I am enjoying my Chase Sapphire CC now as I can get Kris Miles.
After having dinner with a Los Angeles based AFFer it became obvious that the Social Security Number requirement for a US points earning card seems to be absolute now. Both of us have our SSNs from our work in 1984 and it is now very difficult to get. That leaves the majority of Australians locked out.
Locally Bankwest, Westpac/St George are still working at the moment but the future does not look too rosy if the new rules on interchange fees gets going.
Statement issued for BOM Signature card yesterday. Being enhanced from 1 May. Will affect St George, Westpac etc.
BONUS POINTS EARNED THROUGH THE BONUS PARTNER PROGRAM AND THE AMPLIFY
QANTAS BONUS PARTNER PROGRAM WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE UP TO AND INCLUDING 30
APRIL 2017. FROM 1 MAY 2017, WE'RE MAKING CHANGES TO THE AMPLIFY REWARDS
AND AMPLIFY QANTAS PROGRAMS. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST AMPLIFY REWARDS
TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND AMPLIFY QANTAS TERMS AND CONDITIONS AVAILABLE AT
BANKOFMELBOURNE.COM.AU/PERSONAL/CREDIT-CARDS/REWARDS
The link provided doesn't work. I haven't been able to work out what the new earn rates are. The site does show changes to business cards earn rate.
GMOH your SSN is a number issued for lifetime so it never changes regardless of whether your card goes into the washing machine or worse.
Don't worry its only gift cards and Toasters (their example not mine but it did bring a smile to my face )
https://amplify.banksa.com.au/public/info.aspx?name=changes
GMOH if you go to a Social Security Office you should be able to recover the number by proving your identity with a current passport, drivers licence and maybe a bit of other stuff like a utility account in your name. It may wipe out half a day out of your life so take something to read and don't park at a one hour parking meter.
We went to one in Los Angeles together and the person we saw had less personality than Officer Martinez with the rubber gloves at immigration. We each received a computer print out with our SSNs on it. You are supposed to memorize your number rather than carry the document around due to identity theft being possible.
Once you have your SSN you can work on getting a credit account. Once you get a credit card issued you can try getting onto the paying the fiend provided you get one that has no foreign exchange fees.
Yes several years ago they did some and then about 3 years ago they cancelled cards for folks who did not have a Social Security number. Had to tell my youngest son it was a no go for him.