I love credit cards so much!

[SouthFayetteFan]

FYI: support links are back for Marriott Card...

Also FYI: the offer is worse than the public offer

2 Free nights (up to 35k) for $3,000 MSR in 90 days. (Public Offer is 75k Marriott points)

This offer likely would only make sense when referring a player 2 (and even then it is only worth a max of 15k points more and has some decreased flexibility).

 

[elgerber]

For those of you that have done the 10k MRs for enrolling in the extended pay option on your Amex cards, how long did it take before they showed pending in your account?

 

[WVMomof3]

I might have asked this already and it may be silly to ask here because everyone probably only goes to Orlando for the parks, but does anyone have any great Marriott properties to recommend in any Orlando area? We just need one night, not tied to a particular area, have no idea what we will be doing, but will head to the beach for a wedding the next day. Was looking at either the Renaissance airport or Renaissance Sea World, quite frankly, only because they are high $$ and we could use our free night cert and I feel like we got good value out of it. lol Or I could find a property for around $170 and get the $60 Marriott credit because we spent $130 a couple weeks ago. I think I would have to prepay because we check in on the 25th and the credit expires the 25th. I think they usually charge on check out day not check in, correct? Or I could just use points. My DHs Spg biz points posted today! yay Well, they posted on the card, I don't see them in the Marriott account yet and would need those to book on points.

 

[speedyfishy]

I cope with rejections by applying to Amex Biz cards. I got approved for the Blue Business. I maybe putting our wedding deposit on that card. But if I have time to MS more I can do that too. I’m so surprised I didn’t get the pop-up. I have been hiting Amex hard. I have $4,000 ish left on SOs Biz Plat. I need to finish that this month.

 

[1st*toright]

A week a month is highly unlikely, but would be totally awesome, the best you'd want to look for is firms with unlimited vacation time (as in there's no set limit). I think that's going to be hard in your field unless you attach yourself into an industry that's picking up that trend. From the folks that I know, even C level execs can max out at 6 weeks. But be prepared to be the low man on the rungs and have to slog it out for a couple years to put yourself into a good position later. Makes it that much sweeter later after you paid your dues and you know how much worse it could still be I think I'd rather have little time when I'm young and can handle the work load than reverse it and have to work so hard when I'm older with less breaks. (like now, I'm still cringing at the thought of having to go back to 2 weeks )

I'd be wary of "unlimited" vacation time. It means it doesn't accrue, so you will never be paid out for unused vacation when you leave a job (even if you've never taken a day off). It also often goes hand in hand with high billable hour requirements or other "measurable" productivity goals, which can set up an environment that rewards the people who never take time off and punishes anyone who actually uses any of the "unlimited" vacation time. Depends on the culture of the place, but you would want to know up front how much vacation people in a similar role are actually taking each year on average.

And I second the "paying your dues" comment - seems like lots of the folks who have buku vacation time have been in their jobs for a while - might be helpful to get stats on what someone just starting with your company/organization/governmental entity would expect out of the gate. When I got into my current career, I was happy to get 3 weeks out of the gate (even though I worked a lot more than 40 hours a week and lots of weekends) because when I started in my previous career, you got 2 weeks a year pretty much everywhere (and some places only AFTER a year!)

 

[georgina]

On vacation time - DH retired last year after 37 years with his company and the max vacation was 5 weeks. Meanwhile, DD got a job with a consulting firm which gave her 6 weeks right out of college. Other DD works for a tech firm with the 'unlimited' vacation but the average taken is 3 weeks.

My Double Dip is now fully complete! I may be one of the last people on our thread to have a successful CSR/CSP double dip!

It's been a pretty tense 4 weeks while this all played out. When the news began to spread of Chase going back and closing cards, I panicked and immediately met the MSR on my CSR and CSP through VGCs from our grocery store. (We still have about $1,800 left but I can just use that on organic spend for the next couple of months). Then a few DPs popped up of them going back to mid-August and closing people's cards...one person had even met the MSR.

But tonight, I am happy to report that I have just been awarded ~108k URs! This brings our total up over 500k which is also awesome too! (I just wish I could use them on WDW trips and Disney cruises...)

We were extremely fortunate that we pulled the trigger on the double dip when we did! As many of you know, that double dip was 26 months in the making so it feels very sweet to see this churning strategy culminate tonight!!

Congrats. I'm still sweating ours, will have completed the MSR by the next statement 10/25. So far both cards still open (both opened on 8/26)

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

For those of you that have done the 10k MRs for enrolling in the extended pay option on your Amex cards, how long did it take before they showed pending in your account?

2-3 days

 

[Happy814]

I am in the museum field, but not "official" yet because I am still in school. I would very much like to be done with school. But, if you want a good position in this field, you can't stop until you have a PhD, and realistically, you're not going back for one later. Better to just plow through.

I do have a fellowship at the institution where I will likely be working when I graduate, unless I make an egregious mistake & destroy something So, I don't know about vacation time, but I can say that my colleagues frequently jet off to interesting places to do interesting things, take their families more often than not, and it all counts as "work" A lot of people end up going back to these places on vacation after they get an overview of them, too.

Sounds like an interesting line of work! Your comment about destroying something reminded me of this. Have you ever listened to the episode The Feather Heist on This American Life? If you haven't you would probably really enjoy it!

 

[havaneselover]

I self referrred myself from BCP to Amex Gold and it was approved Friday but no credit yet. I know someone said they had seen points. I'm wondering if it was too good to be true.

 

[Lain]

I cope with rejections by applying to Amex Biz cards. I got approved for the Blue Business. I maybe putting our wedding deposit on that card. But if I have time to MS more I can do that too. I’m so surprised I didn’t get the pop-up. I have been hiting Amex hard. I have $4,000 ish left on SOs Biz Plat. I need to finish that this month.

I'm the boy in your other phone
Lighting up inside your drawer at home all alone
Pushing 40 in the friend zone
We talk and then you walk away every day
Oh, you don't think twice 'bout me
And maybe you're right to doubt me, But if you give me just one night
You're gonna see me in a new light...

Congratulations on another Amex!

Only with Amex do they worry about you MSing the MSR but are happy to have you keep MSing so that your spend is high enough for them to hand you more of their cards.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

I’ve looked into it before - for some reason I just can’t bring myself to do it. I feel like at some point my vacation preferences will change and I could be stuck with it. I know we could rent the points but it’s just one of those things that I’m not sure I want to deal with lol.

I know this doesn't really apply to you because of your huge points balances and hotels you're staying at for your Disney trip, but just thought I'd share my thoughts on DVC. I bought 60 BCV points in 2009 and then added 31 points on in 2011, which is a really small number compared to most members. But, with those points we've gotten to stay in Disney deluxe hotels that I would never have paid Disney prices for (Poly, Beach Club, Bay Lake Tower/Wilderness Lodge). Before DVC I had only stayed at value resorts, and growing up we'd always stayed offsite. Having those DVC points has been so awesome and totally spoiled me and my family! And as far as money-wise, I paid $5800 for the 60 points, and now would be able to sell those for approx $9k, so for us it's been a great investment. I know we've paid annual fees, but I look at those as being about what we would have paid for value resorts, although now with the higher cost of those I think our AF's are probably less than that. Anyways, to sum it up I really love my DVC!

 

[afan]

Well, no dice on ordering a child ticket from UR. They tried really hard, so I have to give them credit.

The alternative option would be to order an adult ticket for my four year old. I would probably actually consider it except we are wanting to upgrade to an annual pass when we get to Universal and I am scared that we could mess it up. Although, APs are the same price whether child or adult so maybe not a big deal?

What do you guys think? Would you take the chance? Any other complications that you can see that I am not thinking of?

It is only a difference of 717 UR, so that isn't really a big deal, it is the ability to upgrade or any other problems I might run into.

If all the AP's are the same price I'd get the adult ticket to save some cash when upgrading. Either way you have to make up the difference to the AP price so why not do it with UR's instead of cash?

 

[vanjust14]

Well, no dice on ordering a child ticket from UR. They tried really hard, so I have to give them credit.

The alternative option would be to order an adult ticket for my four year old. I would probably actually consider it except we are wanting to upgrade to an annual pass when we get to Universal and I am scared that we could mess it up. Although, APs are the same price whether child or adult so maybe not a big deal?

What do you guys think? Would you take the chance? Any other complications that you can see that I am not thinking of?

It is only a difference of 717 UR, so that isn't really a big deal, it is the ability to upgrade or any other problems I might run into.

I agree with @afan . AP's are the same whether child or adult so in this case you are better off buying the adult ticket for your child and saving on the bridging to AP's.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I'd be wary of "unlimited" vacation time. It means it doesn't accrue, so you will never be paid out for unused vacation when you leave a job (even if you've never taken a day off). It also often goes hand in hand with high billable hour requirements or other "measurable" productivity goals, which can set up an environment that rewards the people who never take time off and punishes anyone who actually uses any of the "unlimited" vacation time. Depends on the culture of the place, but you would want to know up front how much vacation people in a similar role are actually taking each year on average.

And I second the "paying your dues" comment - seems like lots of the folks who have buku vacation time have been in their jobs for a while - might be helpful to get stats on what someone just starting with your company/organization/governmental entity would expect out of the gate. When I got into my current career, I was happy to get 3 weeks out of the gate (even though I worked a lot more than 40 hours a week and lots of weekends) because when I started in my previous career, you got 2 weeks a year pretty much everywhere (and some places only AFTER a year!)

DH had unlimited vacation time right from the beginning at his current job. His work is constantly telling him he needs to take MORE vacation! Funnily enough, his boss just got back from Universal.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Thanks...I'm a little concerned since DH will be driving west (home) after his last patient today AND my daughter is supposed to be flying in from Boston tonight. Once everyone is home I'll just medicate the dogs and wait.

You are in PNS right? We are supposed to do FWB next week. Would you mind keeping me posted on conditions post hurricane and the red tide situation? I have until sat pm to cancel my hotel. Supposed to be arriving tues pm. Stay safe! Will be thinking about you!

 

[Judique]

On the phone waiting for Marriott to 'help' me.

It appears to me that my elite nights are incorrect. @miztressuz went through this with me some time back and my account has not managed to get itself straight yet.

I've been on this call for over 1 and 1/2 hours so far. Spoken to 3 people as I was passed from one department to the other. The most recent CS at least could see something missing and has placed me on hold again as they reach out to another department for some clarification.

At least I've got lots of time to read the boards as I try to get this issue resolved. I want Platinum status!!

CS came back to get more info. I'm on hold again while she puts in a work order. It's now 1 hour and 47 minutes since I started this call.

 

[1st*toright]

DH had unlimited vacation time right from the beginning at his current job. His work is constantly telling him he needs to take MORE vacation! Funnily enough, his boss just got back from Universal.

Now that is a good company culture!!!

 

[DisneyMandC]

Now that is a good company culture!!!

It really is. Especially for as big as this company is. They could just be total corporate jerks but they've been phenomenal to work for.

 

[mmmears]

All this talk about having too many points to use makes me sad... for ME! Clearly I started playing too late, I'm not collecting them fast enough, and I'm to cautious. But I hope to have hundreds of thousands of points some day... #goals

 

[Albort]

All this talk about having too many points to use makes me sad... for ME! Clearly I started playing too late, I'm not collecting them fast enough, and I'm to cautious. But I hope to have hundreds of thousands of points some day... #goals

heh, i have a stockpile... but my schedule is so hard to book anything... once you get a ton, u wonder what to do with it sometimes lol. keep pushin!
#poorcollegestudent #rarevacationtime #do'h