Credit Card Rewards

[Andy_B]

What are some of the reward plans you guys have on your credit cards?

I have the following on my Citi Bank

1% cash back on all purchases
4% additional cash back on gas, groceries and pharmacy


Andy

[Txtriathlete]

Amex membership rewards, 1 point for every dollar spent.

[Andy_B]

Amex membership rewards, 1 point for every dollar spent.

What does this equate to in real life? Do you build up points for cash back or to be able to buy something?

Andy

[Txtriathlete]

What does this equate to in real life? Do you build up points for cash back or to be able to buy something?

Andy

They send you a booklet that you can pick stuff from, ranging from gift certificates from certain stores all the way to major vacations. I think its almost at 1 percent where every 100 points earn you 1 dollar worth of gift certificate credit. On the higher end they end up being worth more I think. Once you cross the 100K points you end up being able to earn better stuff so its somehow grows in value as you accumulate.

[TOTC]

I had an Apple Visa card and got a scanner, then it transferred over to Citibank MasterCard where I could choose the Drivers' Edge reward. I saved up $1,000 bucks towards my present ride, a (reasonably) low-miles Volvo 240 DL.

[roadkit]

I had an Apple Visa card and got a scanner, then it transferred over to Citibank MasterCard where I could choose the Drivers' Edge reward. I saved up $1,000 bucks towards my present ride, a (reasonably) low-miles Volvo 240 DL.

I just donated my 1990 240 DL to Purple Heart. It had 212K mileage which is relatively low for a Volvo 240. It doesn't have a kayak rack on top does it?

[roadkit]

I have AMEX - a couple of advantages:

1. you have to pay it off every month.

2. member rewards - 1 point for every $1 spent. You can transfer to several frequent flyer, etc. programs. i usually use mine for Delta Airlines.

I just got a no-fee AMEX Platinum through Hilton Honors (it has their logo on it). The best part is I get 15K Hilton points just for getting the card, and no fee (normally $395 annually) as long as I have a Hilton Honors account. As much as I travel, that's like getting a no-fee card just for waking up every day.

If you travel even a little bit, sign up for every frequent flyer-type program you can. (Hotel, renetal car, etc.) It will pay off eventually.

[352klr]

USAA Platinum Visa, which has "Eagle Points." 1 point a dollar, which is basically the equivalent of 10 frequent flier miles on any airline. You just pick what routes you want on whatever airline and all you pay is the taxes. However, I'm switching to an AmEx Centurion, as soon as I get it in the mail. Being overseas, I guess it takes a little longer.

[Danks81]

I had an Apple Visa card and got a scanner, then it transferred over to Citibank MasterCard where I could choose the Drivers' Edge reward. I saved up $1,000 bucks towards my present ride, a (reasonably) low-miles Volvo 240 DL.

I am a big fan of Citibank's Drivers' Edge. 2% of all purchases accumulate into a cash rebate towards the purchase of a new or used vehicle. Recently I cashed mine in a few days late after the 90 day window and several months after a couple hundred rebate dollars expired. However Citibank mailed me a check for the full amount of my accumulated points without thinking twice. Scored big points in my book.

[Rickster]

I have switched to the UPromise mastercard. It puts 1% into my 529 and more if use it with UPromise-affiliated merchants or products (of which there are many).

Dollar for dollar it may not match up with Amex or Citi cards, but I like the "forced savings" aspect. I can't use the money for anything other than saving for my kids' college expenses.

[Andy_B]

I have switched to the UPromise mastercard. It puts 1% into my 529 and more if use it with UPromise-affiliated merchants or products (of which there are many).

This is a unique one. I like it.

Is there a cap?

I should have mentioned on my original post that I was capped to $350 back per year.

Andy

[Footer Phooter]

This is a unique one. I like it.

Is there a cap?

I should have mentioned on my original post that I was capped to $350 back per year.

Andy


Has that gone up? Because I'm capped at $300 as far as I know. Already gotten $80 back, and I think I'm close to another $50.

[Andy_B]

Has that gone up? Because I'm capped at $300 as far as I know. Already gotten $80 back, and I think I'm close to another $50.

I just got this card last week and the $350 was what I was quoted on the phone.

If I get some paper work to back that up I will let you know.

Andy

[Rickster]

This is a unique one. I like it.

Is there a cap?

I should have mentioned on my original post that I was capped to $350 back per year.

Andy

I don't think so:
https://lty.s.upromise.com/displayServlet?su=9129.3

Hmm, looking at the site you get 10% on grocery purchases. I didn't even know that.

[Quango]

Starbucks Duetto Visa - Bank One (Now Chase Manhattan?)
Doubles as Visa and Starbucks card
$.01 on SB Card for every dollar spent
A bonus every three months, which varies (so far, coffee, SB card money, the cranium card game, etc).

If you go to Starbucks frequently, it works out pretty nice. Q

[Andy_B]

Rickster, thats an awesome card! I am going to look into getting that for the wifey.

Andy

[peledre]

I work for Citibank in the cards division, so if you guys have any questions about your rewards programs, or additional features and benefits on your cards, ask them here, I'd be glad to answer them for you.

Andy B, is that the Dividend Platinum MasterCard that you have? You might want to look at converting to a Diamond Preferred Cash Rewards MasterCard. Very similar card product, however, it generally has better balance transfer offers and usually a lower APR if you carry a balance. Additionally, they are running a 90 day promotion for some cardmembers where you can earn an additional 1% on top of the 1% and 5% that you currently get.

We don't have a lot of cardmembers that carry the Upromise card, but it seems that the ones that do like it quite a bit.

[peledre]

I just got this card last week and the $350 was what I was quoted on the phone.

If I get some paper work to back that up I will let you know.

Andy
They probably quoted you wrong, generally on all of our cashback cards that don't have an annual fee the cap is $300 per year that you can earn.

[peledre]

I have AMEX - a couple of advantages:

1. you have to pay it off every month.

2. member rewards - 1 point for every $1 spent. You can transfer to several frequent flyer, etc. programs. i usually use mine for Delta Airlines.

I just got a no-fee AMEX Platinum through Hilton Honors (it has their logo on it). The best part is I get 15K Hilton points just for getting the card, and no fee (normally $395 annually) as long as I have a Hilton Honors account. As much as I travel, that's like getting a no-fee card just for waking up every day.

If you travel even a little bit, sign up for every frequent flyer-type program you can. (Hotel, renetal car, etc.) It will pay off eventually.

With Citibank, we offer an additional travel service on a lot of different card products that you can book your travel through. If you spend more than 2000/year on travel expenses you should definitely take a look at it because along with a lowest price guarantee and fee free booking, you also get 5% cash back on all hotel, airfare, and car rental expenses using your citicard and booked through Cititravel. The nice thing is, there's no cap on how much cash back you can earn, and it's completely separate from any other rewards programs you have on your card. It's usually about 9 bucks a month to have, but definitely worth it if you're spending more than 2000 a year on travel (since you'll get the 5% cash back on the 2000). You can probably even get your business to compensate you for the price of the program if it's saving them money on fares in the long run because of the lowest price guarantee.

[TOTC]

I just donated my 1990 240 DL to Purple Heart. It had 212K mileage which is relatively low for a Volvo 240. It doesn't have a kayak rack on top does it?

Nope. I got mine from a guy in Delaware, and it was at 134K. The other one I had previously (the one which I restored and pimped as much as a Volvo would allow) had 385K. No kayak rack, no luggage rack screwed into the trunk.