mrage change your shipping location (for electronic gcs at least) to california and the 10% surcharge disappears...

Thanks JL! I also learned that it's a Twitter Sync. So I was able to get the offer for all 3 of my Amex cards, $60 free mobnies! Will use the CA trick for the remaining $40.

Here's the web page I referenced for Twitter Sync help, I'm a noob at it. http://dealswelike.boardingarea.com/...ship-trust-me/

I got the offer on all 3 of my amex cards. Trying to figure out what I want to purchase.

In other news, Office Max/Depot has a great deal going on right now. $20 off $300 in Visa purchases. Works up to twice per transaction, so you can do $600 per transaction. If you have a 5% card at office supply stores, that's $40-(6.95*2)+ (600*.05)= $56.1 profit per transaction. I've been able to manage to do 2 transactions at each store and I'm within a 15 minute drive of 3 of them. I've had to have some stories after the 2nd or 3rd time at each, but it's such a great deal that I can't stop.

Only negative is that they are Vanilla visas...

I always struggle with how to value UR points. If you value you them upfront as $30 per $600 giftcards, you reduce their "value" when you spend them.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean? That's the lowest valuation possible for them at $.01/pt if you were to take a statement credit for them.

If you use them for travel, they're worth more. Yes, you can get way more than $.01/pt with a transfer, but then you're not actually getting the cash out of the deal.

I think I see what you're saying though, that I shouldn't be valuing them at $.01/pt right off the start.


Personally I've been only valuing them at $.01/pt for myself because I have more than enough points on airlines and hotels for all my trips planned for the next year+, and lots of URs that I won't be using anytime soon, so I'll probably turn some of them into cash.

Yeah, I just mean if you value you them into your calculations at the front end (I made $30 in points on the $600 cards) then you need to keep that value going forward.

So if you transfer 12,500 UR points to United for a one way, it's not a "free" ticket because you already "valued" those points as $125 in your earlier calculation as a cashback.

For that reason if the goal is free travel, I try not to count the points up front. But I fluctuate a lot and it's not that clear cut in my mind.

so, how should i take advantage of sams offer?? im not a a member but would certainly like to take advantage, think i got thee Amex's with the offer. Someone mentioned gift cards and say your from cali to save 10%

i dont have to take it that far, i could buy gift cards but i can buy necessities to(food) and ship it to my OH address???

I'd just buy samsclub giftcards and use them to shop at walmart in person

Based on a moderate amount of research, Amex points are the best if you travel a ton, especially international. Otherwise their points kind of suck. But if you're someone who would otherwise pay cash for a business class ticket on a flight across an ocean, it seems like the best program.

One thing I'm unclear on - will the Amex reps help you maximize your value? For example, I have to go to Europe in a few months. Would they walk me through the most efficient way to achieve a business class ticket to London?

You'd probably have a better chance of finding the best deal on your own. I would get on flyertalk and read up on different blogs about travel. I'm sure the Amex reps would do what they could to find you a good deal, but there are some things they might not know, or might not tell you. For example, flying into the UK is fine, but flying out you get hit with some heavy fees.

Ah, I see what you're saying. You are correct.

Like you, I change my points needs as I go, and I haven't had the time to go on trips that I wouldn't be taking anyways, so I really see MS as a way to reduce my travel costs or make $$$.

Recently upgraded to Amex Platinum for travel benefits and received a 50,000 point bonus w/ $5k spend. Had no idea this benefit existed and obviously makes the upgrade a no-brainer.

What benefit, and what card did you upgrade from?

My credit karma score was at 796 two months ago now it's 784 and I have zero clue why. No new hard pulls and my only limiting factor, credit age, is two months more mature. Annoyingly close to 800 now I've somehow gone in the wrong direction.

I wouldnt worry anything about credit karma/sesame fluctuating like that. For me it depends when the bureaus report and whether or not you have a balance then. Some months im showing 0% utilization other months 10%.

Somewhat related but maybe OT: I gave my old apartment complex a check for my final utility bill because that was the only way I could pay it. Fast forward 5 months and they call to say it was never paid. I said "Let me check my records cause I'm sure I paid that." Turns out they never deposited my check. Do I write them a new one with no complaints, write them a new one but withhold $29 so I can stop payment on the first check (which is almost the entire bill), or tell them to **** off. The last two will almost surely result in a collections account and I have no written proof that I gave them the first check.

for that little just pay it and move on.

If I'm reading correctly, the $29 would be his bank fee to do a stop payment on the original check.

How much is the total bill?

The best solution I see would probably be the most complicated:

Write them a new check, but have them sign a document that states they will not cash the other check if they find it. If they cash both, you can sue. IANAL, but I don't really see why this wouldn't work.

He says that that the $29 fee is almost as much as the entire bill

Ah, you're right.

Lame spot. I'd probably just try to get it in writing from them that they won't deposit the other check if found, and that they agree to be liable to repay the amount and any bank fees that may result. Then cut a new check and move on. Likely the old check has vanished. If they're obstinate about it I'd be inclined to pay it anyway, not worth the risk of a collection.

I'd just send them a check for the full amount and not worry about stopping payment on the previous one if it isn't for much more than the stop-payment fee. I did just that several years ago (maybe more than once), and the previous check never cleared the bank.

If the amount is enough to warrant taking $29 worth of insurance that it is never cashed, pay the bill in full and also stop payment on the previous check. I have also done that at least once. Unless you are dealing with someone shady, they will give you a refund if they receive an over-payment.

According to Doctor of Credit, some Chase Freedom card holders are eligible to refer new cardmembers for an increased sign-up bonus (20k points after $500 spend).

I don't have a Freedom yet, but have been wanting to get one, so I'd love a pm if one of you current holders want to refer me. (I think referrer gets 5k points).

Yeah same here, I've been holding out for the $200 bonus. I'm not a new Chase card member though, so idk how that works.

Discover it cardholders, rejoice. They are doing a double cash back promotion. Sign up begins today and ends at the end of July.

Any cash back you earn for the 12 billing cycles after enrollment, including 5% and Discover Deals, will be added to your cash back again in a lump sum in the 13th billing cycle.

Effectively this makes the "it" 2% on general spend, 10% on bonus spend, and doubles Discover Deals promos (that could be really juicy!)

In addition, Discover has been doing soft pull credit line increases lately. I've gotten one every 16 days for a few turns and my line has grown to 4k from 1.5k.

Pretty strong! I called in to get signed up, took 5 minutes.