I love credit cards so much!

[wendow]

Thanks @Lain for the correction on the OD/OM VGC offer!

@kmc8826 That VGC deal makes better sense if you have somewhere you can use the VGC's to buy Disney at a discount...like Sam's or at a grocery store where you earn fuel rewards. If not, it's only a couple dollars money maker.

 

[Ava]

Thanks @Lain for the correction on the OD/OM VGC offer!

@kmc8826 That VGC deal makes better sense if you have somewhere you can use the VGC's to buy Disney at a discount...like Sam's or at a grocery store where you earn fuel rewards. If not, it's only a couple dollars money maker.

$3.10. I had to do the math, lol. I still have VGCs from the Staples $20 rebate deal months ago. I used some of the balance to pay for DD's spring soccer fee (since it was a round $ amount) but I don't want to end up with random cents left on cards and have a hard time using them up. And now I'm working on that $7K MSR so every cent is getting charged to my SPG Biz.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

$3.10. I had to do the math, lol. I still have VGCs from the Staples $20 rebate deal months ago. I used some of the balance to pay for DD's spring soccer fee (since it was a round $ amount) but I don't want to end up with random cents left on cards and have a hard time using them up. And now I'm working on that $7K MSR so every cent is getting charged to my SPG Biz.

I have had good luck using VGCs at Target. When I get down to small, odd amounts, I just use up the balance there. They let you use multiple forms of payment and have never given me any issues.

 

[Disneyonmymind]

I’ve been reading stuff on reddit and this thread about Chase shutdowns. One of the factors relates to how you pay your credit cards and also with different accounts. I have done this a lot. I never realized it could be an issue. I guess I’m going to stop that and pick one account and use it going forward. Should I use one bank account for all Chase cards? Or just one account used consistently on each card? And does it matter how and when I pay? Like if I call in and pay by phone, or go online, or pay by check? And is it good or bad to make multiple payments during the month? I just figured they’d be glad to get the money, not be judging me on how I pay and from what account, LOL. Imagine if you pay your card with a balance transfer! They must go ballistic

What is a best practice for paying your cards without drawing undue scrutiny?

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I’ve been reading stuff on reddit and this thread about Chase shutdowns. One of the factors relates to how you pay your credit cards and also with different accounts. I have done this a lot. I never realized it could be an issue. I guess I’m going to stop that and pick one account and use it going forward. Should I use one bank account for all Chase cards? Or just one account used consistently on each card? And does it matter how and when I pay? Like if I call in and pay by phone, or go online, or pay by check? And is it good or bad to make multiple payments during the month? I just figured they’d be glad to get the money, not be judging me on how I pay and from what account, LOL. Imagine if you pay your card with a balance transfer! They must go ballistic

What is a best practice for paying your cards without drawing undue scrutiny?

I would think paying it once per month from the same account every month for all cards would draw the least scrutiny. That is what I do.

 

[Ava]

I have had good luck using VGCs at Target. When I get down to small, odd amounts, I just use up the balance there. They let you use multiple forms of payment and have never given me any issues.

That's good to know. I planned to use them towards Disney GCs at Target, combined with Target GCs from my rewards apps, but since that's not working right now I'm just holding onto them. I may just buy Disney GCs with them anyway; since they run as a CC I think that would be allowed? I tried using one to buy a Disney GC at the grocery store self checkout, but apparently my store doesn't allow GC purchases at self check.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I’ve been reading stuff on reddit and this thread about Chase shutdowns. One of the factors relates to how you pay your credit cards and also with different accounts. I have done this a lot. I never realized it could be an issue. I guess I’m going to stop that and pick one account and use it going forward. Should I use one bank account for all Chase cards? Or just one account used consistently on each card? And does it matter how and when I pay? Like if I call in and pay by phone, or go online, or pay by check? And is it good or bad to make multiple payments during the month? I just figured they’d be glad to get the money, not be judging me on how I pay and from what account, LOL. Imagine if you pay your card with a balance transfer! They must go ballistic

What is a best practice for paying your cards without drawing undue scrutiny?

I have three Chase cards (CSP, CF, and Marriott Biz) and DH has three (CIP, Disney, Amazon). We both pay from the same account every time, but we always pay every two weeks. We always pay the balance in full, but I usually pay $500 on Friday when I get paid, and then pay another $500 (or whatever it takes to pay the balance) two weeks later when I get paid again. Never had any issues.

 

[Disneyonmymind]

I have three Chase cards (CSP, CF, and Marriott Biz) and DH has three (CIP, Disney, Amazon). We both pay from the same account every time, but we always pay every two weeks. We always pay the balance in full, but I usually pay $500 on Friday when I get paid, and then pay another $500 (or whatever it takes to pay the balance) two weeks later when I get paid again. Never had any issues.

Do you always pay online? Sometimes I pay online and other times, I pay by phone, depending on where I am at the time.

 

[Lain]

I have had good luck using VGCs at Target. When I get down to small, odd amounts, I just use up the balance there. They let you use multiple forms of payment and have never given me any issues.

Draining small amount VGCs works well at Costco too, which allows multiple forms of payment. You can also use them to reload your Amazon wallet.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Do you always pay online? Sometimes I pay online and other times, I pay by phone, depending on where I am at the time.

Always online. I don't have recurring payments set up but I just pay in semi-equal amounts online every other week.

 

[Lain]

@disneymagicgirl - you're in TN, right?

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/8a8b6g/daily_discussion_thread_april_06_2018/dwxg3ni/

May be a fast way of hitting DH's CIP MSR. Warning, they do do a hard pull.

 

[Judique]

Went to a Chase branch to ask about the 100k on CIP. The branch manager had never heard of the offer and called Chase to inquire. He was told by corporate that I am not eligible because I need to have worked with a BRM. They don't have those at my local branches. *womp* *womp* But he was so very apologetic about it. Oh well.

2 points for giving it a try! Sorry it didn't work out for you.

 

[speedyfishy]

Today has been an awful day for MSing. First buying 1500 in giftcards at Safeway resulted in a fraud alert from Discover. I’m trying to make $75 by maxing the category. I responded to their text that it was ok, but still had to call and the Cashier didn’t know how to void the transaction so I was holding up the line. I was so embarrassed. Then I go to Shoppers to get an MO it’s the lady that asks to see the card so I leave. I go to Harris Teeter and the lady wants to see the card too. I have never had Harris Teeter ask to see the card before. Then I go to Giant and the guy runs it without seeing my card first it went through. he then asked to see ID and the card so I give him a different debit card. I’m awful Ik but it already went through and I was not in the mood to fight for my $500 back. I then went to Walmart to try again and the line was insane and not moving so I left. Hopefully, I have more success in a few days. I have 5k left on SO’s SPG. I think I’m staying away from Amex for a bit. Chase it is so easy to MS.

 

[Judique]

Thanks @Lain for the correction on the OD/OM VGC offer!

@kmc8826 That VGC deal makes better sense if you have somewhere you can use the VGC's to buy Disney at a discount...like Sam's or at a grocery store where you earn fuel rewards. If not, it's only a couple dollars money maker.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

2 points for giving it a try! Sorry it didn't work out for you.

I decided to SM Chase back saying that I went to my local branch and talked to the branch manager who said there was so local BRM. I said I was confused as to how to redeem the higher promotion. Thinking playing dumb and giving it one more shot can't hurt. All they can say is no. Waiting oh so impatiently for a response . . .

 

[WDWRook]

When applying for a CIP or CIC; does Chase look at your credit limit ratios? Last card I opened they called me and I had to move credit around (because they give way more than appropriate) and they verified income levels.

 

[Lain]

I don't want to end up with random cents left on cards and have a hard time using them up.

Go to the VGC website listed on the back of the card, register the VGC. Then add the VGC to your Amazon account to reload your gift card balance, then delete. I've added as little as $0.19 remaining to my Amazon account.

 

[Judique]

Go to the VGC website, register the VGC. Then add the VGC to your Amazon account to reload your gift card balance, then delete. I've added as little as $0.19 remaining to my Amazon account.

Way to go, Lain! I hate letting the tiny amounts lapse and always try to use them some way.
I know you can combine Disney gift cards online as well, but I just take them with me to food and wine festival and use them up at the booths! They'll ring as many cards as it takes to pay for the item.

I should add that sometimes it's a Disney redemption card or a visa/amex/mc gift card as well as Disney gift cards. I'm swimming in various gift cards!

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I decided to SM Chase back saying that I went to my local branch and talked to the branch manager who said there was so local BRM. I said I was confused as to how to redeem the higher promotion. Thinking playing dumb and giving it one more shot can't hurt. All they can say is no. Waiting oh so impatiently for a response . . .

Then sent me a message back telling me to call the customer service number. I called and spoke to a rep. He said he put a note in my file that I should be eligible for the promotion and to go back to the bank and have them take a look at my file. I guess it doesn't hurt to go back to the bank one more time and try to get the 20k bonus. Will update you all when I find out what happens.

 

[Lain]

When applying for a CIP or CIC; does Chase look at your credit limit ratios? Last card I opened they called me and I had to move credit around (because they give way more than appropriate) and they verified income levels.

Conventional wisdom is Chase is comfortable extending credit lines up to 50% of the income reported on your application. If you're married, you should put down total household income. There are numerous DPs, including many people here, who have credit lines way more than 50% of income. Chase views personal and business credit lines together, but if you come to a situation where you offer to move credit around, you can't move personal to business or vice versa.

There's been more and more DPs recently where people have offered to move credit around to open a new card, but a Chase rep told them no, or they don't do that anymore, or offered to close one or more existing cards to open a new card. There are still more DPs of Chase allowing credit to be moved around to open a new card, however, so it seems like YMMV.

Whether one should proactively reduce their credit lines with Chase if they feel like they are reaching their limit (e.g., your new cards' credit lines are getting smaller, or you had to move around credit to open the last card, or your new card has a bare minimum credit line available for that card product) is debatable. Some people feel you should never proactively reduce your credit line because it takes away a chip that you can possibly bargain with by offering to move it around to open a new card. Also, reducing credit lines will reduce your total available credit, which will tend to increase the % of credit utilization and could lower your credit score. Others feel like proactively lowering their credit lines if they feel they're at or over what Chase is likely to extend to them, a month or more before submitting an app for a new card, will increase the chances of auto-approval.