I love credit cards so much!

[have2getaway]

I have opened 41 cards since 2011 in this game (37 of them since 2015). I've also been declined for a handful of cards resulting in inquiries with no new account. I've closed 29 of those 41 cards. Throughout 6+ years my credit score has remained +/- 25 points from 800 at all times.

Similar on my wife - opened 23 cards since 2015. Closed 11 of them. Also a few declines. Again +/- 25 points of 800 at all times.

It shocks people but playing this game DOES NOT hurt your credit. For some people it actually helps their score!

Also - regarding the 48 month rule - that's the Sapphire cards. BUT you can both get 1 now unless you've gotten one in the past 48 months (which I don't think either of you had).

Wow! Well, this is reassuring, and yes, neither of us have a Sapphire card.

 

[Alexle2007]

I think people have just been adding the offer to their card and paying their personal bill. Nothing special to do. I just paid mine today.

Thanks! I wonder if I can prepay my bill since it is under $200. I have the offer on DH and my SPG Biz.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Thanks! I wonder if I can prepay my bill since it is under $200. I have the offer on DH and my SPG Biz.

I think there have been some DPs on Reddit of people prepaying, though I don't know how to find them offhand. I think the offer is good until December, depending on how much your bill is you may be able to use it all by then. I did my first payment and am going to wait and make sure the offer posts before doing anymore payments for it. It would be really nice to have two and a half months of free cell phone!

 

[starry_solo]

One question, if we downgrade our no annual fee Disney Visa card, what should we downgrade it to? Is the CSR too much for us? We go to Canada regularly, but I honestly didn’t know what Global entry even was? Lol TIA

I wouldn't downgrade it. I would cash in all the reward dollars onto the rewards card, take it to your nearest Disney Store and buy a gift card equal to that amount. Then apply for a new Disney visa card with no annual fee under the promotion they currently have ($200 statement credit after $500 spending in first three months) and after approval, close the annual fee card.

My dad signed up under my referral link, spent the $500 pretty quickly and got the $200 statement credit in the same bill as the $500 charge so only had to pay a little over $300!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I wouldn't downgrade it. I would cash in all the reward dollars onto the rewards card, take it to your nearest Disney Store and buy a gift card equal to that amount. Then apply for a new Disney visa card with no annual few under the promotion they currently have ($200 statement credit after $500 spending in first three months) and after approval, close the annual fee card.

My dad signed up under my referral link, spent the $500 pretty quickly and got the $200 statement credit in the same bill as the $500 charge so only had to pay a little over $300!

This isn’t necessarily a bad plan. However, We often will recommend hitting much more lucrative offers (CIP, CSR/CSP, CIC, CIU, Arrival+, some of the AMEX cards, etc) before settling for the Disney Card.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Wow! You’ve provided a lot great information here. I will definitely check out the Gyft offer. Will you clarify what you meant about the ANEX offer incognito? Are you referring to using chrome in incognito mode? How do you get targeted for the better offer and what’s the difference between the two?

AMEX incognito is just what you describe (chrome incognito). There are simply better offers out there sometimes - best advice would be ask questions here if you’re considering a card and we will tell you what the best offer is/was.

 

[Alexle2007]

I think there have been some DPs on Reddit of people prepaying, though I don't know how to find them offhand. I think the offer is good until December, depending on how much your bill is you may be able to use it all by then. I did my first payment and am going to wait and make sure the offer posts before doing anymore payments for it. It would be really nice to have two and a half months of free cell phone!

Decided to give it a try. I now have a $200 credit on my AT & T since no payment was due yet. I’ll see if I get the credit and then I’ll use DH’s card so another $200 credit on our account. It will be nice not to have to pay for Internet service for almost 4 months. And definitely makes the $95 AF worthwhile.

 

[kmc8826]

Leave it to @Lain to answer @3 DD love princesses question about changes complete with dates. I thought about answering but figured my answer would be a hot mess leaving stuff out. Agreed churning wise it has been a painful bloody two months. Hopefully it starts getting better with more good news than bad.

@Livelovedance I can’t find your quote right now, but saw your post about your DVC purchase and it not pending on your Discover and the letter. Have you made other charges on your Discover? Are they showing? Maybe it has been charged but your online account isn’t caught up yet. On the letter with your credit score how big of a difference are we talking? One over 800 and one around 600? If it is a huge difference like that I would be a little concerned, otherwise I wouldn’t worry. Do you check your report or score regularly? As far as Disney not sending you your paperwork I would call your guide. That is what they are for! If he or she is not helping you or pushing you off I would request a new guide. I just changed and one conversation with the new one and I was so glad I switched. I just wish I had done it earlier.

 

[Lain]

Wow! You’ve provided a lot great information here. I will definitely check out the Gyft offer. Will you clarify what you meant about the ANEX offer incognito? Are you referring to using chrome in incognito mode? How do you get targeted for the better offer and what’s the difference between the two?

1. Gyft is not an “offer;” it’s an app available on iOS and Android devices and on the website Gyft .com. (A similar app/service is Swych.) They sell third-party eGift cards to hundreds of merchants from the convenience of your smartphone or computer. It’s just that the particular way Gyft and Swych “codes” on the CIC, when checking out only through PayPal, triggers the CIC’s 5x UR bonus category and earns you 5 URs per $1.

2. This is what I’ve previously posted about the Amex Premier Rewards Gold (“PRG”), soon to be rebranded as the Amex Gold Card on 10/4. Also check out the link to DoC’s writeup on the revamped Amex Gold Card, which is being continually updated:

Amex Premier Rewards Gold Revamped! 4x MR on Groceries and Restaurants, $120 Dining Credit (at Select Food Delivery Services and Restaurants) Per Year.

Today Amex announced new benefits of this card:

• $120 Dining Credit: You get $10 monthly dining credit available at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Shake Shack. Must enroll first and pay using Premier Rewards Gold card.
  
  
• 4x points at US restaurant
  
  
• 4x points at US supermarket, up to $25k purchase per calendar year.
  
  
• 2x points at US gas station is removed.

As the OP says, the new benefit makes this card a no-brainer for a lot of folks.

The PRG comes with an easily pulled 50k MR/$2k MSR incognito offer, first year AF waived and $195 AF afterwards.

The PRG’s benefits include a calendar year $100 airline fee credit that works the same way as the Platinum and Hilton Aspire. Now, the PRG also includes a $120 dining credit to select restaurants and food delivery services, doled out at $10 increments every month. And the 4x MR at restaurants and grocery stores is better than a lot of other cards.

This card was on the chopping block for me come renewal time next year, but I may end up keeping it for a slice of cheesecake every month. Thank you, Amex!

I didn't have the bandwidth yesterday to follow all the news on the points-and-milesphere and the chatter here and on reddit, and I don't think this has been discussed here, but DoC shared Additional Details Regarding Premier Rewards Gold Card Update: Sign Up Bonus, Annual Fee & More.

Some key points:

• Name will be changed to ‘American Express Gold Card’
• Card will be available in two different colors, Gold & Rose Gold. Both will be metal
• Sign up bonus will be 25,000 points after $2,000 in spend plus 20% back as a statement credit on purchases at U.S. Restaurants up to $100 back
• Annual fee will remain the same (first year waived, $195 annual fee thereafter)
• Other previously rumored benefits are accurate:
  • $120 dining credit. This is a $10 monthly credit that can be used at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Shake Shack.
  • Card will earn 4x points at U.S. Restaurants
  • Card will earn 4x points at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 in spend per calendar year

And here's the r/churning discussion thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/9holli/daily_discussion_thread_september_21_2018/e6elh5w

Some thoughts:

Amex discontinued their "Gold Card" a while back, while the Premier Rewards Gold card remained. It'd fit in better with Amex's charge card lineup to rename the PRG as just the Gold Card (alongside the Platinum Card and Green Card). But Amex also still issues "Gold Card" AUs on the Platinums, so even DoC seems to be unsure there.

Metal cards! In Gold and Rose Gold! Definitely a move to position the revamped PRG as a more "premium" card that appeals to millennials (Hello, Metal Rose Gold Card slotted in the back of your Rose Gold iPhone's case!).

When Amex redesigned their Platinum card onto metal, existing cardmembers could call the number on the back of their card and request the new metal cards. I luckily got in early enough before Amex ran out of metal cards temporarily.

Rumored signup bonus is 25k MR, but with potentially up to $100 back as a statement credit after you spend $500 at restaurants (unclear in what time period). I'd note that DoC and/or his sources have been wrong about rumored signup offers on a new card before, e.g., predicting a 125k Marriott points public offer on the SPG Lux. However, the 25k MR offer is the same as the current public offer so it's very likely. It's not clear whether you can use the incognito or CardMatch tricks to pull the higher 50k MR offer once the PRG is revamped. So there seems to be some suggestion that if you want this card with a 50k MR welcome bonus, that you should sign up before 10/4. My guess is the new PRG may be re-introduced with a 25k MR offer, but will probably see higher, targeted offers sometime down the line.

DoC does not think the new PRG will be considered a new card product that would make current or past cardholders of the PRG eligible for a new bonus.

A lot of chatter on reddit seems to suggest the new PRG will be a popular "downgrade" option for Platinum cardholders. The airline and restaurant credits outweigh the AF, and the 4x MR earning at restaurants and supermarkets make would make the PRG a strong daily driver. However, the $25k/yr. limit on supermarkets puts a cap on the utility of just one PRG, especially for MSers. Keep in mind that if you don't already have the PRG or haven't had the PRG before, downgrading the Platinum to the new PRG will make you ineligible for the PRG's welcome bonus that you'd get if you apply for the PRG separately.

I think you saw my post on the updated PRG/Gold Card this morning, with links to DoC's writeup and the reddit discussion about his post. https://www.disboards.com/threads/i-love-credit-cards-so-much.3528202/page-2579#post-59769801

This is supposed to be a revamp or rebranding of the Premier Rewards Gold card, not an introduction of a new card product. The new benefits leaked online early, and were promptly pulled back this week. However, the new benefits are supposedly rolling out on or about 10/4/18. Because this is an update of the PRG, existing cardmembers will get the new benefits the same as new applicants who apply on or after 10/4.

Offhand, the two differences that I see between applying before or after 10/4 are:

(1) If you apply before 10/4, you'll get the current plastic card; whereas new cardmembers on or after 10/4 would probably get the new metal card in Gold or Rose Gold. Again, the rose gold color and metal card design are rumors, but it'd be pretty exciting if it's true. If the new PRG/Gold Card does become available in a Gold/Rose Gold metal design, it's likely you can just call into Amex to request the new card (just like how they let Platinum cardmembers call in to request the new metal cards when they first came out).

(2) The rumored public offer on the updated PRG/Gold Card is supposedly 25k MR after a $2k/3 month MSR, with up to $100 back in statement credit on restaurant spend. The best targeted offer currently on the PRG is 50k MR after a $1k/3 months MSR, which might be available under your Amex pre-qualified offers or on CardMatch. You can also pull a 50k MR after $2k/3 months MSR pretty easily in incognito mode (just keep trying using different browsers). I don't think anyone knows if the higher 50k MR offers will be available on Amex, CardMatch, or in incognito after this card is updated. For those who value an extra 25k MR more than a possible $100 statement credit, they're jumping on the certainty of a 50k MR offer by applying before 10/4.

You can’t combine MRs between spouses or within households, but you can transfer MRs to another person’s frequent flyer account if they’re an authorized user on your Amex MR card. Getting the PRG or any Amex charge card, generally, won’t have any bearing on your eligibility to get the Amex Hilton and SPG cards down the line. (Getting the PRG, which is a personal card, and any of Amex’s other personal charge or credit cards will count against your 5/24 status and could make you ineligible for some of Chase’s most lucrative cards that are subject to the 5/24 rule.) The Hilton and SPG cards earn points in their respective hotel loyalty programs. You can’t transfer Hilton points to much, but SPG’s Marriott points transfer to something like 60 airline partners if you’re not going to use them for hotel stays. Hilton and SPG/Marriott programs each have their own rules for transferring points between members, and to other programs.

Additional Details Regarding Premier Rewards Gold Card Update: Sign Up Bonus, Annual Fee & More (Card Designs Added):

Okay, now I want a Rose Gold card!

I see the new cards implement Amex's new visual design. Note the changes in the American Express lettering and the cleaner Centurion mark.

For more info about Amex's rebranding: https://www.pentagram.com/work/american-express-1/story and https://www.underconsideration.com/...dentity_for_american_express_by_pentagram.php

The current, standard public offer on the Premier Rewards Gold (PRG) card is 25k MR/$2k/3 months.

The best, targeted offer on the PRG is 50k MR/$1k/3 months.

The next best incognito offer on the PRG is 50k MR/$2k/3 months.

The more than rumor, but not quite official news is Amex is rebranding the PRG to add $120 in select dining credits, increase the restaurants and supermarket bonus categories to 4x MR, and remove the 2x MR gas category. The updated product will be called the Gold Card, and come as a redesigned gold or rose gold metal card. This is supposed to happen on 10/4/18.

The rumored signup bonus on the updated Gold Card is just 25k MR with an up to $100 statement credit (20% back from spending $500 at restaurants). I think the MSR might still be $2k?

It’s unknown whether the 50k MR offers will still be available on the updated card on or after 10/4. The new benefits are supposed to be available to new applicants and roll out to existing cardholders or the PRG. So, a lot of people are signing up for the PRG now under the 50k MR targeted or incognito offer because they value the extra 25k MR > possible $100 statement credit.

3. It appears from DoC’s latest update that a 50k MR/$3k MSR/3 months welcome offer might be available. This is still not as good as the current incognito and targeted offers, quoted above. The points offer is the same, but the difference is how much you have to spend on the card (the MSR being $1, $2k, or $3k) in 3 months to get those points.

4. You can check for Amex targeted offers by going to the Amex website, and check for prequalified offers. Or, you can check for Amex card offers by entering your information on CardMatch .com.

For Amex cards, you can often pull up better than public offers by checking the Amex website in incognito mode using Google Chrome or different web browsers. Play with incognito and private mode on different browsers, and even different devices, go to the Amex website to check out the offers on their cards. You can clear history, cache, and cookies to see if that’ll help. If you have a VPN, you can set that to different regions too.

The idea behind targeted and incognito offers is that Amex is looking to attract new customers who meet certain criteria, so if you appear to be a new customer to Amex, you may be targeted with a better offer than otherwise available to the public.

There’s some anecdotal evidence that if you sign up for the Amex PRG/Gold card first, it significantly reduces your chances of being targeted for Amex’s best offer on their prestige card: a 100k MR welcome bonus on the Amex Platinum card.

5. Since you and DH don’t have either the CSR or CSP, I would definitely prioritize a slot under 5/24 for one of these cards for each of you. If you go for the Amex PRG/Gold or Platinum cards while under 5/24, both are personal cards that will count against 5/24 and take up a slot that could’ve gone to a Chase card.

 

[GlamMistress]

Did my final rounds of RMN today. I'm honestly sick of buying Disney gift cards!

I went ahead and selected American as my airline for my Amex Plat $200 credit. I'm hoping to use that in the morning for main cabin extra when I book my return flight from Barcelona.

Got $5 back (5%) with Dosh at Sam's today too.

If I can make myself move from the couch I'll unfreeze my Chex Systems report so I can open that Key Bank account I was targeted for...

Spent some time researching cards and trying to make a solid plan going forward. I decided it would be easiest if I just hit the mega millions, ha.

 

[PrincessMom98]

Once again I am about 100 pages behind but I'm back for more advice. I was holding off on personal cards with the hopes of a Sapphire DD in May but those dreams have been slashed. Plan B - I'd like to surprise my kids with a long weekend to Universal Studios in December. Flights are booked on SW and I have URs or Marriott for hotels. Any recommendations for a cash back card to offset the tickets?
Current cards - SW plus 4/17 (cancelled), CSP 4/17, SW prem 6/17, CIP 9/17, Marriott 11/17, Barclay Aviator 11/17, SPG Biz 2/18, Delta Biz 4/18, Citi AA Biz 5/18, Marriott Biz 8/18.

TIA!

 

[Lain]

During the initial flurry of news about Amex’s coming updates to the Premier Rewards Gold card, some Amex reps mentioned the Business Gold Rewards card would see some updates too. We haven’t learned much, if any, about the updates to the BGR, but r/churning found an updated design to the BGR:

 

[trenty]

Once again I am about 100 pages behind but I'm back for more advice. I was holding off on personal cards with the hopes of a Sapphire DD in May but those dreams have been slashed. Plan B - I'd like to surprise my kids with a long weekend to Universal Studios in December. Flights are booked on SW and I have URs or Marriott for hotels. Any recommendations for a cash back card to offset the tickets?
Current cards - SW plus 4/17 (cancelled), CSP 4/17, SW prem 6/17, CIP 9/17, Marriott 11/17, Barclay Aviator 11/17, SPG Biz 2/18, Delta Biz 4/18, Citi AA Biz 5/18, Marriott Biz 8/18.

TIA!

I like my Discover IT for cashback. 5% rotating categories. They match cashback first year (on card anniversary) so essentially category purchases are 10% cash back; non-category purchases are 2% cash back for first year.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I think I missed whatever adolescent period is the critical time for developing fashion sense. I absolutely hate clothes shopping. I used to have a "big firm" job where people cared what clothes you wore and I still could not make myself shop beyond what was minimally necessary. My daughter is much more into fashion but her budget is more along the lines of Uniqlo.

That is so funny! I think it stemmed from adolescence with me, too, but in the opposite way. And my DD19 could care less about any of it. Shaking head, lol!

 

[Ngwira]

Happy Sunday, everyone. This will be a long post so bare with me..lol.

Been following this thread but not posting much as I haven’t opened up a new card since July when I opened the Amtrak card through BOA. Been maximizing bonus categories and everything else goes on my CFU except for utilizing Amex offers. Used the Ashley furniture one this weekend to finally buy a new couch and loveseat. Our current one is broken and in sore need of replacement. I’ve been wanting to put some spend on my Ameriprise Platinum anyway to see if I can get a retention offer in January when annual fee of $725 posts (I know, ouch, but DH is an authorized user since we are family of 4 and need Centurion lounge access). PHL is our hub so works for us.

Another Amex offer I plan to use is the Lyft offer which I’ll be using at WDW soon.

My CSR annual fee should be posting next month which should help spread the pain of another premium card annual fee. I do plan to keep it another year as well. It just makes sense for our travel style. DH is a nervous flyer and lounge access before a flight calms him. The primary car insurance on rentals has come in handy. I’ll be under 5/24 in February and plan to go for the CIP to replenish my UR stash.

In terms of trips, our 2019 travel plans are booked. Hotels and flights are taken care of and I’m now looking at various tours. We’re spending Spring Break in NYC and Las Vegas. Seeing Hamilton at RR theater in NY and have tours of Valley of Fire, Bryce and Zion booked for LV. I paid cash for our hotel and found great rates on Hotwire for the Palazzo, Las Vegas. Used my IHG sign up bonus for the NYC portion of our trip. Used JetBlue points for flights.

We’re spending a few nights in June in Toronto with an overnight in Niagara Falls. I paid cash for our flights..around $225 pp round trip. Using points to fly to Canada doesn’t make that much sense when cash prices are low since taxes on award flights through Aeroplan are insane (you can also book United flights using Aeroplan points which have lower taxes, however, we prefer to fly Air Canada metal). Having said that, I’m happy to pay cash when it makes sense. Using Points to stay at Hyatt Regency Toronto. I plan to use UR to book activities to the ROM and the Toronto Islands. We plan to do the Falls Illumination Cruise in Niagara.We also plan to have brunch at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto since I have a Fairmont gift card purchased on Black Friday when they had a bonus.

Our August vacation will be in Montreal and Quebec City. Also paid cash for the flights, about $225 pp round trip using bank account bonuses including a $500 one from Columbia Bank and $300 from Chase. I’m up to $2,000 in bank account bonuses this year which covered all flights. Tours booked will be Montmorency Falls and the Olympic Stadium.

We will be at WDW in about a month and I’m excited to try Port Orleans French Quarter for the first time. Other firsts for my family on this trip are Food and Wine and MVMCP. I used UR to buy our tickets so I’m devastated that this option is no longer available. Here’s hoping that it comes back.

So excited to hear about everyone else’s trips and where points and miles can take you.

 

[trstno1]

Booooo Hawkeyes. Go cyclones!!

My wife is from Ames, and we are also Cyclone fans except for a couple of games per year. We hate Nebraska all the time, though.

 

[Livelovedance]

@Livelovedance I can’t find your quote right now, but saw your post about your DVC purchase and it not pending on your Discover and the letter. Have you made other charges on your Discover? Are they showing? Maybe it has been charged but your online account isn’t caught up yet. On the letter with your credit score how big of a difference are we talking? One over 800 and one around 600? If it is a huge difference like that I would be a little concerned, otherwise I wouldn’t worry. Do you check your report or score regularly? As far as Disney not sending you your paperwork I would call your guide. That is what they are for! If he or she is not helping you or pushing you off I would request a new guide. I just changed and one conversation with the new one and I was so glad I switched. I just wish I had done it earlier.

I made a charge on the Discover the same day that I did the add-on. That charge went through, but not the DVC charge. The difference is 70 points. I don't know much about credit scores, so I won't be surprised if I'm making a big deal out of nothing lol. The factors they listed were too many inquiries, number of accounts with delinquency, too many accounts recently opened, and too many accounts with balances. I usually just check my score through the credit cards that offer it, but I did request that credit report and the only "potentially negative" comments were two cards that had one late payment each from 5 and 6 years ago. I did open 4 cards and 2 DVC contracts, so I guess I'll give them that for inquiries and accounts recently opened. The delinquency and balances are what's throwing me because I pay every bill in full every month. I haven't held balances until I decided to open the cards for the DVC contract to take advantage of the 0% rate, so now I'm nervous what that will do!

It's just really strange because the charge on my Disney Visa has been there for awhile. I don't understand why the Discover charge didn't go through. If I don't get anything in the mail tomorrow I'll call the guide. I only just started getting concerned because it's been a week now and only one card has a charge on it, which doesn't make sense.

 

[Ngwira]

Forgot to tell everyone that we are headed to New York Comic Con this upcoming weekend. I’ve been dying to do SDCC but can never get tickets. NYCC tickets are difficult but not as hard to get. Having said that, I did have to jump through multiple hoops to get tickets. But, we’re going. Finally.

We also won the NYCC “exclusives” lottery and have passes to the Funko pop booth and the Marvel panel. So exciting for this “Nerd” family.

Unlike SDCC, we are local (South Jersey) so no flight or hotel costs. That leaves more money for our cosplay outfits and merchandise...lol

 

[havaneselover]

Forget to tell everyone that we are headed to New York Comic Con this upcoming weekend. I’ve been dying to do SDCC but can never get tickets. NYCC tickets are difficult but not as hard to get. Having said that, I did have to jump through multiple hoops to get tickets. But, we’re going. Finally.

We also won the NYCC “exclusives” lottery and have passes to the Funko pop booth and the Marvel panel. So exciting for this “Nerd” family.

Unlike SDCC, we are local (South Jersey) so no flight or hotel costs. That leaves more money for our cosplay outfits and merchandise...lol

My dd would be so jealous. I’m convinced she’ll meet her husband there someday

 

[have2getaway]

1. Gyft is not an “offer;” it’s an app available on iOS and Android devices and on the website Gyft .com. (A similar app/service is Swych.) They sell third-party eGift cards to hundreds of merchants from the convenience of your smartphone or computer. It’s just that the particular way Gyft and Swych “codes” on the CIC, when checking out only through PayPal, triggers the CIC’s 5x UR bonus category and earns you 5 URs per $1.

2. This is what I’ve previously posted about the Amex Premier Rewards Gold (“PRG”), soon to be rebranded as the Amex Gold Card on 10/4. Also check out the link to DoC’s writeup on the revamped Amex Gold Card, which is being continually updated:











3. It appears from DoC’s latest update that a 50k MR/$3k MSR/3 months welcome offer might be available. This is still not as good as the current incognito and targeted offers, quoted above. The points offer is the same, but the difference is how much you have to spend on the card (the MSR being $1, $2k, or $3k) in 3 months to get those points.

4. You can check for Amex targeted offers by going to the Amex website, and check for prequalified offers. Or, you can check for Amex card offers by entering your information on CardMatch .com.

For Amex cards, you can often pull up better than public offers by checking the Amex website in incognito mode using Google Chrome or different web browsers. Play with incognito and private mode on different browsers, and even different devices, go to the Amex website to check out the offers on their cards. You can clear history, cache, and cookies to see if that’ll help. If you have a VPN, you can set that to different regions too.

The idea behind targeted and incognito offers is that Amex is looking to attract new customers who meet certain criteria, so if you appear to be a new customer to Amex, you may be targeted with a better offer than otherwise available to the public.

There’s some anecdotal evidence that if you sign up for the Amex PRG/Gold card first, it significantly reduces your chances of being targeted for Amex’s best offer on their prestige card: a 100k MR welcome bonus on the Amex Platinum card.

5. Since you and DH don’t have either the CSR or CSP, I would definitely prioritize a slot under 5/24 for one of these cards for each of you. If you go for the Amex PRG/Gold or Platinum cards while under 5/24, both are personal cards that will count against 5/24 and take up a slot that could’ve gone to a Chase card.

So, I get the CIP, CSR, and CSP are priority, but...we have both only each applied for 1 credit card in the past 2 years. I may have been added as an authorized user, so may show 2. Is the AMEX targeted 100k better than any of the Chase Sapphire cards? Is the Amex bonus able to be converted to cash?