I love credit cards so much!

[mfly]

A few random musings this morning...

• I'm relieved to finally stop cancelling accounts. I think I've cancelled 10 accounts in the past 6 months (basically as a result of my AMEX run in 2016/2017). Even though they are easy calls to make, eventually it wears on me for some reason.
• I sent my attempt at a CIP 100k match this morning...we'll see if I have any success. I don't have high hopes based on the results thus far

Granted, I’ve made no where near the 10 cancellation calls (wow!) that you have, but I’ve found the cancellation call to be the one call I actually enjoy! I guess it’s probably because it’s the one call where I feel like I have the power!

To add another data point, as I don’t think I shared this earlier: I was also rejected (twice) in my requests for a 100k CIP match. I have no Chase branches in my state, but still no luck. The second reply was very firm.

 

[dygaar]

When I tried the CIP 100,000 match, they replied with
"To match the new offer of 100,000 points, please provide a copy of the email with your name on the offer or you may contact your Business Relationship Manager directly."

I guess unless I can find an email for it or head into a Chase branch to find a BRM, I may be out of luck.

 

[gottalovepluto]

...What the heck? I'm not caught back up yet, only to page 1256, so I haven't seen if this is resolved yet.

So far all I have is 2 auto-response emails from Fri that they were out of the office and will be back Mon morning. Hoping I hear back in the next couple days without having to contact them again, will definitely update y’all if I do. For goodness sakes they supposedly sold 2,000 of these- I can’t be the only person in this boat! (Anyways I’m giving it a couple days since I’m on vacay at the beach right now )

 

[liloca]

A little bit. But does anyone have a recommendation of a SPG hotel in the DC area that is family friendly? I am planing a long weekend there this summer driving down from Boston. My plan is to use my SPG points.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I now got a second no...

So I just called the Chase branch I've stopped in before near Cleveland. I went there last year to hit the Chase Checking/Savings bonus on my way to Cleveland for business travel. One of my colleagues thought I was nuts that I left early to hit a bank bonus LOL!

Anyways - they are checking to see if this bonus is available to anybody or if it still requires a BRM...they are supposed to call me back.

The two SMs that I received said that it required a BRM. I have Chase branches locally, but none of them have BRMs, so I don't think I will even bother going into a branch. None of them had any clue about the cards when I went in last time.

 

[DisneyMandC]

To add another data point, as I don’t think I shared this earlier: I was also rejected (twice) in my requests for a 100k CIP match. I have no Chase branches in my state, but still no luck. The second reply was very firm.

Did you apply during this small business week offer, or was this just from a previous application?

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Hmm... I'm going in hard on this one when I apply haha. Not fair to those of who don't have any Chase branches!

Granted, I’ve made no where near the 10 cancellation calls (wow!) that you have, but I’ve found the cancellation call to be the one call I actually enjoy! I guess it’s probably because it’s the one call where I feel like I have the power!

To add another data point, as I don’t think I shared this earlier: I was also rejected (twice) in my requests for a 100k CIP match. I have no Chase branches in my state, but still no luck. The second reply was very firm.

When I tried the CIP 100,000 match, they replied with
"To match the new offer of 100,000 points, please provide a copy of the email with your name on the offer or you may contact your Business Relationship Manager directly."

I guess unless I can find an email for it or head into a Chase branch to find a BRM, I may be out of luck.

So the branch manager at the Chase branch I have visited connected me with a BRM (the BRM actually called me back). The BRM was willing to put in an application over the phone...I didn't mention that I had already applied. Plus, I was the one who called for info and my wife is who I want to get matched. At any rate...it appears that this 100k offer may still ONLY be available through a BRM...

I wonder if this BRM would help my wife with a match...

 

[calypso726]

AF hit on the SPG biz card. I called for a retention offer. The CSR was really good about explaining the new reward night and the how the value of the night would far outweigh the fee. I explained have have to wait until April next year since the benefit doesn't go live until August 1st and the value was subjective since there isn't a full category chart yet. We debated over the assumed value and I pointed out how no one wants to stay at a cat 1-5 Marriott so I wasn't holding my breath on SPG 35k night being worth keeping the card. I went into detail on how I was losing 30% value on my spending/earning ROI which is what I rely on for airline transfers and that was my main purpose for having the card. He explained about the 4x on dining and gas and I explained I'd have to wait another 4 months to even see that come to fruition much less analyze whether or not it would make up for the loss especially when there are other cards that earn that much or more with better ROI value in those categories. It went on for a long time (52 minutes) and was quite the ping pong match as far as debates go.

I have to say I have never come across a CSR that was so knowledgeable about the product and the other Amex products. He went into detail on how utilizing other products in the Amex portfolio would likely make up for the loss when combined. I was thoroughly impressed. In the end, he offered me 10,000 SPG points as a retention. I told him I was very appreciative as that would give me an incentive to run the numbers and see if the new 4x categories and the combination suggestions he made would work in my favor. I hope I get a survey as he was very good and even managed to teach me a couple of things regarding some of my other Amex cards.

 

[Albort]

AF hit on the SPG biz card. I called for a retention offer. The CSR was really good about explaining the new reward night and the how the value of the night would far outweigh the fee. I explained have have to wait until April next year since the benefit doesn't go live until August 1st and the value was subjective since there isn't a full category chart yet. We debated over the assumed value and I pointed out how no one wants to stay at a cat 1-5 Marriott so I wasn't holding my breath on SPG 35k night being worth keeping the card. I went into detail on how I was losing 30% value on my spending/earning ROI which is what I rely on for airline transfers and that was my main purpose for having the card. He explained about the 4x on dining and gas and I explained I'd have to wait another 4 months to even see that come to fruition much less analyze whether or not it would make up for the loss especially when there are other cards that earn that much or more with better ROI value in those categories. It went on for a long time (52 minutes) and was quite the ping pong match as far as debates go.

I have to say I have never come across a CSR that was so knowledgeable about the product and the other Amex products. He went into detail on how utilizing other products in the Amex portfolio would likely make up for the loss when combined. I was thoroughly impressed. In the end, he offered me 10,000 SPG points as a retention. I told him I was very appreciative as that would give me an incentive to run the numbers and see if the new 4x categories and the combination suggestions he made would work in my favor. I hope I get a survey as he was very good and even managed to teach me a couple of things regarding some of my other Amex cards.

u should tell him the 4x is to offset the loss of lounge access. Which is the only reason why the SPG Biz has that 4x category.

 

[miztressuz]

I have to say I have never come across a CSR that was so knowledgeable about the product and the other Amex products. He went into detail on how utilizing other products in the Amex portfolio would likely make up for the loss when combined.

Is he going to offset the AF costs of the products too to make up for having to use more than one to get the same value now?
He really earned that retention, hopefully he still gets a bonus even though he still handed out points in the end
I'm glad though you found someone actually knowledgeable to have an intelligent discussion. Most times I get the talking point guys who have their talking points script and even when you disprove what they're saying, they can only stick to the script... because the company wouldn't be disingenuous at all, why would you as the customer doubt what my memo says??

 

[speedyfishy]

So it’s been about 13 months since SO and I have started this hobby we started with the Freedom Unlimited lol. I didn’t MS back then so I started will a small bonus.

Since then I have redeemed over $8,000 in travel plus I received $1,000 in bank bonuses.

I still have 137k SPG, 63k Delta, 12,000 URs and 8,000 Rapid Rewards. I have $400 in bank bonuses pending.


My breakdown is as follows:

Disney World-$600 Two flights to Orlando and three nights in a value.
Disneyland flights- $1500 (3 tickets from the east coast to LAX)
Flights to look at apartments for my move -$400 (3 tickets)
Disneyland flights-$800(2 tickets from east cost to LAX)
Disneyland hotel for six nights- $3000
Flights to Bahamas-$800 (2 tickets)
Royal Towers for five nights- $1,400

 

[amalone1013]

So it’s been about 13 months since SO and I have started this hobby we started with the Freedom Unlimited lol. I didn’t MS back then so I started will a small bonus.

Since then I have redeemed over $8,000 in travel plus I received $1,000 in bank bonuses.

I still have 137k SPG, 63k Delta, 12,000 URs and 8,000 Rapid Rewards. I have $400 in bank bonuses pending.


My breakdown is as follows:

Disney World-$600 Two flights to Orlando and three nights in a value.
Disneyland flights- $1500 (3 tickets from the east coast to LAX)
Flights to look at apartments for my move -$400 (3 tickets)
Disneyland flights-$800(2 tickets from east cost to LAX)
Disneyland hotel for six nights- $3000
Flights to Bahamas-$800 (2 tickets)
Royal Towers for five nights- $1,400

I find this so fun to add up!

 

[speedyfishy]

I find this so fun to add up!

It is and I was so surprised. I think I’m going to try and keep this all updated in an excel sheet.

 

[mfly]

Did you apply during this small business week offer, or was this just from a previous application?

Not during small business week. This was a month or so ago, when @Lain had offered a data point from reddit that someone had successfully got matched to the 100k as they didn’t have any Chase branches near them.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

So it’s been about 13 months since SO and I have started this hobby we started with the Freedom Unlimited lol. I didn’t MS back then so I started will a small bonus.

Since then I have redeemed over $8,000 in travel plus I received $1,000 in bank bonuses.

I still have 137k SPG, 63k Delta, 12,000 URs and 8,000 Rapid Rewards. I have $400 in bank bonuses pending.


My breakdown is as follows:

Disney World-$600 Two flights to Orlando and three nights in a value.
Disneyland flights- $1500 (3 tickets from the east coast to LAX)
Flights to look at apartments for my move -$400 (3 tickets)
Disneyland flights-$800(2 tickets from east cost to LAX)
Disneyland hotel for six nights- $3000
Flights to Bahamas-$800 (2 tickets)
Royal Towers for five nights- $1,400

Congrats on a very successful year!

 

[speedyfishy]

Congrats on a very successful year!

Thank you! I hope to be a pro like you one day.

 

[DisneyMandC]

So it’s been about 13 months since SO and I have started this hobby we started with the Freedom Unlimited lol. I didn’t MS back then so I started will a small bonus.

Since then I have redeemed over $8,000 in travel plus I received $1,000 in bank bonuses.

I still have 137k SPG, 63k Delta, 12,000 URs and 8,000 Rapid Rewards. I have $400 in bank bonuses pending.


My breakdown is as follows:

Disney World-$600 Two flights to Orlando and three nights in a value.
Disneyland flights- $1500 (3 tickets from the east coast to LAX)
Flights to look at apartments for my move -$400 (3 tickets)
Disneyland flights-$800(2 tickets from east cost to LAX)
Disneyland hotel for six nights- $3000
Flights to Bahamas-$800 (2 tickets)
Royal Towers for five nights- $1,400

Love this kind of stuff! I am also keeping track of my Disney gift cards as I earn them for free/discounts.

 

[jhoannam]

It is and I was so surprised. I think I’m going to try and keep this all updated in an excel sheet.

Oh I'm totally going to start another page with this information on my excel sheet.
Now if only I could remember all that we've done with our travel awards.

 

[Lain]

AF hit on the SPG biz card. I called for a retention offer. The CSR was really good about explaining the new reward night and the how the value of the night would far outweigh the fee. I explained have have to wait until April next year since the benefit doesn't go live until August 1st and the value was subjective since there isn't a full category chart yet. We debated over the assumed value and I pointed out how no one wants to stay at a cat 1-5 Marriott so I wasn't holding my breath on SPG 35k night being worth keeping the card. I went into detail on how I was losing 30% value on my spending/earning ROI which is what I rely on for airline transfers and that was my main purpose for having the card. He explained about the 4x on dining and gas and I explained I'd have to wait another 4 months to even see that come to fruition much less analyze whether or not it would make up for the loss especially when there are other cards that earn that much or more with better ROI value in those categories. It went on for a long time (52 minutes) and was quite the ping pong match as far as debates go.

I have to say I have never come across a CSR that was so knowledgeable about the product and the other Amex products. He went into detail on how utilizing other products in the Amex portfolio would likely make up for the loss when combined. I was thoroughly impressed. In the end, he offered me 10,000 SPG points as a retention. I told him I was very appreciative as that would give me an incentive to run the numbers and see if the new 4x categories and the combination suggestions he made would work in my favor. I hope I get a survey as he was very good and even managed to teach me a couple of things regarding some of my other Amex cards.

Wow! I’m very impressed you went toe-to-toe for 52 minutes, and that your c.s.r., based on your impression him, really seemed to know the product and wasn’t just reading off talking points from marketing! Those 10k Starpoints sound well-earned!

Everyone going into a SPG retention call needs to bookmark this post!

 

[WVMomof3]

It is and I was so surprised. I think I’m going to try and keep this all updated in an excel sheet.

I have all of mine in a spreadsheet. I am at $7962.57. But hoping to add a lot more to it as soon as my SPG points transfer and I can book the Swan. I redeemed my first travel for May 2017.