DansDeals Credit Card Links And FAQ's: Your Support Keeps This Site Running!

[AJK]

I'm not talking about CLs, I'm talking about utilization percentage.

Can you see that as well? From month to month as long as you've had the card?

[HelpMe]

EX shows the balance each month at the time it was reported. Looks like it goes back up to 23 months.

[AJK]

Interesting. I'm looking at an old EX report of mine and I can't see that, just whether it was paid on time.

Is that something new?

[meshugener]

I'm relatively new to this entire game, so I can't tell you how these things looked like a year ago.

[HelpMe]

Interesting. I'm looking at an old EX report of mine and I can't see that, just whether it was paid on time.

Is that something new?

08/2010 EX report only shows balance for each month. 06/2011 EX report shows balance and total payments.

[AJK]

I'm looking at an EX report from 7/11 and all I see is:

Nothing about old util % or payments.

[HelpMe]

Thats from EX or a third party? The only accurate report is the hard copy you receive fron the TU/EQ/EX. Even the online versions from TU/EQ/EX are slightly different than the hard copies.

[AJK]

Online copy straight from EX.

The hard copies have more info? (the info I'm asking about?)

[HelpMe]

The hard copies are slightly different but I don’t remember exactly what they are. The online version has the same info I posted earlier. I should clarify when I say from EX I mean the one you get free each year (annual credit report) or the one you get for being denied credit. I see an ad in the one you posted so I am guessing it is from one of EX’s monitoring services?

[AJK]

It was from a free trial period about a year ago. I'd love to see someone post a report (redacted if necessary) that shows historical util %...

[HelpMe]

It shows balance and total payments for each month. This is for a store CC:

Balance History - The following data will appear in the following format:
account balance / date payment received / scheduled payment amount / actual amount paid
Jan 2012: $4 / January 13, 2012 / $4 / $7
Dec 2011: $34 / December 15, 2011 / $25 / $20
Nov 2011: $333 / November 14, 2011 / $25 / $100
Oct 2011: $18 / October 14, 2011 / $18 / $90
Sep 2011: $55 / August 18, 2011 / $25 / $115
Aug 2011: $117 / July 14, 2011 / $25 / $100
Jul 2011: $121 / July 14, 2011 / $25 / $100
Jun 2011: $1 / June 15, 2011 / $1 / $348
May 2011: $257 / April 15, 2011 / $25 / $100
Apr 2011: $23 / April 15, 2011 / $23 / $100
Mar 2011: $37 / February 15, 2011 / $25 / $176
Feb 2011: $0 / February 15, 2011 / $25 / $176
Jan 2011: $86 / January 9, 2011 / $25 / $150
Dec 2010: $170 / December 10, 2010 / $25 / $250
Nov 2010: $146 / October 30, 2010 / $25 / $110
Oct 2010: $109 / October 1, 2010 / $5 / $50
Sep 2010: $41 / September 11, 2010 / $5 / $10
Aug 2010: $7 / August 17, 2010 / $5 / $10
Jul 2010: $28 / July 15, 2010 / $5 / $104
Jun 2010: $57 / June 13, 2010 / $5 / $25

[meshugener]

The one I'm talking about is a hard copy directly from EX.
It shows the current available CL, then it shows closing balance of each month and payment history of the previous month.
Then, on a note under the account info & history, it details CL changes throughout the life of the account, for ex. From xx/xx to xx/xx your limit was $xxxxx, and from xx/xx to xx/xx it was $xxxxx.

[ATC]

Thanks in advance for using DansDeals links when you apply for credit cards!
Your support of the site is most appreciated!
You may need to clear the cookies/cache in your browser to receive the best AMEX offers.

"3 Browser Method"
The 3 browser method (3BM) is a technique that I came up with about 8 years ago with that has now spread across the web.  It has helped me accumulate hundreds of credit cards (including dozens of the same exact card) along with millions of miles for free.  There's no reason you can't do it as well! Basically the idea is to apply for 3 different credit cards from the same bank (Either from AMEX, Chase, Citi, etc.) at the same exact time using 3 different web browsers, like Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc, etc.


When you do so you typically will only get 1 credit hit regardless of how many cards you apply for.
It also increases your odds of getting instantly improved for multiple cards as opposed to applying for multiple cards at separate times.

Credit Pulls:
In every state different banks will pull from different credit agencies.  The credit agencies are Experian, Equifax, and Transunion.
See this thread for info on where people are saying each bank pulls from in their state.
Most banks pull from just one agency, but Capital One is known as being evil for pulling from all 3 agencies.

Credit Freezing:
If you live on a state like NJ, where the major banks all pull from Experian you may have a lot of hard pulls on one report but none on other reports.  Too many hard pulls in the past 6 months is often a factor for being denied for a card. 
People have had success freezing their Experian and one other report when applying for a Chase card to get Chase to pull from an agency where you have fewer hard pulls-making it easier to get approved.  You may need to call Chase to let them know which of your reports is not frozen.

The costs are outlined here. It might make sense to be a victim of identity theft, as is seems it'll make freezing and unfreezing your reports free for life. The links for initiating a freeze online may not be current in that article, here are the current links:

Equfax
Experian
TransUnion

Reconsideration:
Even if you are rejected you can always ask for reconsideration for approval.  Be proactive by offering to have older cards closed or have credit lines shifted around from older cards to newer cards.

AMEX: 866-314-0237 (Application reconsideration)
Membership Rewards: 800-297-3276

Chase:
Chase: 800-432-3117 (Application status)
Chase: 888-270-2127 (Application reconsideration)
Chase: 800-453-9719 (Business card reconsideration)
Chase: 888-245-0625 (Credit Analyst reconsideration)
Chase: 888-622-7547 (Chase Executive Office)
Chase: 888-298-5623 (Credit Reallocation - Consumer)
Chase: 800-453-9719 (Credit Reallocation - Business)

Citi:
Citi: 866-606-2787 (Account Analyst)
Citi: 888-201-4523 (New App Approval Status)
Citi App Status: 800-645-7240, 800-288-4653, 800-750-7453
Citi: 800-444-2568 (Retention Dept.)
Citi: 800-763-9795 (Credit Dept.)
Citi Credit Bureau Dispute Fax: 866-713-5028

Many people have also had better luck writing to the office of the President for reconsideration on Citi cards:
Mr. Ken Stork
Office of the President
PO Box 6000
Sioux Falls, SD 57117

Retention Bonuses:
Before cancelling a card that carries an annual fee, try asking for a retention bonus.
More info in this thread.

Annual Fee Refund:
There is a grace period for cancelling a card after the appearance of an annual fee to get the fee waived.  This is true with new cards that have a fee due immediately and true for cards that have been open for a year and have a fee that posted to the statement.  The length of the grace period differs by bank.
AMEX: 60 days for a full refund.  Pro-rated refund after 60 days.
Chase: Conflicting reports of either 30 or 60 days.  No pro-rating afterwards.
Citi: ?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
US based Cards:

American Express Consumer cards:
Charge cards:
-Platinum Charge Card, 25,000 points for spending $2,000. $200 annual airline credit. Plat+Priority Pass+Regus Lounge access. Global Entry membership. Starwood Gold status. No Forex fee.  $450 annual fee.

-Premier Rewards Gold Charge Card, 25,000 points for spending $2,000. 3x points for airfare, 2x points on gas and groceries. No fee first year and then $125.

-Gold Charge Card, No fee first year and then $125.

Credit cards:
-Blue Cash, No annual fee, $100 cash back for spending $1,000, 3% cash back on groceries, 2% on gas and department stores.

-Blue Cash Preferred, $150 cash back for spending $1,500, 6% cash back on groceries, 3% on gas and department stores. $75 annual fee.

-Blue Sky, No annual fee, 1.33% back towards travel spending.

-Blue Sky Preferred, 7,500 points for spending $500 good for $100 cash back towards travel spending. $200 annual airline credit. 2 points per dollar for spending on dining, hotels, and car rentals good for 2.67% cash back towards travel spending and 1 point per dollar elsewhere good for 1.33% cash back towards travel spending. $75 annual fee.

-Costco, No annual fee with Costco membership, 3% cash back on gas and restaurants, 2% on travel.

-Delta Gold, 30,000 miles for spending $500.  Free checked luggage on Delta. $99 annual coach companion ticket. No fee first year and then $95.

-Delta Platinum, 25,000 miles and 5,000 MQMs for spending $1 and adding 2 cardholders.  Free checked luggage on Delta. Free annual coach companion ticket.  Up to 20,000 MQMs annually based on spending. $150 annual fee.

-Delta Reserve, Delta SkyClub membership. 10,000 MQMs for spending $1. Free checked luggage on Delta. Free annual coach or first class companion ticket.  Up to 30,000 MQMs annually based on spending.  $450 annual fee.

-Starwood, 10K Starpoints for spending $1. 15K bonus points for spending $5K within 6 months.  Starwood Gold status for spending $30K. 2 Stay/5 Night Elite credit. 3rd night free at Sheratons. No fee first year and then $65.

American Express Business cards:
Charge cards:
-Platinum Charge Card 25,000 points for spending $5,000. $200 annual airline credit. Plat+Priority Pass+Regus Lounge access. Global Entry membership. Starwood Gold status. AMEX Open Savings. No Forex fee. $450 annual fee.

-New Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN Charge Card3 points for every dollar spent on airfare, 2 points for every dollar spent on gas, advertising, or shipping, and a point per dollar everywhere else. AMEX Open Savings. No fee first year and then $175.

-Plum Charge Card, 1.5% cash back by paying balance within 10 days of your statement or 2 months to pay balance. AMEX Open Savings. No fee first year and then $185.

Credit cards:
-Delta Gold 30,000 miles for spending $500.  Free checked luggage on Delta. $99 annual coach companion ticket. AMEX Open Savings. No fee first year and then $95.

-Simply Cash No annual fee. 5% cash back on wireless and office supplies. 3% cash back on gas. AMEX Open Savings.

-Starwood 10K Starpoints for spending $1. 15K bonus points for spending $5K.  Starwood Gold status for spending $30K. 2 Stay/5 Night Elite credit. 3rd night free at Sheratons. AMEX Open Savings. No fee first year and then $65.

Chase Consumer cards:

-British Airways Visa 50,000 bonus Avios after your first purchase. Another 25,000 bonus Avios after you make $10,000 in purchases within the first year of account opening. Another 25,000 bonus Avios after you make an additional $10,000 in purchases also within the first year of account opening for a total of 100,000 bonus Avios and 25,000 Avios for the spending. 1.25 Avios per dollar spent everywhere and 2.5 Avios per dollar spent on British Airways. No Forex fee. Spend $30K in a year and get a free companion ticket good on award tickets.

-Freedom Mastercard, No annual fee. 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. $100 cash back for spending $500 in the form of 10,000 points. 5% back in rotating categories in the form of 5 points per dollar. Chase Checking account holders get 10 bonus points per transaction and 10% more points for spending.  Points can be transferred into miles if you have a Sapphire Preferred or Ink Bold card.

-Freedom Visa, No annual fee. 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. $100 cash back for spending $500 in the form of 10,000 points. 5% back in rotating categories in the form of 5 points per dollar. Chase Checking account holders get 10 bonus points per transaction and 10% more points for spending.  Points can be transferred into miles if you have a Sapphire Preferred or Ink Bold card.

-Hyatt, 2 free nights at any Hyatt worldwide for spending $1. Free Hyatt Platinum status.  Hyatt Platinums only need to spend $1 and get 2 free suite upgrades on paid stays.  Hyatt Diamonds get the 2 free nights in a suite for spending $1. No Forex fee.  Free automatic annual night at category 1-4 hotels. $75 annual fee.
-You can try sending a secure message to Chase after getting the card to ask for a $75 bonus as well.

-Marriott, 30K bonus points and 2 free cat. 1-4 night certificate for spending $1. 10 night elite credit. No fee first year then $45.

-Marriott Premier, 50K bonus points and free cat. 1-4 night certificate for spending $1. Annual free cat. 1-5 night certificate. 15 night elite credit. No Forex fee. No fee first year then $85.

-Sapphire Preferred World Mastercard, 40K points (42,800 after the 7% bonus) for spending $3K. 1.07 points per dollar spent, 2.14 points per dollar spent on car rentals, airfare, hotels, and dining. CDW coverage in Israel. Points redeemable 1:1 for BA, United, Southwest, or Hyatt points or for 1.25 cents each towards airfare. 7% point bonus for all spending. No Forex fee. No fee first year then $95.

-Sapphire Preferred Visa Signature, 40K points (42,800 after the 7% bonus) for spending $3K. 1.07 points per dollar spent, 2.14 points per dollar spent on car rentals, airfare, hotels, and dining. Points redeemable 1:1 for BA, United, Southwest, or Hyatt points or for 1.25 cents each towards airfare. 7% point bonus for all spending. No Forex fee. No fee first year then $95.

-Sapphire Non-Preferred World Mastercard,  CDW coverage in Israel. No annual fee. 25K points for spending $3K.

-Sapphire Non-Preferred Visa Signature, No annual fee. 25K points for spending $3K.

-Slate, No annual fee. No balance transfer fees for 30 days and 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months.
-You can try sending a secure message to Chase after getting the card to ask for a $75 bonus.

-Southwest, 25K points for spending $1.  Good for $475 of Southwest flights.  3,000 bonus points annually ($57 of airfare). 1 point per dollar on purchases, which is equal to a rebate of 1.9%. 2 points per dollar on Southwest purchases, including hotel and car rentals via Southwest, which is equal to a rebate of 3.8%. Free companion pass if you earn 110,000 points in a year from any source.
-You can try sending a secure message to Chase after getting the card to ask for 50K miles.

-United, 30K miles for spending $1 and adding an additional cardholder. Free checked luggage on Continental and United. Free Priority boarding with card.  Non-expiring miles with card.  Last seat EasyPass award availability with card. Free primary Car Rental CDW. 2 annual lounge passes.  $2 in-flight LiveTV and Premium Drink discount. 10K bonus miles for spending $25K annually. Comp upgrades for elite cardholders on award tickets. Double miles for Continental and United purchases. No fee first year then $95.
-You can try sending a secure message to Chase after getting the card to ask for 55K miles plus $50 statement credit.

Chase Business Cards:
-Ink Bold Ultimate Rewards (New Program) 25K points for spending $1 plus an additional 25K points for spending $10K in 3 months. Points redeemable 1:1 for BA, CO, or Hyatt points or for 1.25 cents each towards airfare. 5 points per dollar on wireless, landline, cable services, and office supplies.  2 points per dollar on gas and hotels. 1 point per dollar elsewhere. No fee first year then $95.-You can try sending a secure message to Chase after getting the card to ask for 60K points for spending $5K.

-Ink Classic, No annual fee. 10K points for spending $1 plus an additional 15K points for spending $5K in 3 months.  5 points per dollar on wireless, landline, cable services, and office supplies.  2 points per dollar on gas and hotels. 1 point per dollar elsewhere. 0% APR for 6 months. Points can be transferred into miles if you have a Sapphire Preferred or Ink Bold card.

-Ink Cash, No annual fee.  10K points for spending $1 plus an additional 15K points for spending $5K in 3 months. 5 points per dollar on wireless, landline, cable services, and office supplies.  2 points per dollar on gas and dining. 1 point per dollar elsewhere. 0% APR for 6 months. Points can be transferred into miles if you have a Sapphire Preferred or Ink Bold card.

Discover:
-Escape, Double Discover Miles on all purchases. 1,000 bonus miles each month you make a purchase for the first 25 months.

-More, No annual fee. 5% cash back in rotating categories. 18 months 0% APR.

-Motiva

-Open Road, No annual fee. $10 cask back on each of your first 5 gas fill-ups. 12 months 0% APR.

-Student, No annual fee. 5% cash back in rotating categories. 6 months 0% APR.

Canada based Cards:

American Express Canada:

Airmiles

Gold Rewards and Business Gold Rewards

Starwood Consumer 15K points for signing up for each card, a free weekend night annually for spending $40K, SPG Gold annually for spending $30K

MBNA Canada:

MBNA Best Western No annual fee. Receive 20,000 bonus Best Western Rewards points for spending $1. Earn 1.5 Best Western Rewards points for every $1 spent. Receive a one tier elite status upgrade within the Best Western Rewards program when you spend $6,000 on your card within one year.

MBNA Gold No annual fee.

MBNA Platinum, No annual fee. 0% APR for 10 months.

MBNA PremierRewards No Annual Fee. 1% back on purchases.

MBNA WorldPoints, No annual fee.  1,000 Bonus WorldPoints for spending $1 and 1,000 Bonus WorldPoints each year on your account anniversary.

MBNA Sony No annual fee. Get 2,000 Sony Points for spending $1.

So again if i want to apply for the Chase sapphire and get 40k can i do it in this 3 browsers and then hit Apply one after the other and i will get 40k x3 120k after i spent 30k in 3 months? i will get 3 different cards?

[JEWDA]

So again if i want to apply for the Chase sapphire and get 40k can i do it in this 3 browsers and then hit Apply one after the other and i will get 40k x3 120k after i spent 30k in 3 months? i will get 3 different cards?

No the 3 browser method is for 3 different cards from the same bank, not 3 of the same card lol.

[rots5]

lol

[jeremiah1083]

Citi Advantage 50k Visa/MC/Amex, CitiBusiness 50k, 50k Citi TY Prestige and Platinum. I've linked to these offers enough, if you're interested you can search and find them.

I have a Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage card that I never use. I'm over 1 year so I guess the $95 AF kicks in this year. I have a bunch of other cards open, none with citi. If i close this, will it affect my credit score (I don't want to open another card with citi).

[meshugener]

Downgrade.

[sky121]

I have a Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage card that I never use. I'm over 1 year so I guess the $95 AF kicks in this year. I have a bunch of other cards open, none with citi. If i close this, will it affect my credit score (I don't want to open another card with citi).

Get the fee waived.

[aryeh1]

I have a Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage card that I never use. I'm over 1 year so I guess the $95 AF kicks in this year. I have a bunch of other cards open, none with citi. If i close this, will it affect my credit score (I don't want to open another card with citi).

Downgrade to bronze

[skyguy918]

I had a Continental cc and they sent me a United MileagePlus Explorer card recently instead. The annual fee is coming up very soon, and I'd prefer to convert it to a fee-free card (as opposed to canceling) so I have the leverage when I finally get around to doing a Chase 3bm. My first few attempts (one by sm and one by phone) I was told I can't convert it to a fee-free card. Is this true? And if not what are my options for fee-free cards? Is there a specific number to call that I'm more likely to get the conversion done?

Thanks.