I love credit cards so much! v3.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[WVMomof3]

I told my sis about my 2 new card bonuses and she wants my advice on switching her Chase Disney to something else. Since I am pretty clueless, I thought I'd ask this group. She found out today that when she signed up for the card a few years ago they didn't even enroll her in the rewards program, so she has accrued NO rewards for that card for several years (don't ask, I tried to tell her a million times that was a dumb card for her because she doesn't even like Disney that much and never goes).

Can she do a PC to a different Chase card? And if yes, will she get the new card bonus on the new card?

Like others have said, if she has the Disney Visa she has rewards somewhere. She just doesn't know where to look for them. Is it possible she has a Chase Checking account and just has the Disney Debit card? Sounds like she is confused either way and its hard to explain things to some people. She would not be able to PC a Disney card to any UR card and you do want to sign up to get any bonus. I would straighten out what her Disney Visa situation is before I would recommend her to start with a new one.

 

[djmeredith]

I'm pretty sure you don't have to enroll in any rewards program with Disney Card. It should be automatic. She accrues points on every purchase and then can put them on a Disney Rewards Card to use in store or in parks. I have had the Disney Card for years and never had to enroll in anything.

That's what I thought! But she claims she called today and they told her she doesn't have any rewards because she never enrolled. My sis is pretty clueless though because her husband handles everything. lol I'm going to have her log into her account while I am there and take a look and then maybe even call myself.

This. If there are no rewards showing, is it possible she doesn't understand the program? I've had both of the Disney cards and have never had to enroll in rewards. In any case, if she doesn't do Disney, time for a different more versatile reward. UR's are like cash in the bank.

editing to ask: Does your sister monitor her accounts online?

LIke I said above, anything is possible so I'm going to double check on that. And that's exactly what I told her about URs!! She said she does monitor her account online frequently.

 

[djmeredith]

Like others have said, if she has the Disney Visa she has rewards somewhere. She just doesn't know where to look for them. Is it possible she has a Chase Checking account and just has the Disney Debit card? Sounds like she is confused either way and its hard to explain things to some people. She would not be able to PC a Disney card to any UR card and you do want to sign up to get any bonus. I would straighten out what her Disney Visa situation is before I would recommend her to start with a new one.

Maybe it's her debit card! That would explain the no rewards points. I will double check with her and report back because this is a mystery that I must solve.

 

[Hoosier John]

Trip Insurance Question: Booking flights with airline miles for an upcoming cruise and putting fees on wife's new CSR. I understand that the CSR will only cover weather, medical, and maybe mechanical(?), but NOT COVID or cruise cancellation/bankruptcy.

If I got that part right, then would we want "cancel for any reason" trip insurance?
And any recommendations?

 

[ten6mom]

Why was it suggested you Uber to contemporary?

Oooh sorry. Boardwalk! For breakfast.

So. Many. Hotels!!!!!

 

[ten6mom]

I think some people are suggesting an Uber or Lyft to Swan/Dolphin or Boardwalk or the Speedway next to Boardwalk to walk To DHS.

Boardwalk! Yes! Sorry.. can't keep them all straight!

 

[wanderlust7]

Trip Insurance Question: Booking flights with airline miles for an upcoming cruise and putting fees on wife's new CSR. I understand that the CSR will only cover weather, medical, and maybe mechanical(?), but NOT COVID or cruise cancellation/bankruptcy.

If I got that part right, then would we want "cancel for any reason" trip insurance?
And any recommendations?

My understanding is that the CSR insurance won't cover COVID concerns, but would cover if you actually got COVID - either as sickness or mandated quarantine.

You're correct, CSR won't cover bankruptcy. I think most comprehensive policies cover that. The cancel for any reason insurance usually only covers at most 75% and most you need to buy the insurance within 14-21 days of when you first booked your trip (likely when you put the deposit on the cruise?). I did see one that just require you to buy it before final payment - when you paid the final payment not when final payment is due (I learned that the hard way).

Every trip insurance I buy, I think through what are the "what ifs". For cruises, I'll look at the missed connection coverage if I'm flying in the day before or even 2 days before. I also like to see a good amount for medical evacuation, though I don't really know how much is enough. CSR is 100k, but if I buy a policy I like to see at least 500k.

Other things to research and think through are what are the cancellation policies for the flights and cruises now. Things may be much more flexible than they usually are.

 

[Hoosier John]

My understanding is that the CSR insurance won't cover COVID concerns, but would cover if you actually got COVID - either as sickness or mandated quarantine.

You're correct, CSR won't cover bankruptcy. I think most comprehensive policies cover that. The cancel for any reason insurance usually only covers at most 75% and most you need to buy the insurance within 14-21 days of when you first booked your trip (likely when you put the deposit on the cruise?). I did see one that just require you to buy it before final payment - when you paid the final payment not when final payment is due (I learned that the hard way).

Every trip insurance I buy, I think through what are the "what ifs". For cruises, I'll look at the missed connection coverage if I'm flying in the day before or even 2 days before. I also like to see a good amount for medical evacuation., though I don't really know how much is enough. CSR is 100k, but if I buy a policy I like to see at least 500k.

Other things to research and think through are what are the cancellation policies for the flights and cruises now. Things may be much more flexible than they usually are.

That's why DISboards is so great ... Wife ask me to research this ... Ask my friends here ... Answered in a few minutes!

Thank You!!!

 

[ten6mom]

That's why DISboards is so great ... Wife ask me to research this ... Ask my friends here ... Answered in a few minutes!

Thank You!!!

I'd say this thread, specifically, is pretty amazing!

 

[Hoosier John]

Agreed. I don't stray too far from here. Funny Memes and FIRE are a couple new haunts. A long time ago I started following the thread for an upcoming DVC Members Cruise. That thread moved faster than this one, believe it or not. We closed out 2 or 3 full threads in 11 months.

We got to know each other here on DISboards before we even sailed. We met one couple for lunch while visiting their daughter in London. Others had meet-and-greets for those who lived in the same region. When we sailed back from England on the QM2, one of the guys worked at a fire station right under the low bridge in NYC (name escapes me right now). He set up roadway signs to read "Welcome Home John and [wife]". It was gonna be a bigger welcome to NYC than the Mayor could expect! Unfortunately it was rather foggy and he dozed off, or went inside just as we came through, but it's the thought that counted. I was up on deck around 4am as we barely cleared that bridge. When we finally sailed, we already knew each other. We had a special photo event for our group dressed as pirates on Pirate Night (which was coincidentally International Talk Like a Pirate Day). And of course we participated in the "Fish Extender" exchange. Fond memories.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

My citi thank you card had a 5x points for online purchases up to $500. Used that with my 5% coupon for Kroger gift card mall to get a $400 target gift card. Plus I got 800 fuel points which is worth another $20 or so to me. The gift card will either go toward dd's ipad pro, ds's xbox series x, or ds's adhd medicine

Also used my Wells Fargo visa with 10% off at grocery stores to pick up a $100 visa (had a coupon) and a $225 Kroger gift card which I'll use when they have 4x fuel points to buy a Disney gift card.

I want to get rid of both these cards but every once in a while they are worth having (and they have no annual fee).

I have a Sears Citi card older than dirt. A few years ago they added TYP to it. Right now I have offers of 25x utility payments and 15x gas, restaurants and grocery stores. In the past years I’ve earned enough TYP for 2 5 day tix to DLR. Now if I could only use them...

 

[Hoosier John]

One Way Flights Fairbanks, AK (FAI) to Louisville (SDF) Question: Any tips on finding good flights in First Class?
We have URs, AA miles, and Delta miles (no Alaskan Air miles, which is the first leg of AA). Those seem to be the only choices.
Not to mention they all leave late and take half a day.

 

[havaneselover]

I have a Sears Citi card older than dirt. A few years ago they added TYP to it. Right now I have offers of 25x utility payments and 15x gas, restaurants and grocery stores. In the past years I’ve earned enough TYP for 2 5 day tix to DLR. Now if I could only use them...

Holy cow—that’s crazy.

 

[djmeredith]

WVMomof3 for the win! My sister's card is indeed a debit card and that's why she had no rewards. Only my sis would get confused when I asked about her Disney CREDIT card. Sorry for the confusion everyone! But I did learn more about PCs from the convo so thanks for that info. But I am still going to convince her and my BIL to dip their toes into the Rewards water. They have excellent credit, love to travel, he's already got status with SW and IHG from work travel, and she lost her job in January so every little bit helps! They are leaving a lot of free money on the table.

 

[djmeredith]

One Way Flights Fairbanks, AK (FAI) to Louisville (SDF) Question: Any tips on finding good flights in First Class?
We have URs, AA miles, and Delta miles (no Alaskan Air miles, which is the first leg of AA). Those seem to be the only choices.
Not to mention the all leave late and take half a day.

Hi Hoosier John! I can't answer your question but I'm in the Louisville area too. Small world!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Does anyone here have any of the masks from the Disney store? If so, how do you like them? From reading the reviews, it look like the sizing has been improved but the fabric is now all polyester (from what i can tell, cotton is preferred).

Any other suggestions for masks?

I bought the Disney masks from Shopdisney.com. Very small. The large doesn’t fit DS11 or me. The ear loops are painfully tight. My sister found some Disney ones at Walmart this week and got them for a friend who says they are the best fitting, most comfortable ones she has.

Thanks everyone, for all the love. He was such a good dog.

I’m so sorry. It’s so hard.

That's why DISboards is so great ... Wife ask me to research this ... Ask my friends here ... Answered in a few minutes!

Thank You!!!

Right? This group here is the best.

Holy cow—that’s crazy.

I keep thinking they are sooo desperate. There isn’t even a Sears store near me anymore. I got the card for free delivery on appliances. Lol.

 

[fofinia]

Citi is the worst! I never had any problems with my Costco card through them, but there is a HUGE fraudulent charge on my double cash card that I just opened n May and now they are telling me it could take up to 30 days to credit my account. I have dealt with fraud charges before with other companies and it was taken care of promptly. I will be closing this card immediately upon resolution. The extra .5% cash back is not worth this! I'm surprised they didn't question a charge from Great Britain in Swedish Krona when it happened.

Citi has the WORST fraud dept!! My husband had a charge on his Sears-Citi Visa card. It was around $180 from Booking .com. To book a hotel in Moscow. We definitely didn't book it. Hadn't left the country in 10 years. Have never traveled to Russia. And so I filed a fraud report. They said 30 days. But did waive the charge till investigated.

30+ days later we get a copy of the report. The report says Citi found him responsible for the charges. And included the copies of web shots of Booking showing the purchase. It was purchased by a person named Wang Ho from China for a room in Moscow. UMM he's responsible? My husbands initials are not W.H. We live in the states. Not china. And we don't have a name that sounds anything like Wang Ho. It was absurd. They showed us proof that it was charged from overseas for a different name. And yet He was responsible.

Then...It took an hour on the phone with fraud to re contest the charge. And convince the person over the phone that it wasn't him. And very reluctantly they removed the charge.

Fast forward 4-5 months. Another fraudulent charge for Dunkin Donuts gift cards. (At least that is something my DH actually purchases- the store not GC's.)

This time at least they removed the charge immediately. And he asked for the card to be closed. Sears has closed anyway and he never used it. But to have a second fraudulent charge on it months later. It's just not worth it.

 

[Hoosier John]

Hi Hoosier John! I can't answer your question but I'm in the Louisville area too. Small world!

But you are assuming (correctly) that I am vacationing in Alaska and not Louisville
Hi @djmeredith

 

[djmeredith]

But you are assuming (correctly) that I am vacationing in Alaska and not Louisville
Hi @djmeredith

LOL! It was an assumption based on your name. Although I admit I did not consider that you could be a Hoosier transplant in AK.

 

[Hoosier John]

WVMomof3 for the win! My sister's card is indeed a debit card and that's why she had no rewards. Only my sis would get confused when I asked about her Disney CREDIT card. Sorry for the confusion everyone! But I did learn more about PCs from the convo so thanks for that info. But I am still going to convince her and my BIL to dip their toes into the Rewards water. They have excellent credit, love to travel, he's already got status with SW and IHG from work travel, and she lost her job in January so every little bit helps! They are leaving a lot of free money on the table.

Yay @WVMomof3!

@djmeredith: For your sister, it sounds like pursuing IHG (which has a good card offer right now) and/or SW (to earn a companion pass, since this is the season to do that). @SouthFayetteFan is a SW guru. Plus he put together a summary recently of a bunch of new offers that just opened up.

We keep our credit card applications below 5 cards in 24 months (below 5/24) and space applications 3 months apart, to stay in the good graces of Chase. It is interesting to note that most Business cards do NOT count against the 5/24, so if one has a reasonable side hustle that makes a little money, this is a good way to keep your 5/24 count down. Chase Ultimate Rewards (URs) is generally accepted as the most lucrative and versatile, followed closely by Amex Member Rewards (MRs), then others. I would say to exhaust URs until at 5/24 then think carefully about Amex.

Chase cards I like are the Sapphire Preferred ($95 Annual Fee with 80k~$800+ Sign Up Bonus (SUB)), Freedom Unlimited (1.5% rewards on any purchase), and the new Freedom Flex (most interesting to me is the 3% drug store rewards). Feel free to ask anyone here about your next move ... lots of experts here.

Oh and avoid Authorized Users (counts against their 5/24 status without any SUB), and store cards which really have no SUB other than an initial discount. But don't close old cards (to keep a good Average Age of Credit), and make sure to keep any new card for at least one year before Product Changing (PCing) to a no fee card.