I love credit cards so much!

[Lain]

@Lain, I am looking at this gyft app you suggested. Does CIP code 3x thru PayPal checkout for all these diff places? If so, I need to be buying a whole lot of gift cards on a regular basis. I spend a ton at Home Depot doing random projects...right there getting 3x would be awesome!

Yes!

At least for now. Because the way merchants (even websites and apps) codes their transactions can change in the future. At least with Visa, merchants have merchant category codes ("MCC"), which determine how transactions with those merchants fall into the bonus categories on your card. So whatever Gyft's MCC is, it's earning 3x on the CIP's bonus categories. I saw a DP on /r/churning yesterday that a recent Amazon gift card purchase on Gyft earned 3x UR, so that's the most recent info I have.

But more generally, that's the point I've been trying to make, I can't think of a UR-earning card that earns more than 1x or 1.5x (on CF) at Home Depot (unless CF runs a 5x home improvement store category). So instead of putting your Home Depot (or where ever else) spend on a credit card that doesn't have a bonus category for that merchant, and earns you only 1x or 1.5x, you could buy a gift card to Home Depot or anywhere else using CIP for 3x, or CIC or Ink+ for 5x.

Just be aware that credit cards do offer certain consumer protections, like price, product, and return protections, and extended warranty, which you won't get on a gift card. And if you decide to return something to the store, they'll refund you back onto the gift card (or a new gift card), so your money is tied up with that merchant. You have to judge whether your purchase needs those protections over any savings/earnings you get.

Have fun!

 

[Lain]

I came back from vacation to my 7-10 day notice from Chase regarding my CIP. They wanted verification of the business name. I was able to head over to a branch and have them fax my Sales Tax certificate. Called recon a few hours later.....and I was approved!!!! They are expediting my card!!! I'm glad to finally join the CIP club!

I'm so glad it was something as simple as verification! Congratulations!!!

 

[Friendlyadvice2]

@Lain, I am looking at this gyft app you suggested. Does CIP code 3x thru PayPal checkout for all these diff places? If so, I need to be buying a whole lot of gift cards on a regular basis. I spend a ton at Home Depot doing random projects...right there getting 3x would be awesome!

I saw a DP on /r/churning yesterday that a recent Amazon gift card purchase on Gyft earned 3x UR, so that's the most recent info I have.

Just to add to Lain's great explanation, I use Gyft extensively with the Ink cards via paypal checkout and can confirm it is earning 3X/5X as recently as 10 minutes ago, just as it always has.

 

[Psychodisney]

Sales tax cert? Sounds like your biz is more legit than usual around here? (I find it hilarious in a sad way I guess how hard it can be for legit biz to open stuff up. Took my Mom into Chase to open a checking account for her corporation & they needed so much documentation & info. My sole proprietorship I opened at the same time was done in like 15-20 mins. We were there for almost 2 hours.)

So true! The recon customer service rep even questioned the certificate....rental property is FL....home address is IL. Oh well....I'm relieved to be approved.

 

[jhoannam]

I just want to thank all of you for helping us maximize our earning... it’s so nice to see the “Bonus earn” next almost every transaction.

Now to apply for the next card, to start putting all our non bonus categories towards MSR.

 

[hsmamato2]

They might have you call back when you've completed your min. spend to get the extra points added. I had that occur once before when AMEX "matched" me.

Uggg! I'm SO tempted to try and call..... but I'm SO afraid the 'eye's' will turn to my ridiculous spending to try and meet the MSR.....

 

[Ngwira]

Received my citi premier yesterday and I am almost halfway to meeting the $4,000 MSR after paying the balance of my DD8's summer camp tuition. I also paid our annual sewer bill, cable bill, AAA renewal, electric and phone bill. I have to pay the balance of our WDW package which should put me over my goal. It's nice to time organic spend with a new CC MSR.

 

[hsmamato2]

I am also focusing on WDW trips. Is there more of a benefit with SPG points over UR?

yes.... if you do a search on this thread of SPG you'll see lots of ideas for using.....

 

[hsmamato2]

Me! Just returned from stay at Dolphin. Wanted to book for next year, but booking not open yet. I know the value of SPG points but to me they mean free trip to WDW.

Do you have the spg Biz? Am I right in recalling that I *might* get a free room upgrade if available with this card? (But I still have to stand in the 'regular' line,right?)

 

[DisneyMandC]

How long do we think SPG biz offer will last? Any guesses? We're one week in to the CIP MSR and have spent $1000 and will spend several hundred more this weekend traveling. I really wouldn't feel comfortable going for the SPG until we're later in the game with the CIP spend though.

 

[jhoannam]

Sales tax cert? Sounds like your biz is more legit than usual around here? (I find it hilarious in a sad way I guess how hard it can be for legit biz to open stuff up. Took my Mom into Chase to open a checking account for her corporation & they needed so much documentation & info. My sole proprietorship I opened at the same time was done in like 15-20 mins. We were there for almost 2 hours.)

Do you remember what all they asked about your sole proprietorship? DH is going in today, and I want to prep him since I won't be able to go with him.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

How long do we think SPG biz offer will last? Any guesses? We're one week in to the CIP MSR and have spent $1000 and will spend several hundred more this weekend traveling. I really wouldn't feel comfortable going for the SPG until we're later in the game with the CIP spend though.

Offer expires 3/28/18. Hopefully that works with your plans.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Offer expires 3/28/18. Hopefully that works with your plans.

Oof... might be cutting it a little close! We'll see what happens. If I don't make it, it won't be the worst thing that ever happens to me. I'm thinking I might try to double dip DH for CSR/CSP once I verify that his authorized user for my CSP is off of his credit reports, so I could move on to that.

 

[PrincessMom98]

I'm gonna throw another comment out here:
Have you looked into the AMEX Membership rewards program? I'm not sure if any of these airlines fit your plans but they have a TON of transfer partners. The reason I bring them up is because if you're trying to go "all business cards" for a year...the Business Gold Rewards (BGR), Blue Business Plus (BB+), and Business Platinum all carry large min. spends that could keep you busy for a few months. The BGR has annual fee waived year 1, BB+ has no annual fee, and Biz Plat has a large annual fee but NUMEROUS benefits that help offset that fee. I'd look into it if I were you as April 2019 is a long time away and you'll certainly need some distractions Also - do you have a player 2 that you can get into the game? At any rate here are those transfer partners for MR (I believe this is a complete list of airline partners):

Thanks for the suggestions. I am considering the Business Gold Rewards (BGR). I can't justify the AF for Business Platinum, I don't have any paid flights in my current plans. I don't see a sign up bonus for the Blue Business Plus (BB+), am I missing something?
I also have Citi AA Platinum on my radar and possibly another Chase biz CIC or Marriott later this year. In 2019 I am hoping for award flights to Marsh Harbor Bahamas for DSs to attend a Boy Scout program and for DDs still TBD study abroad 2019-2020 school year. When I can determine the airlines I can make a better plan.

 

[christineinvegas]

I want to jump in and say thank you to everyone who responded about my Hawaiian Air question. I personally ended up applying for the Marriott Biz and just got approved this morning (applied Friday, got the 2 week automated message/30 day email)! This way I didn't have to pull DH into the game if I didn't have to. LOL!

Just so it's out there in case anyone else is looking for Hawaii flights, I am trying to get 5 coach seats to Hawaii in October. Round trip miles is 47,500 each.

DH and I applied for the HA Barclays card, and after the MSR, each got 50,000 miles.
I have 71,000 SPG points that I am going to convert to Marriott points = 213,000 (I will only convert what I need)
After MSR on the new Marriott Biz, I will get 78,000 points

For 270,000 Marriott points, I can get 120,000 HA miles and a 7 night cert to a cat 1-5 hotel which I will use at another time.

So essentially, 5 coach tickets will cost me $178. (The HA card annual fees)

I don't know why DH doesn't like this game.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Do you remember what all they asked about your sole proprietorship? DH is going in today, and I want to prep him since I won't be able to go with him.

How much revenue I expected to make, how long I had been in business, what it was my business did, would I be doing international transactions and would I be depositing cash. They needed 2 forms of id so I used my driver's license and a chase credit card. I think the chase credit card helped them pre-populate some info in their system. (Also, the first time I opened an account in person I forgot my checkbook and had no cash with me and had to dash to their atm to pull out some cash, I think $25 is the minimum funding amount. So make sure he has some cash or a check to cover at least the minimum funding amount to open the account if he isn't going to fund the whole amount required for the bonus today.)

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am considering the Business Gold Rewards (BGR). I can't justify the AF for Business Platinum, I don't have any paid flights in my current plans. I don't see a sign up bonus for the Blue Business Plus (BB+), am I missing something?
I also have Citi AA Platinum on my radar and possibly another Chase biz CIC or Marriott later this year. In 2019 I am hoping for award flights to Marsh Harbor Bahamas for DSs to attend a Boy Scout program and for DDs still TBD study abroad 2019-2020 school year. When I can determine the airlines I can make a better plan.

Blue Business Plus has a 10k signup thru support links . You also can potentially get a 20k offer by calling in. The call-in method requires putting the application in over the phone tho which involves answering all the business application questions and can take around 20+ minutes. If you want more details on this let me know - I posted it a couple of times here over the past 3 weeks.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Quick q about these Marriott vacation packages, I'm having trouble finding a FAQ page on them or something of the like. Are the certificates for hotels subject to black-out dates? Is it only good for use if rooms for points are available? what if you want a specific view room, like an ocean view in HI?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am considering the Business Gold Rewards (BGR). I can't justify the AF for Business Platinum, I don't have any paid flights in my current plans. I don't see a sign up bonus for the Blue Business Plus (BB+), am I missing something?
I also have Citi AA Platinum on my radar and possibly another Chase biz CIC or Marriott later this year. In 2019 I am hoping for award flights to Marsh Harbor Bahamas for DSs to attend a Boy Scout program and for DDs still TBD study abroad 2019-2020 school year. When I can determine the airlines I can make a better plan.

FYI, since you are already at 5/24 so you won't get approved for Chase Business cards (other than the Marriott Biz card).

 

[jhoannam]

How much revenue I expected to make, how long I had been in business, what it was my business did, would I be doing international transactions and would I be depositing cash. They needed 2 forms of id so I used my driver's license and a chase credit card. I think the chase credit card helped them pre-populate some info in their system. (Also, the first time I opened an account in person I forgot my checkbook and had no cash with me and had to dash to their atm to pull out some cash, I think $25 is the minimum funding amount. So make sure he has some cash or a check to cover at least the minimum funding amount to open the account if he isn't going to fund the whole amount required for the bonus today.)

Thanks for the tip about the deposit, he never carries cash or ATM card.