Strategy to obtain US Amex

[georgie23]

Does anyone know how well Amex pick up Australian restaurants for the Gold 4x points? My first restaurant charge (only a Pizza!) coded at 1x but given it was only $32 I’m not going to bother querying if they’re usually pretty good and future more epxneivse charges code ok

It’s got to do with the business how they set themselves up on their CC facilities as to what they pick as their category - I suspect that some providers who get a POS that incorporates CC don’t even pick a category but the POS chooses it - I suspect that the POS might get a better deal for themselves if they pick “General Merchandise” as a generic rather than tailoring

So ultimately it’s nothing to do with Amex or any CC company it’s to do with the person setting themselves up and making sure they are correctly categorised

This was just my guy feeling from talking to a restaurant that coded incorrectly

 

[georgie23]

A bit random - I had a large 10K bill at a major restaurant and they used a POS company that coded as General merchandise
Hit and Miss but mostly I would say 90 % of my places code correctly including cafes and fast food

To make matters worse the Amex CC fee for the transaction was 2.95% - didn’t realise till the next day was so much

 

[Ko0l]

I’m totally freaking out. This popped up on Textnow.

My account was banned early last year for the same reason, tried to create a new account and it was banned 1-2 mths afterwards.

I have since switched to Tello.

I actually surprised yours and others lasted this long.

 

[Ko0l]

Did you go to the very end of the application? I think the issue with C1 will be they’ll want US govt issued ID.

I applied for the cap1 biz venture card 3 wks back and was instantly approved after using the pre-approval tool.

They requested I upload a copy of my US ID or US driver license. I've uploaded my passport, aust driver license and copy of my ITIN instead. Hoping for the best, the documents were accepted and currently still waiting for the card to arrive.

Hopefully no issues with the card activation like I had with Chase.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I applied for the cap1 biz venture card 3 wks back and was instantly approved after using the pre-approval tool.

They requested I upload a copy of my US ID or US driver license. I've uploaded my passport, aust driver license and copy of my ITIN instead. Hoping for the best, the documents were accepted and currently still waiting for the card to arrive.

Hopefully no issues with the card activation like I had with Chase.

First C1 card? If your OTP works then it should be ok but I definitely had issues adding the card to Google pay as they check IP or geolocation of the device.

 

[desafinado74]

I wrote them a letter (actually to all three to see how the credit report looks like)
Generic letter with my details requesting file
Included copy of passport/ITIN/bank statement
I used my US mailing address and they sent to there and the company scanned it form me yesterday

I used Docupost to post the letters - cost about $7 per letter to send - very easy can do online and upload my generic letter with the three files and they make it into one letter

Post automatically merged: Dec 1, 2024

Do you have SSN to be able to access them?

Many thanks for the helpful reply.
How long did you wait for the report to arrive at your US address?
Thanks in advance.

 

[georgie23]

Many thanks for the helpful reply.
How long did you wait for the report to arrive at your US address?
Thanks in advance.

Less than a week

 

[blacksultan]

A bit random - I had a large 10K bill at a major restaurant and they used a POS company that coded as General merchandise
Hit and Miss but mostly I would say 90 % of my places code correctly including cafes and fast food

That’s right .

Post automatically merged: Dec 2, 2024

I applied for the cap1 biz venture card 3 wks back and was instantly approved after using the pre-approval tool.

They requested I upload a copy of my US ID or US driver license. I've uploaded my passport, aust driver license and copy of my ITIN instead. Hoping for the best, the documents were accepted and currently still waiting for the card to arrive.

Hopefully no issues with the card activation like I had with Chase.

Pls update us on how you go .

 

[Ko0l]

First C1 card? If your OTP works then it should be ok but I definitely had issues adding the card to Google pay as they check IP or geolocation of the device.

Yes it's my first c1 card. Never had a relationship with c1 prior to this.

OTP is working for me. Have managed to create an account and access my account through the app.

Thanks for the warning regarding Google pay. Will keep that into mind when I receive my card.

 

[blacksultan]

I applied for the cap1 biz venture card 3 wks back and was instantly approved after using the pre-approval tool.

They requested I upload a copy of my US ID or US driver license. I've uploaded my passport, aust driver license and copy of my ITIN instead. Hoping for the best, the documents were accepted and currently still waiting for the card to arrive.

Hopefully no issues with the card activation like I had with Chase.

Is that a US or other passport ?

 

[Ko0l]

Is that a US or other passport ?

Australian passport.

I uploaded onto the application progress portal. Reading DP from others, I'm guessing I got lucky and got a person that didn't look at my docs properly.

 

[Tiki]

My account was banned early last year for the same reason, tried to create a new account and it was banned 1-2 mths afterwards.

I have since switched to Tello.

I actually surprised yours and others lasted this long.

I was recently in the USA and used the app to call Chase and expedite an Ink card. A couple weeks later I was back in Australia and called Chase to move $1000 CL from the Ink Cash to the new Ink Unlimited to accommodate part payment on a car. Maybe 2 different IPs triggered it? I forgot who I roamed to when in the USA, maybe it was T-Mobile? It's still ridiculous! People from the USA do travel overseas!

Does Tello work for codes from Chase, B of A, Cap 1, Citi? They don't seem to have a free service.

 

[djchuckles]

I see Rakuten has a number of 100% back deals (VPNs mainly). Am I right in saying even if you didn’t want the VPN this ok theory allows you to buy MR points for 1c? If so that seems pretty decent. Even better if you actually want or need the service!

 

[georgie23]

I was recently in the USA and used the app to call Chase and expedite an Ink card. A couple weeks later I was back in Australia and called Chase to move $1000 CL from the Ink Cash to the new Ink Unlimited to accommodate part payment on a car. Maybe 2 different IPs triggered it? I forgot who I roamed to when in the USA, maybe it was T-Mobile? It's still ridiculous! People from the USA do travel overseas!

Does Tello work for codes from Chase, B of A, Cap 1, Citi? They don't seem to have a free service.

No free - cheapest is $5 a month (plus tax)

 

[Tiki]

No free - cheapest is $5 a month (plus tax)

Which banks have you used it with?

 

[levelnine]

I see Rakuten has a number of 100% back deals (VPNs mainly). Am I right in saying even if you didn’t want the VPN this ok theory allows you to buy MR points for 1c? If so that seems pretty decent. Even better if you actually want or need the service!

The cashback doesn't usually include tax, so you may still be out some money unless you get one that pays more than 100%.

 

[georgie23]

Which banks have you used it with?

I only have Amex and HSBC so far so don’t have a wide history with different banks- maybe others can add to this

 

[djchuckles]

The cashback doesn't usually include tax, so you may still be out some money unless you get one that pays more than 100%.

I just got 6900 points for a $69 purchase from Surfshark

 

[Tiki]

Does anyone have any of the Chase United cards? Good sale going on.

https://www.united.com/en-us/cardmember-cyber-week-2024

 

[georgie23]

DP - HSBC US blocked my account as linked up WISE via ACH and did a pull transfer - they could not verify me at the other bank (Wise had me a Community Trust Bank) - they have blocked log in access - had to call fraud centre and they are waiting for the transfer to go through - not sure if others had issue but I have had HSBC not happy with 2 ACH transfers done - wire seems fine
Wise sending to HSBC is fine too