I love credit cards so much!

[amalone1013]

For the airline shopping portals, does it typically matter if you use a credit card or gift card for payment? I'd like to get something from Disney, and I'm debating funneling little purchases like this through the SW RR portal for their holiday shopping bonus. But I've got a gift card for this stuff...

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

They aren’t showing up on the SW shopping site either ?
I’ve always had my purchases show up there...then about once a week the RR points from those purchases show up in my RR account ...it’s the bonus RR points from hitting the certain spend that take about 2 months to show up

The purchase shows up under store visits but nothing under transactions or bonus tracker..
I bought them 11/4

 

[Alexle2007]

Ahh. Even to go pending on SW shopping site? Was thinking of doing it again under DH but was hoping to see if my purchase credited first

I had purchased from NewEgg the other day and when I went to purchase from Best Buy today, I got a pop-up telling me how I was doing towards the bonus. I still haven’t met the $1000 for the max bonus so I’ll see what happens with my next purchase. (I intentionally used the SW even though it was less spend reward in hopes of getting to the $1000 mark.)

 

[KPK02090]

DP went to stop and shop today and can confirm it works for non advertised gcs. I got $20 coupon back for buying x2 Best Buy giftcards of $50 each. Then I did my shopping and got another gc $100 Amazon (not advertised) used the first $20 coupon for grocery purchase and got another $20 coupon. Coupon expires 11/29

@kidsfirsttrip, are you in MA? I’m trying to figure out if this deal is in all Stop&Shops. One site I found, said it was just in NY and NJ.
I’m in MA, so hoping that’s where it worked for you.

 

[speedyfishy]

The purchase shows up under store visits but nothing under transactions or bonus tracker..
I bought them 11/4

Same for me I bought them 10/29.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

The purchase shows up under store visits but nothing under transactions or bonus tracker..
I bought them 11/4

Ok since it’s only 4 days I’d give them another week or so to show up in your RR account...they only post once a week..just looked at my RR account and they post on tuesdays

 

[kmc8826]

https://milestomemories.boardingarea.com/american-express-financial-review/

@Albort, @Lain, @SouthFayetteFan have any of you heard of this? Or has anyone else? Is it only on business cards? Not going to lie makes me think about changing my mind about calling and trying to get Plat Biz. I really don’t want to deal with that even though I don’t MS or anything. Impression of article is while you need to spend on Amex don’t spend too much?!?

 

[Albort]

https://milestomemories.boardingarea.com/american-express-financial-review/

@Albort, @Lain, @SouthFayetteFan have any of you heard of this? Or has anyone else? Is it only on business cards? Not going to lie makes me think about changing my mind about calling and trying to get Plat Biz. I really don’t want to deal with that even though I don’t MS or anything. Impression of article is while you need to spend on Amex don’t spend too much?!?

yeah, everyone calls it FR. Amex kinda gets scared if ur spendings increase or something bad that happens... ie payment errors, non-payment, etc. they basically stop all your cards to re-evaluate. Usually will ask you to send in your bank statements and/or income statements.
it doesnt happen too much, but it does happen... on the bright side, Amex wont shut u down completely like Chase does. They do an FR first.

 

[Lain]

https://milestomemories.boardingarea.com/american-express-financial-review/

@Albort, @Lain, @SouthFayetteFan have any of you heard of this? Or has anyone else? Is it only on business cards? Not going to lie makes me think about changing my mind about calling and trying to get Plat Biz. I really don’t want to deal with that even though I don’t MS or anything. Impression of article is while you need to spend on Amex don’t spend too much?!?

Agreed with @Albort that FR is a bit overblown. When it happens, people freak out and you'll read about it on the message boards. Some triggers seem to be cycling your credit lines, too high credit line on a card, high utilization on a card, high spend relative to reported income, checking the spending power on a charge card for a big purchase, paying your cards from several different bank accounts, non-payment, etc. It's basically engaging in what any sensible bank might consider risky behavior. Amex will ask you to produce documents showing income, e.g., bank statements, tax returns, etc., to show you have the ability to pay and haven't exaggerated your income, and they'll either close cards or reduce CLs on cards if they still think you're a risk.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

@kidsfirsttrip, are you in MA? I’m trying to figure out if this deal is in all Stop&Shops. One site I found, said it was just in NY and NJ.
I’m in MA, so hoping that’s where it worked for you.

Yes!!! West of Boston about 30min. Rumor was some stores are doing gas points but i got coupon. I’m sure its the same for most MA stores. Plus I heard you could use more than one coupon with the grocery trip.

I had purchased from NewEgg the other day and when I went to purchase from Best Buy today, I got a pop-up telling me how I was doing towards the bonus. I still haven’t met the $1000 for the max bonus so I’ll see what happens with my next purchase. (I intentionally used the SW even though it was less spend reward in hopes of getting to the $1000 mark.)

Maybe I’ll try a fake order and see what happens. Fine print says no gc so wondering if this won’t work

 

[mmmears]

https://milestomemories.boardingarea.com/american-express-financial-review/

@Albort, @Lain, @SouthFayetteFan have any of you heard of this? Or has anyone else? Is it only on business cards? Not going to lie makes me think about changing my mind about calling and trying to get Plat Biz. I really don’t want to deal with that even though I don’t MS or anything. Impression of article is while you need to spend on Amex don’t spend too much?!?

Agreed with @Albort that FR is a bit overblown. When it happens, people freak out and you'll read about it on the message boards. Some triggers seem to be cycling your credit lines, too high credit line on a card, high utilization on a card, high spend relative to reported income, checking the spending power on a charge card for a big purchase, paying your cards from several different bank accounts, non-payment, etc. It's basically engaging in what any sensible bank might consider risky behavior. Amex will ask you to produce documents showing income, e.g., bank statements, tax returns, etc., to show you have the ability to pay and haven't exaggerated your income, and they'll either close cards or reduce CLs on cards if they still think you're a risk.

Yeah this does make me nervous. We've held that Plat card for over 5 years and wouldn't be pleased if they took it away. We've put a ton on spend on it since it was our primary card, without and issues. This is making me wonder if it's not a good idea to get more AMEX cards... (yes, I'm skittish)

 

[3 DD love princesses]

Staples starting this sunday VGCs are fee free. does that count?

how long is this deal going on for? need to get DHs spend done but this would be good to have once spend is met while I'm deciding what card next

For the airline shopping portals, does it typically matter if you use a credit card or gift card for payment? I'd like to get something from Disney, and I'm debating funneling little purchases like this through the SW RR portal for their holiday shopping bonus. But I've got a gift card for this stuff...

I went through tcb for disney while its free shipping and 25% off. I used a gc to pay

 

[kmc8826]

yeah, everyone calls it FR. Amex kinda gets scared if ur spendings increase or something bad that happens... ie payment errors, non-payment, etc. they basically stop all your cards to re-evaluate. Usually will ask you to send in your bank statements and/or income statements.
it doesnt happen too much, but it does happen... on the bright side, Amex wont shut u down completely like Chase does. They do an FR first.

Agreed with @Albort that FR is a bit overblown. When it happens, people freak out and you'll read about it on the message boards. Some triggers seem to be cycling your credit lines, too high credit line on a card, high utilization on a card, high spend relative to reported income, checking the spending power on a charge card for a big purchase, paying your cards from several different bank accounts, non-payment, etc. It's basically engaging in what any sensible bank might consider risky behavior. Amex will ask you to produce documents showing income, e.g., bank statements, tax returns, etc., to show you have the ability to pay and haven't exaggerated your income, and they'll either close cards or reduce CLs on cards if they still think you're a risk.

I wouldn’t do anything considered “risky behavior” but on a business card it would be a mix of charges (maybe Disney for couple hundred, then couple hundred for DH’s manufacturing projects, then Target or something). All expenses on one card is the only way we can meet the minimum spends. Mixture of charges that don’t go together is not something they would care about? The financial review occurs on both personal and business accounts?

 

[Lain]

I wouldn’t do anything considered “risky behavior” but on a business card it would be a mix of charges (maybe Disney for couple hundred, then couple hundred for DH’s manufacturing projects, then Target or something). All expenses on one card is the only way we can meet the minimum spends. Mixture of charges that don’t go together is not something they would care about? The financial review occurs on both personal and business accounts?

I’ve read FR stories on myfico, FT, and r/churning, but honestly it’s not something that worries me on a day-to-day basis. Even on churning where you have a lot of people engaging in what most people would consider risky behavior, FR reports are few and far between — probably because while churners like to game the rules, they’re pretty financially responsible.

I believe if one is hit with an FR, all their cards are frozen—biz and personal. Personally, I’ve thrown a lot of mixed spend onto one Amex card when I need to meet those big $5k and $10k MSRs. I don’t know how Amex can call you out on charges “that don’t go together” when there’s a plausible business justification for almost any charge. I would note that Amex biz card apps have this box for monthly expenses. It’s optional and I always leave it blank. When calling in to apply for a biz card, a rep will ask you for your monthly expenses too, but just remember they’re just asking you the same thing that’s on the online application, and monthly expense is optional. I have nothing to back this up, but I’d rather not be held to a specific number on expenses. So on a call, I just say as a retail business it varies based on the need to meet what’s trending in the market, seasonal shopping, etc.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

@wendow have you gone for the Schwab platinum yet?

 

[disneedee]

cip failure

 

[palhockeymomof2]

cip failure

Oh no so sorry ....what was the reason given

 

[disneedee]

Oh no so sorry ....what was the reason given

you will be notified why in 7 - 10 days

 

[palhockeymomof2]

you will be notified why in 7 - 10 days

Ugh...when you get the letter share here....I’m sure you’ll get great advice....

 

[Albort]

how long is this deal going on for? need to get DHs spend done but this would be good to have once spend is met while I'm deciding what card next

a week. starting this sun(11/11-11/17)

you will be notified why in 7 - 10 days

if u want to know your denial reason, call the regular customer service and ask.