PenFed Pathfinder Card [Consolidated]
 

Tried to become PenFed member by selecting 'Other' at membership form. Getting message 'Your request cannot be completed at this time. Please contact us at 800-247-5626 for assistance'.

Any clue what this might mean?

No. Did you call? Let us know what they say.

So saga continues.

The initial problem with the application was the mail forwarder address I put. After I put physical residential address, it went thru.

But now other problem came. Got following message:

I am overseas now. I actually live here. Getting notarization of a single page in US embassy is $55. I am NOT spending $165 to notarize three pages and then spend the same amount to fedex it across 12000 miles.

Is above normal?

They also did not like my paystubs.

These are the only docs I have. And there are no 'deductions' there because it is overseas company and I am on local payroll.

Suggestions?

If you do send them a utility bill is it going to match this address? The core problem seems to be that you are representing that you live in the USA, but you don't. I think you need to tell them where you actually live, and see if they will consider the application.

You have tripped every anti-fraud and anti-money laundering wire there is to be tripped. The requests are far from ordinary and mean that PennFed suspects that you have supplied fraudulent information. Most likely from a mismatch with the IP address.

If you represent that you live in the the US, you would have US pay stubs which would show US deductions, you would have local utility bills and the like.

All of this has generated a SAR and PennFed's compliance people are now giving you the chance to make it right.

I would forget it before you dig yourself deeper OR come clean.

WHAT come clean? I was very clear in the beginning when filling the application that I live overseas. In the application form there is no option to show overseas address so I used the address which is on my DL before I left US.

Anyway, I will call them tomorrow to talk with a live person.

Please explain why you are overseas so we can help you.

Are you in the military? Are you a U.S Diplomat? Did you move there and gain citizenship?

On the application there's a drop down menu so you can select "foreign address." Where are you getting that there's no option to select an overseas address?

I work and live here.
No for all three
I tried to enter, it did not go thru because ZIP code is 6 digit.

I wouldn't be too concerned about dealing with the customer service reps, as they are more often than not very friendly and knowledgeable.

While you're admitting your wrongdoing to the customer service rep, they may be able to cancel and resubmit another application over the phone, in which then they'll send you the required documents and you have send them back (such as a signature card). I think you'll be fine.

Then wait.

I don't see a rush why you need to push this before you come back to the U.S.

Maybe when the correct answer can't be input, you call and ask for instructions?

My mistake. This made it seem otherwise (to me)..

FWIW, I got a PenFed CC 3 years ago, and I'm located, well, in YUL.

Applied online, and provided both a US mailing address and my Canadian physical address. Was in the service for 13 years - Canadian Forces.

I had to send them some US bills and passport copy (That I had validated/stamped by a USPS postmaster).

Not very useful info for you thought, being oversea...

Update. Surprisingly things went quite well - one lady from PenFed left a voicemail regarding my application. I called. She told me that my profile (US citizen, living overseas, travels frequently back to US and Europe, needs a credit card with PIN, does not work for government or defense contractor or even for an American company) was so unusual that it warranted a phone call.

She asked several questions based on my credit history and was quite satisfied. I was told that all good and my card will be on mail next week.

Now I need to call Citi...

PenFed Pathfinder [Consolidated]
 

Under certain conditions this AMEX card can generate four points per dollar of spend on travel. This fact, plus others (e.g., $250 sign up bonus, no annual fee, and incidental travel credits) make it very interesting. Still, I have been unable to find good info on the value of these points -- which are NOT Membership Rewards points -- upon redemption. In a recent blog post, The Points Guy said that pretty much all the Pathfinder redemption values, including for air travel, are at less than one cent a point, but that hotel redemptions may be slightly more than one cent a point. Still, TPG is a bit unsure, because he could not access the redemptions directly. Can anyone provide direct experience with redeeming these points?? This card would be extremely valuable to me if there were certain redemptions (e.g., hotel bookings) that were more than one cent a point.


Thanks!