am1996

They keep pushing you just to establish a PB relationship or to establish it and to fund it with $5MM?

am1996

There are a whole bunch of reports (not credit reports) out there with this type of data and it isn't that difficult to gather. I wouldn't be too freaked out about it, if I were you.

APeverell

Just finished a call with a Wealth Management rep from Arizona. Basically he confirmed that he has submitted the Palladium card app for me after I put in 500K. Apparently, the 5M thing is just bluffing. But this guy told me it's a one time exception, he did it because one of my friends knows his manager. He said they would expect me to increase the fund to 5M GRADUALLY. Now that's an interesting way of putting it.

My FICO score, according to Equifax, is 790 something. But I did put in a 7 figure income in the application. Don't know if that is what trigger ed all the PB stuff even after the fax-in.

mia

Did you use an address outside the 50 states?

ExpatExp

Success!

A big thanks to all in this thread. Faxed in my application (to the non-PB, 877 fax number) on Friday afternoon, and got a call this morning from a nice woman in the "lending department". She double checked my credit history with me, asked a few questions about my business, and said I was approved. No PB involvement at all.

Thanks, FT! ^

5DMarkIIguy

Does anyone else get the United Club membership recently? I called again and still got a rock.

CMHdoc

Approved on Friday after faxing app. No PB mentioned by the lady that called, verified income, employment and how much credit I wanted and it was done.

thanks

fueldude

It took me four phone calls, but I finally got some one who knew about the United Club benefit.

If they just explain the Priority Pass, have them put you on hold and ask a supervisor or another co-worker.

HelloJello

Yay! I had to trade in my CSP and Mileage plus that I got 2 weeks ago...but I figured, I can just apply for the CSP Master later this year and get the sign up bonus. Understand the door is closing in for the non-PB applicants. Mind you, I do work for JPMorgan so maybe it was easier?

JustinTI

I am trying to decide between applying for the Palladium and the JP Morgan Ritz Carlton rewards card. Prior to the United Club benefit, the RC rewards card was a no-brainer. Here is my analysis now:

Hotel status:
-RC: Marriot/RC Gold also free club uprages on rack rates at Ritz Carltons
-Palladium: GHA Black

-For my usage, the Marriott status is much more valuable, so clear advantage to the RC card.

Lounge Access:
-RC: Lounge Club + free guest
-Palladium: United Club and Lounge Club + free guest

-Advantage Palladium

Airline perks:
-RC: $200 fee reimbursement
-Palladium: none

-Advantage RC Rewards

Conceirge
-Push...I've called both numbers, and they have both confirmed that the same concierge service handles both cards.

"Cool" Factor:
-Advantage Palladium...though this is not that big of a deal to me.

Sign up Bonus:
-RC: 50000 Marriott Reward points
-Palladium - none

-Advantage RC Rewards

Annual Fee:
-RC Rewards = $400
-Palladium = $600

-Advantage RC Rewards

So even with the United Club membership, the RC Rewards card still comes out ahead in my book (as I don't fly United enough to justify the full cost of the membership, but it would be nice to have). The lower annual fee, $200 reimbursement, and Marriott Gold status are what puts it ahead.

But...I'm still kind of buying that Chase/JP Morgan will continue to add perks to the Palladium, and that I should get on board before it is too late.

Has anyone had any other success on inquiring with the concierge about getting United perks or Marriott/Ritz Carlton Status perks? Or has anyone asked about rental car perks?

mia

The combination of the lower annual fee plus the $200 reimbursement would seem to offset the cost of buying a separate UA or US club membership?

5DMarkIIguy

Thanks. Btw, have you actually received the UC kit with membership card and everything?

5DMarkIIguy

If you want to stay at RC, the Palladium concierge told me they would give me upgrade at time of booking.
Free club upgrades aren't that hot because the rate is very restrictive.
If you want to stay in the regular Marriott, the RC card is better. Gold won't get you much, anyway.

If you don't have the card, how do they take your call? Everytime I called, they automatically pulled up all of my info. They always greeted me with "... Palladium Concierge ...." I suspect the phone number will route the call to the correct department.

The RC will be there in a year in two years, you can apply anytime. The Palladium might not be easily obtained in the future. Without the pdf, good luck getting the CSR to give you one.

fueldude

Not yet. I had to send them my billing/shipping addresses. They said it would take a couple of weeks for United to mail me my membership kit. It almost sounded as if they were "purchasing" me a membership and taking care of the bill and having the information sent to me.

I don't have any travel coming up for a few weeks, but I assume, I could give my MP number if I needed in before I received my card.

JustinTI

That's good to know a/b the Ritz Carlton confirmed upgrade. And I'd somewhat disagree that Marriott Gold doesn't get much. It appears that it would be pretty useful internationally, especially when combined with a 25% LNF rate discount, which i have had very good success with.

As soon as they answered, I just explained my situation - that I don't have a card currently but am considering getting one of the two JP Morgan cards.

That is the only reason I am seriously considering paying the extra $400 bucks for the Palladium. If the card added Marriott status, free bags/priority access on UA (low level status would be even better), a good car rental status (Avis President's Club?), Hyatt perks, or really any combination of those, it would be much easier to justify the cost. But as is, it is tough.