When you apply for a Discover Business card now, you could be entered into a sweepstakes to win $50,000. You’ll also earn a second entry if you refer three friends. This promotion ends March 31, 2007. For more details, see https://discovercardapplication.com/sweepstakes.
This thread at FW notes a very interesting offer: The Elite Level version of Citi PremierPass is being offered with the annual fee of $75 waived. The offer also includes the standard 15,000 bonus points. The link to this offer can be found here.
Note that the linked page says “Annual Fee Waived.” It’s unclear whether it’s referring to merely the first year of the annual fee being waived or if it would be waived permanently. If you open up the application and then look at the terms and conditions, under the heading of “Annual fees” it says “None.” That might lead you to believe that the fee waiver is permanent.
It’s a little puzzling, however, because then one wonders why Citi would even bother placing both the Elite level and the standard level of the card on the same promotional web page. Without the annual fee, the standard PremierPass has no advantage over the Elite level, as the Elite PremierPass has superior points earning capabilities, among other things. Based on this reasoning, my guess is that the intention of the offer is that only the first year’s annual fee is waived. I believe anyone who applies with the expectation that they will be forever exempt from the annual fee will be disappointed, but I would be happy to be proven wrong.
Signup at apply.discovercard.com and enter code FCSV or call 800-681-8570 and mention the same code and you’ll receive a $40 cash back bonus after you spend $200 within three months. Credit to FW.
Amex has a couple of programs that it’s trying to promote that allow you to finance certain larger purchases on different terms than the rest of your charges. According to a poster at FT:
THe first offer I recieved when I was on the phone with American Express and they offered me 1500 bonus points to sign up for a program where I would have special flex rates for Home Improvement purchases. They sent me the information, and basically if I would have a major home improvement need I could call CS and let them know I was going to be making a purchase at a Home Improvement Store, and those purchases would have a special rate and would be payed back seperately than other purchases… if I don’t use it, I’m not charged any finance charges, or have any fees..
Very similar thing with a new service that when I enrolled would automatically put all items over $200 in a seperate section of my bill, and I could pay the entire balance and not pay any finance charges, nor are there any fees for signing up (like a 5 cent per 100 charge, etc).
Was an easy way to get to 2750 points…
I did not see any reference codes or anything, so if you want to sign up for the points, you may have to call American Express and ask them about the service.
Don’t believe everything you read in print. Or, in this case, on Bank of America’s web site. This recent post on FW recounts the problem. Essentially, several people have reported that although their credit card’s terms and conditions state that there should be no fee for balance transfers, they have been charged 3% with no cap. In particular, this seems to be a problem with the BofA Money Return Visa. Here’s the relevant text in question:
Transaction fee for Balance Transfers and Cash Advance Checks: None of each such cash advance (minimum $0 ).
This does nothing to suggest that the fee is actually 3% with no cap; while awkward, it does seem to suggest that there should be no fee. Compare this language to that on cards which do charge 3% with no fee (for example, the WorldPoints Platinum Plus MasterCard):
Transaction fee for Balance Transfers and Cash Advance Checks: 3% of each such cash advance (minimum $10).
To me, it seems more than reasonable to assume that the first card has no fee. Yet the reality is different. The awkward wording for the first card does suggest the possibility that some improper updating of the T&C’s is involved. However, that language has been used on their web site for at least a few months.
Given the potential ambiguity, you would hope that BofA would at least honor the no fee terms for customers who were honestly misled. It wouldn’t hurt to change the terms on their web site, either.
If you have a Starwood Amex, you’ll want to be aware of the upcoming changes to the Starwood Preferred Guest program, as they can significantly impact your plans to redeem your Starpoints.
While the changes don’t amount to a 25% devaluation as originally speculated, Starwood is introducing a new top tier of hotel awards, Category 7 hotels, that require 30,000 Starpoints per night in low season and 35,000 Starpoints per night in high season. In cases where there are only suite awards available at a given property, the minimum cost will be 60,000 Starpoints per night in low season and 70,000 Starpoints per night in high season; however, depending upon the type and configuration of the suite, it could run even higher in a few instances. This new category is currently confined to only the priciest of Starwood’s properties:
This new category is due to be put into effect in February. At the same time, Starwood will also be re-evaluating the category placements for all hotels, and we have been forewarned that there will be many hotels that will increase in redemption cost. Anyone with travel plans would be well advised to book their award stays before February to lock in the 2006 redemption levels. Note that you can book your award stays up to 18 months in advance of your arrival.
Another recent change, effective this year, is that it now takes two Starpoints instead of one, to get a Continental mile. Apparently, Chase/Continental was tired of people choosing the SPG Amex instead of their Chase Continental card, and essentially forced this change to remove that temptation. As other airlines’ contracts with Starwood come up for renewal in the near year or two, it’s not unreasonable to expect similar devaluations to come.
The bottom line is that while the SPG Amex still appears to be a worthwhile card, like every points-based program, it needs careful watching, as the value of your points can be easily diluted over time.
Related links:
Starting in January, Pen Fed will start offering 5% cash back on gas at the pump on its Visa Platinum Cash Rewards credit card for both new and existing card holders. In and of itself, a credit card with 5% cash back on gas is good, but not great. When you combine it with the other features of the Pentagon Federal cash back card, however, it becomes an excellent card choice.
In particular, the card features 1.25% cash back on all other purchases, credited monthly on your statement. Also, of note is that Pen Fed does not charge an additional fee for transactions made in foreign currencies (a rarity these days), other than the standard 1% fee that Visa charges, which makes it ideal for use when travelling.
More details about the card can be found here.
This incredible offer is back. The previous offer that was available in April is described here. All you have to do is sign up for one of the specified Amex Business cards through the link provided and make a purchase by April 30, 2007 to receive a $250 statement credit.
The business cards included are:
So, if you’re planning to apply merely for the signup bonus you’ll want to get either the Business Gold Rewards Card or the Platinum Business Premium Cash Rebate Card to avoid the annual fees.
The offer is available here. Technically speaking, it is only available to people who saw the offer in their free issue of Inc. magazine. You may also be required to show proof of having a real business, so YMMV. Credit to FW.
For the first quarter of 2007, Discover cardholders in the “Get More” program will earn 5% cash back on up to $1000 in travel purchases:
To enroll, log into your Discover account online or call 1-800-DISCOVER. For more details, see this link.
This offer features:
Visit www.signup.citicards.com and use offer code F1N9 or call 1-800-961-5096 by February 15, 2007 to apply. This offer also has been added to the offers database. Via FW.
Note: The above offer has expired. See the current offer for the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Rewards Card.