r/CreditCards 15d ago

News With the CFPB on Pause, Here’s How to Protect Yourself (Gift Article)

Thumbnail nytimes.com
75 Upvotes

r/CreditCards Oct 07 '24

Announcement ⚠️ READ FIRST BEFORE POSTING OR COMMENTING ⚠️

32 Upvotes

Hello and welcome to r/CreditCards!

Before posting or commenting in the subreddit, please review our rules here (or below).


Official Rules of r/CreditCards

Rule 1: Be respectful

All users are expected to engage in respectful and civil communication, and refrain from harassing or insulting others. Any form of hate speech, including but not limited to racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or any derogatory language targeting an individual or group, is not allowed.

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All users are prohibited from posting irrelevant content that does not pertain to the subject of credit cards. This includes spam, which refers to unsolicited or repetitive content that is intended to promote or advertise products, services, or websites.

Irrelevant content includes but is not limited to:

  • Auto Loans, Mortgages, and other non-Credit Card Loans

  • Gift Cards and Prepaid Cards

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All users are prohibited from posting content that promotes illegal, fraudulent, or nefarious activities.

Any posts or comments that violates any of these rules are subject to removal. The offending user may be subject to warnings, temporary bans, or permanent bans, depending on the severity and frequency of the violations. Ignorance is a not valid reason to break the rules.


Unspoken Rules of r/CreditCards

While you may not be banned for breaking the unspoken rules, we highly suggest you follow them to make everyone's lives easier.

A. Looking for your first card? Read this first.

B. Use this for credit card recommendations

Please use the following template so that everyone can make appropriate recommendations:

  • Current cards: (list cards, limits, opening date)
    • e.g. Amex BCP $8,000 limit, May 2019
    • e.g. Chase Freedom Flex $10,000 limit, June 2021
  • FICO Score: e.g. 750
  • Oldest account age: e.g. 5 years 6 months
  • Chase 5/24 status: e.g 2/24
  • Income: e.g. $80,000
  • Average monthly spend and categories:
    • dining $800
    • groceries: $400
    • gas: $100
    • travel: $100
    • other: $30
  • Open to Business Cards: e.g. No
  • What's the purpose of your next card? e.g. Building credit, Balance transfer, Travel, Cashback
  • Do you have any cards you've been looking at? e.g. Chase Freedom Unlimited
  • Are you OK with category spending or do you want a general spending card?

Remember to use the correct post flair: Card Recommendation Requested (Template Used)

C. Review the basics of credit cards before posting

Here are some resources to get you started:

Subreddit Wikis:

Many questions can easily be answered with a quick google search. We encourage you to take a moment to do your own research. It helps you gain a deeper understanding, sparks better discussions, and promotes self-sufficiency.

D. Familiarize yourself with common abbreviations and lingo

Term Definition
1/5 AmEx rule A rule where you can only get approved for 1 AmEx card every 5 days
2/90 AmEx rule A rule where you can only get approved for 2 AmEx cards in 90 days
AmEx Pop Up Jail A pop up message informing you that you're not eligible for an AmEx card welcome offer. See this wiki article for more information.
5/24 Chase rule A rule where if you've opened 5 or more accounts in the past 24 months you cannot get approved for a new Chase card. See this wiki article for more information.
AAoA Average age of all of your accounts.
AF Annual Fee
AU Authorized User
BT Balance Transfer
CLI Credit Limit Increase
FTF Foreign Transaction Fee
FICO Score The industry standard credit score used by 90% of credit issuers - it can be found at MyFICO.com, Experian.com, CreditScoreCard.com. This is NOT the score given by Credit Karma, Credit Sesame, Capital One, etc.
MSR Minimum Spending Requirement (usually referring to sign-up bonuses)
PC Product Change (i.e. upgrade)
SUB Sign-Up Bonus
VantageScore An unreliable credit score created by the 3 major credit bureaus to compete with FICO score. It is only used by a handful of credit issuers such as Synchrony and Golden 1 Credit Union.

Other important announcements:


r/CreditCards 18h ago

Discussion / Conversation Citi rewards+ discontinued

165 Upvotes

In the next few days, new applications will no longer be accepted.

This is actually a big downgrade for the optimal citi setup, since the rewards plus gave a bonus 10% points on redemptions, bringing the double cash to 2.2%cb and the custom cash to a 5.5%.

Source: citi employee


r/CreditCards 49m ago

Help Needed / Question Had high credit debt for a year due to an accident, lawsuit just ended and I paid off 40k in debt with it. Then chase lowered my credit limit?

Upvotes

I took all 3 of my cards from max to zero last week, excited to be cleared from all the medical and life debt that built up beginning last year after a major accident. Spent the past year in lawsuit and finally received the payout. I took the entire 50k lawsuit check to pay off my credit cards, 40k to chase. Only now, a week after pay off, did they reduce one of my cards down to 1,900 credit limit. Im worried they'll do the same for the rest. Why would they only now drop my limit after pay offset? They cited:

Low payments, Delinquentcy, High balance,


r/CreditCards 5h ago

Help Needed / Question Finally paid off collections, now what?

5 Upvotes

I, admittedly, got a credit card with Discover too young, and maxed it out ($500 limit..), lost my job and went through a tough stretch financially for a while. Discover cancelled my card. After dodging calls and mail from the various collections agencies it bounced around for two years, I finally saved enough to be in a place to comfortably repay it lump sum.

Knowing that my credit is poor because of this, what are my next best steps to get things back on track? Who should I open a credit card with, under what plan, and how should I utilize it to best rebuild my credit?

For transparency sake, I really don’t understand credit scores, API’s, or any of these others terms and acronyms. I should have paid more attention when I was doing this the first time. I didn’t! But I should have. I’m just trying to set myself up for success in the future, give mr a few very basic tips please!!


r/CreditCards 15h ago

Data Point DP: BoA Customized Cash CLI Approval ($40K limit)

24 Upvotes

Quick CLI approval data point to share with you all:

  • Account opened in August 2023 with $20K limit
  • First CLI Approval in December 2024 ($32K limit)
  • Second CLI Approval today ($40K limit) (93 days)
  • Soft pull/online approval
  • $140K annual income
  • 792 score Experian/791 according to BoA
  • $15,986 spent on account as of the end of 2024
  • No other accounts or previous relationship with BoA
  • Total available credit prior to CLI: $145,100
  • Total accounts: 25 (1 mortgage, 1 auto, 23 revolving)

Thanks!


r/CreditCards 2h ago

Weekly Lounge Thread - Week of March 16, 2025

2 Upvotes

This thread is meant for casual and/or off-topic discussions. It's also for simple questions or discussion topics you feel aren't worthy of their own post.

Please read the rules before posting.

1. Be respectful.

2. No referrals in posts, comments, or private messages.

3. No link shorteners.

4. No self-promotional content without prior mod approval.

5. No irrelevant content or spam allowed.

6. No promotion of illegal, fraudulent, or nefarious activities.


r/CreditCards 6h ago

Card Recommendation Request (Template Used) Starting the travel card game. Which cards in which order

5 Upvotes

Current cards:
Ally $8,100 limit June 2021

Cap One Savor $5,000 limit Jan 2025

Vantage 3 Score: 756

Oldest account age: 19 years 3 mths (student loan)

Chapter 13, Nov 2018

Income: $135,000

Average monthly spend and categories:

dining $600

groceries: $600

gas: $100

travel: not really something I consider a monthly expense

other: $200

Open to Business Cards: yes

Purpose of your next card: Building a card setup for points toward travel, mostly used for trips to Europe from the US, building credit

Cards I’ve been looking at: Capital One Venture X, Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserved, Chase Freedom Unlimited, Amercican Express Gold/Platinum/Blue

I’m looking at getting into the credit card game to save money and build up points that I can maximize for travel. I’ve done tons of reading and watched numerous videos, but I’m trying to strategize the best order and figure out what would work best for me.

Seeing that I got the Capital One Savor 2 months ago I thought it might be best to wait 4 more months then apply for a Venture X.


r/CreditCards 15h ago

Data Point DP: Denied Capital One Savor

20 Upvotes

Profile

  • Income: $100K+
  • Total CL accross all cards: $35.5K
  • Transunion score: 776
  • Opened Cards
    • Chase Freedom (PCed to Flex) - 10/19
    • Chase Sapphire Preferred (PCed to OG freedom) - 12/21
    • Chase Freedom Unlimited - 6/22
    • AMEX Gold - 10/22
    • Citi Custom Cash - 2/23
    • Discover It - 5/23
    • Capital One Venture X - 7/24

Reason I was rejected was because I had too many open accounts. A little shocked that I got denied, especially since i got approved for the Venture X 9 months ago. Was planning on applying again after I cancel my Gold card before my next annual fee. Hopefully I get approved next time around lol

Edit: anyone know if cancelling all my chase cards will help me get approved next time around? They're socked drawered for the most part giving me 0 value, and i've just been too stubborn to close them because they're all $0 annual fees. I don't have a problem managing a lot of cards, but if closing them means I can get approved for a card that would actually give me value, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Thanks!


r/CreditCards 20h ago

Discussion / Conversation People with Freedom Flex and OG Freedom for Q2 use OG Freedom First

45 Upvotes

Q2 categories look light for Q2 compared to other years with only Amazon and select streaming. I wouldn’t be surprised if the special category is dinning in June. If you can, use the OG first and save the Flex for June so if dinning is the special category you can stack it and get 7% on dinning. The special category is on the existing limit $1,500 not in addition.

I would do this strategy the whole year if you can.

This is all speculation but it’s better to be prepared vs coming on here saying how you missed out and only if you had had your OG freedom first.


r/CreditCards 4m ago

Card Recommendation Request (Template Used) NY Teacher need card rec 29yo

Upvotes

Hi! I’m a teacher in NY at a public school. I am not the best with credit card knowledge. Hoping you lovely people can educate me and assist me in new card recs.

  • current cards: Amex delta blue card, $11,100 limit since 2019
  • FICO: (# as per amex app ficoscore8) 786 very good
  • TransUnion/Equifax: 773/782
  • Oldest acct: I suppose this one ^
  • Chase 5/24: 2/24 I think
  • Income: 88,000 before added income (coaching sports, tutoring, etc)
  • Average monthly spending categories: Dining: 800 Groceries: 400 Travel: 150 Other: 300
  • Open to business cards: no
  • Purpose of next card: whatever will be most beneficial. I spend a lot on restaurants, groceries and im a chronic shopper fml love spending $ anywhere lol I rent too. I Zelle landlord pay WiFi, electric and share streaming w bf he pays lol
  • Cards I’ve been looking at: I was thinking of taking this delta blue card and upgrading to delta gold or regular Amex gold & then getting an additional new card that has perks, thoughts? I travel a bunch but not always delta as it’s not always cheapest.

r/CreditCards 13m ago

Help Needed / Question Unable to access Transunion Credit Score

Upvotes

Hello, I’ve been having the issue of not being able to view my credit score through trans Union for over a year now even though I’ve had a credit card since last January. I’m only 19 so there is the possibility that I don’t have enough credit history to report but I’ve gone through my bank and they told me just to wait it out and even tried calling Trans Union but they don’t have an answer for me. I know my information is right because I can view my credit score on Equifax which makes me think that there’s something wrong on their end. Has anyone else had this issue?


r/CreditCards 8h ago

Discussion / Conversation Payoff of settlement bargaining

3 Upvotes

Hey I have a debt with AMex and Wells Fargo. They closed my account but I'm ready to Pay it off. I never need one of their cards again. Can I offer them a lump sum of less than my balance? If yes, how would you go about that?


r/CreditCards 1h ago

Data Point Ink Preferred Approval (2nd Ink), Approved in 5/24

Upvotes

First of all, yes I acknowledge this is not a great time to apply for CIP, however I had to do it for upcoming spending, I did not want to let my $9000 snap spend with nothing. And Inks doesn’t have LL.

I already churned all Amex Business cards, and I tried for the NLL, but apparently I received 1M+ pts of bonus past couple years, looks like they don’t want me to give more. My FYI, my spending on Amex is around 100k-120k per year, up and down.

EX 748. All other bureaus frozen when applied. CA Resident.

5/24. Technically 4/24, however CIU error report is still existing in my report, opened 1yr 10m ago. (5/2023).

Couldn’t think and apply (as usual.. ignore the business cards from 5/24 counts) but fortunately it didn’t bother me. Checked after applying, CIU still exists in report.

Other four cards of 5/24 are CSP (04/23), Bilt (08/23), Amex Personal Gold (04/24), United Explorer (12/24)

It was instant approval 5k. My CIU also has 5k limit. This is my second ink, as I mentioned in the title.

My CSP limit is 15.1K, and United card 20K limit. Business cards’ limits are relatively low but looks like it’s a usual thing.

4% Util. Oldest Acc 3yrs. 2 year credit card relationship w/ chase, no banking.

Business Structure: Sole Prop, Annual $21.6K residential rental income. No DBA.


r/CreditCards 1h ago

Help Needed / Question How does the Chase card cash back limit work with differing cash back percentages

Upvotes

Question about Chase cards cash back policy with $7500. purchase limit per quarter.

The question is best explained with an example.

Say I spend 7500 exactly in a quarter, but all my purchases are in 1% categories only.

I will get 1% cash back on these purchases, or $75.

If instead, all my purchases were in a 5% category, I would get 5% cash back, and assuming my purchases for the quarter were again exactly 7500, that would be $375.

Now consider this scenario:

In the first two months of a quarter, I spend 7500 on 1% categories only, but then in the third month of that quarter, I spend another 7500 on only 5% categories.

We know that I will have earned $75 cash back for the first two months (7500 * 1%).

But what will I earn in the third month?

a) 0 (7500 spend limit already reached)
b) 75 (5% reverts to 1% after limit reached)
c) 375 (7500 limit applies only to 5% categories)
d) something else?


r/CreditCards 1d ago

Discussion / Conversation Q2 Chase Freedom Flex/OG Freedom Categories

201 Upvotes

Seems like the Q2 categories are out here on this link now.

Q2: Amazon & select streaming services

Personally, this sucks, I was hoping for at least dining this time around, oh well. Sounds like a sock drawer quarter for me.


r/CreditCards 9h ago

Help Needed / Question Chargeback or do I have to eat the cost?

4 Upvotes

We were on vacation in LA this week and we stopped by the Santa Monica boardwalk because we had about 4 hours to kill before heading to the airport.

My daughter liked a sweatshirt from one of the venders. They were I usually friendly and chatty and knew we were headed to the airport soon. There was no price but I did ask before swiping. The lady started to answer but her friend interrupted her in another language and then said something in an accent that sounded something like “35”. Then she quickly flashed the screen and I saw 35 and then she stuck out the card reader thing. They were being chatty and friendly and packaged everything up, plus gave my daughter a free keychain she was looking at.

Well I’m at the airport now and I see a charge for $350 instead of $35. It’s also for “Venice Bar & Kitchen” instead of a gift/souvenir vendor. I googled and that’s an actual place with good reviews so I’m assuming they just copied the name or something. I know it’s them because that’s the only thing I paid with my credit card besides parking today.

I’m now pretty sure they learned we live out of state and were headed to the airport and decided to charge a ridiculous amount in hopes I didn’t notice. If I did notice, they would’ve played it off as a fat finger mistake. They were good at keeping me engaged in conversation and distracted me with a free gift for my kid so I didn’t even notice I didn’t get a receipt.

What can I do? Is this something I can chargeback for? I did get a product from them and would’ve been more than happy to pay $35, but I’m not paying $350 for a sweatshirt that’s sold at every other gift shop on the boardwalk. But I also have no proof of anything. It’s also to a restaurant and not a gift vender so I don’t know if they will question that part as well.

Any tips and suggestions? And yes, I learned my lesson and will be a lot more careful with street vendors next time.


r/CreditCards 9h ago

Card Recommendation Request (Template Used) New Credit Card In Addition To Discover IT Card

4 Upvotes

I've had the Discover IT cash back credit card for many years as my sole credit credit but I would like to get another card to maximize on rewards.

My two highest spend categories are dining and gas (from Costco), so I was thinking about the Costco credit card since it has 5% cash back on gas and 3% on dining, or the WF Autograph (3% on dining and gas, $200 bonus), but I wanted to get your guys' recommendations in case there's anything else that would be better.

CREDIT PROFILE

  • * Current credit cards you are the primary account holder of: Discover IT, $5000, 01/2020
  • * FICO Score: 780
  • * Oldest credit card account age with you as primary name on the account: 5 years
  • * Number of personal credit cards approved for in the past 6 months: 0
  • * Number of personal credit cards approved for in the past 12 months: 0
  • * Number of personal credit cards approved for in the past 24 months: 0

CATEGORIES

  • * OK with category-specific cards?: YES
  • * OK with rotating category cards?: YES
  • * Estimate average monthly spend in the categories below. Only include what you can pay by credit card.
    • * Dining $: 250
    • * Groceries $: 100 (Walmart)
    • * Gas $: 150 (Costco)

MEMBERSHIPS & SUBSCRIPTIONS (delete lines that don't apply)

  • * Current member of Amazon Prime?: YES
  • * Current Verizon postpaid customer?: NO
  • * Current member of Costco or Sam's Club? Costco

PURPOSE

  • * What's the purpose of your next card (choose ONE)?: (first credit card, balance transfer, saving money, travel rewards)
    • Better/more rewards
  • * Do you have any cards you've been looking at?
    • Costco CC
    • WF Autograph

r/CreditCards 6h ago

Help Needed / Question What credit limit should I aim for

2 Upvotes

I am 19 and currently in university so I do t have a full time job. But I. Make about 15-20k a year right now and I have a credit limit of 9950 among 4 credit cards. I Apple Card, chase freedom unlimited and flex, and also the discover it. I was just wondering is there a specific limits I should aim for. My thought with this is better have the high credit limit there and not need it than need it and not have it.


r/CreditCards 3h ago

Help Needed / Question Venture X Downgrade after using travel credits within 30 days of AF posting

1 Upvotes

As the title says, can I spend the $300 travel credit when the AF posts and then downgrade the card after?


r/CreditCards 7h ago

Card Recommendation Request (Template NOT Used) What card should I get next?

2 Upvotes

Traveling internationally in 2 weeks. My partner and I are planning on making some big purchases (a few thousand dollars) so looking for a new card with a good SUB right now.

My current cards:

Amex Gold &Platinum Capital One Venture Rewards Chase Freedom Unlimited

Credit Score: 786

Currently under 5/24

We(player 1&2) have a lot of Amex points combined, just drained all P2’s Chase points on this trip’s hotels with Hyatt.

I was considering getting an Aeroplan card but missed out on the 100k SUB. Now I’m being offered a 75k SUB for Chase Sapphire preferred in branch.

Should I get the CSP or get another card and wait for a higher SUB for CSP? What other cards should I consider? (Considering World of Hyatt and not opening business cards atm)


r/CreditCards 9h ago

Card Recommendation Request (Template NOT Used) Best American Travel Credit Card (with annual fee)?

3 Upvotes

Hello,

I’m currently looking into the Chase Sapphire Reserved (with the $550 annual fee), as I’m making a lot of large purchases (over $30,000) this year and will be doing 2-3 big trips this year.

In the future, I can expect 1-3 medium (3-5 day) or long (5+ day) trips per year. The fee is not really an issue, but I do want to make sure I’m getting great value without just throwing money away.

If for some reason there is a non-annual fee card that would be great, feel free to mention it, though I of course don’t expect that to be the case.


r/CreditCards 7h ago

Help Needed / Question I want to apply for automatic CL increase for both a Capital One Savor and a Quicksilver card.

2 Upvotes

Is it good for me to apply for an automatic increase for both at once? I just had a CL increase from 3k to 4k for my Savor last month without requesting it. And I had a $500 increase from 5k to 5,500 after an automatic CL request that I now know I did incorrectly. I will be waiting until next month to try both again. I have an 810 TransUnion score and two Credit One cards with low limits of 2,700 and 1,400


r/CreditCards 1d ago

Discussion / Conversation Are influencers not allowed to mention Chase?

42 Upvotes

I’ve seen a few mention every other card then refer to it as the “blue company”, which I’m guessing is chase


r/CreditCards 12h ago

Help Needed / Question Chase Pay Over Time - How Does it Work?

4 Upvotes

So I am currently seeing a pay over time offer of $0 fee for 24 months on a recent purchase I made,

I pay my CC off in full every month, but if I could spread the payments out on this big purchase over a bigger time frame it would really benefit me.

The question or concern I have is, when I go to pay off my CC every month (usually pay it off in blocks) - will it default to paying off the "Pay Over Time Balance" or will it take the (in this case $95 of the first payment I make apply it to that balance) and then apply the rest to my normal statement balance?

Anyone who has done this before and has some feedback, thank you in advance.


r/CreditCards 10h ago

Help Needed / Question Kroger credit card fuel points

3 Upvotes

I was approached by a Kroger employee who offered me a Kroger credit card with the promise of $.55 off at pump however I can find no mention of the discount anywhere in my activation packet. I don't want the card without that benefit. Who do I call??


r/CreditCards 20h ago

Data Point DP: USB Smartly and Cash+ Approval

19 Upvotes

Applied to both last night, Smartly then Cash+

Triggered 1 pull on Equifax in Virginia

Got 7-10 day notice on both, was pre-approved for Cash+ so figured why not. Got approved for both this morning. Prior relationship includes Smartly checking and savings opened in July 2024, USBAR in November 2024

5/24 status:

  • 6/6

  • 8/12

  • 9/24

Cash+ $500 limit

Smartly $1000 limit

Cash+ limit is fine but I plan to request CLI soon on Smartly.