MilesBuzz! - Reporter is looking for people who got a credit card just for the sign-up bonus

Hello! I'm a reporter for a major consumer finance Web site. I'm working on an article about how to take advantage of the sign-up bonus for a new credit card (miles, free companion ticket, etc.) without having to keep the credit card afterward. I do this for freebies all the time but unfortunately, I can't interview myself! So, if you live in the U.S. and you've ever signed up for a new card, got your free miles, points, etc., booked a trip, and then canceled the card later so that you essentially got the trip for free, I'd like to hear your story for my article. A brief phone or e-mail interview is fine--please contact me at LIB500@comcast.net. I would need to do the interview by next Tuesday, Nov. 6. Thank you!!

Can you really do that?

I'm not sure that if one did do that one would want one's name published in an article ;)

This would ruin your credit score.

I´m not certain what do you like to interview about ?

You seem to know the practice and you cant state a persons name anyways. So basically you might just write your story under a ghost name and publish it or whatever you would like to do.

There is nothing much exciting on this ! You sign up for the card, get your miles and run :)

How about someone signs up for a credit card not just for himself but also for his wife, kids, dog and cat... oops did I say that? ;)

This would ruin your credit score.

If it would alot of people on this board would be in trouble :p

Believe me, it works with an adequate background ! Of course you dont cancel the card right away... do a balance transfer, wait for a few months (the first year is free of charge anyways since sometimes you pay for that time in advance) and then push the red button.

Wonderful, why don't we just make this the next feature on Oprah... :rolleyes:

Although I am aware that this happens and maybe to a large extent the FT community is aware; however, I don't think it is the best of ideas for anyone to promote this to a large community. You just might kill the goose.

Of course we all do this. You might also check on Fatwallet as they have a thing called the AOR (App o rama) where you fill out all cards on the same day for as much credit as possible, get Balance transfers for the full amounts and then bank the money for interest until it is due back. I just received a card this week for Visa Hilton (I have an AMEX Hilton already). I took the 15000 points and a check for almost the full amount at 5.9% to pay off my chase card that I bought my car on (2.9% balance transfer that was expiring). The hilton card has no annual fee, but the AA card that I also just received for 25,000 miles with $750 in purchases in 4 months I will cancel before annual fee is due. Same with the US Airways card from Juniper bank that we all received almost 2 years ago. Come January, it is toast, and will be replaced with the Bank of America US Air card. I don't have a huge income, an self employed, and have had little problem doing this. I, with the help of FT, have seen alot of the world for almost free!!
JudyJFLA

What a marvelous idea, why don't we do an expose on this subject so we make sure it ends.

Exactly. Why publicize this? You want to kill the golden goose just to get a story printed?

Instead, maybe you should write about these same banks making virtually risk-free investments-- since they keep getting bailed out for stupid behavior.

Just curious why a reporter would have a personal email address rather than a business-type email. Where would the article be published? That wasn't mentioned. Most reporters asking for interviews usually list their publication for authenticity. I would be careful here.

Just curious why a reporter would have a personal email address rather than a business-type email. Where would the article be published? That wasn't mentioned. Most reporters asking for interviews usually list their publication for authenticity. I would be careful here.I was about to post something similar. I can think of several reasons why a personal e-mail address might be more convenient, some reporters who have asked questions here have used them, but in those cases the reporters gave their full names and affiliations so we could check out what they had previously written. Good for credibility and all that.

I'm a journalist and I have an e-mail address at Brewing News, the magazine that publishes my column, but when I'm doing a free lance piece I don't use that magazine's e-mail account because it would be unethical to use Brewing News' reputation or resources while I was working for somebody else. I don't see anything unusual in using a personal e-mail address in that situation. I've done it myself.

But I also, including the times here on FT where I've asked for suggestions or for someone who's interested in being interviewed, said for whom I was writing the piece. If it were me, I'd have said more than "a major consumer finance Web site".

What a marvelous idea, why don't we do an expose on this subject so we make sure it ends.Pretty much what I post every time some first-time poster starts asking questions!

Jeez folks, these info snoops are not part of our community and they are not our friends!

What a marvelous idea, why don't we do an expose on this subject so we make sure it ends.
yep.

why would anyone sign-up for a CC just for the bonus...

Dear Reporter, I suggest you go fish elsewhere... the FT sea is full of fish that will eat you for breakfast.

MOD why dont you just shut down this thread?

MOD why dont you just shut down this thread?

I SECOND this !!!!!

I SECOND this !!!!!

Agreed.

MOD why dont you just shut down this thread?
I did alert this thread to the MODs last night. I guess no action has been taken in the last 24 hours!:eek:

Just keep this thread open and we can kiss AA citi GOOD BYE,Remember United Chase.

I don't think I've seen so much hysteria condensed into so short a space, lol.

I can't believe we're naive enough to think the credit card companies don't know that a certain percentage of new accounts will flip their cards for the miles or other bennies!

And are you guys really telling me there haven't been stories in the media about this practice all over the place? For like years now?

The only thing that's surprising to me about the OP's request is that he/she thinks it's news.

P.S. Why would this thread be closed? Is sharing information now a violation of FlyerTalk's TOS?

I don't think I've seen so much hysteria condensed into so short a space, lol.

I can't believe we're naive enough to think the credit card companies don't know that a certain percentage of new accounts will flip their cards for the miles or other bennies!

And are you guys really telling me there haven't been stories in the media about this practice all over the place? For like years now?

The only thing that's surprising to me about the OP's request is that he/she thinks it's news.

P.S. Why would this thread be closed? Is sharing information now a violation of FlyerTalk's TOS?


Of course the companies know, I had a call yesterday from Chase about my app for a British Airways card. I told her I just sent in a payoff on another Chase card since it had no rewards and she said that she would close that one and open the BA with the same credit limit since I wanted reward points, no problem. They just didn't want to lose a customer.

I think the thread has been open long enough for those interested in contacting the reporter, know how to do so.

If anyone has any questions or comments, please send one of the forum moderators a private message.