My son will be in college next year. We were hoping to be able to use a credit card to pay the enormous bill so that we could earn some travel rewards. We have just found out that they do not accept credit cards. Does anyone know of a credit card that will allow you to earn rewards if you use the check writing feature that most credit cards offer? Any suggestions?

Great Question!!

I would be interested to know, as well, since my medical school does not accept credit cards, and to the best of my knowledge, all of the card issuers checks' that I heretofore have received, specifically except mileage/point earnings from their use.

Now, if only they had likewise refrained from tacking on those usurious interest charges, as well!

Any one know of any?

I've been able to buy Chase Traveller's Cheques using my AAdvantage card, then use those at places that won't take cards. The only problem is getting enough TCs for some private schools.

Chase's Currency-To-Go service can be reached at https://ctg.chase.com/ctg/ and has been discussed several times in FT.

This is very interesting! Thank-you. I am new to this forum. How can I locate the previous discussions on this? Thank-you very much for the idea!

Does anyone know if Citibank AAdvantage considers purchasing travellers checks with their card as a cash advance?

It would be very important to read previous threads on Chase Currency to Go. When it first hit the boards, so many people started ordering TC frequently that Chase became suspicious and started sending out letters blackballing people. I find now, when I am flying internationally, I order a small amount of foreign currency and get my checks. The max is about $1000 per purchase, with probably a limit of 4 per year. Based on a similar question awhile ago (I brought it to the top) I started buying savings bonds which have a 3 month interest penalty if you cash in before 5 years, and I believe you can't cash in at all before 6 months. II bonds pay 6.49% right now, so you can do the math and see what you would actually get and lose on your money if your plan was to cash them in after 6 months. You can buy $30,000 per year per SS#. Since my daughter is a Freshman in High School, 5 years will work out fine if they won't accept credit cards. If they do, and I have the cash flow, I'll leave those bonds for retirement. Either way I have gotten points for my money.
Citibank just came up with something called C2it in which you can send money from your credit card via "e-mail" It will not charge for the first 90 days and can be charged against any MC or VISA, so if you have a AA citibank card you will get miles. It has a limit of $1000 per 4 days, and after the 90 days has a $2.00 transaction fee for a maximum of $500.00 At that point you are paying too much for your miles. For the first 90 days, you can rack up about 20,000 miles. If you have more than 1 mileage card, and more than 1 e-mail address, you might figure something different. If sent to your son, he can deposit it into a checking account from which the tuition is paid. This is a new thing, so hopefully people won't overdue it and ruin it. Go to www.c2it.com/send20
The Chase Travelers checks charged to AA Advantage Citibank card go through as a purchase. I just bought TC and Lira for my upcoming trip to Rome

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DtG

[This message has been edited by dgordon (edited 01-28-2001).]

Dear DGordon,

You are a financial genius!!

I already knew of the interest that can be used to pay for tuition from savings bonds, but not their purchase with a credit card, but I will now explore the latest info you have provided for next semester's tuition. Unfortunately, I missed this semester's, but that's the way it goes! Thanx!

BTW, when are you going to Rome, and where do you intend to stay? I was there over Thanksgiving, as well as Firenze, and perhaps there are some questions I can answer for you?

Regards,

D2B

I just received my first set of Optima checks, which although unsolicited, may provide for additional opportunities to collect points with my American Express. In reading the cover letter that was sent with the checks, the checks may be used in lieu of a credit card or with merchants who do not accept credit cards.

Since I was familiar with this type of scheme with a previous MasterCard I had a number of years ago, I was aware that the use of these checks was considered a cash advance at a considerably higher APR.

I contacted Amex and asked if the use of these checks was considered a merchant sale or cash advance and the CSR indicated that when used with a merchant, it was a sale, however, if I made the check out to myself of another person, that it was a cash advance. In both cases, the APR was only 8.9%, which was a 7 month introductory rate.

The cover letter did indicate that airline miles could not be earned, however, since this is a Sheraton Starpoints card, it may be possible to earn additional Starpoints in the Starwood program by paying for larger items, such as a car payment or maybe even a mortgage payment with the checks. Since I have just received them and have yet to use them, I was wondering if any other FT�er had had experience with the Optima checks and if earning points was possible when using them. If points can be earned using the checks, than this could be a great point earning opportunity.

I don't quite understand the bond thing - do you mean you can buy them and charge to a credit card? Is this at Chase - I just called them and after telling me the charge for travelers checks was 10%?! (to which I replied "that must be a mistake" - after a few minutes of checked with someone she realized that is was 1% - or free on the web) she didn't know anything about buying bonds with cc - but then I wouldn't have believed her anyway!

DGordon did a separate post concerning US Savings bonds. Do a search and you should be able to find it.

just tried to use the c2it to send cash and discovered that you can only charge cash to a visa or mc DEBIT card - therefore I cannot use it with my CREDIT card - is there a way around this that I don't see?

You can send cash from a credit card. In the list of accounts it will say citibank visa, citibank mc, or other banks as a choice. They will send a packet allowing you to add checking accounts which then could be used to deposit cash. At this point I am depositing cash into a credit card so it acts as a payment.
RE: Savings Bonds. go to www.savingsbonds.gov.
This is purchased from the us government - dept of public debt, NOT from Chase. Chase is the one with Travelers checks or foreign currency. Savings bonds can be purchased as II bonds which are at face value - you pay $1000 for a $1000 bond. You can only buy $1000 at a time, but you can immediately go back and buy more. If you think you Might be eligible for the benefits for education (your income has to be below a certain amount) make sure your child is the beneficiary, NOT a joint owner. I believe it is explained at the web-site. By charging to your credit card - it is viewed as a purchase and you get miles.Remember there is a $30,000 per year limit per SS#. Yours can be used, your child's (then you would want those to be jointly with you), or a spouse or a grandparent, if you need to get a really large sum bought in one year.
Happy bonding.
Thanks doc2be for the compliment.

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DtG

Doc2b
I am going to Rome on Feb 13th and will be in Italy 6 nights. Still searching for a hotel in Rome.Will probably go south for the next 3 days. Any recommnedations? Looking for a 3 star - between $70-$90 for a twin room. You can e-mail directly if you wish.
Thanks for your offer.

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DtG

Dear DGordon,

Question -- Is the C2it program limited to ONLY Citibank credit cards? That would present no problem, as I now have their NO FEE HHonors Card, but would another bank's card work, as well?

As for Rome, I unfortunately, do not know of any hotels in that price range, as I lived a little "higher on the hog" on that trip. Rome is a very expensive city re accommodations.


Another suggestion is that you can go to the Italiatour website and see what hotels they have chosen as part of their packages for the budget traveler. I would then do a search of the selected hotels on the net and see what you come up with re comments and costs.



[This message has been edited by DOC 2 BE (edited 03-13-2001).]

Doc2B,

As vocal as you are (and I enjoy your posts) I am surprised you don't have an email address registered. I wouldn't have posted this here had I been able to email you directly. I have a question:

When I went to Entertainment.com I could only find US hotels. How do you get to international offerings?

Thanks for any help!