mia

To advocate for a regulation there needs to be a public policy benefit. What is the social benefit of NFC payment versus EMV? A personal preference is not enough to justify government action.

tmiw

I mean, I don't really fault them for thinking that customers might prefer something other than NFC payments. Considering that contactless payment might require significant development work on the part of the retailer, there might very well be incentive to not bother enabling it--especially if stuff like curbside pickup or "scan and go" is seen by customers as better alternatives. Since card not present purchases increased significantly last year (for obvious reasons), that might very well be a reasonable bet.

And this is before considering that many of those doing their own apps have disliked Visa and Mastercard for a while, too, so they aren't too keen on something that would only increase their dependence on them. At least Walmart Pay gives Walmart leverage if the latter ever decides to, say, add an ACH payment option and encourage their users to use it instead of their stored cards.

Consider that we'll be five and a half years out from the original EMV liability shift this coming April (when gas pumps will finally fall under that liability shift, barring any further delays). In that time, the majority of merchants have gotten on board, but there are still occasional holdouts that don't support chip, let alone contactless. I think it's definitely reasonable to at least consider requiring chip processing (if the card has one) within the next few years for domestic non-gas transactions, and for gas pumps a few years after that.

As for contactless mandates, I can envision a lot of the rest of the world soon no longer inserting at all (or at least so infrequently that it might as well be given the increased limits as of late). Such a mandate here might be a good idea for interoperability reasons if nothing else.

brc01

PSA: A lot of people are reporting fraud charges the past few days on Altitude Reserve. Check your cards for any charges. Mostly Spotify but also other random merchants/streaming providers.

Even if there's no fraudulent charges, I suggest locking the card (can easily be done in the app) when not in use until the full extent of the breach is known.

trikotret

I got a fraudulent charge from Spotify too last month. I was able to get a new card number next day air

brc01

Unfortunately, people have been reporting fraud even after getting a new card number. I think it's wise to proactively lock AR while not in use for now, based on my experience from previous data breaches.

nall

The use of the $325 credit for dining is apparently permanent and there is no longer an extra charge for authorized users.

Also, looks like the new design is live.

jebr

In my opinion, assuming there's no other major changes, this card has become a very strong mid-range card. Yeah, the $400 annual fee before the annual credit is higher than other mid-range cards, and the requirement to be a US Bank customer already is limiting, but the $325 credit appears to be very easy to use, especially with the addition of dining. Having 4 lounge visits is a pretty good sweet spot, especially since it also includes 4 guest visits - for someone that travels a few times a year it's adequate, and there's less need to feel like I have to get to the airport early every time just to get value out of an unlimited lounge pass. Once I'm solidly under 2/12 and 1/6 I'll be applying for the Altitude Go, and then a few months later the Altitude Reserve. Until then I'll make do with my PenFed Pathfinder.

EasternTraveler

Wow! You guys were right, I have charges for Disney+. No children in house, no streaming TV, but yet it is there.

jags86

With regards to the dropping of the AU fee, I’m sure US Bank realized what most of us have realized. Just add the card to your P2’s phone and then you don’t need an AU card. Might as well get the card in more wallets and hope to pick up some 1X spend instead of all 3X spend.

EasternTraveler

That is true.

jags86

So very disappointed, and I know this isn’t US Bank’s fault, but I have been paying my mortgage via the Doxo app for 3 years with the Altitude Reserve and Apple Pay. The fee was about 3.5% so I was netting 1% every month on a $2500 bill. I refinanced in the summer using the AMEX better.com $2500 deal and the new mortgage was being serviced by The Money Source. Well, The Money Source transferred my loan to Flagstar Bank and Doxo won’t allow credit card payments to Flagstar bank. $300/yr out of my pocket :-(

I Love to Travel

Just got the email from US Bank confirming the changes:
- Dining, takeout and food delivery are a permanent addition to the annual $325 credit
- $75 fee for AU has been removed
-3x on dining, takeout and food delivery is extended to 6/30/21.

iahphx

I'm thinking of getting the now-free additional cards for my wife and adult children to give them primary CDW insurance on car rentals. But I'd to keep them below 5/24 for Chase cards. I assume getting them an AU card would count toward the Chase limit?

Drwaz99

Technically AUs don't count towards 5/24 since they aren't financially responsible. However, Chase's computer algorithm will count it as part of 5/24 when they initially apply but if they are denied for being over 5/24, they can call Chase's recon line and the underwriter can manually remove the AU account and overturn the denial.

castcore

These changes just made this card the best premium card in the market today