Amtrak MasterCard 32,000 points offer
Mar 10, 2012, 9:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: Marriott/SPG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 887
Amtrak MasterCard 32,000 points offer
So after joining AGR and doing some local rides, I waited.
Eventually about 3 weeks ago, I got the offer in the mail that included 32,000 bonus points. I think that's just how they do things, there's not an open offer for 32,000 points out, but they fish in the AGR pool for applicants. Anyhow.....
I sent in my application and got a denial form letter back. Hrrr? Why offer it to me if you're going to turn me down? Anyhow, you can't take these things as a END OF LINE DENIAL they are typically not.
Mean right & left hands don't know what each other are up to. My take is the "Amtrak offering" hand doesn't really coordinate with the "Chase approving" hand beforehand. I figured it was some Mickey Mouse problem, so I called the Chase Reconsideration 800 number. Sure enough once I got on the phone the denial was a simple pigeonhole problem.
Let me back up and explain I had gotten a Chase Sapphire card a few months before. SO.... there was a large credit limit already attached to THAT earlier card, and Chase was not comfortable extending by default ANOTHER oversized X,000 default limit on a second card. The solution is obvious, either reduce the limit on the first card, or the 2nd one to fit their limits. The point is "the system" isn't smart enough to do this, and you have to get a human on the line. Operator was able to reduce the credit limit on the Amtrak offering to $2,000 and then the total credit line was acceptable to Chase.
Bam I have my shiny new Amtrak card to ride the rails with.
Thought this might help others.
Eventually about 3 weeks ago, I got the offer in the mail that included 32,000 bonus points. I think that's just how they do things, there's not an open offer for 32,000 points out, but they fish in the AGR pool for applicants. Anyhow.....
I sent in my application and got a denial form letter back. Hrrr? Why offer it to me if you're going to turn me down? Anyhow, you can't take these things as a END OF LINE DENIAL they are typically not.
Mean right & left hands don't know what each other are up to. My take is the "Amtrak offering" hand doesn't really coordinate with the "Chase approving" hand beforehand. I figured it was some Mickey Mouse problem, so I called the Chase Reconsideration 800 number. Sure enough once I got on the phone the denial was a simple pigeonhole problem.
Let me back up and explain I had gotten a Chase Sapphire card a few months before. SO.... there was a large credit limit already attached to THAT earlier card, and Chase was not comfortable extending by default ANOTHER oversized X,000 default limit on a second card. The solution is obvious, either reduce the limit on the first card, or the 2nd one to fit their limits. The point is "the system" isn't smart enough to do this, and you have to get a human on the line. Operator was able to reduce the credit limit on the Amtrak offering to $2,000 and then the total credit line was acceptable to Chase.
Bam I have my shiny new Amtrak card to ride the rails with.
Thought this might help others.
Mar 31, 2012, 5:26 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Oklahoma
Programs: Southwest A-List Preferred/Companion Pass, Amtrak Select, Priority Club Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 453
It sort of is targeted, but I'll send you the link via PM later tonight. I wasnt active in AGR, and never read my "spam" email I use for things like this, so I have no idea if I was ever targeted or not. Someone at Flyertalk sent me a link to the 32,000 points offer page when I started collecting AGR points, I applied, and got 32,000 points. From what I hear, as long as you use a 32,000 points offer page to apply, they've been giving them, targeted or not. Not near my laptop, but I still have that link somewhere, when I get a chance I'll send it to you.
Mar 31, 2012, 11:18 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Hilton Gold, Club Carlson Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 112
I too wanted to get a 32,000 point bonus for signing up for an AGR card. However I was always seeing only the standard 12,000 point offer. So I sent AGR an email saying I would get a card if I could get a decent bonus. The email response I received was "Please contact Amtrak Guest Rewards for further assistance at 1-800-307-5000. This number is staffed daily from 5 a.m. to midnight (EST)." When I called, it was an AGR customer service line. I followed the automated prompts to inquire about an AGR credit card and was eventually connected to the AGR signup department. The gal proceeded to ask me how I was referred. I said from an email I received to call this 800 number. She says, well, you you qualify for 32,000 bonus points, yada, yada, yada. This is BEFORE she even knew my name, AGR number, etc. So apparently if you call this number, you get the 32,000 point offer.
I received a denial letter 10 days later saying I had too many inquiries. So I called the reconsideration line. Problem was I already had a Chase Slate card that I have had for 20 years (which I never used) that had a credit line of $23,300. A Continental card for $13,000 and a Chase Sapphire Preferred for $5,500. So they said if I cancelled the unused chase Slate card, I would approved. I really did not want to cancel my oldest credit card, but I really did not have any choice if I wanted newer Chase cards. So I cancelled the Slate card and got my AGR card.
I received a denial letter 10 days later saying I had too many inquiries. So I called the reconsideration line. Problem was I already had a Chase Slate card that I have had for 20 years (which I never used) that had a credit line of $23,300. A Continental card for $13,000 and a Chase Sapphire Preferred for $5,500. So they said if I cancelled the unused chase Slate card, I would approved. I really did not want to cancel my oldest credit card, but I really did not have any choice if I wanted newer Chase cards. So I cancelled the Slate card and got my AGR card.
Last edited by alben; Mar 31, 2012 at 11:24 pm
Apr 1, 2012, 2:25 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2004
Location: OAK
Programs: UA Gold MM / AS MVP Gold
Posts: 2,504
It sort of is targeted, but I'll send you the link via PM later tonight. I wasnt active in AGR, and never read my "spam" email I use for things like this, so I have no idea if I was ever targeted or not. Someone at Flyertalk sent me a link to the 32,000 points offer page when I started collecting AGR points, I applied, and got 32,000 points. From what I hear, as long as you use a 32,000 points offer page to apply, they've been giving them, targeted or not. Not near my laptop, but I still have that link somewhere, when I get a chance I'll send it to you.
Apr 1, 2012, 3:05 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DCA ZWU
Programs: AGR WOH
Posts: 1,785
It appears that Chase has a maximum credit line exposure policy in place. Card 2 had the highest CL (although lower than my other lines at the time), cards 3 and 4 have had successively smaller ones. I'd recommend pre-emptively cutting older cards' credit lines before applying for a new card from them.
If you don't already have a Sapphire Preferred card, that's the easiest route to a bucket of AGR points. Keep it for a year, then cancel and apply for an AGR card.
I've gotten the 32,000 point offer via mail, but not email -- double check that you have "Receive Email Offers for the Amtrak Guest Rewards® World MasterCard® from Chase" checked under AGR > My Account > My Profile > Communications Preferences > Email.
If you don't already have a Sapphire Preferred card, that's the easiest route to a bucket of AGR points. Keep it for a year, then cancel and apply for an AGR card.
I've gotten the 32,000 point offer via mail, but not email -- double check that you have "Receive Email Offers for the Amtrak Guest Rewards® World MasterCard® from Chase" checked under AGR > My Account > My Profile > Communications Preferences > Email.
Last edited by paytonc; Apr 1, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Apr 1, 2012, 3:28 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: AA CO US WN Marriott Hilton Holiday Inn Wyndham Hyatt Avis Budget Hertz National
Posts: 216
It's right on AGR website.http://www.mychasecreditcards.com/am...t32/?CELL=6VM5
Apr 2, 2012, 2:19 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AGR, PC, HH no status as I stopped paying for travel
Posts: 1,454
It's right on AGR website.http://www.mychasecreditcards.com/am...t32/?CELL=6VM5
Caveat on page.
This exclusive offer is limited to the member and member number to whom this offer was communicated
Suggest people remove /?CELL=6VM5 as it not needed and may be an identifying number
So it is http://www.mychasecreditcards.com/amtrak/smt32/
When you click on the link in on the page make sure you get a screen shot of the 32000 point offer. You may need it
Apr 21, 2012, 11:49 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,333
I got this offer last year. After signing up for the card and meeting all the qualifications, I had to jump through endless hoops and phone calls just to get 16000 points, which I got in stages. Eventually, it became clear that I would never get the second half of the points they promised me so I canceled the card. Just make sure to hold on to all the paperwork or make copies when you apply, as they will do everything in their power to avoid holding up their end of the bargain, just like most of the other airline/hotel credit card offers that are scams.
May 5, 2012, 4:33 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 633