Bankruptcy seems like a reasonable option.

I'm about to be in the same boat. From what I've read you might not get instant approval if you meet the reqs, but the CSRs will be checking to make sure you can verify your information and aren't someone committing credit fraud. However, if you're in a rough spot for apps (I've opened a lot of cards this year), you don't want those prying eyes on your apps, so you might want to hold off.

That wouldn't be unusual at all if self-employed.

If self-employed should be finding more deductions.

First off, this is a great thread, so thanks all 2+2ers for your post. So with no debt, only 2 open credit cards, CapOne Quicksilver and AMEX blue, I was debating a new credit card. Mainly to help get more out of rewards points since I was paying most of my bills by debit card now CapOne card. I just think I can get a better rewards than Quicksilver card. 785 cs. Income over 80k/yearly.

I was looking at Chase Sapphire Reserve, Southwest Card, Mlife Mastercard, or Fidelity Visa card. I didn’t consider a new AMEX. I only do small amounts of traveling. I saw how you can link mLfe MC to Hyatt gold passport account. I don’t mind a big annual service fee if the perks make it worthy. Seems like the CSR takes the lead, but earning points towards mLife account has its appeal. I am curious for the recommendations from this thread. Thanks

Applying for a credit limit increase with capital one, have to fill out these four questions:

Annual income
Employment status
Monthly morgage/rent payment
Monthly spend with credit cards

For the last 2 questions, is it better to go higher or lower if I'm trying to get my limit as high as possible?

First off, this is a great thread, so thanks all 2+2ers for your post. So with no debt, only 2 open credit cards, CapOne Quicksilver and AMEX blue, I was debating a new credit card. Mainly to help get more out of rewards points since I pay most by debit card and now use CapOne card. I just think I can get a better rewards than Quicksilver card. 785 cs. Income over 80k/yearly.

I was looking at Chase Sapphire Reserve, Southwest Card, Mlife Mastercard, or Fidelity Visa card. I didn’t consider a new AMEX. I only travel a small bit. I saw how you can link the mLfe MC to Hyatt gold passport account. I don’t mind a big annual service fee if the perks make it worthy. Seems like the CSR takes the lead, but earning points towards mLife account has its appeal. I am curious for the recommendations from this thread. Thanks.

Gotta be the CSR since the 100k bonus offer is ending Jan 12 online. Free $1000 cash without doing anything else, potential for much more.

I doubt the answers to those questions will have a very meaningful impact on your credit line unless your rent or mortgage payment is a huge portion of your income. Def not worth lying on a credit application for imo.

Clearly lower is "better". All 4 questions are to gauge your riskiness in ways not clearly shown through your credit report.

The higher your income, the more credit they will lend you.
The higher your employeement (Unemployed < Student < Part time < Full time) the more credit they will lend you.

The less of your income tied up in paying rent (that is, the lower your rent/mortgage) the more you have to spend and safely payoff, the more credit they will lend you.
The lower your current spend, the more money you have to spend and safely payoff, the more credit they will lend you.

So besides the $300 travel credit, what are some main perks? Did I read there is some concierge service for travel/shows?

Not sure about the concierge thing, but the $300 travel credit will occur twice in your first annual fee period.

$300 travel credit
100k signup bonus
Priority pass select membership w/ guesting privs
1.5cpp UR redemption value for travel (vs 1cpp cash value)
Transferable currency to airlines and hotels (if you dont hold CSP or INK already)
3x dining & 3x travel

plus the other stuff people have mentioned.

Excellent info. So I guess no love for the Hyatt Chase card or Mlife Mastercard, obviously not nearly the same perks. I figured Mlife MC had some advantages to bump up your tier level but appears not worth it compared to this.

So the promo for CSR is apply by Jan 11th, if you get approved, charge $4000 in 90 days (shouldnt be difficult) to get 100,000 reward points. Also interesting the travel credit gets instantly applied to your balance. I assume you just purchase a flight or make a hotel reservation and that $300 credit gets reapplied next statement? Curious where the free $1000 mentioned here came into play in reading the fine print. Is that points redemption to get that? I read an earlier post

Not sure what 100k points can be converted to.

Anyone use the price match purchase option claim before? Also were your credit applications instant, or did it take over a week for approval? Thanks

The credit is applied immediately so you never pay it. You will see the qualifying charge and the credit right after it. It applies to bridge tolls and I think parking as well.

I have not used the price match but my boss has frequently. He makes purchases on Amazon a lot and for larger ones will replace the item in his cart so it will notify him of a price change. If there is a worthwhile price drop he will send in the screen shot and receipt and they send a check from what I remember. He will sometimes make purchases ahead of big sales knowing that he is going to shop for a better price on the hollidays.

TBH I doubt I will be diligent in that regard...maybe for bigger purchases. He has up to 100 things in his cart at all times--mostly watching for a mistake in the pricing algorithm to pounce on.

CSR definitely the best option. Approval will prob be instant if credit score good and under 5/24.

100k pts can be converted to $1000 cash or $1500 towards travel booking through the chase portal. Subtract $150 for the annual fee (technically $450 but you get $300 travel credit)

keep in mind it's 4000 after the 300 dollar travel credit. the annual fee also doesn't count towards the spending requirement.

If you are worried about hitting the minimum I believe you can buy gift cards and use them later.

yea you can- i just don't want people thinking they met the spending requirement if they didnt

AFAIK this is not correct. Even the reimbursed $300 dollars seems to count toward minimum spend. (REF: http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/95610)

He said he's not concerned about hitting the 4k

Hyatt card is fine. MLife/Hyatt relationship just got weaker anyway. Not a card I'd target first, and the love for the CSR is because 1) great card 2) 5/24 means if you are under it you should be judicious with your apps 3) bonus lowering in a week.

Travel credits post near instantly against charged items that meet the requirements, so you literally never have to pay for them (not reimbursed the following statement). It's the best travel credit I've seen.

UR points can be redeemed for cash at 1cpp. 100k bonus is worth $1k. If you use the points toward travel by booking through chase travel portal, the points are worth 1.5cpp. If you transfer the points to airline miles or hotel points their value is only limited by how great you are at redeeming them (e.g. 70k United miles can get you business class to Japan one way, which may be worth more than $700 to you).

My take home after bonuses was $33,800, but I will get a tax return of around $5,500, so I did underestimate. Take home is actually closer to $39,000

Ok, so to post an update, went into local Chase branch, applied for CSR card. Approval took 5min, wow that was quick.

So appears just this week there is a news cycle blitz about this very same card. Appears JPMorgan has lost 200mil (wow) since they started the big rewards promo in August 2016. Here is an example news article: NY times. I read on one news story they actually ran out of the material to make the physical cards themselves because the offer was so popular. Also the 100k bonus points offer is over on Jan 12th but the same 100k promo still works until March 12th if you walk into an actual Chase branch.

Appears CSR promo offer was a big hit for 2nd half of 2016, so glad I found this thread.

Just knocked off my 4k spend on the CSR. Should see my 100k URs in the next few days hopefully = )

I saw it at the end of the billing period.

100k URs are fun to receive