topic Re: Chase Freedom lists 5% cash back categories for 2011 in Credit Cards

Chase Freedom lists 5% cash back categories for 2011

haulingthescoreup — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:34:00 GMT

FYI, for those considering applying. If you choose points instead of cash back, it's 5 points, if I read the fine print correctly:

It's a little unsettling, because the categories for where the card was used that show on the Chase monthly statement don't match these categories, and the cash back doesn't appear until a month or so into the next quarter, so you just have to keep hoping that everything is being credited correctly. The Chase CSR I spoke to a couple of months ago said that they were getting a lot of requests for the ability to track the awards, and they're "considering it."

Re: Chase Freedom lists 5% cash back categories for 2011

aliciam — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:58:58 GMT

Precisely why I stopped using my Chase Freedom, even with these "awesome" 5% categories. You can't track anything, so how would you know if you are actually getting your 5%? The whole thing is slightly shady to me.

Re: Chase Freedom lists 5% cash back categories for 2011

kc12286 — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 18:16:43 GMT

I had a freedom card briefly, it was my highest CL too. I kept a low balance untl I started putting books on there and racked up a bill. I was making minimum payments and then through a small mistake (I was paying online and must have entered the checking account number wrong) I got hit with some fees. Fair enough, made a payment to correct it but didn't factor in the fees, so they kep accessing finance charges. I finally had canceled my account when they took all my points.

I WOULD never apply for another chase freedom card. Not worth it to me.

Re: Chase Freedom lists 5% cash back categories for 2011

wollepopolle — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 18:38:00 GMT

A month into the next quarter? That is shady to me. Even though Discover's caps are much lower, I like how the cashback appears on your monthly statements and is then immediately credited after the statement's been released. Also, I see the merchant category right away online after it shows up on my tab.

Has anyone ever experienced a substantial non-crediting of well-deserved cashback due to the vendor not being properly categorized?

I think especially gas stations and grocery stores should be easy for Chase to rezognize, though.

Provided, everything works fine with Chase and provided you really spend in the given categories, the cashback is still awesome. One of these days, I'll re-apply for the Freedom.

Re: Chase Freedom lists 5% cash back categories for 2011

haulingthescoreup — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 19:12:20 GMT

lol, I hear all of you. And I had to fuss at them for almost a year after they switched my original Borders Visa to Chase Freedom before they'd give me the 5%.

It's still not my go-to card, except in the 5% categories. ;)

Re: Chase Freedom lists 5% cash back categories for 2011

usmc58555 — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 22:53:56 GMT

kc12286 wrote:
I had a freedom card briefly, it was my highest CL too. I kept a low balance untl I started putting books on there and racked up a bill. I was making minimum payments and then through a small mistake (I was paying online and must have entered the checking account number wrong) I got hit with some fees. Fair enough, made a payment to correct it but didn't factor in the fees, so they kep accessing finance charges. I finally had canceled my account when they took all my points.
I WOULD never apply for another chase freedom card. Not worth it to me.

Umm not to sound antagonistic, but why? you admit yourself you made the errors, and not just one but several that compounded. You sound like you are blaming Chase.

Re: Chase Freedom lists 5% cash back categories for 2011

kc12286 — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:02:57 GMT

I made one error, which was when I was paying online. My balance before that, had not been very high. So in effect, my balance shot up after I made the payment to correct my error. I tried to pay it down, but NONE of the subsequent payments made seemed to make a difference, thus I closed it. The finance charges got so high that at one point Chase wanted more than 1k in order for my account to be considered current. When I closed the card I hadn't used it in six months, so what was appearing on the statements were finance charges and I'm guessing the intial fee(s) from the checking error.

Maybe my intial post didn't make sense, sorry about that.

Edit: I just looked at my account, as it was a Chase card and I can see what I spent while the account was open. Prior to my mistake with the checking account, my balance had been current and I had no late fees or past dues. Once I made the error, they assessed a late fee, past due, return check fee, etc. They took some of those fees off and I did make a payment above the minimum, but that payment must not have factored in the fees, as it was sent out the next day as soon as the error was noticed. So Chase considered those fees past due balances and even though I made payments every month after that, not of those payments went towards those past due fees, so the past due balance continued to increase and did the minimum payment that I owed. I finally had no choice but to close the account. I was working a mimimum wage job and despite my best efforts could not get a second job. It was the right decision for me. And looking at the account now, the rewards were not worth what I went through. It was nice card and might be useful others, but it wasn't the right card for me. I started out using it for gas, as it offered 5 points on every $1 spent at a gas station, grocery station etc. But like someone else said, those points didn't show up right away like they do with some other cards. So by the time I closed my account, I only had a little over 1k in points.

If it works for you great, but I wouldn't get another freedom card from chase.

Re: Chase Freedom lists 5% cash back categories for 2011

psychic — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 04:18:39 GMT

haulingthescoreup wrote:

FYI, for those considering applying. If you choose points instead of cash back, it's 5 points, if I read the fine print correctly:

It's a little unsettling, because the categories for where the card was used that show on the Chase monthly statement don't match these categories, and the cash back doesn't appear until a month or so into the next quarter, so you just have to keep hoping that everything is being credited correctly. The Chase CSR I spoke to a couple of months ago said that they were getting a lot of requests for the ability to track the awards, and they're "considering it."

For the past 2 Freedom quarterly promotions, I've been receiving some of my rewards before the promotional period ends. On my December Chase statement, I received bonus points for purchases made from October-November:

Re: Chase Freedom lists 5% cash back categories for 2011

slugfan — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 04:27:58 GMT

I just recently got the card last November and my new points were updated within the month. I do wish that we didn't need to call or sign up online every quarter for the promotions though. But I think discover and citi have people do the same thing.

Re: Chase Freedom lists 5% cash back categories for 2011

haulingthescoreup — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:54:25 GMT

I went back through some statements, and duh me, they've been crediting the points all along. :D I should know better than to listen to a CSR...

Nevertheless, there still isn't a breakdown of which charges resulted in the points, and the category names in the "Activity" section don't match the 5% categories.

I do know that I've collected a ton of points since I was able to start using the 5% categories, so I figure I'm OK, but still!

Re: Chase Freedom lists 5% cash back categories for 2011

psychic — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 17:38:30 GMT

haulingthescoreup wrote:

I went back through some statements, and duh me, they've been crediting the points all along. :D I should know better than to listen to a CSR...

When Chase first changed my 2 Freedom accounts to the Ultimate Rewards program, they credited bonus points after the program period ended. They just began awarding bonus points earlier. In fact, I emailed Chase a couple of months ago, to confirm my enrollment in this promotional period. The Chase rep wrote: "The bonus rewards will post to the account six to eight weeks after the end of the offer on December 31, 2010."

Re: Chase Freedom lists 5% cash back categories for 2011

haulingthescoreup — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 17:40:49 GMT

psychic wrote:
haulingthescoreup wrote:

I went back through some statements, and duh me, they've been crediting the points all along. :D I should know better than to listen to a CSR...
When Chase first changed my 2 Freedom accounts to the Ultimate Rewards program, they credited bonus points after the program period ended. They just began awarding bonus points earlier. In fact, I emailed Chase a couple of months ago, to confirm my enrollment in this promotional period. The Chase rep wrote: "The bonus rewards will post to the account six to eight weeks after the end of the offer on December 31, 2010."

Bless their confused little hearts. :P

Re: Chase Freedom lists 5% cash back categories for 2011

bunnyrabbit — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 11:58:48 GMT

Wow! psychic, what have you been shopping? Nice Rewards pts!
Do you have a chase checking acct also? I am not happy about their new monthly service fee. I had to request to change my direct deposit from NFCU to Chase Checking acct to avoid that fee, and earn the 10/10 Bonus pts.

psychic wrote:

For the past 2 Freedom quarterly promotions, I've been receiving some of my rewards before the promotional period ends. On my December Chase statement, I received bonus points for purchases made from October-November:

Re: Chase Freedom lists 5% cash back categories for 2011

bunnyrabbit — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 12:46:58 GMT

Thanks for the info hauling :smileywink: I just logged on and signed-up my freedoms.

CHASE FREEDOM REWARDS SUMMARY ACCOUNT ACTIVITY
New Balance: $485.56
Minimum Payment Due: $10.00

                                 Previous Points Balance: 2,999
                           Points earned on purchases:     486
            10% Bonus Points per $1 You Spend:       49
              Bonus 10 Points on Every Purchase:     250
Points earned from 5% Quarterly Promotion:     425
                                       Courtesy adjustments:     601
                                           Current Points Total: 4,810

As a Chase Checking customer, you earn more cash back for all your spending! You get 1 point for every $1 you spend, plus
you will receive 10% bonus points per $1 spent and 10 bonus points on every purchase. Redeeming your points for cash back is
easy! You can receive a check, statement credit, or even direct deposit into your Chase Checking account.

Most likely I use my Freedoms for;

Jan ~ Mar: Grocery Stores / Drugstores

Jul ~ Sep: Gas

Oct ~ Dec: Dining / Dept. Stores / Movies

Too bad ... nothing in Apr ~ Jun for me.

Re: Chase Freedom lists 5% cash back categories for 2011

bunnyrabbit — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 13:12:10 GMT

The followings are Discover More 5% Categories.

They got same categories as Chase in March, and July ~ Sep.

I will use Discover in Apr ~ June, and July ~ Sep.

January–March

Earn 5% Cashback Bonus* on up to $800 in purchases January through March at:

Airlines
Hotels
Restaurants NEW!
Car Rentals
Cruises

March only

Earn 5% Cashback Bonus throughout March at:

Grocery Stores
Drug Stores

April–June

Earn 5% Cashback Bonus April through June at:

Home Improvement Stores
Department Stores
Clothing Stores