I love credit cards so much!

[CyndiLouWho]

Need a little input before I pull the trigger. I am 12/24, DH is 4/24 (3/24 in Oct '18). Need to accrue cashback for cruise. I am wanting BoA Premium & DiscoverIt for the matching cashback. My credit score took a hit in September for a car loan, its back up to 797 today. Do you think I could apply for both today & get approved?

Even though it's lame use of a spot, was thinking one of those cards or Disney ($200 gift card) for DH, then a spot will open back up by end of 2018 for an attempt at CP on SW. We don't have lots of spend so I can't do more than one spend or reach the limits for some of the higher spend cards.

 

[havaneselover]

I am trying to work up the nerve to apply for a CIP. I have been reading all about it. I do some occasional vinyl and embroidery/sewing work on the side, just by word of mouth, so I guess that will be my business. Anyone get denied and want to share where they think they went wrong? I do have 4 chase cards already, only 1 opened in last 6 months though, but my total credit line among the 4 is probably $60k. I saw somewhere that your total credit line with them should be about $10k less than 50% of income and I am still well under that figure.
If I chicken out on the CIP I am going to go Marriott and SPG combo.

I am at 4/24 and applied 12/12. This is my 6th chase card. I got the 30-day message but had my card about 9 days later. And my total credit line with chase is now about two-thirds of my annual income.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I SM'd this morning, awaiting reply, although I'm trying to downgrade CSR and we've had it over a year.

To update, just got SM from Chase that they'd be happy to change my CSR to CFU and to confirm by SM. We have had the CSR 13 months (and triple dipped the TC! ) So maybe it's just about the length of time account is open.

 

[amalone1013]

To update, just got SM from Chase that they'd be happy to change my CSR to CFU and to confirm by SM. We have had the CSR 13 months (and triple dipped the TC! ) So maybe it's just about the length of time account is open.

I hope I have your luck. I'm in about the same spot, plan to triple dip this weekend, and then change it. It'll have been open around 14 months.

ETA: It would be pretty awesome to use my credit, then get it changed in time to use it for gas on the way back for the 5x haha! Unlikely to be that fast though.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I hope I have your luck. I'm in about the same spot, plan to triple dip this weekend, and then change it. It'll have been open around 14 months.

ETA: It would be pretty awesome to use my credit, then get it changed in time to use it for gas on the way back for the 5x haha! Unlikely to be that fast though.

Actually when I SMd to change my CSP to Freedom, it took a couple SMs back and forth to confirm (same day). By end of conversation, my online account had changed to reflect the Freedom. The old Card is now the new Card (no number change) and can be used until new Card arrives. So my CSP immediately functioned as Freedom.

 

[wendow]

I am trying to work up the nerve to apply for a CIP. I have been reading all about it. I do some occasional vinyl and embroidery/sewing work on the side, just by word of mouth, so I guess that will be my business. Anyone get denied and want to share where they think they went wrong? I do have 4 chase cards already, only 1 opened in last 6 months though, but my total credit line among the 4 is probably $60k. I saw somewhere that your total credit line with them should be about $10k less than 50% of income and I am still well under that figure.
If I chicken out on the CIP I am going to go Marriott and SPG combo.

Dh & I both have the CIP and you have a more legit biz than either of us. We got the 30-day message and were approved within a week (dh 48 hours). My aunt was denied and tried to recon to no avail (she has a legitimate biz) but she had been approved for the CSP 25 days before. I'm pretty sure that was her problem. You sound like you have an excellent chance of being approved!

 

[wendow]

It's very frustrating considering everyone else seemed to have no issues with this.

Are there DP's that people are able to PC the CSR to the CFU when they haven't had the card for 1 year yet? I was at 15 mos when I PC'ed mine and I guess I thought you had to be past 1 year.

 

[wendow]

Actually when I SMd to change my CSP to Freedom, it took a couple SMs back and forth to confirm (same day). By end of conversation, my online account had changed to reflect the Freedom. The old Card is now the new Card (no number change) and can be used until new Card arrives. So my CSP immediately functioned as Freedom.

This has been my experience with changing my CSP to a no fee Sapphire and my CSR to a CFU. No card number change and changed online to reflect the new product. When you get your new card, the CCV will be different.

 

[wendow]

Plastiq experts, can you advise about using AmEx to make a mortgage payment? I know there have been some references to changing the name of the payee so it doesn't say "mortgage" - does that work for AmEx or only Chase?

ETA: It looks like my thought to use Plastiq to meet minimum spend for a sign-up bonus on an AmEx card is a bad idea. I guess I will find out if my utilities have a limit as to how much I can prepay . . .

Yes, cannot use Amex to make mortgage payments through plastiq

 

[AmyAnne]

Yes, cannot use Amex to make mortgage payments through plastiq

It looks like that was a bad idea even if it had been possible. I found someone on one of the travel blogs saying that AmEx had considered his Plastiq rent payment to be a "cash equivalent" and therefore didn't count towards meeting the spending requirement.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I am at 4/24 and applied 12/12. This is my 6th chase card. I got the 30-day message but had my card about 9 days later. And my total credit line with chase is now about two-thirds of my annual income.

Dh & I both have the CIP and you have a more legit biz than either of us. We got the 30-day message and were approved within a week (dh 48 hours). My aunt was denied and tried to recon to no avail (she has a legitimate biz) but she had been approved for the CSP 25 days before. I'm pretty sure that was her problem. You sound like you have an excellent chance of being approved!

Thanks! I am 3/24 and last card was 6mths ago. I think I'd be ok...reading your experiences helps a lot!

Wendow, what was your "business?"

 

[kmc8826]

All this talk about the CIP makes me think I should rethink my strategy once I am under 5/24 in March. DH has CIP. I don’t, but then he has a legitimate business (not making much right now but has invested equipment, has licensing etc). I know it has been posted as a question before but just wondering if anyone has had success with having you and your spouse both get the CIP for the same joint owned business? On the doing business as license with the State I am the co-owner and I am the one who is doing the financial aspects.

If you have separate businesses does anyone have thoughts of whether or not I would be successful pitching it as a travel business? I do plan trips for others...not so much getting paid other than thanks and sometimes gift cards but potentially it could grow into something more.

 

[kmc8826]

Actually when I SMd to change my CSP to Freedom, it took a couple SMs back and forth to confirm (same day). By end of conversation, my online account had changed to reflect the Freedom. The old Card is now the new Card (no number change) and can be used until new Card arrives. So my CSP immediately functioned as Freedom.

Did you have a zero balance? Or does that not matter? I product changed my regular sapphire to a FU but I am pretty sure it was at nothing when I did it.

I don’t know why but I am still being so indecisive about product changing DH’s Reserve to an FU. He won’t travel without me so it doesn’t really make sense for us both to have one. I just keep going back and forth!

 

[wendow]

It looks like that was a bad idea even if it had been possible. I found someone on one of the travel blogs saying that AmEx had considered his Plastiq rent payment to be a "cash equivalent" and therefore didn't count towards meeting the spending requirement.

Yikes, that would be bad news! I have a brand new shiny Amex card too and I'm just getting going on the spend. Since plastiq is a no-go, I'm looking for some creative ways to meet the 5k. I've read so much about how Amex catches on to people that MS so it's got me a bit nervous!!

 

[wendow]

Wendow, what was your "business?"

Ebay/online sales. And I really do that, as well as selling locally on CL, so I did not feel I was being untruthful at all. My selling is sporadic (I tend to sell more at the first of the year and during the summer) but I make about $800 a year doing so. I have never really considered it a 'business' but when dh & I met with a Chase banker to open accounts, she encouraged me to go for the CIP and told me that my selling qualified as a business.

 

[wendow]

Did you have a zero balance? Or does that not matter? I product changed my regular sapphire to a FU but I am pretty sure it was at nothing when I did it.

I don’t know why but I am still being so indecisive about product changing DH’s Reserve to an FU. He won’t travel without me so it doesn’t really make sense for us both to have one. I just keep going back and forth!

I did not have a zero balance and I've PC'ed two cards in the last couple months. The amount owed and points earned stayed exactly the same.

 

[wendow]

All this talk about the CIP makes me think I should rethink my strategy once I am under 5/24 in March. DH has CIP. I don’t, but then he has a legitimate business (not making much right now but has invested equipment, has licensing etc). I know it has been posted as a question before but just wondering if anyone has had success with having you and your spouse both get the CIP for the same joint owned business? On the doing business as license with the State I am the co-owner and I am the one who is doing the financial aspects.

If you have separate businesses does anyone have thoughts of whether or not I would be successful pitching it as a travel business? I do plan trips for others...not so much getting paid other than thanks and sometimes gift cards but potentially it could grow into something more.

I'm not sure about the sharing of a business. I cannot see why that would not be allowed since Chase allows spouses to each have the same product all the time but the rules could very well be different when it comes to business cards.

As to your separate question, I think that is a legitimate business. I got my CIP based on my online selling but had I not chosen that to put down, I was going to use travel planning. I do the same as you in that I have helped several people plan trips and they have given me gift cards as a thank you. Gift cards are considered cash so that seems to be a form of payment. I only went with my online selling b/c I've been doing that for 10+ years.

 

[hsmamato2]

ROFL! DITTO. Seriously. EXACT message my fam mem got trying to do the same darn thing. We called yesterday and they said "nope, can't downgrade until after your 1 year anniversary". I'm going to wait for other brave souls here to call and try, if anyone here reports success I'll tell my fam member to give it one more go. It's very frustrating considering everyone else seemed to have no issues with this.

NOOOOO It's been just over a year...reset date was the 18th...... so now I have no choice but to make DH call? Ugh this is gonna be painful (for me lol) Think they'll give him a hard time about pc'ing over the phone? I should wait a few days to see what others have come up against I guess.....

 

[hsmamato2]

Dang! I wonder why ours didn't work...it has been just over a year too.... although I'm not seeing the AU post yet so why not? is it 13 months? What happens if we just sit on it for a couple of weeks before calling? nothing I assume?

 

[Eighty8Keys]

My son was really dreading it but just called Chase and had no problem at all switching his CSR to a no-fee Sapphire. No hard sell to keep it. She rattled off the differences between the CSR Infinite benefits and the Sapphire Signature benefits, which he wasn't really aware of in the first place. She said they would prorate the AF by one month. We'll wait and see what actually happens. Even if he only gets refunded $412.50 he's still ahead $112.50 since he used 2018 TC.