^why not just keep both cards? A card for every occasion.

The Cap One 1.5% cash card is my fall-back card (the one I use when I don't have an applicable 5% card), and it hardly ever gets used.

I guess it might be tedious to some, but it just makes me feel so good to take the banks' money.

[Edited on March 26, 2012 at 3:41 PM. Reason : d]

3/26/2012 3:40:22 PM

My other card has the 5% and 1.5% rates kick in after spending $6500, so it's not worth spending the $6500 to get the higher percentages.

I did just sign up for the REI credit card to get $100 and 5% back on purchases. It seems like a lot of my money is spent at REI anyways.

[Edited on March 26, 2012 at 4:22 PM. Reason : ]

3/26/2012 4:21:40 PM

Quote :

"Four giant card-payment processors and large U.S. banks that issue debit and credit cards were hit by a data-security breach after third-party services provider Global Payments Inc discovered its systems were compromised by unauthorized access. It was not immediately clear how many cardholders became victims of the breach, which affected MasterCard Inc, Visa Inc, American Express Co and Discover Financial Services, as well as banks and other franchises that issue cards bearing their logos."

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/mastercard-tells-banks-possible-security-breach-154439326.html

Quote :

"Analysts said any financial losses from the data breach would be shouldered by merchants, card issuers and Global Payments rather than Visa or Mastercard, which operate payment networks."

That's fucked up. Merchants?!

[Edited on March 30, 2012 at 11:08 PM. Reason : .]

3/30/2012 11:05:59 PM

Most of the reports/articles I've seen say the number could be as high as 10 million. Surely it isn't so bad if the conference call can wait until Monday.

3/30/2012 11:47:34 PM

Love it. Spent 3k to get the 500 dollar bonus plus got 45 dollars in rewards. Just cancelled with hopes to apply again next month. Also, the card is thicker than a normal cc. Got a lot of compliments needless to say.

3/31/2012 9:01:13 PM

Oops, was referring to chase sapphire. To lazy to edit post on p hone.

3/31/2012 9:02:26 PM

Just got an Amazon CC. Pretty sweet. I feel set with a Costco Amex/ Amazon card.

For those who transfer CCs all the time, is your credit not shot?

4/5/2012 10:03:06 AM

What do you mean, transfer?

4/5/2012 10:48:49 AM

^^ That's been covered in this thread a couple times.

Any impact on your credit score is pretty minor.

4/5/2012 10:53:46 AM

^^^should've gotten a Citi Forward. Better for Amazon than the Amazon card.

4/5/2012 1:04:55 PM

just signed up for the amex cash preferred cc for dat 6% grocery rebate

4/5/2012 1:15:48 PM

^^Thought I read it's only 3.8% cashback in the end. I hate citi, so I'm willing to sacrifice the .8%.

Also does the forward give good cashback when you're buying from a 3rd party through amazon?

[Edited on April 5, 2012 at 2:08 PM. Reason : ]

4/5/2012 2:05:10 PM

Just got approved for a Chase Marriott Visa. It gives you 1 free night at any category 1-4 hotel upon account approval, 70,000 Marriott points after your first purchase, and the annual fee is waived for the first year.

4/6/2012 10:51:39 AM

Quote :

"Thought I read it's only 3.8% cashback in the end. I hate citi, so I'm willing to sacrifice the .8%."

It is, unless you have other accounts with them or something. Although according to this it's one cent per point now, meaning it's 5% and no longer 3.8% - http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/2010/getting-the-most-out-of-citibank-thank-you-points/ - Can you fill us in on this Fanatik?

Quote :

"Also does the forward give good cashback when you're buying from a 3rd party through amazon?"

Depends on who the payment goes to...does it still go to Amazon or does it go directly to the 3rd party? Someone check their CC statement

4/6/2012 11:10:57 AM

Here is something from Amazon.com:

 Trans Date      Post Date      Type       Description             Amount
  03/28/2012    03/29/2012	  Sale	       Amazon.com		   $79.00

  Trans Date      Post Date      Type                 Description                           Amount
  03/25/2012    03/26/2012	  Sale	       AMAZON MKTPLACE PMTS		   $24.94

4/6/2012 11:42:25 AM

Got turned down for the Fidelity AMEX with a credit score of 809

4/6/2012 12:36:40 PM

Quote :

" It gives you 1 free night at any category 1-4 hotel upon account approval, 70,000 Marriott points after your first purchase,"

Are the pts in addition to the free night?

4/6/2012 4:26:00 PM

^I had that card last year, and yep 1 free night in addition to the free points.

4/6/2012 4:35:43 PM

I assume you can't get cash back with said points?
WTF, there is seriously an ad for mariott rewards card in the upper right corner, except it's for 50K pts instead of 70K. Can I get a link for the 70K?

4/6/2012 7:30:45 PM

^I'm not sure if you can get cash back with Marriott points. I plan on using the points to stay at hotels I wouldn't normally pay for. See the thread below for a link to the 70k points offer.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milesbuzz/1271936-70k-points-1-night-no-fee-1st-yr-marriott-premier-visa.html

^^^Yes, points are in addition to the free night.

4/6/2012 7:35:09 PM

Thanks. Isn't this a better deal though?

"30kpts+$75 statement credit+2 nights."

4/6/2012 7:38:41 PM

It depends, what are the restrictions on the 2 free nights?

4/6/2012 7:41:51 PM

Also depends on how you use the 75k points. That could be 3 nights at so-so hotels or it could be two nights at some baller hotels. I think they waive the first year's fee anyway but not 100% sure.

And no you can't get cash back. You automatically earn Marriott points and you can't convert those to cash. You might be able to convert those to gift cards, I can't remember.

[Edited on April 6, 2012 at 7:45 PM. Reason : eh]

4/6/2012 7:44:26 PM

Yeah, the 70K pts is the more expensive card, just trying to figure out if 35K additional pts would outweigh an additional free night + $75 statement credit.

[Edited on April 6, 2012 at 8:13 PM. Reason : ]

4/6/2012 8:09:32 PM

The free 1-4 cat hotel seem dumpy, probably best to go for additional pts. Signed up and was approved for the southwest card after being declined last year.

Apply for the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Plus Card1 and get 50,000 Bonus Points after your first purchase2 - that's over $800 in Wanna Get Away® Fares to be redeemed for 2 FREE ROUNDTRIP FLIGHTS!

Plus, get 3,000 points every year on your Cardmember anniversary,3 which can be redeemed for a $50 Wanna Get Away® Fare. Enjoy this and many other exclusive Cardmember benefits for a $69 annual fee.†

http://www.mychasecreditcards.com/T600-004/default.aspx?LP=6000212&AFFID=lw9MynSeamY-aAOeeOamE6soW5.k8l3I1w&CELL=6H8X&pvid=u1011881t0f0fp0dd0c128590s&vanity=southwest/octaffiliate

4/7/2012 4:47:49 PM

how the hell did i get denied for an amex blue sky (not even preferred) card, according to my CR my credit is great. maybe i shouldn't have checked that "student - employed" option


guess i'll look into something else

[Edited on April 8, 2012 at 7:42 PM. Reason : looking for miles rewards]

4/8/2012 7:34:10 PM

It's all freedom of choice until you get denied

It wouldn't be so bad if they told you what you did wrong or how to qualify, but, the fact is, they don't.


That, my friend, is something you should worry about. It's a wall dividing the privileged and the discriminated.

[Edited on April 8, 2012 at 7:38 PM. Reason : .]

4/8/2012 7:37:40 PM

well apparently i'll know in ten days or so

I suppose it's because my income and checking aren't where they used to be because I'm in school again and don't work nearly as much...that's all about to change here in about a year when I'll be rolling in it again but i was just trying to get some miles built up in the meantime

4/8/2012 7:51:50 PM

Quote :

"but, the fact is, they don't."

Actually you can call and they will tell you (in my experience).

4/8/2012 8:01:34 PM

4/8/2012 8:11:40 PM

No thanks...don't wanna give up all the free money I get from them.

4/8/2012 8:25:28 PM

4/9/2012 8:33:45 AM

just applied for the Capital One Venture Rewards card. Planning on doing some traveling in the coming months

- 2 miles/$1 spent
- 10,000 bonus miles if you spend $1,000 in first 90 days
- 0% foreign transaction fees

4/10/2012 10:50:04 AM

^ Why wouldn't you get the AA card w/ a 50k bonus?

-2 miles/$1 spent on AA. 1 mile/$1 spend on everything else.
-2 Free admiral club passes
-Reduced mileage rewards

http://creditcards.citicards.com/usc/Travel/AA/Aug/2011/Triple/50k/default.htm?promocode=fly6&BT_TX=1&ProspectID=294245931A53480CB02EC5921A2B2AED

4/10/2012 10:55:02 AM

Looks like that gives you 2 miles only on AA purchases. The Capital One card is on ANY purchase, from what I understood.

Plus, we wanted the flexibility of any airline, especially since we're traveling internationally.

4/10/2012 11:24:34 AM

Just got the Citi ThankYou Premier Card. Plan to cancel after I get my pts.

Earn 30,000 bonus ThankYou Points after $2,000 in purchases within 3 months of account opening –

Get 33% more value for your ThankYou Points when you redeem for airfare through the ThanlYou Travel Center. Enjoy this benefit on any airline with no blackout dates.

(For example: 30,000 points can be redeemed for $399 in airfare which would typically require 39,900 points.)
Go online or call to redeem your ThankYou Points for a wide selection of rewards like gift cards, travel rewards, cash, electronics and so much more.

https://online.citibank.com/US/JRS/portal/template.do?ID=TYPremier

4/11/2012 3:08:28 PM

Does anyone know the best travel related credit card available? About to take on a job with a lot of domestic related travel. I see the one mentioned ^^, but I think American Express offers a great deal. Starting you out with 40k points, plus bonus points for $$ spent in the first three months. For a short short time they offered a special of 100k points for signing up.

4/11/2012 10:20:59 PM

^I'd recommend the Starwood Amex. Often comes with a 20-30k point sign-up bonus, and lets you transfer points to airline miles with a 5k bonus for every 20k transferred. Only bummer is the annual fee ($40 or so, but worth it IMO).

David: Don't cancel that Premier card, convert it to a Preferred. This lets you keep the 'preferred' tier of TY rewards (lower prices on existing rewards, more GC/redemption options, etc. No annual fee on the preferred card.

4/12/2012 11:58:01 AM

The rewards don't sound that great though.

Earn 2 ThankYou Points for every $1 you spend on dining and travel for the first 12 months, and 1 point for every $1 you spend thereafter and on all other purchases.**

4/12/2012 12:56:17 PM

^I'm not saying use it, just keep it open so you have access to the enhanced rewards in the TY program. Unless you don't have another Citi card that awards TY points... In which case, you should get the Forward card.

4/13/2012 9:16:55 AM

Quote :

"5 points for every $1 spent at restaurants "

Ok, now we're talking. Thanks!

4/13/2012 12:45:45 PM

^ That's the main reason I still have and use my Forward card. We get straight reimbursment at work so business-related dinners and lunches are always on my dime, even with coworkers on the same bill. In the past two years I've earned enough points to purchase 3 student loan checks for $250 each and that's without the bonus points. Student loan checks and some gift cards are the only way to get the true equivalent of 5% cash back. Everything else available for rewards equates to around 2 to 4%. I don't go to enough bookstores and movies to get anything worthwhile from those categories though.

4/13/2012 1:00:24 PM

David, why you no get 50k TYP?

http://creditcards.citicards.com/usc/thankyou/Premier/offer/Sept2011/50k/default.htm?BT_TX=1

4/13/2012 1:01:28 PM

God damnit. I haven't activated yet. I've heard you can call up and request the difference (according to the marriot card users) Anyone here have any success with that?

4/13/2012 1:05:32 PM

David: I dont know if this is of benefit. There is currently a 50% bonus transfer to British Airways for Delta points, and a 25% transfer to Virgin. If either of those interest you, let me know and I'll get more info.

4/13/2012 1:25:19 PM

Not really. Thanks for looking out though. Are the 25K miles alone enough to get a flight?

4/13/2012 1:40:52 PM

On British Airlines and Virgin, I dont know. You'd have to look at their sites and check.

For Delta, yes and no. It just depends. Its been a long time since I booked 30k rewards tickets. It cost me 80,000 points for each ticket I got to St Thomas, and 65,000 points each for the last Hawaii trip. We are almost at 150k points again, so I suspect we'll be looking to book another big trip in the coming months.

4/13/2012 1:43:49 PM

I have 102k Delta miles. What destinations seem to be the best bang for your buck?

4/13/2012 2:07:49 PM

Business class to asia

4/13/2012 2:18:02 PM

Its all so seasonal, its hard to point to any particular location.

4/13/2012 2:33:45 PM