Strategy to obtain US Amex

[pyramidforce]

I think some options discussed were SoFi and calling Tranunion seems to work sometimes

 

[albyd]

Activated and used HSBC Premier US card. Spent a small amount at Colesworth.

Just checking in with you - did they end up posting 3X points for Colesworth? I'm otherwise also tempted to try it at Aldi (yeah I'm a cheapskate) and on the Coles GC site if it does honor the 3X for Groceries.

 

[blacksultan]

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

Yes . Let us know . I just got approved for my first chase business and my account is under review . Hence I can’t activate or set up my profile .

 

[Uncharted6264]

Just received my chase ink business card . Can it be linked to my chase personal card log in account ? What is the process for the same ?

What are the selling points for you for the Chase Business Ink? I see 3x on advertising which would be great for me - But looking at the transfer partners, no Qantas, and the rest of the rewards programs I don't see helping me a lot. Desperate for a higher multiplier on ad spend as the Amex gold won't count my AUD Google ads transactions as ad spend for the 4x category.

 

[djchuckles]

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.

Spoke to HSBC on in app chat. They are going to resend with resi address

 

[cathalm8]

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.

Did you get the card expedited post to Australia or can you do that with your first Chase card or any subsequent Chase card for that matter? cheers

 

[levelnine]

What are the selling points for you for the Chase Business Ink? I see 3x on advertising which would be great for me - But looking at the transfer partners, no Qantas, and the rest of the rewards programs I don't see helping me a lot. Desperate for a higher multiplier on ad spend as the Amex gold won't count my AUD Google ads transactions as ad spend for the 4x category.

Most people are in the Chase ecosystem for Hyatt (the most valuable hotel points currency program), Air Canada (for Star Alliance redemptions), Avios (for oneworld redemptions) and Flying Blue (for SkyTeam redemptions). Emirates, United & Singapore also have their uses, especially for people based in Australia. Also super easy to cash out at a minimum of USD 1c/pt.

 

[pyramidforce]

Just checking in with you - did they end up posting 3X points for Colesworth? I'm otherwise also tempted to try it at Aldi (yeah I'm a cheapskate) and on the Coles GC site if it does honor the 3X for Groceries.

Strange thing - the colesworth transactions plus another USD transaction are now no longer on my card.....as in they moved from pending to getting deleted. but my available credit has still been reduced accordingly.

Have no idea what is going on.

EDIT: Transactions are back on desktop only. No points credited yet. Probably need to wait for statement before I can see I get 3x back, although I don't see why I wouldn't.

 

[blacksultan]

What are the selling points for you for the Chase Business Ink? I see 3x on advertising which would be great for me - But looking at the transfer partners, no Qantas, and the rest of the rewards programs I don't see helping me a lot. Desperate for a higher multiplier on ad spend as the Amex gold won't count my AUD Google ads transactions as ad spend for the 4x category.

It’s a cashback card . 5 x at officeworks . Can buy gift cards there .

 

[blacksultan]

Did you get the card expedited post to Australia or can you do that with your first Chase card or any subsequent Chase card for that matter? cheers

You can possibly do that for your first card but there likely would be a fraud review even after receiving the card .

 

[dein_gesicht]

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!

Equifax you can have an online account.

For the other two, you will need to call and send them the documents they require. You can request your fico but you can get that online with Equifax once you have a log in for it. Once it is done, it is done but it's an annoying process

 

[Tiki]

What are the selling points for you for the Chase Business Ink? I see 3x on advertising which would be great for me - But looking at the transfer partners, no Qantas, and the rest of the rewards programs I don't see helping me a lot. Desperate for a higher multiplier on ad spend as the Amex gold won't count my AUD Google ads transactions as ad spend for the 4x category.

Another selling point is the 0% apr for the first year. I managed to do my $6000 USD minimum spend partly from paying for my trip to South America and partly by using 5x Visa gift cards from Officeworks to prepay my bills for the next 3-4 months. I can repay it gradually because there is no interest even if there is a 3% foreign currency fee for purchases in Australia, it is offset by the 5x.
There is currently a 90k Ink Unlimited $6000/3 months but I have nothing to spend it on. I hope its still available in Nov!

 

[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.

What has been the best for the Hilton cards? What should I be waiting for?

 

[maverick1]

What has been the best for the Hilton cards? What should I be waiting for?

The entry level HH no fee card the best offer is usually the 70k/80k points + FNC
Surpass 130k+FNC or 170k points
Aspire 180k points
HH Biz - 175k

American Express Hilton Increased Bonuses (175k Points/130k Points + Free Night Certificate) - Doctor Of Credit

American Express has a number of increased offers currently on the Hilton cards

www.doctorofcredit.com

 

[djchuckles]

The entry level HH no fee card the best offer is usually the 70k/80k points + FNC
Surpass 130k+FNC or 170k points
Aspire 180k points
HH Biz - 175k

American Express Hilton Increased Bonuses (175k Points/130k Points + Free Night Certificate) - Doctor Of Credit

American Express has a number of increased offers currently on the Hilton cards

www.doctorofcredit.com

Maybe I should do the base card now then.

Do you have to be running a legitimate business to apply for business cards? I have an ABN but not currently active

 

[Triben]

I got approved my second GT (Gold card) and is there any issues asking replacement card send it my Australian address after 10 days?
Anyone had any experience?

 

[Uncharted6264]

Most people are in the Chase ecosystem for Hyatt (the most valuable hotel points currency program), Air Canada (for Star Alliance redemptions), Avios (for oneworld redemptions) and Flying Blue (for SkyTeam redemptions). Emirates, United & Singapore also have their uses, especially for people based in Australia. Also super easy to cash out at a minimum of USD 1c/pt.

Ok nice good to know. Looks like I need to stick with something with Qantas for now. At the risk of saying something good about them, as far as I can see they are by far superior to all other partners if you are based in Aus. Better and more availability than any other OW partner for QF, cheaper availability, not to mention WP requests. Also far easier to search for availability with them too afaik... the multi calendar is cough but it's less cough then everything else.

I got approved my second GT (Gold card)

small nitpick it wasn't a GT even if you clicked via the interface thru GT - they definitely ignored it and went off your US history, despite what anyone else here says. You also would have had a successful application just calling up and applying normally... dont @ me you people, call them and ask for yourselves.

 

[Uncharted6264]

easy to cash out at a minimum of USD 1c/pt.

Specifically with regard to this - You have to be earning rewards to the point where you'll never need them for travel again/don't care at all about it right? I'm sitting on a couple M points at the moment and I couldn't imagine cashing them out for 30k when compared to all the awesome flying in J I could do with friends and family. Also if I ever "buy" points with card conversion fees it's usually @ 1.75 AUDc so wouldn't really work for thath

 

[pyramidforce]

Ok nice good to know. Looks like I need to stick with something with Qantas for now. At the risk of saying something good about them, as far as I can see they are by far superior to all other partners if you are based in Aus. Better and more availability than any other OW partner for QF, cheaper availability, not to mention WP requests. Also far easier to search for availability with them too afaik... the multi calendar is cough but it's less cough then everything else.

If you don't mind a contrarian opinion, QF availability even for QF non-WP is absolutely garbage for interational business class. Depending on your travel patterns, I genuinely find the following programs to be better value for Australians, under most circumstances;

1. SQ - expensive, but almost guaranteed (in my experience) reward availability if booking ~1 year out in advance to almost anywhere, because of their 5th freedom flights. No fuel or carrier surcharges (unlike QF and VA) on SQ metal.
Most programs in Australia transfer at 3:1 to SQ (I think Citibank is still 2.5:1, and HSBC Premier AU (not US, annoyingly...) is 2:1 I think, which, given the exchange rate, is honestly pretty good) Meanwhile US Amex, Chase, etc have a 1:1 ratio, plus of course you get points multipliers in USA.

2. Air Canada - just like VA with last minute availability on some Star Alliance partners, e.g. United Polaris to SFO, NH to HND, but usually booking last minute when unsold seats get released. Again, no carrier or fuel surcharges, genuine taxes only.

Similar availability to VA but lower surcharges, plus there are also other *Alliance partners e.g. Air China (if you really want to...), EVA air, as well as LH F if you somehow end up in Europe.

3. Avios - if you really need to stay within oneworld, I think Avios is better than QF. A tiny number of sweet spots left domestically (e.g. MEL-PER I think), but you can get to Europe for ~140k Avios in Qsuite (e.g. AKL-DOH-LHR) vs just nope on QF and I don't recall what the VA price was but VA charged ~110k miles + 455 AUD on AKL-DOH vs 84.5k Avios + ~140 NZD booking via QR.

QF's pseudo-RTW product is legitimately great value, if you don't count the literal hours on the phone with QF trying to fix things when they are guaranted to go wrong (unless you use your P1 to get Hobart). But IMHO it isn't worth signing up for US cards (pay ~0.5% each way for forex when spending in AUD, Global Mail, US phone number, HSBC Premier, ITIN, time zones, all fees are in USD so multiply by 1.5, etc) if you are happy with QF because you could just churn Citibank Premier/Prestige AU cards for 150k SUBs on QF (until NAB blacklists you)

I have found seats.aero and similar sites to be very good for availability, yes you need to pay but you probably will pay less in seats.aero subscriptions than the ~300 AUD carrier surchage from booking via SQ AC or QR vs VA or QF. US Amex cards also come with a free (I think?) paid subscription to point.me as well.

 

[DC3]

… small nitpick it wasn't a GT even if you clicked via the interface thru GT - they definitely ignored it and went off your US history, despite what anyone else here says. You also would have had a successful application just calling up and applying normally... dont @ me you people …

Maybe time to just let it go.