topic Re: Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards in Credit Cards

Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards

bamagirl1 — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 17:57:09 GMT

Hey y'all!!

A few weeks ago I got a "PRE-APPROVED" mailing for a Chase Freedom and I believe the Slate. The offer on the Freedom is $100 to start after your first purchase not matter what you buy..

5% Cash back, all year, every year in %% catergories

1% Unlimted on everything else

Low intro rate

0% into APR until October 1, 2013 on purchases and balance transfers

After that it's 12.99% and no annual fee..

Yay's Nah's ??

Re: Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards

FrugalRican — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 17:59:03 GMT

It's a no brainer if you can combine with a Chase checking, if and only if you know you have higher credit limits on other cards.

If not, they'll start you off with a crappy line and then it's a HP everytime you want a CLI.

Re: Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards

bamagirl1 — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:07:49 GMT

I have a NFCU card with $20,000, Compass Clearpoints with $12,000 and my credit union for $8,000..I said I'd never get a Chase card just because when I applied many moons ago they were not helpful at least with the reps I spoke to. I have an old saving account there and it has like $25 in it. We have no local Chase branches here, and I have my accounts with USAA and my local CU so I don't want or need any additional checking or savings account...

Is that a pretty good intro offer? I just hate to apply and 1 week later they have something better come out..but I thought the $100 was pretty darn good..:smileyhappy:

Re: Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards

searchingfor67 — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:11:14 GMT

I agree! It's a no brainer. Chase freedom is a great card, and when added with Chase checking and CSP, it's almost like stealing. I also agree if you don't have other high cl, they will start you off with a low limit. My Freedom was one of the first prime cards that I applied for after rebuilding, so none of cl were high. Thinking of calling the executive office when it reaches a year in a couple of months to have it upgraded to a sig version....hopefully without a hard pull. Nevertheless, would jump on the offer if I were you. In my opinion, Chase Freedom is the best rewards card available. My plan is the shift all of my everyday spending on it when they raise my limit.

Re: Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards

noobody — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:15:22 GMT

It was 30000 points after $500 spend since this time last year, 100 bonus is as low as you can get.

If you can wait, better offer is always around corner.

Re: Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards

Ron1 — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:19:36 GMT

bamagirl, Chase Freedom is another good card to have. I think US Bank Cash+ is better. You don't have to wait for quarterly catalogories. I take the Freedom card if I were you because sometimes it gives 5% cash back on gas and groceries plus $100 after first purchase. US Bank doesn't. Chase pulled TU. Ron.

Re: Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards

RockinRay — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:20:41 GMT

bamagirl - I might wait for the next offer to come around...

Last year, they offered $250 cash back with I think a $1000 spend in three months. That is when I got my Freedom.

It is a really good card and the rewards are nice. I have collected $500 from them so far including the intro. Work it right and you wuold do real well! :) I alwasy asked them to mail me a check...

Re: Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards

bamagirl1 — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:33:08 GMT

WOW Thanks everyone great info..yes I wasn't sure if this was the lower end of rewards or higher..I can wait no hurry..I just thought that was a great deal on 0% until Oct 2013 and $100 to boot!! :smileysurprised:

Re: Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards

bamagirl1 — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 20:54:24 GMT

Another question..On average what has been the starting CL's.I know everyone will vary due to a myriad of circumstances but just wanted an idea..and what about APR's??

thanks again!!

Re: Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards

JasonBourneOfCredit — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:01:06 GMT

I have pretty good credit. Got a $3k lmit. Thought the card was pretty good at first but that $200 in rewards I'm supposed to get is taking FOREVER to kick in.

The deal was spend $500 in 90 days and you get it. I did. But Chase told me it would take months to actually be able to redeem in. **bleep**? I earned it and I need it now.

Plus, my interest rate is INSANE-O! Never a late on CR at all. No baddies. Everything paid on time and always below 9% util. And they gave me 23% APR.

Re: Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards

CS800 — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:03:18 GMT

I like my Freedom. but I also have a Discover More which is similar (5% rotation). Its a great card to start with then depending on your usage, you can graduate to the Sapphire or others.

They dont always give good initial CL but they grow with you. I recently took a HP to get a CLI.

Re: Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards

bribro — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 00:27:18 GMT

bamagirl1 wrote:
Another question..On average what has been the starting CL's.I know everyone will vary due to a myriad of circumstances but just wanted an idea..and what about APR's??

thanks again!!

They are pretty good about matching your highest CL.

Re: Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards

discernment — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 00:46:31 GMT

bamagirl1 wrote:

I said I'd never get a Chase card just because when I applied many moons ago they were not helpful at least with the reps I spoke to.

I always said I couldn't wait to get a Chase card (because their credit products are WONDERFUL) but, I hoped I never had to deal with their reps because they were so nasty-spirited. Turns out, ever since they got caught in that big investment scandal, seems like EVERYONE at Chase has been sweet as pie. We've had our main checking with them for many years and over that time we've threatened to move to other banks but, with their turn around in attitude here lately, we'll stay on and enjoy the benefits!

Re: Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards

cmthomas06 — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 03:29:01 GMT

I love my Freedom card! I agree with other comments to wait for a better offer. When I applied I got the $300 bonus, so just see if they offer it again.

Re: Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards

CreditScholar — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 04:16:45 GMT

The freedom is one of the better rewards cards with no annual fee. Where it really shines though is when you combine it with an ultimate rewards card (Sapphire Preferred, JP Morgan Select/Palladium or Ink Bold). Once you have both, this is when you start to get a lot of value out of the points you earn. Until then each point is worth 1 cent, which is very mediocre.

It also depends on how much you spend as well. If you're a high spender, you may want to look into something else because it's very easy to max out the rewards in a given quarter. Then after $1500 you're stuck with the base-level 1% rewards.

Re: Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards

bamagirl1 — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:40:18 GMT

Thank you all again..good info credit scholar..

I try to use my credit cards like debit cards for the points etc and pay off each month..This way I'm earning on stuff I would already buy etc..

Re: Chase Freedom Pros/Cons..Opinion on rewards

CreditScholar — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:12:54 GMT

bamagirl1 wrote:
Thank you all again..good info credit scholar..

I try to use my credit cards like debit cards for the points etc and pay off each month..This way I'm earning on stuff I would already buy etc..

Using your card like a debit or charge card and paying in full is the best way to go. How much do you normally spend in a year? It might give us a better idea as to how well the freedom suits your needs.