Non traditional ways to pay a bill with a credit card

[Justrebuilding]

I am looking for a way to pay my largest monthly expenses with my credit card, daycare and my mortgage. I am planning out how to hit minimum spend for 2 cards I'm planning to open next month. Daycare accepts credit cards but they now charge an 8% fee. My mortgage does not take credit cards. I used a workaround with serve some years ago but haven't tried anything since. Please share your ideas for things I can do without paying large fees. Thanks!

[longtimelurker]

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@Justrebuilding wrote:
I am looking for a way to pay my largest monthly expenses with my credit card, daycare and my mortgage. I am planning out how to hit minimum spend for 2 cards I'm planning to open next month. Daycare accepts credit cards but they now charge an 8% fee. My mortgage does not take credit cards. I used a workaround with serve some years ago but haven't tried anything since. Please share your ideas for things I can do without paying large fees. Thanks!

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You can try a service like Plastiq, https://www.plastiq.com/ 

They charge a 2.5% fee (with specials sometimes reducing this) which makes it less worthwhile for earning, but OK for minimum spend.   Depends on the cards though, I think Amex and Visa cannot be used for mortgage.

[K-in-Boston]

plastiq.com

EIGHT percent fee?!?  That is insane.

[Justrebuilding]

I know, 8% is nuts. It used to be free!

[Justrebuilding]

Thanks I will check them out.

[CreditInspired]

When I was renting, I used the checks I received from my NFCU cashRewards card—amount was $1,070/month.

NFCU does not charge a cash advance fee to use checks.

I always PIF within 10 days of writing check because I wasn’t trying to pay a large interest fee either.

Edit: Oops, just realized the reason you’re asking is to hit minimum spend. So sorry, this won’t work.

[Justrebuilding]

Hmm I would love to do this on an ongoing basis though when I am not trying to meet min spend. I have the NFCU  cash rewards card but I don’t have any checks. Did you have to request them?

[CreditInspired]

@justrebuilding

Yep just request them. NFCU asks if you want 3, 6, or 9. I always got 9. Then after my 2nd batch, I didn’t even ask anymore. They knew when I was on my last one and sent 9 automatically.

And the nice thing is checks have your name and address imprinted on them. And you can go to bank to get checks same day.

[Anonymous]

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@CreditInspired wrote:
@Justrebuilding

Yep just request them. NFCU asks if you want 3, 6, or 9. I always got 9. Then after my 2nd batch, I didn’t even ask anymore. They knew when I was on my last one and sent 9 automatically.

And the nice thing is checks have your name and address imprinted on them. And you can go to bank to get checks same day.

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Please note that if you're trying to hit a miminum spend or accrue points, checks most of the time pull from the cash advance side.  Verify with your issuer more than once with different reps!  You don't want to get hit with fees, a late pay because you forgot, etc.  If you can't get a benefit rewards wise, just pay those bills normally.

Also, plastiq is a good service.  Just check to make sure it will allow what you want based on your needs, bills, etc. YMMV

[Anonymous]

Maybe overpay some of your bills that take credit card, then just carry a credit forward.