I love credit cards so much!

[hsmamato2]

I chatted for the 3rd time today. The rep is sending the issue to the resolution group AGAIN! They are supposed to manually mark the order shipped so that the activation email generates and your card gets charged. Super annoying!

ok here's what happened to me- the same day we last chatted about it here I Sm'd Sams..... (waste of time) they then contacted me via email- and asked for a photo of card etc. I sent it it- within an hour got another email saying it was activated- I then used the card asap bc I distrust them now and wanted to be done with it. NOW here's the kicker..... So I place online order but accidentally used a cc to pay. Saw my error and immediately canceled the order. then went back in and reordered using that (stupid) gc. so far so good- canceled, reordered. Got my stuff yesterday. Today I go in to look at my cc page,and the $50 pending charge for the original gc is GONE- the accidental order for 49.96 (that I canceled) is now pending. I'll wait to see what happens, but I'm guessing it'll fall off too ... was this purposeful on samsclub part? for the hassle? I somehow doubt it...( I don't like much about sams club except the free deals and opportunities)

 

[hsmamato2]

I know there have been numerous posts between here and the gift cards thread on RMN. I tried it this week at Walgreens because of the CF category and the $10 posted today. I’m willing to try more today as it’s the last day, but I know there were a couple stores that weren’t working for most people. I think they were Kohl’s and Staples, right? I’ll take the risk on some, but if it’s one that hasn’t worked for many people I won’t bother.

I was going to try Staples the same day as Walgreens, but they only sold the $50 GC. While it would be great to save 20% on the card, I didn’t want to pay full price if the purchase didn’t track. I would’ve felt better about it if they had $25 or variable load. Anyone try Staples with success? Just trying to map out my RMN plan for today.

staples worked fine for me every time- going this am to hit WG HD and Big Lots (ran out of time yesterday)

 

[hsmamato2]

Oh ds and his discover app debacle...we got the letter that stated his income wasn't enough to qualify ....(?) I thought discover was the app for newbs to start building credit- he put his actual income of about 6-700 a month (pt work) so around 8k per year...any tips for when we re-app next month somewhere?

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I know there have been numerous posts between here and the gift cards thread on RMN. I tried it this week at Walgreens because of the CF category and the $10 posted today. I’m willing to try more today as it’s the last day, but I know there were a couple stores that weren’t working for most people. I think they were Kohl’s and Staples, right? I’ll take the risk on some, but if it’s one that hasn’t worked for many people I won’t bother.

I was going to try Staples the same day as Walgreens, but they only sold the $50 GC. While it would be great to save 20% on the card, I didn’t want to pay full price if the purchase didn’t track. I would’ve felt better about it if they had $25 or variable load. Anyone try Staples with success? Just trying to map out my RMN plan for today.

I’ve done staples twice and worked both times (once was $7 off $140, used with Amex 10% off and bought only GC. Second was 10 off 25 and bought Disney GC plus markers)

 

[hsmamato2]

The statement credit is Card Anniversary year, not calendar year.

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/...rred-guest-luxury-card/28009-10-0#offer-terms

I would cancel the current card and wait until I was eligible for to apply for the full bonus.

I'm so GLAD you all caught me here!!!!!!! thanks for the info- I would have pulled a dummy mistake there! I'll just wait. I'm in no rush anyway at this point ( I just like the swolphin) and now I can focus better on 4th quarter purchases.... just so I understand correctly- I had thought anniversary year was the good thing (in my scenario?) b/c it would TC would pop up ommediately upon upgrade,and then in two months when Af is due,it would pop up again,so 2 TC within 2 months kind of plan(?) no?

 

[CyndiLouWho]

well....that's what I'm tossing around here...and I can't decide right now..... do you (and other 'experts' here think it's smarter to cancel the current card- then later on (sometime) apply for the 100k offer? I have to cancel a cc anyway to qualify since I'm at 5+ (with AU) and I thought I had read plenty of DP's elsewhere about the double TC????? am I imagingin I read that? or was it hopeful thinking only? I thought the TC was posting,and then when AF time rolled around the 2nd TC was available (calendar year???) what am I getting wrong here? (this is a main reason I'm hesitating, I don't think I have the facts straight) I was thinking the *2 TC's,plus the free 50k nite was more valuable to me via upgrade than the *cancel/apply/spend 5k,get 1 TC plus 50k nite.....

So just saw this. Maybe possible to get upgrade AND new app bonus
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/can-...d-yes/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

 

[3 DD love princesses]

Okay, I got it wrong, The 750 is the trip bonus, and the 2x points (600) in this case will show up in 30 days. Some reason I had it in my head it was a 2.5% back in points on purchase! LOL. Funny how the math matched what I had in my head!

Odd, when I go to activity I see this, Does that mean they are checking for Disney gift cards now with the 0 SB and no status...
09/17/18 Best Buy <ID> $300.00 0 SB <Status blank>

It takes mine a while but once it shows pending you are good to go. I havent had a problem but i havent gone since they changed to the new bonus.

 

[hsmamato2]

So just saw this. Maybe possible to get upgrade AND new app bonus
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/can-...d-yes/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

even more confused now..... they apped for the Lux,and then upgraded to a Lux ???? I don't know what that means...

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I really need to know the secret. I use them as fast as I can earn them.

Well our first key was building a huge balance. We’ve signed up for 6 SW cards combined over the past 4 years; always at highest offers; and always cross-referring. I’ve also found the SW cards to be the easiest to generate real world referrals on. My parents, coworkers, friends, other family have all taken advantage - it’s so easy to explain how it works and people like to fly! We also transferred a lot of Marriott points back in 2014/2015 when they still qualified for CP. AND before I cancelled my CSP in 2016, I transferred all of my URs at that time (250k+ probably) to SW as I had no other use for them (didn’t know about Disney with URs at the time). So we built an extremely large balance and the CP helped us preserve some points. Then there have been things like SW gift cards thru AMEX Plat; travel reimbursement thru Citi Prestige and Arrival + which have caused us to “pay cash” for free flights.

I’d say now we only use about 100k SW points on our travels each year (3 RT flights typically) and I can offset some of those points used via referrals. I hope our 500k balance will last us for many years to come

 

[CyndiLouWho]

even more confused now..... they apped for the Lux,and then upgraded to a Lux ???? I don't know what that means...

Yes. That means you could take your upgrade bonus offer and later apply and still get a bonus (assuming you’re eligible and haven’t had a Marriott bonus recently) Although I’m not sure it would help, but I’d consider putting spend on Amex and trying again for a higher bonus offer

 

[hsmamato2]

Yes. That means you could take your upgrade bonus offer and later apply and still get a bonus (assuming you’re eligible and haven’t had a Marriott bonus recently) Although I’m not sure it would help, but I’d consider putting spend on Amex and trying again for a higher bonus offer

so..... you think I should go for my current UG offer, keep spending on amex, and see if I get the 100k offer too?

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Well our first key was building a huge balance. We’ve signed up for 6 SW cards combined over the past 4 years; always at highest offers; and always cross-referring. I’ve also found the SW cards to be the easiest to generate real world referrals on. My parents, coworkers, friends, other family have all taken advantage - it’s so easy to explain how it works and people like to fly! We also transferred a lot of Marriott points back in 2014/2015 when they still qualified for CP. AND before I cancelled my CSP in 2016, I transferred all of my URs at that time (250k+ probably) to SW as I had no other use for them (didn’t know about Disney with URs at the time). So we built an extremely large balance and the CP helped us preserve some points. Then there have been things like SW gift cards thru AMEX Plat; travel reimbursement thru Citi Prestige and Arrival + which have caused us to “pay cash” for free flights.

I’d say now we only use about 100k SW points on our travels each year (3 RT flights typically) and I can offset some of those points used via referrals. I hope our 500k balance will last us for many years to come

I see. We need 6 flights, though we try to keep at least 1 CP at a time and sometimes dd19 isn't with us. So 4-5 seats per trip.
I have been transferring URs to SW as I need them. I am considering transferring my marriott points and some of our hertz points as well. Just want to make sure I don't need them for something else first.

 

[amalone1013]

Well, the person who offered $15 under asking price for my Ebay offer must have really wanted it, because I let the offer expire this morning and they immediately purchased at full price. And paid immediately.

Even more reason to go to Staples again for a gift card/RMNoffer, because I think i need an envelope to ship it.

 

[have2getaway]

I’d honestly ignore the ongoing return and prioritize signup bonus above all else (as well as a card he can refer you to later). To me this is either CIP, CSR or CSP. They are the 3 best offers out there and all 3 typically would offer the ability to refer yourself from husband’s card later.

I won’t go thru all the math here but I seem to recall that cashback is your goal.

• If he got a CSP and then referred you, you could earn $1,180 on your next $8,000 in purchases (15%).
  
• If he got a CIP and then referred you, you could earn $1,710 net cash on your next $10,000 in purchases (17%).
• You could also do both of these strategies over the next 6-9 months.

Ongoing return is great but you aren’t going to beat 15% and 17%. Going from bonus to bonus will always be your most lucrative return

Thank you! I suspected this, but always worry it’ll hurt my credit. Won’t it at some point? One of the cards you can’t get it again if you’ve had one within 48 months right? I can’t remember which one that is, though?

Do most just look for other offers while keeping all of their cards open? I ask because I don’t want like 20 credit cards, but also don’t want to start closing cards because that will hurt my credit.

I know doing the sign-up bonuses is common, but just wondering what’s the breakeven point between hurting and helping your credit?

FWIW, we are leaning towards one of the sapphires. TY

 

[Lain]

Ok so with school starting and my volunteering I’ve been away for over a month. Went to get on today to try to catch up but it didnt show last read so not sure where I truly left off.

If anyone wouldnt mind sharing a brief catch up I’d really appreciate it.

I did notice the sb bb changed and isnt as good of a deal for $50 anymore.

Oh boy... where to begin?

On 8/16, Chase killed Plastiq coding 3x UR on CIP.

On 8/23, the SPG Lux card was released. But effective 8/26, the new restrictions on Chase’s Marriott cards and Amex’s SPG cards make it very difficult to qualify for a card from one brand if you have or have gotten a card or bonus from the other brand.

On 8/28, Chase changed the bonus terms on the Sapphires to only one bonus on a Sapphire product every 48 months.

Starting in mid-August, Chase signup bonus were seeing significant delays in even going pending (they’ve since started posting again).

In early September, Chase began manually reviewing double dips and canceling cards going back who knows how long. As a practical matter, the double dip trick is dead; Chase will review the approved cards and cancel one.

Effective 9/14, Chase killed UR redemptions for anything Disney through the Cruise and Tour Department. About a week later, Chase removed all Disney hotels from the Freedom UR portal.

It also looks like there’s no more 5k UR AU bonus on the CSP.

And it seems you can’t generate a CSR referral link from the Chase refer-a-friend site or app anymore.

More and more people seem to be getting Amex’s welcome bonus denial pop up warning based on their history when applying for new cards. This would deny them the bonus on a new card even if approved. Seems primarily related to spend on existing Amex cards.

On happier news, on 10/4, Amex is expected to revamp the Premier Rewards Gold; rebranding it as just the Gold Card, on a redesigned Gold or Rose Gold metal card; upping the supermarket and restaurant category bonuses to 4x MR, dropping the 2x MR gas category; adding $120 worth of $10 monthly credits usable at The Cheesecake Factory, Shake Shake, Ruth’s Chris, Grubhub and Seamless; while keeping its $100 airline fee credit and likely its $0 AF first year and $195 AF subsequent years. Lots of people are applying for the 50k MR targeted or incognito offer now.

Lots of folks doing the RMN deals at Staples, Walgreens, CVS, and Home Depot for effectively 40% off gift cards. Limit 3x per offer, per month. Expires today 9/30/18.

Swagbucks did nerf the 500 + 100 SBs for $50 spend at Best Buy sometime in August. The new sweet spot is 750 + 200 SBs for $100 spend at Best Buy, once per day.

Chase is running a public promo for an extra 5x UR when paying with Chase Pay using CSR, CSP, and CFU at Best Buy and Ebags (so CSR and CSP earn 6x UR, and CFU would earn 6.5x UR). Stack with Swagbucks. Expires today, 9/30/18.

I’m sure I’m missing a few things. It’s been a crazy, bloody past month.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Thank you! I suspected this, but always worry it’ll hurt my credit. Won’t it at some point? One of the cards you can’t get it again if you’ve had one within 48 months right? I can’t remember which one that is, though?

Do most just look for other offers while keeping all of their cards open? I ask because I don’t want like 20 credit cards, but also don’t want to start closing cards because that will hurt my credit.

I know doing the sign-up bonuses is common, but just wondering what’s the breakeven point between hurting and helping your credit?

FWIW, we are leaning towards one of the sapphires. TY

So far it hasn’t hurt my credit...goes up and down a few points...but I pay my cards online and don’t let a statement close with a high balance.....I’ve kept everything open but just started this in May

The cards you can’t apply for if you’ve had them in the last 48 months are the Sapphires...CSR or CSP...if you’ve had either of these you have to wait 48 months from the bonus posting to apply for either one again

 

[calypso726]

So just saw this. Maybe possible to get upgrade AND new app bonus
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/can-...d-yes/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Wow! That’s cool that it worked that way for them.

even more confused now..... they apped for the Lux,and then upgraded to a Lux ???? I don't know what that means...

Personally, I wouldn’t do it with Amex changing their T&C’s at the drop of a hat.

 

[afan]

Oh ds and his discover app debacle...we got the letter that stated his income wasn't enough to qualify ....(?) I thought discover was the app for newbs to start building credit- he put his actual income of about 6-700 a month (pt work) so around 8k per year...any tips for when we re-app next month somewhere?

I can't remember is he a student? Did it ask if he pays rent or anything like that and how much? That could have skewed things. I think there's something we're missing like the rent, because it wouldn't seem that would be too low for a card.

On another note, I'm sure you can't or shouldn't, but could you include financial aid money as income? I know if you got monthly money from home you could. Otherwise you'd have to put 0 as your housing spend that at least some cards ask about.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

so..... you think I should go for my current UG offer, keep spending on amex, and see if I get the 100k offer too?

No, I meant spend more on Amex now, then check your upgrade offer again. Not sure if it would change based on spend.
ETA. Your upgrade offer is good until October 31?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Thank you! I suspected this, but always worry it’ll hurt my credit. Won’t it at some point? One of the cards you can’t get it again if you’ve had one within 48 months right? I can’t remember which one that is, though?

Do most just look for other offers while keeping all of their cards open? I ask because I don’t want like 20 credit cards, but also don’t want to start closing cards because that will hurt my credit.

I know doing the sign-up bonuses is common, but just wondering what’s the breakeven point between hurting and helping your credit?

FWIW, we are leaning towards one of the sapphires. TY

I have opened 41 cards since 2011 in this game (37 of them since 2015). I've also been declined for a handful of cards resulting in inquiries with no new account. I've closed 29 of those 41 cards. Throughout 6+ years my credit score has remained +/- 25 points from 800 at all times.

Similar on my wife - opened 23 cards since 2015. Closed 11 of them. Also a few declines. Again +/- 25 points of 800 at all times.

It shocks people but playing this game DOES NOT hurt your credit. For some people it actually helps their score!

Also - regarding the 48 month rule - that's the Sapphire cards. BUT you can both get 1 now unless you've gotten one in the past 48 months (which I don't think either of you had).