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This is the thread where you can ask any random question you have. Feel free to ask even the most basic questions that you otherwise might be embarrassed to ask. This is the thread for beginners, so veterans here will treat you nicely. Ask a beginner's Q in some other threads and no guarantee of that same treatment. ;)
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« Last edited by DoreshEmes on April 11, 2019, 03:54:27 AM »

Author Topic: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!  (Read 1738015 times)

Offline Lazegotit

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1320 on: August 05, 2013, 01:20:58 PM »
I wanna start with hotels and status stuff. Can anyone tell me where to start? Seems like Club Accor is the starting point, but the link isn't working... any ideas?

Offline meshugener

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1321 on: August 05, 2013, 02:40:55 PM »
Amex Plat = SPG Gold
Chase Hyatt = Hyatt Platinum
Citi Reserve/Amex Surpass = Hilton Gold
US Bank Club Carlson = Club Carlson Gold
Chase Marriott = 15 elite nights
Amex SPG = 5 elite nights and 2 elite stays
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Offline Dan

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1322 on: August 05, 2013, 02:49:04 PM »
Amex Plat = SPG Gold
Chase Hyatt = Hyatt Platinum
Citi Reserve/Amex Surpass = Hilton Gold
US Bank Club Carlson = Club Carlson Gold
Chase Marriott = 15 elite nights
Amex SPG = 5 elite nights and 2 elite stays
UA Club=Hyatt Platinum
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline chucksterace

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1323 on: August 05, 2013, 02:52:41 PM »
Amex Plat = SPG Gold
Chase Hyatt = Hyatt Platinum
Citi Reserve/Amex Surpass = Hilton Gold
US Bank Club Carlson = Club Carlson Gold
Chase Marriott = 15 elite nights
Amex SPG = 5 elite nights and 2 elite stays

Both SPG, personal and biz, can be combined so you have 10 elite nights and 4 elite stays.
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Offline aviz

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1324 on: August 05, 2013, 06:06:00 PM »
Is it better to show a small amount close on your credit card statemnt as oppose to show zero ? ie. if you have a CL of 10,000, it is better to leave an amount like $20 as a balance so the statement closes showing a low balance as oppose to paying it in full before the statemnt closes and there being a zero amount due... or does it not matter at all ?

for some reason i remeber thinking it might be better to show that you are borrowing, but you just want that balance to be less then 5-10% of you CL
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Offline HP58

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1325 on: August 05, 2013, 06:32:07 PM »
I seem to remember reading elsewhere on the forum that up to 33% is optimal utilization.

Offline Lou Bob

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1326 on: August 05, 2013, 06:46:39 PM »
I seem to remember reading elsewhere on the forum that up to 33% is optimal utilization.
that's maybe the max you wanna show, bedi'eved. Keep it to <10
Always use an Amex, you'll thank me one day.

Online CountValentine

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1327 on: August 06, 2013, 02:11:41 AM »
Is it better to show a small amount close on your credit card statemnt as oppose to show zero ?
You are going to see all different utilization figures thrown out. IMHO they are not even educated guesses. Basically the less outstanding the better. If you have a well seasoned credit file I would not even worry about utilization unless you were applying for new credit.
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Offline tageed-lee

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1328 on: August 06, 2013, 03:22:46 PM »
 I live in NJ and was approved for a Barclay card on June 23rd  (less than 2 months ago) and the hard pull was from TransUnion. Is it too early to apply for Chase/Amex? (If so, how long should i wait being that they pull from Experian they will see a new account but no recent hard pulls?) TIA

Offline Dan

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1329 on: August 06, 2013, 03:28:53 PM »
If so, how long should i wait being that they pull from Experian they will see a new account but no recent hard pulls?
Don't think so deeply. They won't see any pulls and that's the end of it.
No need to wait for anything.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline aviz

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1330 on: August 06, 2013, 03:56:14 PM »
You are going to see all different utilization figures thrown out. IMHO they are not even educated guesses. Basically the less outstanding the better. If you have a well seasoned credit file I would not even worry about utilization unless you were applying for new credit.

I agree, I'm not too concerned with 10%,15%,33%.... I just wondering if something is better then nothing... just because then its like your not using the card at all... was just wondering if its better to show you are borrowing something. (I know with capital one for example (an old card I had) ... I never officially canceled it, but they canceled it for me once they saw it wasn't used in 6 months)
Pleas hold. Your call will be answered in the order it was received.

Offline AJK

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1331 on: August 06, 2013, 06:22:44 PM »
1-10% > 0%.
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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1332 on: August 07, 2013, 07:17:30 AM »
If you have a current SPG card that is about three years old can you get the 30k bonus being offered? If so do you close the card first?
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Offline aviz

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1333 on: August 07, 2013, 10:53:46 AM »
1-10% > 0%.
Brilliant math  equation...

but i get what you mean.. thanks
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Offline HP58

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Offline MoGro17

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1335 on: August 07, 2013, 03:18:07 PM »
Noob question so go easy on me guys  ;)

I just got the Chase Ink Bold charge card and I want to meet the 5k spending threshold.

Can someone (or somemanys) give me a complete, yet uncomplicated, instruction manual on 1)Amazon Payments [AP], 2)Bluebird [Bb]?

Things like: Which gift cards can be used to load up Bb? What is the process for this? How exactly does AP work? Can I pay myself with a different email address? Can I pay my wife even though we share a checking account? Are there any fees for Bb? AP? What about inactivity charges and/or fees? Are there limits to the amount of activity allowed on Bb? AP?

I believe a comprehensive and simple guide to meeting thresholds would be very beneficial to the greater mile-hoarding community :):)

Thanks to all the pros for understanding and appreciating the importance of this thread.

Offline Saver2000

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1336 on: August 07, 2013, 03:24:23 PM »
Noob question so go easy on me guys  ;)

I just got the Chase Ink Bold charge card and I want to meet the 5k spending threshold.

Can someone (or somemanys) give me a complete, yet uncomplicated, instruction manual on 1)Amazon Payments [AP], 2)Bluebird [Bb]?

Things like: Which gift cards can be used to load up Bb? What is the process for this? How exactly does AP work? Can I pay myself with a different email address? Can I pay my wife even though we share a checking account? Are there any fees for Bb? AP? What about inactivity charges and/or fees? Are there limits to the amount of activity allowed on Bb? AP?

I believe a comprehensive and simple guide to meeting thresholds would be very beneficial to the greater mile-hoarding community :):)

Thanks to all the pros for understanding and appreciating the importance of this thread.
Check out the wiki on the bluebird  thread.  it can't anymore  dumbed-down than that.

Offline Achas Veachas

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1337 on: August 08, 2013, 11:11:11 AM »
My first foray into Business cards here. What's the difference between the Chase Ink Bold and Chase Ink Plus?

Offline sky121

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1338 on: August 08, 2013, 11:26:20 AM »
My first foray into Business cards here. What's the difference between the Chase Ink Bold and Chase Ink Plus?

One is a charge card and one isn't.
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Offline Achas Veachas

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Re: Questions and Help for BEGINNERS!
« Reply #1339 on: August 08, 2013, 11:27:26 AM »
Charge card means it has to be paid in full each month?