Strategy to obtain US Amex

[djchuckles]

Yes . Is there an offer at the moment ?

Oh wow. No couldn’t see anything

 

[Franko Costa]

Oh wow. No couldn’t see anything

Nothing right now

 

[Ko0l]

Yes . Is there an offer at the moment ?

Business checking always have 30k rewards bonus but some people have targeted 50k/70k bonuses.

Business Checking Account | American Express Business Blueprint

Business banking simplified. Online business checking accounts with American Express Business Checking have no monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements.

www.americanexpress.com

Personal checking have targeted $300 bonuses.

 

[DC3]

You get SUBs for the checking account?

$300 bonus for me some months ago, if I recall correctly

 

[Ko0l]

Just got approved for my first Chase credit card. The ink preferred. It was easier than expected especially considering its my first chase credit card. I don't think it can get easier than this except for an instant approval.

Applied 3 days ago got an email that application is being reviewed, called up to get verified and they sent email to upload docs. Sent passport, ITIN letter, amex credit card statement and amex bank account letter confirming account ownership with address.

Called up yesterday and got told still reviewing docs. Called up again tonight and got approved.
I asked to get the card expedited and it'll be sent in 1-2 business days via UPS.

 

[desafinado74]

Just got approved for my first Chase credit card. The ink preferred. It was easier than expected especially considering its my first chase credit card. I don't think it can get easier than this except for an instant approval.

Applied 3 days ago got an email that application is being reviewed, called up to get verified and they sent email to upload docs. Sent passport, ITIN letter, amex credit card statement and amex bank account letter confirming account ownership with address.

Called up yesterday and got told still reviewing docs. Called up again tonight and got approved.
I asked to get the card expedited and it'll be sent in 1-2 business days via UPS.

Congrats ! Do report back with your experiences in setting up a Chase profile/account

 

[djchuckles]

They won't do a 3 way call with HSBC. How long have people had to wait to get a pdf statement from US HSBC Checking account?

 

[Tiki]

End of an era. Annual fee posted to my Surpass. Called them up citing the loss of Priority Pass makes the annual fee not valuable to me. Got the usual spiel about benefits, $50 a quarter credit. This would have been worth it as an annual $200 credit but I simply don't travel enough, not 4 times a year to make it worthwhile. Card cancelled, didn't want to faf about with downgrades. Given that I have been in PUJ for over a year, put little spend on the Delta and Hilton cards, just the minimum and I have had Gold MR card in the past, also had SPG card over 10 years ago I guess this is it, goodbye Amex!

 

[pyramidforce]

End of an era. Annual fee posted to my Surpass. Called them up citing the loss of Priority Pass makes the annual fee not valuable to me. Got the usual spiel about benefits, $50 a quarter credit. This would have been worth it as an annual $200 credit but I simply don't travel enough, not 4 times a year to make it worthwhile. Card cancelled, didn't want to faf about with downgrades. Given that I have been in PUJ for over a year, put little spend on the Delta and Hilton cards, just the minimum and I have had Gold MR card in the past, also had SPG card over 10 years ago I guess this is it, goodbye Amex!

I may be wrong and am definitely late but I'm quite sure that qantas marketplace codes as airfare still so I THINK you can just buy 4x50USD (so maybe 100 aud) wish gift cards to trigger the hilton aspire credit.

 

[maverick1]

End of an era. Annual fee posted to my Surpass. Called them up citing the loss of Priority Pass makes the annual fee not valuable to me. Got the usual spiel about benefits, $50 a quarter credit. This would have been worth it as an annual $200 credit but I simply don't travel enough, not 4 times a year to make it worthwhile. Card cancelled, didn't want to faf about with downgrades. Given that I have been in PUJ for over a year, put little spend on the Delta and Hilton cards, just the minimum and I have had Gold MR card in the past, also had SPG card over 10 years ago I guess this is it, goodbye Amex!

The AF on my surpass will be due shortly. I've the Aspire card too. I'm thinking of testing the strategy of upgrade/downgrade across the 2 cards for a 12 month period.

Total spend is $30K and annual fee paid ~$350 in annual fees (6 months of $150 Surpass + 6 months of $550 Aspire).

Potential total earnings would be $100 in Hilton credits, $200 in flight credits, $600 (more likely $400) in resort credits, Hilton Honors points (points dependent on spend category)X30k and 3 free night certificates.

Detailed strategy here with different spend options -

How to maximize your Hilton cards (with upgrades and downgrades)

In this post, we'll map out how (and why) to use product changes to squeeze every drop of potential goodness out of your Hilton cards.

frequentmiler.com

Post automatically merged: Aug 31, 2024

I may be wrong and am definitely late but I'm quite sure that qantas marketplace codes as airfare still so I THINK you can just buy 4x50USD (so maybe 100 aud) wish gift cards to trigger the hilton aspire credit.

That works. But OP is talking about Surpass card which comes with 4X50 quarterly Hilton credits.
Flight credits are on Aspire card.

 

[djchuckles]

The AF on my surpass will be due shortly. I've the Aspire card too. I'm thinking of testing the strategy of upgrade/downgrade across the 2 cards for a 12 month period.

Total spend is $30K and annual fee paid ~$350 in annual fees (6 months of $150 Surpass + 6 months of $550 Aspire).

Potential total earnings would be $100 in Hilton credits, $200 in flight credits, $600 (more likely $400) in resort credits, Hilton Honors points (points dependent on spend category)X30k and 3 free night certificates.

Detailed strategy here with different spend options -

How to maximize your Hilton cards (with upgrades and downgrades)

In this post, we'll map out how (and why) to use product changes to squeeze every drop of potential goodness out of your Hilton cards.

frequentmiler.com

Post automatically merged: Aug 31, 2024

That works. But OP is talking about Surpass card which comes with 4X50 quarterly Hilton credits.
Flight credits are on Aspire card.

I think I can but can i get surpass now and Aspire in future and got both SUBs? Have a big Hilton trip next Easter so two lots of bonus points would be good but don’t really need the other benefits of the Aspire until April

 

[pyramidforce]

Activated and used HSBC Premier US card. Spent a small amount at Colesworth. Pleasantly surprised no attempt to scam me using DCC, no card declined message, worked as you would expect. Manually calculated FX spread at ~0.5% as compared to the rate on Oanda. Assuming another 0.5% fee to transfer money to pay off the card (e.g. using Revolut), and assuming Colesworth correctly codes as groceries for 3x points, it isn't the worst deal, especially when meeting a SUB.

As the card has been received, I have updated my mailing address to my US address. Was told it would take 5 business days to process. Is this just processing time, or will they also verify me with phone call etc?

I am assuming that the mailing address is the correct one to change because that is what is printed on the statement, is that correct?

If all goes according to plan, next step Maza ITN

 

[blacksultan]

They won't do a 3 way call with HSBC. How long have people had to wait to get a pdf statement from US HSBC Checking account?

Can u get your RM to issue a letter ?

 

[blacksultan]

The AF on my surpass will be due shortly. I've the Aspire card too. I'm thinking of testing the strategy of upgrade/downgrade across the 2 cards for a 12 month period.

Total spend is $30K and annual fee paid ~$350 in annual fees (6 months of $150 Surpass + 6 months of $550 Aspire).

Potential total earnings would be $100 in Hilton credits, $200 in flight credits, $600 (more likely $400) in resort credits, Hilton Honors points (points dependent on spend category)X30k and 3 free night certificates.

Detailed strategy here with different spend options -

How to maximize your Hilton cards (with upgrades and downgrades)

In this post, we'll map out how (and why) to use product changes to squeeze every drop of potential goodness out of your Hilton cards.

frequentmiler.com

Post automatically merged: Aug 31, 2024

That works. But OP is talking about Surpass card which comes with 4X50 quarterly Hilton credits.
Flight credits are on Aspire card.

Can Hilton gift cards be purchased ?

 

[maverick1]

I think I can but can i get surpass now and Aspire in future and got both SUBs? Have a big Hilton trip next Easter so two lots of bonus points would be good but don’t really need the other benefits of the Aspire until April

The SUB atm are not the highest so you would be better off to wait if you can.
Ideally, to play this downgrade/upgrade game you should first clip the SUB's and then look into DG/UG.
For Aspire credits you can try to get the hotel to charge before your arrival. I paid for some of my room upgrades using Hilton $50/60 credits using Surpass and Hilton Biz.

And then for an upcoming stay in Nov I prepaid US$200 charged to Aspire in the 1st half of the year for some of activities which I will cancel closer to checkin and instead use it for dining etc along with 2nd $200 credit for the 2nd half of the year. By prepaying you can maximise the credits, you would need lot of patience and the right staff to send you prepayment links.

 

[maverick1]

Can Hilton gift cards be purchased ?

I haven't tried that route. But Hilton doesn't do egiftcards, they send physical cards in the US.
Not sure how it will work with mail forwarding and may not be that beneficial with the costs involved but if you have someone in US who can store and ship it for you that would be one way of using it or if you have a stay coming up.
I haven't checked if hotels in Aus sell the Hilton generic GC, On their website some of them sell their own property specific GC with min GC much greater than US$60. I think min is A$200.

 

[djchuckles]

Activated and used HSBC Premier US card. Spent a small amount at Colesworth. Pleasantly surprised no attempt to scam me using DCC, no card declined message, worked as you would expect. Manually calculated FX spread at ~0.5% as compared to the rate on Oanda. Assuming another 0.5% fee to transfer money to pay off the card (e.g. using Revolut), and assuming Colesworth correctly codes as groceries for 3x points, it isn't the worst deal, especially when meeting a SUB.

As the card has been received, I have updated my mailing address to my US address. Was told it would take 5 business days to process. Is this just processing time, or will they also verify me with phone call etc?

I am assuming that the mailing address is the correct one to change because that is what is printed on the statement, is that correct?

If all goes according to plan, next step Maza ITN

Ahhh. I just updated my residential address to US and left mailing address as here. Statement will appear today at 2am ET so will let you know

Btw my address updated took less than 48 hours.

 

[djchuckles]

The SUB atm are not the highest so you would be better off to wait if you can.
Ideally, to play this downgrade/upgrade game you should first clip the SUB's and then look into DG/UG.
For Aspire credits you can try to get the hotel to charge before your arrival. I paid for some of my room upgrades using Hilton $50/60 credits using Surpass and Hilton Biz.

And then for an upcoming stay in Nov I prepaid US$200 charged to Aspire in the 1st half of the year for some of activities which I will cancel closer to checkin and instead use it for dining etc along with 2nd $200 credit for the 2nd half of the year. By prepaying you can maximise the credits, you would need lot of patience and the right staff to send you prepayment links.

Booked the whole thing on points.

Activated and used HSBC Premier US card. Spent a small amount at Colesworth. Pleasantly surprised no attempt to scam me using DCC, no card declined message, worked as you would expect. Manually calculated FX spread at ~0.5% as compared to the rate on Oanda. Assuming another 0.5% fee to transfer money to pay off the card (e.g. using Revolut), and assuming Colesworth correctly codes as groceries for 3x points, it isn't the worst deal, especially when meeting a SUB.

As the card has been received, I have updated my mailing address to my US address. Was told it would take 5 business days to process. Is this just processing time, or will they also verify me with phone call etc?

I am assuming that the mailing address is the correct one to change because that is what is printed on the statement, is that correct?

If all goes according to plan, next step Maza ITN

damn. Statement has mailing address (AU)

 

[pyramidforce]

Booked the whole thing on points.

damn. Statement has mailing address (AU)

I am relieved I got it right.

I feel bad that you got it wrong.

Update on Maza: Maza formats my address as 123 Fake Street "#1234" and won't let me put APT or Suite or any other prefix (instead of 123 Fake Street APT 1234). Should I insist on a change or will this not matter?
Quick edit: apparently it doesn't.

 

[Daventry]

Has anyone signed up with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion? Is it possible with just ITIN and no SSN?

Amex FICO has stopped working for me, I keep getting an error on both the app and the website.

Chase Credit Journey says my profile is missing some information they need to get in person. I'll be in the US next week but I'm not sure... when I opened my checking account I was relaxed because I had nothing to lose but now that I have a personal and a business cc with them I don't want them to shut me down for giving the wrong answer!