I love credit cards so much!

[Angrose]

Some highlights from DoC this morning:

(Targeted) AmEx Offer: Amazon, Spend $50+ & Receive $20 Statement Credit/2,000 Membership Rewards

(Targeted) Plastiq 10% Back In Fee Free Dollars On New Recipients In April

Doesn't look like I'm targeted for either. Hope you guys have better luck!

I saw those this morning too. We got the Amazon offer on the PRG cards: DH's AU card and his own card. I also got the Apple Pay offer on my PRG which can be used 5x. That's a cool 5,000 pts for very little effort!

 

[Angrose]

I have the Disneyland Hotel booked for Thanksgiving, but I'm seriously considering changing the reservation over to the Grand Californian if the construction on that end starts looking really bad. It a shame because DD loves the DLH's pools. I suppose I'll get a better picture by the end of summer.

I love the DLH, but would not stay there during the construction mess. Who knows where you will be routed to get through security and to the parks. I would definitely go with GCH if you can. Perhaps you can book a cabana at DLH so DD can enjoy the pools for one of your days.

 

[Angrose]

targetted offer is 150k!!!!!!!

Any ideas how one could find a link to this offer?

 

[platamama]

I used CIC to purchase an Amazon GC thru Gyft (before Amazon disappeared from it), expecting it to get 5x. But I looked at my statement, and it only got 1x. Did I do something wrong? I tried to find news about CIC no longer coding 5x on Gyft, but haven't found any.

 

[Lain]

I used CIC to purchase an Amazon GC thru Gyft (before Amazon disappeared from it), expecting it to get 5x. But I looked at my statement, and it only got 1x. Did I do something wrong? I tried to find news about CIC no longer coding 5x on Gyft, but haven't found any.

Did you checkout through PayPal?

 

[platamama]

Did you checkout through PayPal?

No, I picked the "Add a Debit or Credit Card" option. So that's what I did wrong, ahhh I see. Thanks!

ETA: Now I see your post on page 1006 explaining this! Feels like forever ago on this thread.

 

[Ava]

Chase generally matches better offers within 90 days of applying for a card, so it sounds like there’s hope for DW’s card if you request a match via SM.

Thanks, I will give it a try. The worst that can happen is they say no. Does anyone have a screen shot of the 80K offer? I can't get it to pull up (probably because we both already have IHG cards).

 

[peel]

Thanks, I will give it a try. The worst that can happen is they say no. Does anyone have a screen shot of the 80K offer? I can't get it to pull up (probably because we both already have IHG cards).

Sent you a message...

 

[ctinct]

I’d ałso appreciate the screen shot of the 80000 offer if anyone is so inclined. Thanks!

 

[peel]

I’d ałso appreciate the screen shot of the 80000 offer if anyone is so inclined. Thanks!

For anyone else in need, here's how I found it. Google "IHG 80000", and you should see a direct link to the offer. Once you get there it probably won't work for you, and instead redirect you to the 60K offer. But that doesn't matter, you only need to take a screen shot of the first page. Honestly, I don't even think it's necessary to show them the offer, but I added it in with my SM to Chase to point out that I had actually seen it.

 

[CoP Luv]

Im not familiar with this card, i think the only person is is @calypso726 but its 3k for 50k, 10k for another 50k. 100k after 10k. This the only card(besides amex biz card but not at its highest) that has a high MSR. Could work well flying to europe. If not, CIP has a $5k MSR which is not bad. what about your SO? it would be a good chance to double dip the CSR/CSP combo, that would go up to $8k there.

Which card are you speaking of?

We both have a CSR so the double dip is out, but that would have been awesome.

Unfortunately, Chase business cards are out because of the IHG card. For all Chase business cards, you need to have had 0 applications in the last 30 days.

I'm thinking about the Amex Platinum Business card if you can get a 100k+ Membership Rewards points offer. The big reason is the Amex Platinum Business allows you to earn 1.5x MR on charges of $5,000+. This will also get your toes wet into the world of MR, which can be very useful for booking airline travel, whether by transferring points to partners or redeeming points for paid flights with a 35% rebate on the Amex Platinum Business.

The standard offer is 75k MR points (broken up into 50k MR after $10k, an additional 25k MR after another $10k in 3 months). This public offer is terrible because of the high spend, low rewards. Unfortunately, higher offers on Amex business cards are targeted to accounts, by mailers, or online ads; and although /r/churning subreddit has a code sharing thread that's supposed to share mailer RSVP codes, posters often ask for compensation in return. DoC has posts here and here about how to call into Amex to request the higher offers (for Amex Platinum Business, it's usually 100k MR after $10k/3 months, which is perfect for your situation). Of course, if you've been conservative about applications, you'll have to toughen yourself up and get some numbers and a story straight to apply for a business card over the phone.

The Amex Platinum Business does carry a hefty $450 AF, but it comes with $200 in airline fee credits that can be redeemed for gift cards with Southwest, AA, and Delta (in certain denominations per transaction); $100 Global Entry or $85 TSA Pre✓ credit; automatic Gold status at Hilton, SPG/Marriott; access to Amex Centurion Lounges at DFW, IAH, LAS, LGA, PHL, MIA, SEA, SFO, and Priority Pass lounges (although CSR's access is better).

If you're not comfortable with the AF on the Amex Platinum Business, you could use the above method to apply for the Amex Business Rewards Gold with a 75k MR offer after $10k/3 months (check the above DoC link for details). This card carries a $175 AF, which is waived in the first year.

Neither card will report to your personal credit report, so you won't be burning a */24 slot on either.

ETA: a few additional thoughts -- before applying for an Amex card, make sure your bill accepts Amex cards directly or the bill is of a type that you can use Plastiq to send a payment. Also, if you have until the end of this month to pay the bill, there might be a small window to get a CIP or CIC at the end of April as long as it's been more than 30 days since your IHG application, then ask Chase to expedite the card to you. This may be risky because business applications can go pending for a few days before approval.

The bill takes Amex and is due on the 22nd so unfortunately, I will be less than 30 days. Ugh...as if the IHG downgrade was bad enough. I already hate the card and I haven't even gotten it yet!

I know nothing about Amex. I am pretty sure that I have received mailers in recent months for a more "prestigious" Amex that I just toss. We don't do a ton of traveling these days with young kids, so I don't know if I want to have too many currencies to think about. Before we got this bill, I was focused on UR. We have two CSR but one will be downgraded at the end of the year, so I don't know if I will need the Amex Platinum since we don't fly SW or Delta. AA is a maybe if they have a the best rate. We both have GE and Priority Pass until 2023.

I have a "business". Selling a few things here and there online, but I also design wedding/party invitations for friends/family. I made some small sales in the last few years, but depending on who it is, I do it at cost. What exactly would I need to know?

 

[thevalley]

Well just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all of your help with posting to reddit. I FINALLY have my links posted. I am planning our first trip EVER to WDW!!!! So excited, I would appreciate some referrals lol. Thanks again for all the help!!!!

 

[Albort]

Any ideas how one could find a link to this offer?

im not too sure how to generate it. Most of mine were from actual mailer. But they do exist.

Which card are you speaking of?

oops, totally forgot to mention the actual card haha. British Airways Avios card.

 

[Lain]

The bill takes Amex and is due on the 22nd so unfortunately, I will be less than 30 days. Ugh...as if the IHG downgrade was bad enough. I already hate the card and I haven't even gotten it yet!

I know nothing about Amex. I am pretty sure that I have received mailers in recent months for a more "prestigious" Amex that I just toss. We don't do a ton of traveling these days with young kids, so I don't know if I want to have too many currencies to think about. Before we got this bill, I was focused on UR. We have two CSR but one will be downgraded at the end of the year, so I don't know if I will need the Amex Platinum since we don't fly SW or Delta. AA is a maybe if they have a the best rate. We both have GE and Priority Pass until 2023.

I have a "business". Selling a few things here and there online, but I also design wedding/party invitations for friends/family. I made some small sales in the last few years, but depending on who it is, I do it at cost. What exactly would I need to know?

As I’m trying to type up a reply, I’m finding that explaining MR in a nutshell is hard. MR is a transferable currency that’s harder to understand (and arguably use) than UR (or maybe I should say UR is so much easier to understand and use by comparison), but Amex has very solid transfer partners that gives it good value, and if you decide not to redeem points for travel you can always get a Charles Schwab Platinum to cash out MR at $0.0125 per point. Based on that minimum valuation, 75k MR = $937.50 and 100k MR = $1,250.

I have a 4 y.o. little lady, so we’ve put off aspirational travel for a few years. Right now, I’m building back up my MR points. MR points are great for transfers to partner airlines, especially when Amex runs transfer bonuses; and if an airline you fly isn’t a partner, you can transfer points to a partner airline that’s in the same alliance as or partnered with your airline to book award travel that way. The Biz Plat has an additional benefit that when you redeem through Amex’s Pay With Points, you’ll get 35% of the points rebated back on all flights booked with your selected airline, and all first and business class flights on any airline through Amex’s travel portal. So for this purpose, you’ll may want to hold the Biz Plat in a year where you will be redeeming MR points; but on the other, it may not make sense for you to keep the Biz Plat past the first year.

One thing I forgot to mention in my earlier post to justify the $450 AF is the $200 airline travel credit is a calendar year benefit. So you can redeem the credit for 2018 as soon as you get the card by buying SW, AA, or Delta gift cards (again, in certain denominations), and double dip this $200 benefit again in January 2019 by doing the same before your card is up for renewal in April or May 2019. That’s $400 in value out of the $450 AF. (If you don’t plan to use these gift cards, you can usually sell them on Raise for about an 80-85% return.) (For this reason, a lot of people like to apply for Amex cards with the airline fee credit in late November and December to triple dip the benefit on only one AF.)

Unlike UR points that can be transferred between cards and reside on the cards, MR points are earned across MR cards and pooled into the cardmember’s MR account. But you need to keep at least one MR-earning card open to keep all the MR points alive. One option is to always be hitting new MR cards (there are many, including business cards) so you always have an MR-earning card open while you cancel others. Or you could sign up for a no AF Amex EveryDay card to keep your points alive for no cost.

Million Mile Secrets has a very good, multi-part guide to MR: https://millionmilesecrets.com/2017/01/09/amex-transfer-partners/

When you call into Amex as DoC lays out, an Amex customer service agent is essentially taking your application over the phone, so they will ask all the questions that the online form would ask. (Keep in mind that the online form changed a few months ago to require business revenue of at least 4-digits/$1000, and monthly expenses is optional.) But since you’re talking to a human, it might be good to have some numbers and a story planned out.

 

[kmc8826]

Hotels.com just followed up on my dispute regarding my award nights by saying that they've contacted the hotel and that the hotel claims I never stayed there and was a no show. This is despite the fact that I emailed hotels.com a copy of my credit card statement showing I was charged $140. So now I'm trying to figure out whose head I should bite off via a phone call this afternoon... the hotel, or hotels.com.

Sounds like my morning with on line chats with Amex. My husband's Delta Amex Biz was and possibly is cursed. It is the one that I had a horrible time getting the bonus on (went to rat team and we didn't even do anything questionable). But I used his to refer me to mine. He never received the referral bonus. I was just going to let it go because after my struggles I was like I don't need the frustration. BUT I just changed positions at work so have a little more free time so decided today to give it a shot. First do a huge chat on my account taking about 45 minutes. They finally say DH needs to contact Amex. So then I get on as him. They then repeatedly question if the business applied under his link. Even when I showed them the documentation they were doing the "it takes 6-8 weeks to post." Finally had to find the email he sent me (I sent myself basically) and send them the link. If it had been a referral anyone else had used other then each other in 2 player mode it would have been impossible. Even repeated questions about names/State reside in etc. After I called him on it is over 8 weeks finally got give it a week and then check back. Seriously...this all hanging over me is why I didn't apply for the SPG Amex biz when the reward was high. Amex has made me want to throw things!

 

[kmc8826]

For anyone else in need, here's how I found it. Google "IHG 80000", and you should see a direct link to the offer. Once you get there it probably won't work for you, and instead redirect you to the 60K offer. But that doesn't matter, you only need to take a screen shot of the first page. Honestly, I don't even think it's necessary to show them the offer, but I added it in with my SM to Chase to point out that I had actually seen it.

I agree you really don't need the screenshot. I got the 80k match and did not have a screenshot. Honestly I think attaching a file to an SM might be beyond my sad computer capabilities...

 

[KSR0330]

Just a few thoughts:

• You're at 4/24, so you've got one slot left for a personal card before you're out with Chase for a lot of their cards until Sept.
• You can (and should) get either the CIP or CIC next (depending on whether you value the signup bonus or bonus categories). There's a rumor the CIC's 50k UR signup offer may expire 5/20/18. Neither card will add to your 4/24 with Chase.
• Getting a SPG Biz after the CIP or CIC won't add to your 4/24 with Chase. The current public offer is back down to 25k SPG points after $5k MSR/3 months.
• Going for the Capital One Venture will add to your 4/24 with Chase and push you to 5/24. I can't weigh in on whether you should get the card or not; but if you do, you should wait until you use your last slot on a Chase card subject to the 5/24 rule.
• September is 4-5 months away. The CIP or CIC and SPG will have you spending a combined $6-8k in MSR during that time.
• You could use your last slot to get the Chase Freedom in the next 4-5 months, until another card drops off in September. See if you have a preselected (targeted) offer in your Chase account for this card.
  
• For timing purposes, keep in mind CF's 5x categories for April-June are grocery stores, PayPal and Chase Pay, which should be very easy to max out. July-September's categories haven't been announced, but has historically been something like restaurants.
• You could use your last slot to double dip the CF and another one of Chase's 5/24 cards (maybe a personal Marriott to transfer points to SPG?), which will take you to 6/24, so you'll need 2 cards to drop off without adding any more, so until January, before you can apply for another one of Chase's 5/24 cards.

ETA: Correction.

And just another thought. You could consider getting the CIC first, instead of the CIP as you planned to next, because the CIC is currently at a higher 50k UR offer that's usually only available in-branch through a Chase BRM, and the rumor is the offer will expire 5/20/18. In addition to the higher signup bonus, the CIP is a solid UR earner that'll get you 5x at office supply stores (think gift cards) and gift card apps; and internet, phone and cable bills, all for $0 AF. The CIC carries a MSR of $3k/3 months.

If you apply for the CIC this month, you can get the SPG Biz next, then the CF with your last slot in the next 4 months. When a card drops off in September, and you're back down to 4/24, you'll be at about 4-5 months since getting the CIC. Keep a slot open for the CIP at about 6+ months after getting the CIC. Most people think the public 80k UR signup bonus will stick around for the CIP.

Thanks for all of the great ideas, Lain.
The thing I didn't like about the CIC was the $500 cash back, but your reply made me look into it. I didn't know it could be converted to 50,000 UR. I also like the idea of 5x at office supply stores for gift cards!
I'm disappointed that CF 5x category is grocery store now. That's where I spend all of my money!

 

[Lain]

Thanks for all of the great ideas, Lain.
The thing I didn't like about the CIC was the $500 cash back, but your reply made me look into it. I didn't know it could be converted to 50,000 UR. I also like the idea of 5x at office supply stores for gift cards!
I'm disappointed that CF 5x category is grocery store now. That's where I spend all of my money!

It’s actually the other way around! You get 50k UR from the CIC signup bonus, which can be cashed out for $500 or combined to your CSP for transfer to airline and hotel partners or 25% extra value towards redemption through the UR portal.

 

[WDWRook]

I just booked a Disney Cruise. We are going to arrive the day before and stay at one of the hotels for one night the night before the cruise down near the port. Any thoughts on a rewards program to look into to book a stay? They seem to have most hotel brands available. We don't have any hotel reward cards currently, just Chase URs. Trip is in January so I have a bit of time.

EDIT: we booked the cruise via Chase URs. Airfare will be to use the last bit of Spirit points. First night hotel via whatever point system works out best (Radisson / Merriot / etc); and two nights at the end of the trip via DVC points. Hoping to get out of this with as little cash as possible - almost just for the challenge of it.

 

[amalone1013]

So with this change of plans... we now have almost $350 in hotels.com gcs. Hmmm... pixarfest?