I love credit cards so much!

[Judique]

Last year the middle of my tree stopped working. I am too cheap to buy another one, so we just wrap lights around that area and it looks fine (at least to me).

I got cheap this afternoon. I unwrapped the string of non working lights and I'm reapplying a working string. It's approximately 100 bulbs. Its tedious, but again the Dis is slow these days and I'm just relaxing.

I saved the little clips and sort of figured out how to do this. I do not recommend anyone going to all this trouble, but it is cost saving as the light string probably cost me $3.

 

[StephPlum]

Credit Card success story.

Some background, my daughter and I were planning to go to Glacier NP, Banff NP and Jasper NP this year in August. We changed our minds at the last minute - one week before we were to fly out - due to the large number of forest fires in the area. Instead of going west, we went east to Acadia.

I buy the airline tickets for both of us and she repays me. For this trip which was from Columbus OH to Spokane WA, we were flying out on Delta and back on SW. Obviously no problem cancelling with SW, I just got a refund/points (paid with a combo). But Delta was nonrefundable. I had put these tickets, back in Feb, on my new CIP. I knew it had some type of travel cancellation/interruption insurance. Looking at the terms, it covered cancellation due to weather. Maybe a stretch, but I really didn't see any downside to submitting a claim based on forest fires.

I called the number in the Guide to Benefits pamphlet. The CSR verified I had coverage and directed me to a website to enter my information. Filled out the on-line form, uploaded all the documentation and sat back to wait. There was a lot of waiting. I won't say it was the easiest process as there isn't a lot of communication that you get. They sent me emails asking to upload the same information I uploaded when I first submitted the claim. Also it seemed like they only look at one thing at a time as they don't ask for everything at once. The last item was relationship between the claimants (me and my daughter). In case you don't know it only covers card holder and immediate family (and of course employees but I have a "biz", just me).

All in all, it took from Sept - Dec to get this approved!!!! I just got the email today that they approved my claim. Before this hobby, this expense would have gone on my CF and no recourse for a refund. So thanks for helping me get a $400 refund.

 

[Limes96]

Applying for the HH biz tonight. I’ve never had an Amex biz card before. Do I apply using my personal card (BCP) login info? Or do I say I’m not a current cardholder?

 

[mmmears]

Isn’t it so annoying how the larger rooms are never available for point redemptions ?? I know they would need to increase points. I’m fine with that. Just please offer the option!

It's very annoying that there is often only once choice when it comes to rooms. I would think they would take the opportunity to offer more options for a higher amount of points. I ran into this years ago when I needed to book rooms in Europe - it was tough to get one room that could sleep the 3 of us (2 adults and one child). I can't imagine what it's like for larger families.

I opened the Amex Plat last month after being targeted for the 100k offer. I finally saw that my statement close is mid-December. I can do the Triple Dip, right?

Plat Travel Credit:
We only have plans to fly American next year for one round trip...already paid for, seats assigned. We might check 1 bag, but that won't be decided until packing time. I read a recent article on MMS about which airlines credit the $200 travel credit for purchasing gift cards: Delta, SW, and American. Anything change? We have no use for SW, and am planning on listing any GC on Raise, but I probably would pick American just in case it doesn't sell.

In case I can't sell the American GC's, and I get them in $100 denominations, can these be used for general airfare, or if I want, to pay for the checked bag next year? Any other thoughts?

Saks Credit:
I have only seen very few reports of the credit working for in-store GC purchase. Any other insight? I don't really have any need for anything from Saks (especially that can be bought for $50 or less).

We bought $300 in $100 increments in November, AAirlines and it worked (multiple cards here). Oddly enough, you can use the GCs for flights, but not for the extra things that the credit is initially good for (like upgrading seats and stuff like that). I was able to purchase AA seats with the GCs, but then had to pay with a CC for the premium upcharge on the seats, which meant a phone call to AA since it wouldn't work online. So kind of a pain, and no you can't use it for just anything, but it worked out for me since I had more AA tickets to purchase anyway.

As for the Saks money, I used it to buy skincare products I use every day. It's stuff I was going to buy anyway, so that's one way to use it up.

 

[Natgridenergy]

Woohoo, as of an hour ago my Santander checking account is approved and opened.

what are you going to do to transfer the 1k in? What satisfies the monthly "electronic transaction"?

 

[Lain]

Applying for the HH biz tonight. I’ve never had an Amex biz card before. Do I apply using my personal card (BCP) login info? Or do I say I’m not a current cardholder?

Do you have any other Amex cards? (Don’t you have a Plat?!)

Go to the Amex Refer A Friend website.

You’ll want to generate a referral link from your BCP (worth $75), or another one of your Amex cards with a better referral bonus (the Plat referral is worth 15,000 MR! Which is worth at least $150).

Then, copy and paste that link into an incognito window or different browser. (Make sure you’re using a link from your highest referring card.)

You should see near the top an option to see all other cards with a referral option, including a link asking if you’re looking for a business card. Click through these options until you find the Hilton Biz.

Click on the Hilton Biz and complete the application from scratch.

Congrats! You’ve just self-referred yourself.

 

[Limes96]

Do you have any other Amex cards? (Don’t you have a Plat?!)

Go to the Amex Refer A Friend website.

You’ll want to generate a referral link from your BCP (worth $75), or another one of your Amex cards with a better referral bonus (the Plat referral is worth 15,000 MR! Which is worth at least $150).

Then, copy and paste that link into an incognito window or different browser. (Make sure you’re using a link from your highest referring card.)

You should see near the top an option to see all other cards with a referral option, including a link asking if you’re looking for a business card. Click through these options until you find the Hilton Biz.

Click on the Hilton Biz and complete the application from scratch.

Congrats! You’ve just self-referred yourself.

Thanks Lain, I did get the referral email through P2’s plat so I’ll use that. I’m just unsure if I need to use my BCP login info when I go to apply or if I should put that I don’t have a card yet. I’m unsure how Amex does personal vs biz logins. I know with Chase I have two separate logins for my CIP and my CSR. Is Amex the same way?

 

[Lain]

I'm going down that week too. DD19 moves into her DCP!! Would your wife think you are insane for buying a random disser a meal?

Oh, I would love to see a @SouthFayetteFan and @disneymagicgirl meetup!

 

[Lain]

Thanks Lain, I did get the referral email through P2’s plat so I’ll use that. I’m just unsure if I need to use my BCP login info when I go to apply or if I should put that I don’t have a card yet. I’m unsure how Amex does personal vs biz logins. I know with Chase I have two separate logins for my CIP and my CSR. Is Amex the same way?

I never apply with my Amex login. I always fill out applications from scratch. (Amex should be able to find you by your SSN anyway.)

Once approved, you can link the Hilton Biz to an existing Amex account or create a new one.

Unlike Chase, it doesn’t matter if you have business cards on the same login as personal cards, or even a Hilton Honors card on the same login as a cash back card.

 

[Alexle2007]

Interesting... this is news to me and a change from before. Wonder if Chase is doing this with all their cards now. I know URs post at statement close. Marriott I'm not sure. Ritz free nights used to post when the charge putting you over MSR was still pending. I'm almost certain this was a cause of issues on Reddit last year though, Southwest points were posting before statement close and messing up the CP.

Also I think I'm just more confused now. If the points post at statement close, what difference would it make at this point for @Jax1023? It's within the statement period for 1/2, so conceivably all spending up to MSR could be done now safely and the points will post at statement close. But that's not the conventional wisdom that I've seen. What difference does it make at this point to finish the spend on January 1?

It makes none at all. Jax could spend the remaining amount right now and be perfectly fine on the SW Biz. I think some people are just overly cautious.

 

[Alexle2007]

and the offers show for his accounts? I can log in, but offers won't show if mine show. I have to delete and reinstall then log in as him for them to show, but then mine don't show.

Yep. I logon and see mine. Then I logon under his account and his are there. Although his offers have sucked compared to mine.

 

[GlamMistress]

I opened the Amex Plat last month after being targeted for the 100k offer. I finally saw that my statement close is mid-December. I can do the Triple Dip, right?



Saks Credit:
I have only seen very few reports of the credit working for in-store GC purchase. Any other insight? I don't really have any need for anything from Saks (especially that can be bought for $50 or less).

I did an in-store gift card purchase. Credited in 4 days. Easy peasy.

 

[havaneselover]

DD has her GE interview in February!

 

[Limes96]

Just got an approval for an Amex HH biz card! Used DH’s plat referral.

 

[tink1970]

Just got an approval for an Amex HH biz card! Used DH’s plat referral.

Congrats!

 

[StephPlum]

Checked my CSR points - earnings on next statement 51,435!! Yea, another MSR down.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

• Can someone point me towards the best dates to change my payment due date to to try and get my SW CP faster? I know it's a risk, but since I pretty much can't use CP on the trip in January, I'm okay taking a risk trying to get the points to post earlier in general.

Currently:

• Biz card closed on 25th, due date is Dec 22nd
• Personal card doesn't have close date posted, due date is Jan 11th

Looking, maybe personal card is okay as it should close a few days before Jan 11th...? So really just want to move Biz to earlier in the month if possible.

Based on @Haley R’s terrible due date change experience, I am done making recommendations to play with that

I referred someone for the CSP card to receive 10,000 URs. They were approved, have received and activated the card, and are putting spend on the card. When should I see the 10,000 URs in my account? Thanks!

I wouldn’t get worried until 4 Tuesdays pass without seeing the points.

I think you know this from reading other posts, but just to make sure - SW points don't post at statement close. They post when you hit MSR. So your statement date isn't all that important here. You have to ensure you haven't hit that spend before January, but you are good after January.

$100 is cutting it close but it should be fine. But again, another point to remember is DPs from last year indicated Chase doesn't factor out credits. A dollar spent is a dollar spent toward MSR.

Really? So if my statement closes 1/2 and I hit the msr on 1/7 I won’t have to wait till 2/2 for my points? That seems.... unusual.

I honestly think it has to do with these reports of chase “gifting” point early before the minimum spend is met.

I personally feel this is just people who didn’t track closely enough- had a return or didn’t count the annual fee or soenthing and accidentally hit the minimum spend before they meant to.

I don’t really need the points before 2/2 so I’ll likely wait until January to finish the spend just to be cautious, but I personally think I could meet the anytime now that my December statement has closed and the points wouldn’t post until sometime in early January.

I think last year there were a lot of issues because the personal 60k offer expired in October. So people had to time everything carefully to not hit the spend within the December statement period but before 115 days were up.

Ok - there are so many comments here on this today but just to set things straight:

• Southwest CC points will post in conjunction with a statement closing.
• Once your December statement closes you are fine to hit your MSR
• HOWEVER some people who are super cautious will still wait until Jan to hit the MSR just to be safe.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I'm going down that week too. DD19 moves into her DCP!! Would your wife think you are insane for buying a random disser a meal?

My wife has a policy that internet friends are internet friends and real life friends are real life friends and the two don’t mix lol.

I hope we have great weather that week though!!

EDIT: please don’t take that the wrong way (anybody) lol. I know you’re all awesome people.

 

[Haley R]

Based on @Haley R’s terrible due date change experience, I am done making recommendations to play with that


I wouldn’t get worried until 4 Tuesdays pass without seeing the points.






Ok - there are so many comments here on this today but just to set things straight:

• Southwest CC points will post in conjunction with a statement closing.
• Once your December statement closes you are fine to hit your MSR
• HOWEVER some people who are super cautious will still wait until Jan to hit the MSR just to be safe.

Lol yeah don’t change the due date

 

[DisneyMandC]

My wife has a policy that internet friends are internet friends and real life friends are real life friends and the two don’t mix lol.

I hope we have great weather that week though!!

EDIT: please don’t take that the wrong way (anybody) lol. I know you’re all awesome people.

My DH has the same policy haha. I guess it should really be my policy too, given my line of work lol.