Strategy to obtain US Amex

[Viridis]

Does anyone know if TextNow allows you to respond to texts? E.g Amex send a text saying reply with yes. Does TextNow do that as Skype etc don’t allow replies.

Yes, it does.

I just did exactly that to verify my mobile number with Amex. They said confirm with "Yes", which I did. They responded with a text confirming that my number was verified

 

[albyd]

That’s interesting as I’ve been able to receive calls from Amex on the number - works well. I’ve never received verification texts from a financial institution.

 

[Viridis]

That’s interesting as I’ve been able to receive calls from Amex on the number - works well. I’ve never received verification texts from a financial institution.

Paid service - the $7.99 option to keep your number?

 

[albyd]

Yep that’s the one I’ve been using. Went for the T-mobile prepaid option and that seems to have done the trick.

 

[Viridis]

My experience ….

Couldn’t open a MyUS account - tried twice including once from a link from Citibank for two years of free Premium membership. Sent rude email. They replied with a request for a government ID and photo of my credit card. I said “not a chance” and moved on

Already had a Skypax account and had been very happy with the service. Checked on the USPS site and Skypax wasn’t registered as a CMRA.

Skypax describe themselves as a “parcel forwarding company” (ie no mail) and say they will not handle credit cards

Applied for a Hilton Aspire card via GT. Approved instantly. Hilton account upgraded to Diamond within the hour

Set up online access and direct debit autopay via Wise. Gone paperless

Setup Textnow account for US cell phone number. A$7.99pa to retain number. Verified by auto challenge and response

Card delivered via FedEx and was registered to my Skypax suite the following day. The parcel description was logged as a ‘Hilton Honors Aspire card from American Express”. Despatched via DHL the following day to my home address.

 

[http_x92]

Not really needed now but what would be the best use of the $250 Airline Fee Credit for the Hilton Aspire for Australians? American Airlines has the closest partnership to Qantas so that is the US airline being considered.

 

[Viridis]

Not really needed now but what would be the best use of the $250 Airline Fee Credit for the Hilton Aspire for Australians? American Airlines has the closest partnership to Qantas so that is the US airline being considered.

Im BA EC Gold so that would make sense for me too. But probably moving to Virgin Atlantic/KrisFlyer as I prefer the daylight flight to LHR ex SIN. In which case I’ll probably sign up for Delta. Southwest is an option too.

No point wasting it

 

[pyusha]

but what would be the best use of the $250 Airline Fee Credit for the Hilton Aspire for Australians?

United travel bank? Funds can be loaded and used with 5 year validity and they do post reiumbursements with Amex.

 

[Viridis]

Rookie question if I may.....?

Got the Hilton Aspire card today

What do the Americans do about card PINs?

There is nothing about one on the welcome letter (unlike here & UK) and nowhere in the App or on the website to set or re-set one (unlike here or UK)

I realise that with Apple Pay there is no real need (put a $20k charge on Amex the other day with a tap of the phone - no PIN - amazingly efficient way to part with one's hard earned) but occasionally, just occasionally, one is required - especially with a first purchase)

Any ideas?

 

[Batterytraveller]

I'm doing really well out of the 4 points/USD on restaurants on the Amex Gold, a lot of local independent food retailers, code as restaurants, the butcher and fish monger I go to for example.

Not sure I can really make use of many of the other benefits with the card, but the points are rolling in fast. Anyone want a referral link?

 

[BlueHorizonUK]

Rookie question if I may.....?

Got the Hilton Aspire card today

What do the Americans do about card PINs?

There is nothing about one on the welcome letter (unlike here & UK) and nowhere in the App or on the website to set or re-set one (unlike here or UK)

I realise that with Apple Pay there is no real need (put a $20k charge on Amex the other day with a tap of the phone - no PIN - amazingly efficient way to part with one's hard earned) but occasionally, just occasionally, one is required - especially with a first purchase)

Any ideas?

I asked livechat when I got my card and they said use the four digit code on the card as the pin if it’s ever needed.

I was dubious this was the case. Never been asked for a pin yet.

 

[blacksultan]

I asked livechat when I got my card and they said use the four digit code on the card as the pin if it’s ever needed.

I was dubious this was the case. Never been asked for a pin yet.

Don’t think that will work . Don’t believe you will lane asked for pin - usually only signatures required .
Apparently pins are used for US cards only for atm withdrawals .

 

[desafinado74]

Hello everyone,

I am planning to visit the US late next year or 2023, and open a checking or savings account while i am there.

Would the bank ask for a local address ?

I am also thinking of applying for an ITIN.
But i read that ITINs expire after a few years isn't it ?

 

[snabbu]

What do the Americans do about card PINs?

Normally you don't need a PIN when using a credit card in US. You either insert and remove or insert, sign and remove.

 

[blacksultan]

Hello everyone,

I am planning to visit the US late next year or 2023, and open a checking or savings account while i am there.

Would the bank ask for a local address ?

I am also thinking of applying for an ITIN.
But i read that ITINs expire after a few years isn't it ?

I don’t believe they expire . Especially if you don’t actually use them to file returns . Try ein express .

 

[http_x92]

Also with the Hilton Aspire card, there is also $250 Hilton Resort statement credit. I believe the only one in Australia is the Gold Coast...

The benefits for the Aspire add up quickly.

 

[tlam]

Hello everyone,

I am planning to visit the US late next year or 2023, and open a checking or savings account while i am there.

Would the bank ask for a local address ?

I am also thinking of applying for an ITIN.
But i read that ITINs expire after a few years isn't it ?

You can apply with driver license and passport with Citi, they don’t require local address or US phone number.

 

[tlam]

Warning: for those who plan to apply a US card and change the address to Aussie address, I got the Citi card and my card was hacked last time. I called and asked them to change my address to the Aussie address and had the replacement card shipped to here in 3 days by DHL. However, I forgot to change it back to the US address, and my card has been closed without warning or notifications. I only figured it out when I couldn’t use the card. I called them again and explained the situation and asked them to reinstate the card but they said that I need to re-apply, can’t reinstate. I also lost all the thankyou points (about 34,000 points). Lesson learned.

 

[blacksultan]

Sorry for you . Thanks for the tip .

Warning: for those who plan to apply a US card and change the address to Aussie address, I got the Citi card and my card was hacked last time. I called and asked them to change my address to the Aussie address and had the replacement card shipped to here in 3 days by DHL. However, I forgot to change it back to the US address, and my card has been closed without warning or notifications. I only figured it out when I couldn’t use the card. I called them again and explained the situation and asked them to reinstate the card but they said that I need to re-apply, can’t reinstate. I also lost all the thankyou points (about 34,000 points). Lesson learned.

 

[DC3]

For those who took out the Motley Fool subscription reimbursement offer on the Aspire (for the free AA miles) in January of this year, the 12 months subscription will auto-renew (unless disabled) in January 2022. Although, Motley Fool, to their credit, recently sent me an email to remind me.