Those with Freedom Cards

[SpeeDj]

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@longtimelurker wrote:

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@megaman1 wrote:
Not to scold anyone, but how difficult is it to click on a signup button once every three months...?

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Not difficult at all but it is user-unfriendly.  As FinStar suggests, really a way to get some people to miss the earning opportunity.  

 Think of cards without rotating categories, you don't need to reactivate 2x on travel and restaurants on the CSP every quarter for example.

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But with csp you pay a yearly fee in exchange for not signing up for bonuses one would think...

JP

[longtimelurker]

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@SpeeDj wrote:

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@longtimelurker wrote:

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@megaman1 wrote:
Not to scold anyone, but how difficult is it to click on a signup button once every three months...?

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Not difficult at all but it is user-unfriendly.  As FinStar suggests, really a way to get some people to miss the earning opportunity.  

 Think of cards without rotating categories, you don't need to reactivate 2x on travel and restaurants on the CSP every quarter for example.

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But with csp you pay a yearly fee in exchange for not signing up for bonuses one would think...

JP

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Um, for example!   So, consider the Amex BCE.  You don't need to sign up for groceries, gas and select department stores.   And no AF.  Chase Sapphire.  PenFed Cash Rewards.  And any of many many other no-AF cards with categories that you don't sign up for.

You do have to sign up for Cash Plus, but that makes sense because you are choosing them each quarter.  With Freedom and others, it's more "Yes, I got this card for the 5% categories, and I've thought hard and  yes please, I would like to  sign up for them this quarter too [rather than taking them as 1%]"

[FinStar]

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@SpeeDj wrote:

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@longtimelurker wrote:

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@megaman1 wrote:
Not to scold anyone, but how difficult is it to click on a signup button once every three months...?

---

Not difficult at all but it is user-unfriendly.  As FinStar suggests, really a way to get some people to miss the earning opportunity.  

 Think of cards without rotating categories, you don't need to reactivate 2x on travel and restaurants on the CSP every quarter for example.

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But with csp you pay a yearly fee in exchange for not signing up for bonuses one would think...

JP

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@ JP - To longtimelurker's point, the AF wouldn't have any bearing into the bonus activation (or lack thereof).  Think Fidelity AMEX 2% cashback - no AF, no activation required.

[SpeeDj]

True just playing devils advocate here that's all.

JP

[FutureBillionaire]

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@dbutz1109 wrote:

Although I do not have experience with this...it is smart on the CC company's part to go about this way. If people are too lazy to activate every quarter, forget, or simply don't bother...it is just less that the CC has to give back.

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I agree with this assessment.  The cards that advertise no hassle and don't require signups routinely offer a low amount of rewards, usually in the 1-1.5% range.

[longtimelurker]

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@FutureBillionaire wrote:

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@dbutz1109 wrote:

Although I do not have experience with this...it is smart on the CC company's part to go about this way. If people are too lazy to activate every quarter, forget, or simply don't bother...it is just less that the CC has to give back.

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I agree with this assessment.  The cards that advertise no hassle and don't require signups routinely offer a low amount of rewards, usually in the 1-1.5% range.

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Sorry, this strikes me as making up explanations as we go (after the AF one).  BCE is a no annual fee with a 3% and 2% categories that don't need sign up.  It is just for the convenience of the credit card issuer to potentially reduce pay out, and I don't see why anyone wants to particularly defend that.