5% Utilities including Cable/Cell Phone/Internet - Vantage West

[Gmood1]

I haven't looked at my Chex system file lately. I have added 5 CU/banks in the last 6 months. Most of them used the Chex system. I'd say they aren't sensitive at all about Chex inqs. I have 14 inqs on EX now. The inqs have been falling off monthly.

[CreditCuriosity]

Poor CU if they start handing out big limits and easily approved they might become FOTM of the MF effect and wonder what hit them.

[AverageJoesCredit]

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@Gmood1 wrote:

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@dlister70 wrote:

I wonder if it becomes an issue when you let your bicycle membership expire in a year? 

I somehow doubt they are keeping tabs on the memberships, but since it's a requirement to be in the credit union, I guess they might?

Anyone been a member for over a year that can chime in? 

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As Fltireguy says it's a none issue. Many CUs want you to join a foundation or club at the beginning to be a member. After that it doesn't matter. None of those I've joined keep tabs on that stuff. I'm currently a member of nine Credit Unions.

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Wow ,G, nine CU's and you are message 9, FREAKEEE!

[AverageJoesCredit]

Lol, CC, so true but i for one am done with FOTMs . I can hardly handle vanilla and people want to serve strawberry too

[Kforce]

Looks like a nice card.  

Would make me few dollars every month.  

Should  probably just stay in the garden !!   

[longtimelurker]

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@ohjoy wrote:

Whoa! Wait a minute. Let me be sure that I'm understanding this correctly. I understand that you don't have to live there to open an account. And I think I'm clear on the big telecom companies. But, will the program cover local utility companies on the East Coast too? And, am I correct in assuming this is a personal card and not a business card. It seems I've seen those categories on an AMEX business card.

TIA (Thanks in advance)

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V/MC rewards are based on MCC codes, so it the utlity codes correctly, it will be covered.  More critical is whether the utilities charge fees for using a card, my East Coast ones do.

[SBR249]

I was declined for this card a week ago. The reasons they gave were "escalating debts" and "insufficient income to support credit line requested".

For DP:

My income is 30-40K, asked for 10K CL (it was ambitious but was hoping for a counteroffer), they pulled EX and my score was 796. There was 2 inqs on EX but I think one had just dropped off a few days prior to my app so idk if they saw that. 

What probably did me in was the fact that I had gotten 6 new CCs in the past 3 months and raised my total available credit from ~40K to ~100K. My reported balances possibly went up a bit (I recently moved back into the country after a few years abroad) but still ~1% util. I guess that still made me an Egyptian. 

I applied for the CC without joining, but ended up joining as a member after the decline anyway. Might as well put that GABA membership I paid for to use if I ever want to app the card again in the future. 

[digitek]

So I wasn't really sure if my Utilities would work and thought it would just be one's that were close to Tucson, but after I saw the reply email it made sense.  It's not really up to specific utilities at all, but what their MCC code is for credit card payments.  I live in Kentucky =D

One more thing I forgot to mention, the Regular Share is a Savings Account, so you have to be careful of the 6 transaction rule.  Best to just push one lump sum at once to pay the Statement balance after it cuts.

The math works out to $300 a year if you can max $1500 a quarter, or $6k a year.  A 2% card would net you $120 for that same spend, so it's a gain of $180 over a 2% card annually.

I hope it doesn't get the MyFICO hug of death, but I figured I'd let the cat out of the bag and let the chips fall where they may =D

[SBR249]

Savings accounts are limited by law to 6 withdrawals or transfers out per month. Paying in isn't usually restricted. 

[Gmood1]

That was my reason for adding the free checking account.