Ameritrade Offer Questions
Jun 11, 2003, 12:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,111
Ameritrade Offer Questions
The offer is here:
http://www.ameritrade.com/united/
There are similar ones out there for other airlines/hotels.
Ameritrade refers to the *initial* balance. So is it possible to open an account for $50000, collect the 25000 miles and then reduce the balance to $2000 (to avoid maintenance fees) and keep the account open for the required 6 month?
Has anyone received miles for this offer even though they had an existing account? If this is possible, then why not roll the existing account into the new one after the first miles have posted?
http://www.ameritrade.com/united/
There are similar ones out there for other airlines/hotels.
Ameritrade refers to the *initial* balance. So is it possible to open an account for $50000, collect the 25000 miles and then reduce the balance to $2000 (to avoid maintenance fees) and keep the account open for the required 6 month?
Has anyone received miles for this offer even though they had an existing account? If this is possible, then why not roll the existing account into the new one after the first miles have posted?
Jun 11, 2003, 1:07 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Land of 10,000 Upgrades
Posts: 9,465
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Account must remain open with minimum
funding for 6 months; at that time allow 4-6 weeks for the second half of the miles to appear in your United account.</font>
funding for 6 months; at that time allow 4-6 weeks for the second half of the miles to appear in your United account.</font>
Jun 11, 2003, 1:24 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,111
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UpgradeMe:
Account must remain open with minimum
funding for 6 months; at that time allow 4-6 weeks for the second half of the miles to appear in your United account.</font>
funding for 6 months; at that time allow 4-6 weeks for the second half of the miles to appear in your United account.</font>
Etrade specifically addresses this issue in their offer and disallows withdrawals.
The questions remain:
1. Can someone verify that you can withdraw funds?
2. Does the apply to new accounts or to new customers only (with an existing account)?
Jun 11, 2003, 1:30 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,111
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BigKing:
I wonder if you could open ten $5,000 accounts and get 10 X 8,000 miles rather than one $50,000 accounts for 25,000 miles. Or for that matter open 50 $1,000 accounts for 50 X 3000 miles.</font>
I wonder if you could open ten $5,000 accounts and get 10 X 8,000 miles rather than one $50,000 accounts for 25,000 miles. Or for that matter open 50 $1,000 accounts for 50 X 3000 miles.</font>
But then with withdraw 10*3000 from the 10*5000 accounts and open another six. Which leaves 4*3000 for another two, etc.
For some reason, I have my doubts...
Jun 11, 2003, 1:31 pm
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,861
I overfunded my account and was easily able to withdraw. After the withdrawal, I was still over the minimum amount to get the offer so I can't say anything about this point. I think I read a post several months ago about someone withdrawing too much money and they either didn't get miles or had them taken away.
As far a service, Ameritrade seems to be ok. Fast trades, decent price on the shares traded, low fees.
As far a service, Ameritrade seems to be ok. Fast trades, decent price on the shares traded, low fees.
Jun 11, 2003, 1:40 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,111
I agree Ameritrade's service is pretty good, no complains for the last three years. That's why I am wondering if the offer is open for new customers only.
How long did it take until your first set of miles posted?
[This message has been edited by michaelr (edited 06-11-2003).]
How long did it take until your first set of miles posted?
[This message has been edited by michaelr (edited 06-11-2003).]
Jun 11, 2003, 8:30 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2003
Location: RDU
Programs: TSA/INS/FBI Platinum (stopped last 12 of 13 int'l returns - the computer broke once)
Posts: 2,638
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BigKing:
I wonder if you could open ten $5,000 accounts and get 10 X 8,000 miles rather than one $50,000 accounts for 25,000 miles. Or for that matter open 50 $1,000 accounts for 50 X 3000 miles.</font>
I wonder if you could open ten $5,000 accounts and get 10 X 8,000 miles rather than one $50,000 accounts for 25,000 miles. Or for that matter open 50 $1,000 accounts for 50 X 3000 miles.</font>
Jun 12, 2003, 9:50 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 282
My husband and I have a joint Ameritrade account. I received a promotional offer in the mail and called to ask if I would qualify for the promotion by opening a new account. They said yes as long as it is different from the existing account so from what I understand a husband and wife could have a joint account and then one individual account each. The call was not specifically regarding this promotion but rather one I received some months ago.
Jun 12, 2003, 11:22 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SFO
Posts: 206
I'm interested in this promotion. I currently have an account with E-Trade and I'm looking to open a second one with a different broker. E-Trade has some interesting stock and bond funds of their own that are nicely diversified and charge no commission if held for a minimum period. They have very reasonable maintenance fees. Does anyone know if Ameritrade has funds with similar characteristics?
Jun 12, 2003, 1:50 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Santa Monica, CA, USA
Posts: 1,013
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by fsexman:
I'm interested in this promotion. I currently have an account with E-Trade and I'm looking to open a second one with a different broker. E-Trade has some interesting stock and bond funds of their own that are nicely diversified and charge no commission if held for a minimum period. They have very reasonable maintenance fees. Does anyone know if Ameritrade has funds with similar characteristics?</font>
I'm interested in this promotion. I currently have an account with E-Trade and I'm looking to open a second one with a different broker. E-Trade has some interesting stock and bond funds of their own that are nicely diversified and charge no commission if held for a minimum period. They have very reasonable maintenance fees. Does anyone know if Ameritrade has funds with similar characteristics?</font>
I don't believe so - I'm not even sure you can buy mutual funds with Ameritrade, though I have never tried.
Jun 12, 2003, 2:21 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,111
Yes, you can buy mutual funds with Ameritrade.
http://www.ameritrade.com/services/i..._choices.fhtml
http://www.ameritrade.com/services/i..._choices.fhtml
Jun 12, 2003, 3:35 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 35
I did this last year with Delta promotion and they screwed me and said the account balance had to meet the promotion level at account opening AND 6 months later. So don't open with a lot of $$ and then withdraw it thinking you will get the 2nd half of your miles.