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@dharalex wrote:
How stupid do I feel? I think I just enamored a little with the Chase card. I'm sticking with my plan to get the USAA. I can't be a full member, but 1% foreign trans fee is better than what I paid last week in Mexico on my Amex! Thanks for offering that perspective I should have seen already!
I don't like paying extra fees for anything, but I've always felt like a 1% FTF isn't really much of a dealbreaker. Once it starts getting to 3%, yeah. But if you have a card that gives you rewards for usage, the rewards% would offset the FTF anyway.
USAA...I'm not a fan of Chase. And I've heard wonderful things about USAA on here.
Go with USAA first and after approval apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred if you still want it
Me too! And I think I get good enough travel/ restaurant benefits with my Amex cards. I still want to wait about 6 mos. I just got a Nordstrom visa 11/2011 and BCP 1/2012 so I want some time to elaspse.
@frogfan12 wrote:USAA...I'm not a fan of Chase. And I've heard wonderful things about USAA on here.
@dharalex wrote:
After years of having no credit, then a secured card, then prime only as a AU, I finally have prime cards on my own. I planned on getting 1 more higher limit card (USAA) that is non Amex to use when they are nit excepted. I came across the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and have been intrigued by the no foreign transaction fees. I travel quite a bit, and have a number of trips planned including 2 out of the country. So now, I'm conflicted about which one to proceed with or both. My EQ score is below, I have no clue about my EX, but both should be higher next month due to 2 baddies coming off. I currently have 2 old baddies from 2007 on both. My AAOA is 8 years, ive had credit for 20 years, and I have great income. My cards are listed below: Amex blue 9/2011 $20000 ( all Amex backdated to 1/2004) Amex BCP 1/2012 $10000 Amex PRG 9/2011 Citi TY preferred 8//2011 $7900 Discover 6/2006 $5000 Nordstrom $5000 11/2011 Chase Universal studios 7/2007 $300 (I haven't used this in years, just waiting for them to close it) I have 3 INQ on EX, 2 from Amex and 1 from FDIC (?) which will be 1 yr old in March. I have 3 on EQ with 2 reaching 1 year in 8/2012. Ok, I'm ready to hear the good, bad, and ugly! Should I get USAA, Chase SP, or both. When would be the optimal time to do it to be successful? Obviously, I know there are no guarantees! Sorry about the format. I had this structured much better than 1 huge paragraph.
I would wait until the 2 baddies come off and go for the Sapphire!
USAA World MasterCard
Pros: Great customer service
No annual fee
Good CL
Cons: Mediocre rewards w/ tiered structure - 0.45% t0 $5k, 0.85% to $10k, 1% to $17k, 1.25% beyond $17k, only redeems once a year
1% FTF
No Signup bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Pros: Dedicated customer service line
No FTF
Rewards: 1% baseline, 2% dining, 2% travel (airfare, hotel, rental car, cruise, taxi, train), redeem whenever, 20% discount for redeeming through them
Points transferrable to numerous airlines, hotels, etc
7% reward bonus annually (essentially makes 1% into 1.07%, 2% into 2.14%)
50,000 point signup bonus
Cool metal card
Cons: $95 AF after the first year
Whatever preexisting feelings you have about Chase in general
Rewards category overlap with your AmEx PRG - specifically the 3x MR points for airlines
Thanks so much for outlining the pros and cons ofthe 2 cards. It only solidified my decision to stick with USAA. My original goal was to find a non Amex high limit card. Rewards aren't as important due to my Amex PRG as you stated. I haven't had much of a relationship with Chase, but I'm not really singing their praises. Can't really justify the AF just to have a neat looking card, because that's really what it boils down o after really looking at your list and the other posts. Thanks, again!
@LTomBerry wrote:USAA World MasterCard
Pros: Great customer service
No annual fee
Good CL
Cons: Mediocre rewards w/ tiered structure - 0.45% t0 $5k, 0.85% to $10k, 1% to $17k, 1.25% beyond $17k, only redeems once a year
1% FTF
No Signup bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Pros: Dedicated customer service line
No FTF
Rewards: 1% baseline, 2% dining, 2% travel (airfare, hotel, rental car, cruise, taxi, train), redeem whenever, 20% discount for redeeming through them
Points transferrable to numerous airlines, hotels, etc
7% reward bonus annually (essentially makes 1% into 1.07%, 2% into 2.14%)
50,000 point signup bonus
Cool metal card
Cons: $95 AF after the first year
Whatever preexisting feelings you have about Chase in general
Rewards category overlap with your AmEx PRG - specifically the 3x MR points for airlines