Except that ...... I still have the traveler checks and received the letter from them.

Me too.......I still have all the checks & I've was cut off after one week (2 orders).

I placed an order for me, and aftaer two days, for my daughter, husband and father. All on different credit cards, and phone numbers, but the same address and different "apt.#s" I got all four orders but my daughter and husband were each sent "the letter" dated the day of their order, but their order arrived the next day. I ordered again for myself after waiting the 7 days and got my order, but the orders for the other 3 family members never arrived. My father hasn't yet received a letter. I have not cashed any of the travelers' checks so they do not know that they aren't for a planned vacation (which some of them will be). I called and spoke to a Neville Francis who asked me to fax the letter to me so he could find out what it was about (FAX is 516-828-4242). I have not yet heard back. The tone of the letter is awful. They could give their reason instead of writing a later like that. How much "reviewing" could they be doing the day an order comes in. Any why can't people order checks in their own name just because they live in the same "building?" I placed an order for my father who did not yet get a letter. I don't know what will happen when I wait the week and order again. Thanks for posting this as I was afraid to go back to the original post with all the "just let it die" messages. Misery sure likes company. I'm glad I wasn't the only one. Feels less personal.

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DtG

I agree with DtG our communication with each other helps us a lot & keeps us on top of things. (A big thanks to Randy on that note.) I too felt somewhat better knowing that "the letter" wasn't a personal thing.

I don't think Chase is making any money on this. People who buy travelers checks (aside from folks like us who do it for the miles) do so for an upcoming trip so almost all of the checks are cashed in the course of the next three or four weeks. The interest on a thousand dollars for two or three weeks doesn't come close the cost of handling, mailing, phone cards, etc. This is a promotion to introduce people to Chase with the idea of signing them up to become Chase checking, saving or investing customers and its a lot cheaper than what,say, Etrade is doing which is to pay people 100.00 to sign up. Once Chase identifies the people who have an ulterior motive (us) a letter goes out.

I got THE LETTER, too.. Interestingly, it was dated 12/02, and yet I got another order that was shipped out 12/03 (received 12/06). Oh, well - it was good while it lasted (for me that's 2,000 miles plus 240 phone card minutes).

I'm not surprised the letter is so unprofessional and unbusinesslike (unless you take "businesslike" to mean brusque to the point of rudeness). After all, their web-site promised to contact us if our order was turned down for any reason...and with all the unfilled orders (including some of mine) due to exceeding the (unpublicized) weekly limit, did they ever contact any of us?

By the way, Chase has to have lost money big-time on this. Sure they are (in some cases, but not in my orders) both the merchant and the cardholder's bank, but that just means they get to keep (i.e., not pay themselves) the portion of the transaction fee that would go to the cardholder's bank. They still have to pay the portion that VISA (or whomever) would retain. Then there's the waived delivery fee (which I'm sure UPS did not waive!) and the Ameritech phone card (cheap, but surely not free). Granted, they probably got the checks free from American Express (no commission), but I'd lay odds that AmEx is the one that makes money on the "float" and/or lost/uncashed checks (which is why they were willing to provide them free to Chase).

As for what triggers THE LETTER, AmEx would get the report of which checks were cashed & when; I can't believe Chase would have heard back so soon (or would care). Besides, the fact that people have received the letter without even cashing any checks shows that Chase is looking at order patterns, not check cashing patterns.

What was in this for Chase? Hoping that we'd order some currency at the same time (fat chance, given their ridiculous rates). After all, if not for the miles (which I'll bet Chase didn't even think of), how many of us would have ordered US$ checks unless we were traveling somewhere...in which case most buyers would order some currency "for the convenience."

[This message has been edited by johna (edited 12-13-1999).]

The stuff that is said here doesn't make sense. The talk of chase generating a letter after reviewing someone's order pattern does not jive with what some others have said. When one makes a sole order of travelers checks and gets a letter from chase, what pattern can possibly be said to have developed?

I agree Sergio. It doesn't make sense. All I can tell you is that I got the same exact letter (word for word) as Cabrits.

Maybe their computer points out people who order more than once in a short period of time....or orders for several different names that have gone to the same address....who knows. In any case, it is obviously an attempt to weed out the abusers. Maybe Upgrademe can ask his friend at Chase.

Was on the phone with Chase this morning trying to understand why my Thursday order was cancelled. Turns out, they don't even have a record of it! The rep. I spoke with could not locate it anywhere under either of the two phone numbers I would have used, although he did see both the one order I have had filled and the one I that was cancelled over a week ago. My guess is that they are having huge problems with the in-flow of orders. I'll probably try one more time (assuming I don't see the letter) and then pack it in. It's at the point were it is not worth the trouble. As for banking with Chase, I don't think I would ever consider it after this fiasco.

FedEx just delivered my second order. I ordered $950 got $1000 and a second phone card. Hope I don't get the letter.
I am interested to hear what the bank tells the letter reciepients.
Has anyone received their credit card bill yet?

Thanks, Jay

Well after a lot of red tape I finally did get the direct line number to this Beata Bialecka (212-622-1962) but she will not be in until Tuesday. I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow.

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MilesNut

Jay Brian - if you're asking, did they show up as purchase rather than cash advance, the answer is purchase with Citibank..

Mileage Plus First Card may be a different story...I did a $100 Casino Cash transaction in Vegas in November; it had always shown up as a purchase when I'd done that with Citibank previously, but my UA card showed it as a purchase but with a $5 transaction fee attached; First USA said it was a "Quasi Cash" transaction and should not have generated miles as a purchase (but it did). First USA is totally incompetent and has no idea what they're doing (if it wasn't a purchase, then it should not have generated miles..they seem to want to ding you for fees no matter what..)..

I received my First USA (affiliated with United) statement which reflects one of the purchases. It is a charge and there is no fee assocated.

Honestly, I did not expect this to last, so I am not upset at Chase. But it seems to be arbitrary who gets this letter and who does not.

Lets see -- I got the letter too. Beata's phone as stated above is (212)622-1962. Her assistant is Beth (212)622-1420. Chase's main corporate office number is (212)270-6000.

I spoke with Beth this afternoon and we discussed the issue at length. It seems that for mutiple orders, they are cutting people off for fear of credit card fraud. I explained to her that I was a 100,000 mile a year flyer and a Chase customer for 13 years who was not very pleased with Beata's letter. She could not agree with me verbally, but her silence told me she agreed. I told her I expected an apology from Beata (otherwise, I would move my account) and I would be ordering my checks from Diners Club. I also called Chase's executive offices, requested their fax number to fax them the letter and to let them know my displeasure with Beata's letter. I will keep you all informed.

--Jim