I love credit cards so much! v6.0 - 2023 (see first page for add'l details)

[FreeDiningFanatic]

I think we will see if it hurts amex in a few quarters or so

You referenced something about Amex lifetime language. Has something changed?

 

[magickingdomprincess]

I think we will see if it hurts amex in a few quarters or so

Has there been a change with Amex? They've had lifetime language for the last at least 5 years or so as far as I know, possibly longer. That's just how long I've been paying attention.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

You should be good. I am just super type A personality, and want you to succeed! I wanted to emphasize that you need the closing date to be on the 1st for your best chance of success. It looks like you’re in good shape, and should have a better idea once you have the card. It’s such a tight timeline. I’m rooting for you!!

Gotcha. Yeah, I'll be worrying about this working until it actually works, lol. Chase is currently showing due date of Oct 28. We'll see if that changes for some reason when the card arrives.

Thanks!

 

[AmyAnne]

Not sure if all Florida VPK schools have the same policies but the VPK my grandson just started in Baldwin Park has an attendance policy no more taking him to Disney, while his parents

We don't have vpk here but it saddens me that policies like this discourage family time. When the kiddos are little (and even when they aren't) travel is very educational.

Agree. If this had been my kids' schools, I would have probably told them the absence was because of a "family necessity" or some other reason that would fall within the excused absences. My kids were all good students, and some worried about missing school more than others (and at different times, depending on their class schedules) but I never ruled out family travel just for the sake of attendance.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Agree. If this had been my kids' schools, I would have probably told them the absence was because of a "family necessity" or some other reason that would fall within the excused absences. My kids were all good students, and some worried about missing school more than others (and at different times, depending on their class schedules) but I never ruled out family travel just for the sake of attendance.

I had no qualms about taking DS out of school when he was younger. After about 3rd grade there was more homework and such, we might take a day or 2, but not a week. But for pre-k, no hesitation. Isn’t the V in VPK ‘voluntary’ ? So how is there a strict attendance policy for a voluntary, not required, program?

 

[reliev]

Has there been a change with Amex? They've had lifetime language for the last at least 5 years or so as far as I know, possibly longer. That's just how long I've been paying attention.

Yes it seems like they are actually enforcing it now
You can't sign up for a new product i.e. Morgan Stanley Platinum or Swab Plantium and get the signup bonus you can get it just can't get the bonus like you used to.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

Yes it seems like they are actually enforcing it now
You can't sign up for a new product i.e. Morgan Stanley Platinum or Swab Plantium and get the signup bonus you can get it just can't get the bonus like you used to.

So instead of it being 7 years or so it's actually if you've ever had the card ever?

 

[Haley R]

I had no qualms about taking DS out of school when he was younger. After about 3rd grade there was more homework and such, we might take a day or 2, but not a week. But for pre-k, no hesitation. Isn’t the V in VPK ‘voluntary’ ? So how is there a strict attendance policy for a voluntary, not required, program?

It’s because of funding. I had to look it up. The VPK program is free for all kids age 4 and the schools get funding but can lose that if the kids aren’t meeting the attendance policy.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Crazy question- I am taking DS to his first college football this weekend at the University of Alabama. He is hoping to go college there next year. Has anyone been and have any advice? I have never been to a college game so this is brand new territory. Roll Tide!

My youngest DD just graduated from Bama this May. Roll Tide!

The nicer hotels in Tuscaloosa were $$$$$ for game weekends, parents weekends, move in, move out, and graduation.

Even the Super Motels motels were a few hundred a night. I could never bring myself to pay $500/night for a Days Inn. Many of the motels are not nice either. They would have been $69/night motels elsewhere.

My DH and I after trying a myriad of hotels in Tuscaloosa, some nice (Embassy, Hampton, Capstone), some passable (DaysInn, Wyndham), decided NONE were worth the upcharge in $$.

We decided we like staying at Hoover, AL instead. We prefer the Hampton there but started staying at the Hyatt Place on points after starting the points game. That Hyatt use to be 5K a night but I think it was adjusted upwards after the last program update.

We always go to the Costco in Hoover which is just across the road from the hotel of John Hawkins Pkway, to stock DD up for the school year. There are a lot of restaurants in that area and we never had to fight the crowds in Tuscaloosa after the first few years.

The drive is under an hour from Hoover but the highway super easy and fast drive. ALWAYS leave extra time for traffic and accidents.

In Tuscaloosa itself, we always enjoyed dinner at Half Shell Oyster House. There was another restaurant that we liked that was in the old railway station bu I think it closed, not sure if it reopened.

HTH. Have fun!

 

[havaneselover]

I had no qualms about taking DS out of school when he was younger. After about 3rd grade there was more homework and such, we might take a day or 2, but not a week. But for pre-k, no hesitation. Isn’t the V in VPK ‘voluntary’ ? So how is there a strict attendance policy for a voluntary, not required, program?

I think it's a fiscal responsibility thing. We moved out of Florida right as they were starting VPK. This was eons ago when there were limited spots. But if the state is paying for it, they want to make sure someone isn't using it twice a month is my guess for the rationale.

 

[EACarlson]

I had no qualms about taking DS out of school when he was younger. After about 3rd grade there was more homework and such, we might take a day or 2, but not a week. But for pre-k, no hesitation. Isn’t the V in VPK ‘voluntary’ ? So how is there a strict attendance policy for a voluntary, not required, program?

In my view, the school district lost all right to complain about me taking my kids out of school for something in March of 2020. On March 10th I got a letter from the district telling me how important it was for kids to have in school instruction and how much they missed even if they made up the work at home. Three days later they sent my 2nd grader and Pre-Ker home for the remainder of the school year. We had taken them out for a week to go WDW, had kept them home when they had the "Flu," a week after we got back, (it very well may have been COVID, but nobody knew anything about COVID then) and were planning on taking them to Dallas for a few days to see family.

@Haley R What constitutes excused vs unexcused? In WI, parental permission is considered excused.

 

[reliev]

So instead of it being 7 years or so it's actually if you've ever had the card ever?

yep thats the way I understand it, even product changes now too I think this only applies to platinum though I cant think of another product that has another variant.
I feel it's like password sharing if one company cracks down and its more profitable it will go across the board.

 

[Haley R]

In my view, the school district lost all right to complain about me taking my kids out of school for something in March of 2020. On March 10th I got a letter from the district telling me how important it was for kids to have in school instruction and how much they missed even if they made up the work at home. Three days later they sent my 2nd grader and Pre-Ker home for the remainder of the school year. We had taken them out for a week to go WDW, had kept them home when they had the "Flu," a week after we got back, (it very well may have been COVID, but nobody knew anything about COVID then) and were planning on taking them to Dallas for a few days to see family.

@Haley R What constitutes excused vs unexcused? In WI, parental permission is considered excused.

I’m not sure what counts as excused or unexcused. I never looked that far since his teacher said she would work with us.

 

[EACarlson]

I’m not sure what counts as excused or unexcused. I never looked that far since his teacher said she would work with us.

This is the exact part of the relevant statute in WI. I would bet that FL has something similar.
"Any child excused in writing by his or her parent or guardian before the absence. The school board shall require a child excused under this paragraph to complete any course work missed during the absence. A child may not be excused for more than 10 days in a school year under this paragraph."

 

[Judique]

I hope you're wrong but who knows? I think we can wait 2 weeks without too much worry, but lifetime language scares me going forward.

Earlier I said to go for it.

I based this on my recent experience:

January - Amtrak personal
March - CIU Business
June 28 -IHG Business
July 19 - Hilton Honors Surpass Both IHG and Surpass were FOMO
September 2 - CIU Business (I've got 6K of spend this month and early next month above my normal spending.

In 2022, I app'ed for only 2 cards. Prior my busiest year was 2018.

I'm now finished until next year (or until something juicy comes my way.)

 

[hsmamato2]

Earlier I said to go for it.

I based this on my recent experience:

January - Amtrak personal
March - CIU Business
June 28 -IHG Business
July 19 - Hilton Honors Surpass Both IHG and Surpass were FOMO
September 2 - CIU Business (I've got 6K of spend this month and early next month above my normal spending.

In 2022, I app'ed for only 2 cards. Prior my busiest year was 2018.

I'm now finished until next year (or until something juicy comes my way.)

That's what I keep saying.... I was SURE I was only gonna do 1 app this year....I just did my 4th.....

 

[Judique]

@punkin - I'm going to say a bit about life time language and Amex.

Amex is always going to do what's best for Amex. They've had lifetime language as far as I can remember. I've been a card holder since the 90ties (after I divorced using my own developing earnings ie nothing big).

I've had up to 7 Amex credit cards well before I had a charge card from them. I took myself down to 4 credit cards and recently got the Surpass which I had gotten the pop up for not too long before. Many people got the pop up by applying with various links. I didn't see anybody report getting it from Doc's link.

Most of the shut downs are usually very heavy hitters. People who do 3-4 cards in a year are not heavy hitters.

Chase could have followed the Amex lead long ago. I'm sure they understand the business. I highly doubt they will go further than the one every 2 years with many branded cards and the every four years with their premium products. With branded cards, the brand has input. We've seen that with Marriott. Marriott makes their own rules as part of their agreements with both issuers.

With their own business cards Chase rolls the dice. They do good promos because it's a crapshoot of who will be the next 'big' deal. Right now they've gone with high SUB's and almost moderate rewards. I don't think we are going to see a whole lot of changes anytime soon. They'll stay with what pays the bills. Not everyone out there is a churner.

When we apply, they can always say 'No'. And later on they usually say 'Yes' in time and with some moderation.

I do think the most important thing past moderating app's is to make consistent payments, with nothing late, and keep rollovers to a minimum (moving debt to no interest card offers).

 

[Psychodisney]

I had no qualms about taking DS out of school when he was younger. After about 3rd grade there was more homework and such, we might take a day or 2, but not a week. But for pre-k, no hesitation. Isn’t the V in VPK ‘voluntary’ ? So how is there a strict attendance policy for a voluntary, not required, program?

Edited. Realized similar responses had already been posted.

 

[spacerangerqueen]

Got DH the SW Biz card last night. The bonus tracker says we need to meet the MSR by Dec 5th to get the first 60k. Currently the first due date shows Oct 13 and there is no closing date. When do I want to change my date to so that I don't miss the Dec 5th spend date, but the points don't credit until January?

 

[wanderlust7]

Has there been a change with Amex? They've had lifetime language for the last at least 5 years or so as far as I know, possibly longer. That's just how long I've been paying attention.

The lifetime language across the different flavors of plats is new.

The LL wording has changed on some cards from a more definitive "Welcome offer not available" to "You may not be eligible". If you can get past the pop-up you should get the SUB. Otherwise, I don't think the Amex "lifetime" of around 7 years or until they forget has changed. But with the "may not" language, maybe it's less relevant.