mintcilantro

I experienced this first hand on my recon call to barcays travelocity. They loved my payment history with 2xUS Air cards.

I think with the numerous manufactured spend activities available today, it should be relatively easy to give each card some love. The occasional online purchase for the less rewarding cards keeps you in good stead with the issuers.

Citi has been sending me $25 credit for $500 purchases for my unused card. I think ignoring them for a while also has its benefits.

jatink129

Here's the plan.

Like MintCilantro, I've frozen my Experian. I haven't bothered freezing EQ or TU because I have very few inquiries there and don't mind either of them getting used.

Cards that I've zeroed down on. (In order of application)

Chase Ink Bold 50k
CITI AA Visa 50k
Hawaiian Air Biz 35k
Virgin Atlantic 65k
Charles Shwabb Checking Account

8 days later.
CITI AA 50k.

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Any other good cards, that I should think about getting?
Thoughts on my list?

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I am also going to close my Amex Biz Plat.
Since I am not in a hurry to transfer them to any other airline, what (no-fee) card could I get, to just park them for a while?
I understand that I'd lose the ability to transfer the points out,
but I'm pretty sure that there'll be an offer sometime this year or the next for a personal Gold or Plat card, and I'll apply for it then and regain the ability.

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Cards that I have right now.
Chase: British Airways, Priority Club, Marriott, Sapphire Preferred, United.
Barclays: US Airways
US Bank: Club Carlson
CITI: one AA Plat.
Amex: Hilton and Biz Plat.

vodkashine

What credit monitoring service is that?

PainCorp

Amex Blue is Membership Rewards Express, so that might work, or you could get the Green card. Neither has transfer partners, but you can just get a card with a new bonus and then transfer them out.

jatink129

It's from USAA.
Called CreditCheck Monitoring Premium. $12.95 a month for a monthly three bureau report.
https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/cred..._creditmonitor

I don't know if you can sign up if you're NOT a USAA member, but try and see.
Either way, it's fairly simple to become a USAA member.

jatink129

Yeah...that's what I figured. No way to downgrade because my card is a charge card, and don't fancy paying the AF on the green card.

So I'll just apply for the Blue anew, and keep my MR points alive.

This works out fairly well, because next, I'll apply for a Plat (or Gold) personal when a good offer comes along, and by the time it's time to cancel that card, I'd have re-qualified to apply for a business card and get the bonus points.

Meanwhile the blue card will keep the points alive, since I have no real need to transfer them out right now.

P.S- What's the best offer on them right now? 10k right?
P.P.S- I couldn't see any difference between the biz and personal blue. Is there?

PainCorp

For Blue? I just converted my really old BlueSky.

As for difference, didn't know there was a Business Blue.

rambro

I like to let the statement post with a balance on it. Shows that the card was actually used. If you pay it off before hand, and it posts as $0, then there's no report history of consistent use when other people go to look at it.

jatink129

I know there's a 10k offer for the BIZ Blue. but don't see anything for the personal Blue. Can't seem to see any difference in the card either.

PainCorp

I don't think they can see the balance history, just the most recently reported balance. Unless I'm missing something.

FlightNurse

^^

FlightNurse

Having a balance at statement close helps with the bank not the credit agency. Remember, you aren't being charged interested on the balance until it rolls over to the following months statement.

PainCorp

Uh, that's exactly what I was saying....but the bank can see the history no matter what, so it doesn't matter for them if it posts with a balance or not, they'll be able to see it was used.

mintcilantro

I think your payment gets reported and if your balance is zero the bank could draw a conclusion. I saw this in a recent credit report

LuxLibertas1795

I am trying to spread around automatic payments on my cards so there is at least some activity on each card each month, even if I forget to use it. I have Comcast on one card, my monthly parking on another, etc.