SBT

Attending an FTU seminar a few months ago in Los Angeles, on the topic of Hotel Loyalty programs, I was suprised many of the participants have a Wyndham Rewards Business card and list it as one of their most beneficial credit cards. Its not a card one hears about on the various blogs, but on the surface it seems to good to be true. Especially for someone who is a budget traveler and enjoys Las Vegas, doesn't like to pay resort fees, visits NYC and stays in Long Island City. There is a relatively Microtel hotel for only 15,000 Wyndham Points per night. Basically a budget but worth the redemption especially for the NYC area.

Please help me solve a delimma.

1. This forum consists of many horror stories in obtaining the Wyndham card, posting points to your Wyndham rewards account, and obtaining a status match on Caesars Rewards only to be downgraded later. Is this still true or has Barclays cleaned up their act?

2. None of the partcipiants at the FTU seminar actually owned a business. The application asks for a company name, employees, years in business, etc. Do you really have to be part of a business or simply fudge you way through the application process? FYI I have a high credit score and don't churn credit cards, although I did just cancel my Radisson CC. (Stating a Sole ownership, 1 employee, revenues of $10,000) or should I tell the truth and state Retired.)?

As a practicing curmudgeon, the hassle isn't worth the reward. Thanks for your help.

SBT

diesteldorf

I like having relationships with many issuers, even if it only involves a single credit card. I previously had the Barklays Arrival Plus, got the signup bonus, and realized, especially during Covid, that it wasn't worth keeping the card, and Barklays refused to downgrade it to the no annual fee version.

I'm only providing this info to show that I was previously approved for one of their (personal) cards and left on good terms.

As a general rule, any card that has the potential to provide rewards/benefits that outweigh the annual fee is always of interest, and I was already looking for a card with high multipliers on gas and utilities.

I applied right when it was released in October, 2020, so I'm not sure if being an early applicant enhanced my chances for approval. When I applied, I did so as a sole prop, and my application went to PENDING REVIEW, but was automatically approved 7-10 days later.

Many states don't require any special paperwork to operate as a SOLE PROP, under your actual name, but I also established an LLC through incfile.com, knowing that it may increase my chances of being approved for other business cards with other issuers.

It's definitely a strong card, so your observation in #2 doesn't surprise me. It's possible, Barklays has tightened their approval requirements, and, if I was applying again, I would use my LLC.

Establishing the LLC was around $200, but the additional business card signup bonuses justified the fee.

I don't think you have anything to lose by applying as a retired "business" owner, but I get enough value from this card that I would happily establish an LLC if I wouldn't have been approved as a sole prop.

In regards to your first question, I think many people that were downgraded from Caesars Diamond were those that had been matching from other programs, besides Wyndham. I'm not worried in my situation, because having the EARNER BUSINESS CARD makes me a "legitimate" Wyndham Diamond and eligible to match to Caesars......However, I wouldn't be surprised if the Caesars-Wyndham partnership is eventually discontinued. However, I hope I'm wrong.

Good Luck.

gudugan

Applied under sole proprietor, no documents required. Hard pull transunion then had to wait. 10 business days later approved with credit limit of 2000.

SBT

Thanks for your response. I applied today. Got instantly approved, $4300 credit limit.

diesteldorf

Congrats....seems like a weird limit for a new approval, when not reallocating existing credit among active accounts.

Register for the Visa Savings Edge portal if you want access to additional Business Card discounts.

https://www.visasavingsedge.com/

SBT

Thanks again. Signed up for Visa Savings Edge with my Wyndham card. (Although Chase has better offers).
No lets see how long it takes for Caesars to Status match to a Ceasars Diamond level.

diesteldorf

In my opinion, the best use for Visa Savings Edge would be the additional 4% cash back at Wyndham brands, assuming you are already staying there and using the card for 8X. You also get an additional 2% back at Chevron gas stations, on top of the 8X. Otherwise, I agree with you. Chase offers are often better.

EZTraveler

I am wondering what the current status of credit bureau reporting is for the Wyndham Business Earner. None of my current business cards report accounts in good standing. A recent TPG article reports that Barclays business cards reports all activity to credit bureaus. Anyone care to share their experience? Also, if you care to share how long you have had the card (just in case they changed the rule for newbies like C1 apparently has).

diesteldorf

When I got the card in October, 2020, it pulled from Transunion.

Schnit

My wife and I both have and both opened in 2021. Neither appear on our credit report. Data points I have seen suggest 2022 openings show

EZTraveler

Ohh, sorry diesteldorf, I was referring to monthly reporting after opening. But you also validate another point on who they pull from at opening. Everything I have seen so far has also indicated Trans Union as well. TY!

EZTraveler

Darn, that's exactly what I wasn't hoping for. Thanks for advising though!

diesteldorf

It sounds like it could've been a glitch, as some reported that it no longer reports to their personal.

You can read about it here: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/has-b...apoints-needed

swordswallower69

Was approved on 5/25 for the biz card and saw that my member level is still Blue. I've tried calling multiple numbers but can't seem to find an answer of when my member level will upgrade to Diamond

-Called Wyndham Rewards and was transferred to card services
-Card services was not sure what I was talking about and assumed I was looking for an upgrade offer
-Found a different Wyndham contact number and was transferred back to card services

It seems no one has an idea what I was talking about. I've read some other data points that it generally takes 2-3 days but I'm wondering if others have had it taken a lot longer?

flyer4512

~ 6 days ( less than 3 full business days) is a delay ?

The first thing to check is to make sure your Wyndham rewards member number matched Barclays number for your business card but I don't thin you can do that until you have the card in and to create the online account.

I believe Barclay personal and business cards have now merged so maybe if you have a personal card maybe check to see if your business card is showing.