I love credit cards so much!

[SBWB48]

All this talk about Plastiq finally got me thinking about pre-paying our HOA dues (~1.2K) for the year using this method...our HOA charges a convenience fee for online payments and a separate fee on top of that if you use a credit card. Just occurred to me since this is literally our only snail mail check payment and we typically pay quarterly so almost forgot about 1K in spend!

 

[brownhaired_girl]

I don't have a picture of my work handy at the moment, but if you Google search "horse hunter braids" that's what I do!



I haven't! Thanks for the intro! @brownhaired_girl , did you put down horse-related business expenses for your CIP? My husband actually DOES run an ebay selling/fulfillment by Amazon side hustle that he's made a pretty decent amount of money on, so I will probably put that down for the CIP. I think I may try the horse braiding for the Marriott biz though. We travel a lot for horse shows so the Marriott points would definitely be of great value to us.

Yes @DisneyMandC I did use the stable income for my CIP. But I can honestly say the whole thing has not been much of a money maker. My daughter did the horse show circuit for quite a few years, we paid for braiding more than a time or two at the bigger shows. I did it myself for some of the smaller ones. I miss those days just a little bit. My daughter thought she wanted to train horses. We built a nice stable, and she, or maybe more her husband, decided to go into dairying with her father. I was going to close up the stable at one time. It was just to stressful to come home after a 12 hr shift and go out to do chores. I went out to talk to the boarders and couldn’t do it. They were like family and I wanted that around for my granddaughter as she grew. Boarders are now responsible for chores and I just work and travel.

 

[platamama]

@jhoannam....I can’t speak to marriott, but for Hilton you need the points in your acct to book with them.

I can speak for Marriott - you do not need to have the points in your account to make a reservation based on points, as long as they are there 8 days prior to check-in. I made a reservation today that will take 240,000 Marriott points...and I only have 8,000 in my account.

 

[calypso726]

there is not really a way for you to check i guess. I mean, the only thing that we can really rely on are DP made by other people, to which is confirmed that Marriott Biz card doesnt count against 5/24.
There is only one business card known to date that counts though. So far...

BTW, anyone hold a CIC/CI+ AND a CIP? All these business talks makes me want to apply for a CIP first. @calypso726 ?

Nope, not me. I've had the CI+ for several years and have been LOL/24 for longer than I've had the CI+ so there's no way I'd be approved for the CIP. Remember, we had to go CPC just to get the CSR when it came out.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

I think this is why I never looked further into Plastiq. Seems complicated! Her landlord is clearly not doing this as a main living, sometimes going a long time before cashing checks. I can't imagine what he would do with a partial payment, lol. I only have Chase cards, so would this be a problem?

From what I’ve seen rent is still allowed. Def set your cash advance to $100 as that’s the lowest chase allows. You could always do $25 and then the rest of the balance on another check. Just tell the land lord he’s getting two checks.

 

[SBWB48]

@Lain I didn't even think to try paying my mortgage using one of the Amex's I'm trying to meet spend on. I guess I thought Amex was totally out and not even an option to sneak it through. Have you seen any DP's about whether people are able to sneak them through Amex at all? I'd sure like to use one of those cards for March if I could...even with the hefty fee, it would be worth it to me.

We are in a similar boat in that I may consider using my Amex over CIP even if I would be net positive using the CIP and eating the 2.5% on my 1.2K for HOA dues. Since I would only earn ~$6 using the CIP (not meeting a min spend), I think I may just eat the $31 (or only $17 actually by using a referral as @Lain suggested on the last $500 to save a few bucks; cost of doing 'business'!) and make some more progress on the SPG. It's so hard to pull it out and use no matter how hard I tell myself it's for a sign up bonus (higher return) versus what I'd get from everyday spend cards...

Just to confirm though, no issues using Plastiq to meet the min spend on Amex cards?

 

[Lain]

@Lain I didn't even think to try paying my mortgage using one of the Amex's I'm trying to meet spend on. I guess I thought Amex was totally out and not even an option to sneak it through. Have you seen any DP's about whether people are able to sneak them through Amex at all? I'd sure like to use one of those cards for March if I could...even with the hefty fee, it would be worth it to me.

I saw scattered DPs in November and December (after Plastiq "restored" Amex payments) that looked like some payments were still getting through if users tweaked the recipient name or address enough and set the payment category to something like "other." I'll try to dig up the DPs later. But I think Amex has really been cracking down. I saw a DP on DoC that Amex denied a bonus for using Plastiq to make a mortgage payment (https://www.doctorofcredit.com/amex-clawing-back-signup-bonus-points-gamed-spend/#comment-530719) so even if you could get it through Plastiq, it might not fly with the RATs.

 

[wendow]

We are in a similar boat in that I may consider using my Amex over CIP even if I would be net positive using the CIP and eating the 2.5% on my 1.2K for HOA dues. Since I would only earn ~$6 using the CIP (not meeting a min spend), I think I may just eat the $31 (or only $17 actually by using a referral as @Lain suggested on the last $500 to save a few bucks; cost of doing 'business'!) and make some more progress on the SPG. It's so hard to pull it out and use no matter how hard I tell myself it's for a sign up bonus (higher return) versus what I'd get from everyday spend cards...

I'm using the Amex BRG for everything and have told my dh to use the SPG for everything. It's killing me though to not be taking advantage of the Freedom categories or using my BCP for groceries. I wish I had thought to use the Amex for paying my mortgage but I didn't If I could get that to work for March, that would come pretty close to finishing off the BRG. I've got an additional month on the SPG and I think we'd be ok but still have to put *everything* on it!

 

[wendow]

I saw a DP on DoC that Amex denied a bonus for using Plastiq to make a mortgage payment (https://www.doctorofcredit.com/amex-clawing-back-signup-bonus-points-gamed-spend/#comment-530719) so even if you could get it through Plastiq, it might not fly with the RATs.

Yikes!! Ok, nevermind. I'm not willing to risk it. I've put a ton of medical bills on the BRG already and that is worrying me, if those are somehow gonna flag my account since it's a business card.

 

[Lain]

Nope, not me. I've had the CI+ for several years and have been LOL/24 for longer than I've had the CI+ so there's no way I'd be approved for the CIP. Remember, we had to go CPC just to get the CSR when it came out.

A BRM could do a paper application for you and fax it in. That's known to get around the 5/24 rule for CIP.

 

[calypso726]

A BRM could do a paper application for you and fax it in. That's known to get around the 5/24 rule for CIP.

Hmm, that's a thought.

 

[SBWB48]

I saw scattered DPs in November and December (after Plastiq "restored" Amex payments) that looked like some payments were still getting through if users tweaked the recipient name or address enough and set the payment category to something like "other." I'll try to dig up the DPs later. But I think Amex has really been cracking down. I saw a DP on DoC that Amex denied a bonus for using Plastiq to make a mortgage payment (https://www.doctorofcredit.com/amex-clawing-back-signup-bonus-points-gamed-spend/#comment-530719) so even if you could get it through Plastiq, it might not fly with the RATs.

Will need to see if Amex is only sensitive to mortgage payments or Plastiq as a whole then...since I'm not using it for a mortgage payment.

 

[peel]

We are in a similar boat in that I may consider using my Amex over CIP even if I would be net positive using the CIP and eating the 2.5% on my 1.2K for HOA dues. Since I would only earn ~$6 using the CIP (not meeting a min spend), I think I may just eat the $31 (or only $17 actually by using a referral as @Lain suggested on the last $500 to save a few bucks; cost of doing 'business'!) and make some more progress on the SPG. It's so hard to pull it out and use no matter how hard I tell myself it's for a sign up bonus (higher return) versus what I'd get from everyday spend cards...

Just to confirm though, no issues using Plastiq to meet the min spend on Amex cards?

I saw scattered DPs in November and December (after Plastiq "restored" Amex payments) that looked like some payments were still getting through if users tweaked the recipient name or address enough and set the payment category to something like "other." I'll try to dig up the DPs later. But I think Amex has really been cracking down. I saw a DP on DoC that Amex denied a bonus for using Plastiq to make a mortgage payment (https://www.doctorofcredit.com/amex-clawing-back-signup-bonus-points-gamed-spend/#comment-530719) so even if you could get it through Plastiq, it might not fly with the RATs.

Will need to see if Amex is only sensitive to mortgage payments or Plastiq as a whole then...since I'm not using it for a mortgage payment.

As much as I would love to use Plastiq to pay my mortgage for my new SPG Biz min spend (and it’s still working with my CIP because they haven’t yet figured out that Mr. Cooper is a mortgage company) I’m not going to risk it. It will be tight to meet the 5K, but I’ll have to find other ways.

 

[wendow]

Will need to see if Amex is only sensitive to mortgage payments or Plastiq as a whole then...since I'm not using it for a mortgage payment.

Hopefully, it is just mortgage payments. I scheduled a dance tuition payment with plastiq using my Amex that I am hoping goes through with no issues. I thought about prepaying several months of dance (almost $300 mo x 5-6 mos would help!).

I think @Lain said he had used his SPG to pay preschool tuition through plastiq but not sure if that was during a min spend time.

 

[platamama]

Per Frequent Miler, the following are allowed categories for AMEX on Plastiq:

For Recipients in the United States, the use of American Express cards is permitted for the following industries: Government, Utilities, Education, Residential Rent and Club Fees and Memberships.

 

[Lain]

Will need to see if Amex is only sensitive to mortgage payments or Plastiq as a whole then...since I'm not using it for a mortgage payment.

Hopefully, it is just mortgage payments. I scheduled a dance tuition payment with plastiq using my Amex that I am hoping goes through with no issues. I thought about prepaying several months of dance (almost $300 mo x 5-6 mos would help!).

@platamama, you beat me to it.

That’s the same language as in Plastiq’s terms of service: https://www.plastiq.com/terms?var=b&utm_expid=.0TihE4CWRaidcwwkbZtLLQ.1&utm_referrer=https://www.plastiq.com/#h.ij2m85hppay8

4 Acceptable Use
4.1 Restricted Activities
You agree not to use the Services:

1. For unsupported transfers, including sending money
   1. to yourself or an entity in which you have control;
   2. on behalf of another party;
   3. not in direct exchange for a rendered good or service;
   4. for alimony or to escrow accounts;
   5. for goods or services whose delivery or completion has not yet been confirmed;
   6. as a donation to an organization not classified as a registered charity;
   7. other than for legitimate payment purposes (e.g., to test or probe card behaviors).
2. For unsupported goods and services, including
   1. gambling and related activity (such as lotteries, bidding fee auctions, sports forecasting or odds making, fantasy sports leagues, internet gaming, contests, sweepstakes, and games of chance);
   2. unsupported debt types (such as credit card balances, mortgage payments, or uncollateralized loans);
   3. certain investment accounts or to fund unsupported investments, including but not limited to 401(k) accounts, 403(b) plans, 457 plans, 529 plans, and IRAs;
   4. controlled substances and related goods or services;
   5. tobacco, e-cigaretttes, and e-liquid;
   6. products sold by online pharmacies;
   7. pornography, obscene materials, and sexually-related services;
   8. weapons, munitions, gunpowder, fireworks, and other explosives;
   9. toxic, flammable, and radioactive materials; or
   10. other goods and services subject to government regulation.
3. For Payment to a Recipient in an unsupported industry:
   1. For Recipients in the United States, the use of American Express cards is permitted for the following industries: Government, Utilities, Education, Residential Rent, and Club Fees & Memberships.

I’d note that even though mortgages are mentioned as an example of an unsupported debt type in the ToS, it really only relates to Visa and Amex, because you can still make a mortgage payment using MasterCard and Discover.

 

[peel]

Thanks for this idea, this is definitely worth checking out! I love the Express pass too, that's the main reason I'd like to stay at RP. We stayed one night before and it was really nice, although it was freezing cold and we didn't get to use the pool! I looked at the AP and since our trip is in June, it seems like I could get the cheapest AP - the Seasonal pass, which I believe is only $30 more than the 2 day park-to-park ticket. I also called to see what the room discount would be but the discounts weren't available for June yet, the latest they had was March. I'll keep checking on this though. It looks like I could also get a discount on my family's tickets if I got the annual pass. If so that would help save even more. I'd really like stay two nights to get to enjoy the hotel and have a more relaxing time at UO, we've only done one day before and always feel rushed. I know we could just stay one night to get the EP, but then it feels like you're barely in the room at all.

Rates are now widely available through the end of May now, so keep checking for those June APH rates to be released. I’m tempted to book a UO trip myself!

 

[Albort]

Nope, not me. I've had the CI+ for several years and have been LOL/24 for longer than I've had the CI+ so there's no way I'd be approved for the CIP. Remember, we had to go CPC just to get the CSR when it came out.

what about Marriott Biz? I am thinkin about hitting both personal and biz at once...

edit: now theres a 120k Marriott Points. 12k spendings no AF, 7500 AU
or 75k Marriott Points. 3k spendings no AF.

tough choice... :|

 

[calypso726]

what about Marriott Biz? I am thinkin about hitting both personal and biz at once...

edit: now theres a 120k Marriott Points. 12k spendings no AF, 7500 AU
or 75k Marriott Points. 3k spendings no AF.

tough choice... :|

Oh wow! 120k Marriott = 40k SPG. That is tempting! I already have 10 Chase cards, not sure if I'd get approved for an 11th one. I'm more tempted by the $12K spending since it is over the course of the year and that is pretty do-able.

 

[magickingdomprincess]

Rates are now widely available through the end of May now, so keep checking for those June APH rates to be released. I’m tempted to book a UO trip myself!

Thank you for remembering me! I've been popping over there to check too, hopefully June won't be too far behind!