Advice on adding PRG to my collection

[steve23111]

I recently started a new job which will involve a bit more travel and some other lifestyle changes, and upon analyzing my credit card spend across all my cards going back the last two years, I have determined the AMEX PRG will be a nice fit.  I currently hold a Clear and BCP, but plan to downgrade the BCP to BCE to avoid the AF.  Where my real problem lies is that I also still have an NPSL Zync.

Because I have the NPSL Zync, I am not eligible for the 25,000 point bonus offer for a new PRG app.  Confirmed with a phone rep, who advised I would need to close the Zync and keep it closed at least 90 days before applying for the PRG.  She also checked and said there were no upgrade offers on my Zync (no bonus for PC, but the card *is* eligible for PC without a bonus if I so desire).  Obviously, I'm not about to part ways with one of the few Zyncs that are out there!

Are there any tips, tricks, suggestions, etc., for negotiating the 25,000 point bonus and first year waived AF in this situation?

[Rackham94]

Getting a close family member or perhaps a significant other to app for PRG and add you as an AU if you cannot wait 90 days.

[webhopper]

I liked having zync enough to pass on the bonus offer but DH got the bonus and recently met the 2k spend requirement...

And by the way this is an awesome travel card... I've made my AF back twice already in rewards...

CSP is nice but I doubt they would let me spend 10k in one swipe....

[steve23111]

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@webhopper wrote:
I liked having zync enough to pass on the bonus offer but DH got the bonus and recently met the 2k spend requirement...

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I'm right there with you.  I decided to go ahead and app for the card.  Approved, of course.  The Zync might actually get used now that it will be earning true MR points instead of MRE.  By the way, anyone know how to go about "linking" the Zync to the PRG so that the Zync will earn those full MR points... or is this automatic?  And do they all end up in the same bucket of points?

[unc0mm0n1]

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@webhopper wrote:
I liked having zync enough to pass on the bonus offer but DH got the bonus and recently met the 2k spend requirement...

And by the way this is an awesome travel card... I've made my AF back twice already in rewards...

CSP is nice but I doubt they would let me spend 10k in one swipe....

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Why not?

[Elcid89]

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@webhopper wrote:
I liked having zync enough to pass on the bonus offer but DH got the bonus and recently met the 2k spend requirement...

And by the way this is an awesome travel card... I've made my AF back twice already in rewards...

CSP is nice but I doubt they would let me spend 10k in one swipe....

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They'll contact you regarding whether or not the transaction is fraudulent, but they'll let you spend up to your limit.

Case in point - I ended up buying my grandson's car with CSP (found the model he was looking for unexpectedly while out and about, didn't have checkbook on hand and I didn't want an auto loan since I intended to pay cash for the vehicle from the outset). That one ran $32,000, and aside from a call from Chase fraud prevention (which I appreciated), it went through without a hitch. Dealer was somewhat taken aback, but they accepted it.

[enharu]

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@Elcid89 wrote:

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@webhopper wrote:
I liked having zync enough to pass on the bonus offer but DH got the bonus and recently met the 2k spend requirement...

And by the way this is an awesome travel card... I've made my AF back twice already in rewards...

CSP is nice but I doubt they would let me spend 10k in one swipe....

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They'll contact you regarding whether or not the transaction is fraudulent, but they'll let you spend up to your limit.

Case in point - I ended up buying my grandson's car with CSP (found the model he was looking for unexpectedly while out and about, didn't have checkbook on hand and I didn't want an auto loan since I intended to pay cash for the vehicle from the outset). That one ran $32,000, and aside from a call from Chase fraud prevention (which I appreciated), it went through without a hitch. Dealer was somewhat taken aback, but they accepted it.

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it really depends on your spending habits.

If 10k charges, or whatever the amount you are trying to put through, is in line with your spending patterns / habits, the charges usually go through just fine, provided those charges aren't made 100 miles or further away from where you usually spend your money. Such verification procedures are sometimes unavoidable for online / remote purchases because the merchant or distribution center might be on the other side of the country. It's really just fraud prevention and all lenders, Amex included, have this in place. 

To add to webhopper's points, I think she is referring to the NPSL feature of the charge cards. Most credit cards will not let you charge more than your CL. Even some NPSL credit cards are not "true" NPSL. The overlimit threshold is sometimes only $100 above your CL, though sometimes it could also be a lot higher, depending on your income and standing with the lender. Amex also has a limit for their NPSL charge cards, but generally the limits are very generous.

[webhopper]

@unc0mm0n1

I had to recon to be approved for my amazon card with a 5k limit so I think it's highly unlikely I would be approved for Csp for a high enough limit to actually use the card without it maxing out... The way I get reimbursed has nothing to do with my statement date so PIF before statement date is not an option.

I could probably do all my travel using my nfcu card but I like the rewards structure of PRG... If I had good enough scores for Penfed it would be a no brainier...

[unc0mm0n1]

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@webhopper wrote:
@unc0mm0n1

I had to recon to be approved for my amazon card with a 5k limit so I think it's highly unlikely I would be approved for Csp for a high enough limit to actually use the card without it maxing out... The way I get reimbursed has nothing to do with my statement date so PIF before statement date is not an option.

I could probably do all my travel using my nfcu card but I like the rewards structure of PRG... If I had good enough scores for Penfed it would be a no brainier...

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Makes sense.  To all of you talking about the Chase fraudulent account call, I had the same thing for a $300 purchase in London and I told them I was coming here. TBF they haven't called since. I also told Chase I was coming and I haven' had any problem with my CSP.