I love credit cards so much!

[DaveL]

I called in for a match and was also told to call back once I meet the min spend. It seemed too easy and didn’t seem like the rep was guaranteeing me the 20k points. She said the marketing team would have to approve the request and that she’d make a note on my account. I hope it’s easy but I’m anticipating a little fight. I made sure to sound very presumptuous that I’d get the points on the call so that if somebody had to go back and listen I could argue that I felt like they made a promise and they didn’t correct me either lol!m

EDIT: and yes I did all of this in my high feminine voice

I called yesterday, the guy went over all the terms ect of my current offer and then said he'd look for the 100k offer. A moment later he said looks like you were referred but not by a BRM so do not qualify. I am wondering if I should call back or if there is now a note on my account. :-(

 

[Lain]

Okay credit card gurus (specifically those experts in AmEx retention offers) -- what are your thoughts about the best time to call? Do I want a weekday 9 -5 person, a weeknight person, a weekend person . . . I'll be calling about the SPG Biz, which (since meeting the MS a year ago) I have used only occasionally to take advantage of a few AmEx offers.

Amex retention offers are attached to your account and can change periodically. The csr is just reading whatever offer is available to your account that comes up on screen. Factors that can influence retention offers include how much spend you put on the card in the past year, whether you’ve used up any of the card benefits, whether you got a retention offer last year (retention offers are once per 13 months), and I’m also guessing more broadly their retention rate for that product at the time and even time of year. Anecdotally, people have called before their AF posts, after their AF posts, and just before the AF is due to see if they get an offer, and if they don't like it HUCA later to see if they get a better offer.

I've called on a weekday early morning (Pacific Time) and got a sh*t offer on my Amex PRG; called about a week later on a weekday afternoon, same sh*t offer; called a week later on a weekend morning, same sh*t offer. About a month later, I saw numerous DPs of much better retention offers on the PRG. Most recently on my Plat, I called in on a Saturday early morning, and got an almost irresistible retention offer, but I also did put $25k on the card, double dipped the airline credits, used all my Uber credits, saved ~$200 on Amex Offers, and had my wife as an AU for another $175, so I’m guessing Amex really wanted me to pay another AF or they’d be losing money on my card.

 

[miztressuz]

I'm going to have hubby check for the Marriott upgrade offer for giggles and kicks but even if it's 30k I keep thinking we want to keep his regular Premier. A lot will depend on the new award charts, but we've been ok using the anniversary night so far. But really it's down to the Elite night credit for spend on the card. We do actually put spend on this card and earn nights, not a lot, but for a few reasons we'd want to try to hit the new Gold level and since we don't usually spend 10 nights in a year that would help us do that.
Now with picking up new CC's with different benefits the spend will probably change as better options may be available now. I haven't run all the numbers yet. But we like the points and since we don't stay much the CC is the main generator so there will be some spend still. I've thought about going for the new card myself just for the points but I'd like to pool them all into one account. Did anyone hear anything about what transfer options will be available? I'm assuming they'll adopt Marriott's method rather than SPG's in which case I think we'd want to transfer before the merger to avoid fees. (but that won't work since I'm at 4/24 now and no Ink card yet. it was a gamble doing the double dip before a biz, so I'm out of personal cards for a bit)
Am I missing anything else? Am I crazy for thinking to keep the regular Premier?

 

[DisneyMandC]

I called yesterday, the guy went over all the terms ect of my current offer and then said he'd look for the 100k offer. A moment later he said looks like you were referred but not by a BRM so do not qualify. I am wondering if I should call back or if there is now a note on my account. :-(

I was referred by my DH and they made no mention of it when agreeing to give me the points. I'd HUCA.

 

[amalone1013]

Thanks just read that. Seems hard. Lol.

That's how I feel when I try to read about MRs. Especially since I'm not trying to squeeze every last tenth of a penny of value from my points, I just want free or reduced cost.

I called Chase and the rep wasn’t seeing any offer available for me to upgrade my Marriott card. She did say I would still get my free night in December which was when I originally applied for the card and I won’t have to wait until May if I choose to upgrade. Is that right?

This is what I was just wondering. I opened my card last September and got the 10k, AF waived offer. I paid my $85 AF originally.

 

[amalone1013]

Just checked and saw the 35k starpoints for DHs SPG biz! I had a moment yesterday where I worked myself up worrying that because our tax payment didn't earn starpoints, it wasn't going to count against MSR. Yes, I was being crazy.


As a side note... sometimes DH reads over my shoulder and is always asking what different acronyms mean, but usually I'm reading trip reports or news threads and it's referring to rides, parks, etc. He would probably fall over if he saw all the acronyms we use here!

 

[speedyfishy]

This is what I was just wondering. I opened my card last September and got the 10k, AF waived offer. I paid my $85 AF originally

I’m very skeptical of the rep. The terms say upgrading may change your award anniversary date. I may SM and get that in writing.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

My aunt applied for the CIP last June. Unfortunately, she got overly excited and didn't check with me beforehand. She got a denial because she had opened her CSP less than 30 days before.

Now, she applied for the CIP again but for my uncle. She got the 30-day message we all know so well but tonight, the status line changed to 7-10 days. She's so discouraged and I doubt will ever apply for the CIP again. She's late 60's. They take these denials personally I'm guessing the problem may be credit already extended but won't know until she gets the letter.

They actually have legit businesses...she sells on ebay a lot (embroideries diaper bags and burp cloths) and she is also a TA, booking Disney mainly...I told her to get the credit lines down. Not sure what else to do. Weird how some get approved for this card so easily and others cannot.

I feel the same way as your aunt. It’s hard not to take personally

 

[Tikitoi]

Nothing on Chase side. But on the gift card side, US MCGC has a tendency to lose its funds. So drain it as quickly as you can. There is a way of doing that in our MS thread on reddit.

Would you suggest the same for the VISA GC since they're going to be offering the same on those as of next week.

 

[Judique]

So a bit but I’m stressing out because my rental property needs a new roof. Best estimate I have is $3600. Long story, but the property is rented for the amount I pay in taxes and insurance, I don’t make a profit at all, so a new roof is a losing proposition. I’d did think about the option of buying the shingles myself, but the property is 25 miles from me and I can only get there on weekends, plus physically getting the shingles there is a pain. So to the point, if I got a new card would the 3% the contractor will charge for a cc worth it if I’m meeting MSR?

And @CyndiLouWho, I'm definitely in a quandary about this new roof thing also. I have a roof fund (cash in an account) for my new roof. I started the estimate process and so far the estimates are 12k, 16K and 29K. The 29K is ridiculous! But, I want some new cards on this spend and I want UR earning cards, but I'm 5/24.

I'm probably going with the 12K estimate. But, I won't be under 5/24 until July 1st. And, last night I got an offer for 50K on the Amex Premier Rewards card (website says 25K so I'm sure some one will chime in and say you can get this incognito all the time, lol!)

So now I'm sitting here wanting to do something and it's just not the right time - because I need to get under 5/24!!!!!

I can put my roof off for a bit - it's not critical, just planned maintenance. Common sense tells me to wait it out until July, get under 5/24, and plan a couple of Chase (1 personal, 1 business) cards and an Amex at the same time to maximize the spend.

 

[amalone1013]

I feel like someone on here was kind of wishing they'd gotten a Sea World ticket from the Daily Getaways deals? I noticed just now that all of them from 4/12, Sea World, Discovery Cove, and the Sea World/Busch Gardens ticket are in stock again. I'd just check the dates/details because they may have changed. I feel like originally the Discovery Cove one had a long date range to use it, now it's just Sept/Oct.

 

[pillow]

I’m very skeptical of the rep. The terms say upgrading may change your award anniversary date. I may SM and get that in writing.

If you upgrade before your anniversary date, I THINK that also means you won't get the 15 elite nights this year (new card promo says coming in 2019) - which could affect elite status. Is that everyone else's interpretation?

I cancelled my Marriott personal in January. Since my anniversary date was December, I'm regretting my decision since I would have received 15 elite nights before the 2018 year end, thus pushing me to Platinum status for this year and next. I sent an SM to Chase to see if they will "reactivate" my closed account. Not sure if they will since it has been over 3 months and since the new product has launched. Has anyone done this before? Am I making any sense at all - lol?

This raises another question . . . I already received 15 elite nights from getting a new Marriott Business card back in Jan/Feb. I know in the future, we won't be able to "stack" elite nights - max of 15. However, that wouldn't be true this year, correct? If I can get my personal card reactivated, I think I could stack those elite nights with the 15 business I've already received.

All this merger/elite night nonsense is so very confusing!!

 

[DisneyMandC]

I feel like someone on here was kind of wishing they'd gotten a Sea World ticket from the Daily Getaways deals? I noticed just now that all of them from 4/12, Sea World, Discovery Cove, and the Sea World/Busch Gardens ticket are in stock again. I'd just check the dates/details because they may have changed. I feel like originally the Discovery Cove one had a long date range to use it, now it's just Sept/Oct.

Glad you brought up that site. I had forgotten about it. I think I might try to snag one of the $100 Marriott gift cards today since I'm just going to pay cash for our Marriott stay in Orlando this year.

 

[Judique]

It looks metal.

ETA: Yep, there’s a one-Marriott consumer card rule:

• The product is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of the Marriott Rewards Premier or Marriott Rewards Premier Plus credit card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of the Marriott Rewards Premier or Marriott Rewards Premier Plus credit card who received a new cardmember bonus within the last 24 months

I would think it should be metal as the old Premier I have is metal.

 

[amalone1013]

Glad you brought up that site. I had forgotten about it. I think I might try to snag one of the $100 Marriott gift cards today since I'm just going to pay cash for our Marriott stay in Orlando this year.

The darn Dolphin Swim packages are back, which I was very tempted by last time. Even the limited dates work, as I was thinking about a Sept trip. Why must these deals come along and make me want to buy them?

 

[Psychodisney]

I am going to Orlando with DS19, DD17 and her friend also 17 in October as they have a few days off school. Have SW Points so flights are free. Going to Seaworld for a day (DD and I have tickets from March when there and bought DS and DD's friend tickets for $50 on the Daily Deals). Then going on a 3 day cruise from Pt Canaveral and then back to Disney for 1 night for the Halloween Party.

When on the cruise our only stop is in Nassau. Been looking at ways to enjoy a nice beach/pool day using points. I have Marriott Points that can be used at Atlantis (35,000 points) then about $70 in fees and still not sure if that covers 2 people or all 4. Then I found Baha Mar which is Hyatt and can get a room there for 20,000 points ( I don't have Hyatt points but do have UR Points). From what I read I don't think there would be any additional fees if paying by points.

Has anyone done either of these before and any preferences from either Atlantis or Baha Mar. I posted on Cruise Critic but no responses yet. I know Baha Mar just opened a year ago and not sure everything is open but it looks fabulous..

We did the Bahamar in Feb while in Nassau on our DCL cruise and loved it. I wish I was smart enough to have realized I could have used points. I think you’re correct that you won’t have to use resort fees.
It worked out great for our family, me, DH, DS 24, DS 22 and Dd18. We loved the pools and the beach. Didn’t get to use any paddle boards as they were all being used. There is one pool with a cliff jump that we all enjoyed.
We’re planning to go back for my DDs spring break next year and stay for a few nights ....on points! Ended up getting the Hyatt card for my DH! Comes with 40K points.

 

[pinkxray]

Found it. Thanks!
I have tickets through our Ta package that have a discount but you can change them once you use them. I don’t know if we really need park hoppers and don’t want to buy them if I don’t really need to. I’d prefer to have Disney’s tickets so I can buy base and add hoppers while on vacation if needed.

 

[Judique]

There’s a site that suggests you can see if you have an upgrade offer available. However it doesn’t work (or at least told me no offer available).

https://www.chase.com/chasegreatrewards/catchall

DoC had previously suggested it would be 20-25k points - not sure what that’s based on.

I just used this to look up for me and my offer was for 10K points plus $95 credit for annual fee. (I got the card in December 2017 and was charged 85$ on my first statement. I'm not accepting the offer at this moment but I'm giving it some thought.

By the way I'm about 10 pages behind right now.

 

[speedyfishy]

you upgrade before your anniversary date, I THINK that also means you won't get the 15 elite nights this year (new card promo says coming in 2019) - which could affect elite status. Is that everyone else's interpretation?

I think this is right. It seems like if you upgrade that resets everything. The elite nights aren’t a big deal to me since SO has Marriott gold. Which should turn into platinum and he should have that for a year??

This raises another question . . . I already received 15 elite nights from getting a new Marriott Business card back in Jan/Feb. I know in the future, we won't be able to "stack" elite nights - max of 15. However, that wouldn't be true this year, correct? If I can get my personal card reactivated, I think I could stack those elite nights with the 15 business I've already received.

Hopefully, they do this for you. They should because if they don’t you have no way to get any Marriott personal card.

This merger has been super confusing. It doesn’t help either that reps are clueless.

 

[Lain]

Just checked and saw the 35k starpoints for DHs SPG biz! I had a moment yesterday where I worked myself up worrying that because our tax payment didn't earn starpoints, it wasn't going to count against MSR. Yes, I was being crazy.

Congratulations on the bonus posting! As for the missing Starpoints on your tax payment, it’s been discussed here and on reddit that many (legitimate) transactions from the first week of April did not earn points. It’s an issue that Amex is aware of, but it’s supposed to take several weeks for them to fix it. If you haven’t already, you could chat with Amex so they can open a case for you.