How long do you need to wait until after you cancel your card before you re-apply to get the 15k points? If you do it too soon, won't they just re-activate your old card?

I've done it a few times, waiting about 6 months after I cancel. They may try to talk you out of cancelling by offering 3,000 to 5,000 points or so, but of course the sign up bonus again is much better.

they couldn't have cared less that I was cancelling. i hope the $100 cheque promo will be back when i sign up again.

just cancelled three weeks ago. Annual fee came up. Am presently using Amex Hilton card. Reapplied for card last week. Seemed to go thru. Have not received card yet. !5000 points due after first use. I'll comment after card arrives and first billing cycle if there any issues.

I applied for, and received, a new MR Rewards card even though I presently held another one. I canceled the first card when the annual fee came due. I got lucky, too, because the CSR tried to transfer me to the "Don't Let them Cancel!" department, but it was busy.

Received the 15,000 bonus points shortly after the first billing cycle ended. Opened up a second account in my husband's name and he received the bonus points, which I am hoping I can use when booking a reward stay. We also received two $100 vouchers.

Hope this helps.

I also closed my account earlier this year when it was time to pay the annual fee. Re-applied 2 and a half months later. Received 15000 points and $100 Marriott Cheque.

When I called to close the account, the rep told me they'd be happy to have me back if I decided I wanted to open a new account. This was the 3rd time I've closed a Marriott Visa account. It's probably all in the record that the rep sees.

They seems to be running a promotion where you get a free stay certifictae as well as the 15K points.

https://app.firstusa.com/ICBatch/?PI...ID=&PROMO=DF01

Get a Free Night Certificate� PLUS 15,000 bonus points�

It's easy. Just apply for a Marriott Rewards� Visa� Signature card by December 31, 2005, and we'll give you a FREE NIGHT STAY certificate good at category 1-6 locations when you use your Visa card for the first time! Plus, you'll earn points for every purchase, good toward amazing vacations, airline miles, merchandise, and much more. As an Elite cardholder, you'll get:

A FREE NIGHT STAY certificate, valid at category 1-6 hotels, including many of our most exclusive hotels and resorts worldwide
15,000 bonus points with your first purchase�
3 points for every $1 spent at our 2,500 Marriott� locations
1 point for every $1 spent anywhere else!
Annual fee waived for the 1st year3

Click here to apply for the Marriott Rewards� Visa� Signature card.

�Free night certificate is valid for hotels in categories 1-6. For participating category 1-6 locations, log on to www.MarriottRewards.com or call 801-468-4000. Certificate must be redeemed by June 30, 2006. Certificate may not be transferred, extended beyond June 30, 2006, or re-credited for points. Please allow 4-6 weeks from first purchase to receive your free night certificate. This offer is valid only for new account applications. Existing Marriott Rewards Visa Signature Cardmembers are not eligible.

�Marriott Rewards points will be awarded to accounts that are open and in good standing on the statement Closing Date. Refer to the Rewards Guide or www.MarriottRewards.com for complete membership information and terms and conditions. The 15,000-point offer is valid through 12/31/05. Please allow 3-5 weeks after your first purchase for points to be posted to your Marriott Rewards account. This offer is only valid for new account applications. Existing Marriott Rewards Visa Signature Cardmembers are not eligible. Please refer to the terms and conditions of the Marriott Rewards Visa card for complete details.

3See Pricing and Terms for more details, including annual fee information.

Thats a nice promo. For those of you going thru the multiple closures aren't you concerned about the effect on your FICO scores?

Guess they changed from 1-6 down to 1-4 only. It is certainly not as nice, and I would prefer the $100 Marriott Cheque.

They solicitated my hubby many times in the past - he had 2 MR Visa before, each was used very little and cancelled long before the annual fee came up. Then he took the $100 Marriott Cheque promo - it is his 3rd MR Visa. I went for the UA 20K miles bonus at the time and since both cards are issued by Chase I went for miles and passed the $100 MR Cheque promo which expired on 8/31. Would wait till Mid Dec to take this promo as I would apply AAdvantage 15K miles card next month when it would be 90 days after my cancellation of the old AAdvantage.

As for FICO, I doubt it affects much if you have a good payment history. We have open/cancelled AAdvantage cards virtually each year and our FICO were both above 750 (learned that when we opened a bank account with Wachovia late August so that we only need to incur 1% ATM charge on overseas withdrawal, the lady checked our credit reports and told us each our FICO. She wouldn't give us the reports but told us the scores. Since we dont need to do any mortgage/refinancing/car loan, we could care less what the FICOs look like. As long as credit card companies keep solicitating your business, you know your FICO is at least descent.

I've been opening/closing credit cards for a few years now, with no apparent effect on my credit score. I do keep a few cards open that I have had a long long time. And I pay my bills on time.

I received the solicitation email less than a week ago. It is quite possible that they are running several different promotions. You may try your luck and use the link in my post above that contains the promotion code of this one that includes the free night up to category 6.

I noticed that the 15000 + free night promotion doesn't mention silver status. Is that dependent on the promotion, or automatic for MR Visa Signature cards? And why would a $100 cheque be more interesting than the free night certificate; award availability?

1) You might get closed out on a reward stay, due to availability, especially at one of the high demand places (e.g. Hawaii). The certificate operates like cash, so there's no chance of getting closed out.

2) If you don't plan on actually staying at a Marriott before the coupon expires, you can still get a nice dinner at a Marriott restaurant with the certificate.

Id prefer the $100 cheque for a few reasons, 1- Ill get the night counted towards requalifying for my status

2- at present it means losing 20 pts per $ so w/o status pts thats 2000 pts

3- dont have to worry about if theres availability when I want to use it

4- the Cheque is like Cash and you can use it towards meals etc at any Hotel owned restaurant or SPA and not have to be a registered guest.

I understand the advantages of the certificate now. How would you (if possible) use the $100 certificate at an international location? Would be concerned about getting some "hotel" conversion rate applied. To get back to OP, I suppose we can try to get both offers by applying for multiple cards.