the same credits but don't have to pay the fee to do it. So for the next two years you'd get the $300 travel credit each year without paying for it - that's saving at least $600. Do they waive AU fees too? (i'm not well versed in the ins and outs of the policy, I don't know if it's all fees or just the annual or membership fee itself) If so that gets you your own card for free too.
And because of the 30 day refund, you should be able to triple dip that travel credit, if you felt ok to do so.

Honestly, if this were me, it'd be worth the hassle to figure it all out and change stuff. I look at policies like this as a perk of or compensation for having a basically thankless job and you should take advantage while you can. And BTW, thank you both for doing it

Editted: fixed auto correct typos (i'm still not sure how come I'm correcting auto correct, but yet I do)

 

[miztressuz]

They allow this within the same household?

Also, I don't want to product change my card. I have too many as it is. I'd just close the account. But what happens if I close an account and have points left to redeem?

EDIT: I don't seem to be able to generate a referral link to my CSR card. Only from my Southwest Visa.

It's not working on the website. Try to get the Chase Mobile app, you can generate a link from there. In the little menu option on your CSR card (three dots), there's an option for Refer Friend. That'll get you to a link.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Apparently the CSR "refer a friend" program is over.

You could Try to generate one thru the Chase App. There were reports that it may work that way.

 

[striker1064]

Barclays can be so weird sometimes. I mentioned yesterday I applied and was auto-approved for the Uber, but auto-denied for the Biz AAviator. Called recon today and the rep mentioned the denial could not be overturned because of the number of new accounts in the last 24 months, specifically the amount I've opened since February.

Which they're not wrong, mind you, but that number was the same when I got the Uber card. Or I guess it was one less, the Uber was +1.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

They allow this within the same household?

Also, I don't want to product change my card. I have too many as it is. I'd just close the account. But what happens if I close an account and have points left to redeem?

EDIT: I don't seem to be able to generate a referral link to my CSR card. Only from my Southwest Visa.

Yes they do allow within the same household....try generating the referral from the app

Once you have the CSR for your husband set up his online account then transfer the URs in your account tohis CSR

 

[linzjane88]

OOH. Hey. I think I have a maybe good idea so someone tell me if i am wrong:

My BFF had the toughest time getting a Marriott Biz approved (we need those 100k points for Hawaii in April). They went back on forth on the documentation they required and the last round of bogus paperwork requests finally expired before she could get it in. All of this with a legitimate business mind you! Anyhow, is there any reason why I shouldn't have her do a SPG Biz instead since the current offer is 100k? AF is waived and I think it would be refreshing to not have to fight for approval.

Also: @SouthFayetteFan what is the format for the links in the dischurners group? I can't figure out how to make mine look pretty like everyone elses

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

OOH. Hey. I think I have a maybe good idea so someone tell me if i am wrong:

My BFF had the toughest time getting a Marriott Biz approved (we need those 100k points for Hawaii in April). They went back on forth on the documentation they required and the last round of bogus paperwork requests finally expired before she could get it in. All of this with a legitimate business mind you! Anyhow, is there any reason why I shouldn't have her do a SPG Biz instead since the current offer is 100k? AF is waived and I think it would be refreshing to not have to fight for approval.

Also: @SouthFayetteFan what is the format for the links in the dischurners group? I can't figure out how to make mine look pretty like everyone elses

There are instructions in each thread:

Basically do [CardName](PasteLink). Also you’ll want to use Old Reddit for this as New Reddit is garbage and screws things up lol.

 

[miztressuz]

I would refer him from your card ASAP. I believe you have a month after annual fee posts to get 100% of fee back. Even after you will get a prorated fee. You can then product change yours to a Freedom or Freedom unlimited. The number should be the same so all bills should still be good. Then you can take your time moving them to a new card if you want. I would actually have him go for the Amex platinum too because they also waive fees for military. At least I know my DDs bff at West Point was able to get the fee reimbursed on hers. Get the big fee cards now while you can still get it waived! If after it’s been 2 years since you got your bonus and you can still find the 24 month links I think I would reapply for your own card again, because more points!

Exactly! I didn't realize Chase did it for spouses too, so if it were me I'd be doing that too if the 24 month language was still around when I was eligible

Also was thinking the same for the Platinum if you can make spend. Even if you cash them out for GCs (gasp! I know!) because it's easy rather than doing Schwab or a travel redemption.

 

[linzjane88]

Definitely go read more on the DVC forums here, but in my research, it seems Aulani is a very bad buy unless you are using almost every point there. Buying Aulani to use mostly at WDW and only occasionally at Aulani is a very unnecessarily expensive proposition - just look at the dues.

Are you buying Aulani to book a DW hotel at 7 months...if so depending on the time of year it could be difficult

I would be buying for probably 1/4 Aulani and 3/4 WDW, however, we aren't really the 11 month booking type for the most part so I guess it is moot to have priority at an expensive dues resort. Aulani does seem like a resort to own at---really all of the non park resorts scare me a bit, it seems like there is more potential for crazy dues hikes. Honestly we have owned SSR since beginning of 2016 and have never stayed there. We almost always travel off season so I can typically get what we want. So far we have stayed at Aulani, BLT, Poly, AKV.

You guys are right though--I was getting suckered in with those developer credits but the dues eat that up fairly quickly.

 

[DLgal]

Yes they do allow within the same household....try generating the referral from the app

Once you have the CSR for your husband set up his online account then transfer the URs in your account tohis CSR

Oh, you can transfer UR points? Did not know that...