@imaximous wrote:We just got off the phone with Chase. I asked DW to downgrade the CSR to Freedom for now. I decided not to transfer the points before PCing, so we left about 160k URs sitting there. I started adding up points from different programs and we won't be able to use them for a long time, so I might even cash out the URs. There's no point in hoarding over 1.5 MM points we can't use.
I'd already downgraded my Prestige before all this, so the only other high AF card left is the USB AR. I'm not touching it, but I'll be using points to pay the AF. It's not the best use of 35k points for $400, but again, this is the case of having way too many points and nothing to spend on for a while.
I'm sad I had to cancel family trips because of the current crisis. We had big family trips (3 families - about 17 people) that took a lot of work and points to book, and we can't go anymore. Kids were really looking forward to this spring break. Most likely, I'll have to cancel June and Summer trip too 😔
Anyway, as long as DW and I can keep our jobs and stay healthy, we should still be grateful. I know things are tough for friends and family in some industries. Some have already been laid off.
Update from last night... Chase did the PC immediately. As soon as we got off the phone, I noticed the CSR had already been converted to Freedom. BUT the wrong Freedom 
They PCed to Freedom Unlimited instead of the regular Freedom. I wanted a second Freedom to double up on the 5% categories. Now we have 2 FUs. They did reverse the AF right away, though.
When we called the first time as CSR holders, the wait time was about 1 minute. Then, we called again a few minutes later to try to correct the mistake, and the wait time was over an hour, haha. We'd already lost our CSR priviledges and got moved to the end of the line as lowly FU holders. We just hung up 
I'll try via secure message, but last time, they responded that we needed to call for a PC.
@imaximous wrote:
@imaximous wrote:We just got off the phone with Chase. I asked DW to downgrade the CSR to Freedom for now. I decided not to transfer the points before PCing, so we left about 160k URs sitting there. I started adding up points from different programs and we won't be able to use them for a long time, so I might even cash out the URs. There's no point in hoarding over 1.5 MM points we can't use.
I'd already downgraded my Prestige before all this, so the only other high AF card left is the USB AR. I'm not touching it, but I'll be using points to pay the AF. It's not the best use of 35k points for $400, but again, this is the case of having way too many points and nothing to spend on for a while.
I'm sad I had to cancel family trips because of the current crisis. We had big family trips (3 families - about 17 people) that took a lot of work and points to book, and we can't go anymore. Kids were really looking forward to this spring break. Most likely, I'll have to cancel June and Summer trip too 😔
Anyway, as long as DW and I can keep our jobs and stay healthy, we should still be grateful. I know things are tough for friends and family in some industries. Some have already been laid off.
Update from last night... Chase did the PC immediately. As soon as we got off the phone, I noticed the CSR had already been converted to Freedom. BUT the wrong Freedom
They PCed to Freedom Unlimited instead of the regular Freedom. I wanted a second Freedom to double up on the 5% categories. Now we have 2 FUs. They did reverse the AF right away, though.
When we called the first time as CSR holders, the wait time was about 1 minute. Then, we called again a few minutes later to try to correct the mistake, and the wait time was over an hour, haha. We'd already lost our CSR priviledges and got moved to the end of the line as lowly FU holders. We just hung up
I'll try via secure message, but last time, they responded that we needed to call for a PC.
They were so excited to PC the card that they saw the first Freedom on the screen and clicked it immediately lol.
@Remedios wrote:
@redpat wrote:Same as last year, none.
@redpat You might need a new calendar
This year is teensy-weensy different
@Remedios Nope, my calendar is fine.
I only have two charge cards and 4 credit cards and 3 business cards. Can't spend any money right now even if I wanted to. I'm actually saving a lot, no travel, dining, bars, casinos, movies, gyms or fun......
If we go under quarantine I have been given two options plan A, stay with my wife or plan B, I didn't know what Plan B was but I took it.......
Personal Cards: Amex Plat | Amex Delta Res | CSR | Citi AA Exec Business Cards: Ink+ | Amex BGR
I have three AF cards. My fallback cards are all 1.5-2% no AF cashback. I PIF each month. I also have a 0% APR Discover It (5k CL) through April 2021, which is a nice safety net. No furloughs or job losses yet where I work. My emergency funds would cover 3-6 months of living expenses before unemployment or severance are accounted for (highly likely to get severance if laid off).
-C1 Venture VISA Signature (10k CL, $95 AF due July 2020)
This one I will see what they will do on a retention offer. If they don't and say "pay $95", downgrade as a product change to no AF VentureOne so I have a no AF way to feed some frequent flyer accounts and keep them active, should I ditch AMEX (see below).
-Cathay Pacific card via Synchrony, $2.5k CL, Jan 2021 $95
This one was always a churn and burn card for the bonus (40k Asia Miles, even if Cathay is still wobbly in a few months I can use these miles for American and Alaska flights). Reports are they don't do retention offers, so I will ask and if it's no I'll dump it. Will use it to get a year of Marco Polo Green first.
- AMEX Green ($150, Feb 2021)
This one is a keeper because it's 3x points on Lyft/Uber/Zipcar/car rentals/travel/dining plus annual Clear membership. The 45k bonus for this one is pretty much in the bank. Originally this was going to go towards Cathay Asia Miles balance but given uncertainty will just let it sit with AMEX for a while. I probably could do Green->Gold->Platinum surfing for SUBs for a couple years if I want, but I actually like Green's earn structure a lot; more than Platinum's and a little bit more than Gold's. If I could swap some categories I might go that way and PC downgrade back to Green once my "once in a lifetime" bonuses are obtained and I keep the card for a year.
All told the only cards I might want in the future are:
- an AMEX Everyday Card for groceries (no AF). That would nudge me up to 3-4% cashback equivalent on groceries.
- AMEX Hilton no-AF Card (SUB and basic Hilton status plus no AF would make me keep this forever and use for Hilton plus maybe occasional grocery purchases for bonuses, plus could probably work the SUB chain for Ascend/Aspire before dropping back)
- US Bank Cash+ for 5% on cable/cell/utilities. This would probably be a forever card as long as those categories are good.
- I fly enough Southwest that their high-end Priority card would be net positive for me as a keeper card, (plus the SUB) so gardening through 2020 to keep a 5/24 spot open in Q2 2021 makes sense (I have a Ch. 13 that will fully drop off my credit report Q1 2021). The earning structure is a bit of a drag but I fly them enough that sacrificing 3x Amex for 2x Southwest for occasional ticket purchases and keeping the card live isn't terrible.
- The Chase Hyatt card is also maybe worth it, but I'm not keen on watching my 5/24 limits forever, and Hilton would work for me. The free night is nice.
So I'm basically done with new cards for 2020 anyways. 
After that it's going to be surfing SUBs carefully; I basically want to be a pig that gets fed, not a hog that gets slaughtered. I have a decent enough lineup that I am 80% optimized for what I want (no AF cashback, a low AF travel and dining card, a 0% APR card, cards I am happy keeping forever as it stands) and the last 20% is just filling in around the edges.
@Kforce wrote:I would not do anything to make your current lenders worry about you or look at your accounts.
No CL seeking, no new cards, no balance transfers, no extra large spend, etc.
Use them but don't make them look.
Good advice. I just received notice of a 25% pay cut until the economy recovers. Everyone affected from the CEO on down. I'm paying bills, buying food and sheltering in place. Unnecessary spending has been eliminated and no new credit cards for me.