I love credit cards so much!

[AmyAnne]

No AMEX allowed for payment though. Visa, MC, Discover (yay 5% this quarter!) are all accepted.

Wow - I guess the Costco-AmEx split was not amicable. Thanks for posting about Discover, though.

 

[peel]

DoC just posted this useful article. I think he's reading our thread.
How To Find Increased/Targeted American Express Sign Up Bonuses

 

[AmyAnne]

Thanks everyone! Maybe I'll just add the gift cards cards one or two at a time into grocery store and office supply store purchases and hope they go undetected, and watch and see if the points register on my account.

I agree with @SouthFayetteFan that all of the reported gift card issues are with "cash equivalent" gift cards and not merchant-specific gift cards. However, there are some reports that a large amount of spending on a brand-new card can also trigger some sort of issues. I recall reading a post about this somewhere on one of the travel blogs, and a comment that has stuck with me is someone posted that whenever he/she gets a new card, he/she "breaks it in" by going to McDonalds.

 

[marsh0013]

I agree with @SouthFayetteFan that all of the reported gift card issues are with "cash equivalent" gift cards and not merchant-specific gift cards. However, there are some reports that a large amount of spending on a brand-new card can also trigger some sort of issues. I recall reading a post about this somewhere on one of the travel blogs, and a comment that has stuck with me is someone posted that whenever he/she gets a new card, he/she "breaks it in" by going to McDonalds.

This is extremely helpful information. I am going to use my Amex SPG biz for a large dental bill and absolutely need that to count and not trigger any reviews. While I do not eat at McDonald's, I can do a grocery store trip or some other small purchase first.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I agree with @SouthFayetteFan that all of the reported gift card issues are with "cash equivalent" gift cards and not merchant-specific gift cards. However, there are some reports that a large amount of spending on a brand-new card can also trigger some sort of issues. I recall reading a post about this somewhere on one of the travel blogs, and a comment that has stuck with me is someone posted that whenever he/she gets a new card, he/she "breaks it in" by going to McDonalds.

Oops... I broke in a Chase card with a $900 vet bill, LOL. No issues though, and I don't MS... yet.

 

[Lain]

So, my main question is: can I buy Disney gift cards on eBay with an AmEx Business card and have it count toward my minimum spend? And I am also looking for any ways I might not have thought of to meet the minimum.

Thanks everyone! Maybe I'll just add the gift cards cards one or two at a time into grocery store and office supply store purchases and hope they go undetected, and watch and see if the points register on my account.

I am all good with Disney Gift cards myself for this year, but would that poster have a problem ordering Disney cards on BJ's or something? Does AMEX know what that purchase is? I have done that with an AMEX personal to meet a spend with no problem. Is biz different?

It's not simply a matter of whether the "points register to [your] account." In any case, you'll get points for every dollar you spend. The question is whether that spend counts toward your minimum spending requirement. You may see your points on spend posting every month, but 3 months later find that you didn't get the bonus because Amex decided not to count some of that spend. Amex has a Rewards Abuse Team (RAT) that looks for people trying to "game" signup bonuses. If RAT sees a $505.95 charge on your statement and thinks you're trying to meet your minimum spend by buying cash equivalents like Visa gift cards ($500+$5.95 activation fee), you'll still get the 506 MR points (or whatever bonus multiplier there might be) out of that transaction, but they will not count that spend towards your minimum spending requirement, and you'll have to spend $506 more to be sure to hit it.

The only thing I've read that for sure do not count towards an Amex minimum spending requirement is Simon Mall Visa gift cards. I'd stay away from prepaid Visa/MC/Amex gift cards in general. But third-party, merchant gift cards should be fine.

However, a popular way to meet spend is by purchasing Gift of College $500 gift cards from Toys R Us/Babies R Us, which you can use to fund a 529 Plan that can be used to pay college tuition or student loans. The $500 GoC gift card carries a $5.95 activation fee, so it can look suspiciously like a Visa/MC/Amex prepaid gift card transaction.

I'm not sure which merchants provide Amex with "Level 3" data, basically information that would allow Amex to see exactly what you bought with that merchant in a particular transaction. As a general rule, you'll want to do what @amalone1013 does and avoid transactions that have any $XX5.95 or round numbers. You can do this by mixing gift cards in with your regular purchases or adding a small, random item to your gift card purchases to end with some random, odd amount charged to your card.

You also may not want to do P2P money transfers to a spouse, friend, or family member using PayPal, Venmo, or Apple Pay to eventually move that money back to you. Besides, there's a ~3% fee to move that money around.

 

[Lain]

Wow - I guess the Costco-AmEx split was not amicable. Thanks for posting about Discover, though.

Well, Costco's CEO compared Amex to ketchup. I'm sure it didn't end well.

http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea...-costco-deal-and-what-it-means-going-forward/

 

[peel]

DoC with another post about the future of SPG/Marriott cards:
American Express/Chase SPG/Marriott Cards -- What Should You Do
He seems to think the SPG business card isn't going away and it's okay to wait for a potentially bigger bonus.

 

[Lain]

DoC just posted this useful article. I think he's reading our thread.
How To Find Increased/Targeted American Express Sign Up Bonuses

So I read this on reddit last night:

Tried calling AmEx for a better offer on the BGR than the public 50k/$5k offer, just being curious what they might be able to do. Rep asked about my "business" and spending. Told him I had seen other higher bonus offers online, and he told me he's also seen these on DoC and "other blogs", and to be wary because in some cases the stories about "the public offer is X, but if you call in you can get Y" are fabricated, and that the public offer is the best available. Spent about 15 minutes of hard sell on the "legitimate, best available offer" on the card, card benefits and that a better offer might not ever come around again. I kept telling him thanks, but I think I'll just wait & see what might come along. Then he put me on hold for a few minutes. I was disappointed to be told again that the 50k/$5k offer was the best he could do. I asked if he could note somewhere in my account that I'd called & was interested, and he said there's nowhere for him to do that. I may HUCA & try again.

I wonder how many people outright say to Amex reps, "But, but, but I saw it on DoC (or reddit, or F/T)"?

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/7penqz/daily_discussion_thread_january_10_2018/dshl95l/

 

[Lain]

Just noticed we have a new regular in here!

Oh, it's @wendow with a new avatar.

 

[peel]

So I read this on reddit last night:

​

I wonder how many people outright say to Amex reps, "But, but, but I saw it on DoC (or reddit, or F/T)"?

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/7penqz/daily_discussion_thread_january_10_2018/dshl95l/

As they frequently say over there, "This is why we can't have nice things."

 

[afan]

Oops... I broke in a Chase card with a $900 vet bill, LOL. No issues though, and I don't MS... yet.

I might've made a few small purchases on my csr but I had about 2k to dlp and another large one for my airfare to Paris on Iceland. My first was the 150 deposit to wdw via my dreams agent. I imagine it's somewhat relative to what you are paying for. 1k at target a bit odd 1k in travel more normal.

 

[AmyAnne]

I might've made a few small purchases on my csr but I had about 2k to dlp and another large one for my airfare to Paris on Iceland. My first was the 150 deposit to wdw via my dreams agent. I imagine it's somewhat relative to what you are paying for. 1k at target a bit odd 1k in travel more normal.

I think this is true -- which is why I think I should buy my Gift of College cards at Toys R Us rather than the grocery store. I think more people spend $500 at TRU than the grocery store. Also, I'm pretty sure the blog I was reading concerned thousands of dollars in Visa gift cards, so not vet or dentist bills or airline tickets. Still, I think it's probably a good idea to start with small purchases when possible/practicable.

 

[wendow]

DoC with another post about the future of SPG/Marriott cards:
American Express/Chase SPG/Marriott Cards -- What Should You Do
He seems to think the SPG business card isn't going away and it's okay to wait for a potentially bigger bonus.

I had been debating what to do about the SPG cards. Went for the personal one last night for dh. After reading DoC's thoughts, I think I'm glad I went for that one and not the biz (will hit that later!).

 

[wendow]

Oops... I broke in a Chase card with a $900 vet bill, LOL. No issues though, and I don't MS... yet.

I broke in my new Amex biz card paying off my dd15's braces (right at $700). Oops! Followed by a $700 gift to my church. Double oops! I haven't had any problems yet either but the card is young. I do need to put some small spends on it.

 

[Judique]

Just a little update on my amex offer: I redeemed a $50 of $75 offer at a restaurant in the DC/MD/Va area called Clyde's on Dec 30/17. My authorized user had redeemed the same offer about a month earlier.

I saw online that the charge had posted on Jan 2, 2018. At that point did not expect to automatically get the $50. But, on January 6, there it was - a $50 credit on my account!

Happy to see it, and because of that, will stop thinking of canceling for a bit as I've redeemed on all amex cards well over $700 in offers, many with gift card purchases that enabled me to spend where and when I wanted to. In 2017, being credit card debt free, (wasn't always) I paid no interest and each annual fee, paid for itself easily. (Mostly hotel nights and Southwest points.)

I've retired as of February, but I'm burning up earned leave until then, so tomorrow I'm off to Florida and a week at Disney!

Looking forward to maximizing my hacking this year, with planned home improvements to provide organic spend!

 

[marsh0013]

DoC with another post about the future of SPG/Marriott cards:
American Express/Chase SPG/Marriott Cards -- What Should You Do
He seems to think the SPG business card isn't going away and it's okay to wait for a potentially bigger bonus.

Figures I just got the SPG biz. Not that I would have gotten the personal since I'm at 4/24 and all 4 were in the last half of 2017. No personal cards for me for a very long time. Maybe my husband but I've gotta double check what works for our plans.

Hoping by the time we finish that spend and it's time for my husband that the bonus will be higher. I'll decide whether to go for personal or biz I guess when that time comes. If personal is still even an option at that point.

 

[hsmamato2]

ok so DH PC'ed to the FU, I can see it on the acct page as FU, but I still see the $450 AF,which is due in about 5 days.... will it drop off automatically before payment date? I don't want to get into a mess of late payments etc

 

[amalone1013]

I am all good with Disney Gift cards myself for this year, but would that poster have a problem ordering Disney cards on BJ's or something? Does AMEX know what that purchase is? I have done that with an AMEX personal to meet a spend with no problem. Is biz different?

I haven't used my AMEX with BJ's. I probably wouldn't worry if I ordered a couple during MS, but I probably wouldn't do a bunch... but I usually meet MS at least 3 weeks early if not more, so I'd have time to figure it out/argue/buy other stuff.

That's just me personally. I do think that as @SouthFayetteFan said that they care more about Visa/MC etc

Just noticed we have a new regular in here!

Oh, it's @wendow with a new avatar.

This throws me so much...

 

[hsmamato2]

I also have a ? about the chase 5x categories, does the 10x Shoprite deal count towards that limit? I wonder,since I think I can use my sapphire too