I love credit cards so much!

[SouthFayetteFan]

Anyone have full Wall Street Journal access? Does this article say anything we don't know and should be concerned about? I'm guessing not, cause we are smart. lol

Rewards Credit Cards Gained a Fanatic Following—Now Banks Are Pulling Back

https://www.wsj.com/articles/reward...ck-11546365926?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=9

It's pretty thoroughly discussed in this thread on r/churning (including a link to the full article that doesn't require you to have WSJ.
https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/ablpit/wsj_wellresearched_article_on_churning_currently/

 

[gottalovepluto]

Congrats on the "free" money!!! How much did you leave in to remain fee-free or did you down grade the account after getting the bonus? I am thinking of doing this but need to get all my steps in order...

PNC opened my virtual wallet performance 11/5. As of today I have not been charged the fee and I did not maintain anywhere close the average daily balance of $5k. After receiving the bonus today I SM'd to downgrade to virtual wallet (which I expect will be done soon) which only requires a $500 balance which I will leave there until I hit my 6 month mark and can close the account fee free.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Anyone have full Wall Street Journal access? Does this article say anything we don't know and should be concerned about? I'm guessing not, cause we are smart. lol

Rewards Credit Cards Gained a Fanatic Following—Now Banks Are Pulling Back

https://www.wsj.com/articles/reward...ck-11546365926?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=9

Anything we don't know? I didn't know TPG made millions off of just the CSR or that Chase discussed how to market the card with TPG in Spring 2016 prior to the fall release.

Anything we should be concerned about? Nope.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

So I was trying to have a little fun on r/churning today...apparently the mods removed my comment with no notification, interesting, lol; For those who care to get a chuckle.

https://www.removeddit.com/r/churning/comments/ac4prb/_/ed5sfxi/

I guess I didn't realize this but the mods remove comments they don't like on r/churning...and apparently don't even notify the user (so they don't even know because it still shows up when they access the site). Very strange...

 

[miztressuz]

PNC opened my virtual wallet performance 11/5. As of today I have not been charged the fee and I did not maintain anywhere close the average daily balance of $5k. After receiving the bonus today I SM'd to downgrade to virtual wallet (which I expect will be done soon) which only requires a $500 balance which I will leave there until I hit my 6 month mark and can close the account fee free.

You should be past 45 days, you can downgrade yourself if there's not a technical problem. In the little "Preferences" tab to the right you can change your VW edition. Just move the slider to the left until VW with the $500 min bal shows up, then there's a "Change Edition" button at the bottom of the page. I just did it again the other day (I upgraded to take advantage of a freebie) and it changed same day.

 

[calypso726]

Humpback whale???

Yes! We saw them while on the zodiac. Then we saw more right next to the ship.

 

[WVMomof3]

It's pretty thoroughly discussed in this thread on r/churning (including a link to the full article that doesn't require you to have WSJ.
https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/ablpit/wsj_wellresearched_article_on_churning_currently/

Thanks, I figured it was over there, but I rarely go there unless directed from here. lol

 

[miztressuz]

I guess I didn't realize this but the mods remove comments they don't like on r/churning...and apparently don't even notify the user (so they don't even know because it still shows up when they access the site). Very strange...

Probably got caught up in Rule 11. (with probably a touch of Rule 1, since humor is hard to distinguish in text and is very subjective at this point in time)

 

[DisneyMandC]

Are you thinking of trying to open the account with 5k? The max charge for the opening deposit on a CC is 2k for PNC.

Sometimes the opening deposit has been counting towards the required DD's, so if it works out, your 2k on the CSP + 3k from somewhere else (and the debit transactions of course) should be enough to trigger it. If you do it quickly the bonus could post within the first 2 months that they usually grace period you for the monthly fees, then you can downgrade to the regular VW which only requires $500 min bal or $500 in DD's to keep fee free.

If you can't move 5k back and forth for 2 accounts at once, can you stagger the sign ups? To get the bonus you just have to sign up by the promo end date, not that it needs to be completed by that date. So maybe sign up for one now, then after that bonus posts, sign up for the other in March and repeat?

Thank you! I don't know why this process has me so confused. Yes, I could do 2k on the CSP and 3k from Ally. I have some other cash tied up in other accounts from bonuses, so couldn't do the 5k on two accounts at once. But I'm thinking I could do 5k now on an account for DH with his CSP, and then when I (hopefully) get a CIC in a couple months, I could do the same for me, assuming the bonus is still around.

 

[DisneyMandC]

So I was trying to have a little fun on r/churning today...apparently the mods removed my comment with no notification, interesting, lol; For those who care to get a chuckle.

https://www.removeddit.com/r/churning/comments/ac4prb/_/ed5sfxi/

Wow, GoogleIsMyJesus really doesn't appreciate your humor

 

[WVMomof3]

Are you thinking of trying to open the account with 5k? The max charge for the opening deposit on a CC is 2k for PNC.

Sometimes the opening deposit has been counting towards the required DD's, so if it works out, your 2k on the CSP + 3k from somewhere else (and the debit transactions of course) should be enough to trigger it. If you do it quickly the bonus could post within the first 2 months that they usually grace period you for the monthly fees, then you can downgrade to the regular VW which only requires $500 min bal or $500 in DD's to keep fee free.

If you can't move 5k back and forth for 2 accounts at once, can you stagger the sign ups? To get the bonus you just have to sign up by the promo end date, not that it needs to be completed by that date. So maybe sign up for one now, then after that bonus posts, sign up for the other in March and repeat?

PNC opened my virtual wallet performance 11/5. As of today I have not been charged the fee and I did not maintain anywhere close the average daily balance of $5k. After receiving the bonus today I SM'd to downgrade to virtual wallet (which I expect will be done soon) which only requires a $500 balance which I will leave there until I hit my 6 month mark and can close the account fee free.

I thought it was $4,000? $2,000 in savings and $2,000 in checking, or whatever they call their "wallet" things. The terms I believe say it is fee free for $5,000 average balance or for putting $5,000 DD in that month, so your first month should be covered by the 2nd qualifier. If you are able to change before the end of the 2nd month, I think you should be fine. Though I did hear the same about the grace period, when I asked about this a few months ago.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Wow, GoogleIsMyJesus really doesn't appreciate your humor

And of course - me being the person I am, I sent him a PM to apologize because perhaps a public call-out was unnecessary in my comment. I would probably say that makes me the exact opposite of what he accused me of being

 

[LynnTH]

Thanks, I'll search back in the thread to see what those hoops were! Another 100,000 URs would be nice!

I can tell you....

Applied for CIP#2 with EIN on 12/1.
Went to 2 Weeks for a few days - then 7-10 days. Assumed was denial so opened Venture card.
Got letter in mail. They needed documentation so faxed over License, SS Card and Print out of EIN Letter.
Went to 2 weeks again and then again to 7-10 days.
I called to see what was up. Apparently the Print out of EIN Letter was not good enough. They wanted a Welcome Letter.
Someone here on board (can't remember who ) gave me the info to call IRS and ask for this letter.
So, after being on hold for about an hour. Got the letter. Faxed in to Chase
Was approved on 12/26.
So, a bit of a hassle but worth it for the 100,000 points.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

I would add, be wary of applying for Amex business (and personal) cards unless you intend to put continuous or very high spend on them. Amex is generally easy as heck to get approved for, but it’s much harder to maintain a good relationship with Amex long term (and not end up on the naughty “no bonus for you” list) if you plan to be constantly working on MSRs on new cards or putting your organic spend on cards with better category bonuses.

You might have caught chatter that folks have been getting pop up warnings that they’re ineligible for the welcome bonus when applying for a new Amex card due to their “history”, or having their bonuses denied after approval even though they didn’t get the pop up warning. Amex is sniffing out customers who they think are “gamers” or “churners” and denying them bonuses, and a telltale sign seems to be signing up for a new Amex card, hitting MSR and getting the bonus, then sockdrawering the card (putting no or minimal spend on it) until it’s time to close the card in a year.

Well I'm sitting at 4 Amex cards right now (SPG Biz, HH Ascend, HH Aspire, Delta Gold). I'm about to apply for an Amex to do a balance transfer on as well. So I'll hit 5 with Amex and be maxed out anyways won't I? Can I close the Delta down the road (personal) and go for the biz and get the bonus? I think Amex likes me. I've had the SPG biz for 10 years now and until CSR (2 years ago) I did all my spending on it. I still spend on one of my Amex cards more often than any other card. The exception is the Delta Gold. I got that as DTW is a delta hub and I had a good offer (60k miles). I keep it for the free baggage at this point. But rarely spend on it unless i'm buying a delta ticket.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

So I elected to truly test the mods patience...and re-posted without calling out any members of the sub...

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/ac4prb/daily_discussion_thread_january_03_2019/ed64si8/

LOL...I may be asking for a ban haha!

 

[StephPlum]

OMG! Instant approval for CIC! I'm in shock

Congratulations

 

[FloridaNative8]

Oooookay, so we've decided to surprise the kiddos with a ski trip next January, along with some friends of ours. We aren't planning on going for the SW DD for a CP until March (although I have a roundtrip SW flight the beginning of next month, so I could do an in-flight app).

We currently have:
275K MRs
150K URs, hopefully 250K in a few months if P2 gets approved for CIP through my referral (applying today/tomorrow - unless the strategy needs to change!)

I know that flights can start booking early, and we'll need 4 RT tickets. I currently have the CSP and CIP, so I'm looking at 1.25x UR redemption for those.

Thoughts?

Edited to Add: I have a CSP, not a CSR!

 

[LynnTH]

Does anyone here know anything about Alaska Cruises? Next year will by our 25th Anniversary. (not sure how that happens when your only 30..) I always plan our vacations and DH and kids just go wherever. (Usually Disney or Caribbean Cruises) DH has always wanted to do an Alaskan Cruise - I have always been hesitant because it does not have really warm weather and palm trees. But I hear they are great. So, I was going to surprise him next year with this cruise. Our anniversary is in March but would go in June/July. I still have CSR so could book on points at 1.5 redemption. I started doing some research and just keep getting more confused on where to go. I did read not to go out of Seattle but go out of Vancouver as it is more scenic and calmer. Any suggestions would be great... Thanks.

 

[gottalovepluto]

You should be past 45 days, you can downgrade yourself if there's not a technical problem. In the little "Preferences" tab to the right you can change your VW edition. Just move the slider to the left until VW with the $500 min bal shows up, then there's a "Change Edition" button at the bottom of the page. I just did it again the other day (I upgraded to take advantage of a freebie) and it changed same day.

Nice! The only thing better than SM is not involving another human at all!

 

[WVMomof3]

What?!?!?!?

I got a SW personal on 12/1. I don’t know if I’d be able to get a Biz this soon. Plus, I still haven’t lowered my limits. Argh!

I am going by DOC post that says - Southwest 60,000 Points Signup Bonus on All Four Versions (Ending 1/9/19)