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Still not sure if my Amazon account was hacked
Like many of you, I do a fair amount of shopping on Amazon. I’m an Amazon Prime subscriber, the prices are good (not as good as they used to be, but still good), and the shipping is fast and convenient. However, this morning, I awoke to find the following unnerving email from them in my inbox: I had not requested any sign in verification code, in fact, I was fast asleep at the time. Needless to say, I was a bit concerned. I was still able to login to my account–my password was unchanged. There were no orders placed. I had a brief exchange with Amazon’s Twitter help team… @AmazonHelp…
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New Amex Platinum Metal Cards Already Delayed
Yesterday, the updated benefits for the Platinum Card from American Express went live. One of the new features is the new metal card design shown below. I have no urgent need for a metal version of the card, but I like having new shiny things. So, early yesterday morning, I decided to order a replacement card using the “Card Services” section of my online account. All seemed well at the time. I had two shipping options–both free: USPS standard mail or UPS overnight. Obviously I chose UPS overnight. This evening, when my card hadn’t been delivered yet, I logged onto my American Express account and noticed the following banner: The…
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New Amex Platinum Benefits–What You Need to Know.
Last month, American Express announced Changes to its Platinum Card, including uew Uber benefits, 5x Membership Rewards for certain hotel bookings, and a new metal Card design. Along with the new perks, the annual fee was increasing to $550 for new applicants. All these changes are now live. Here’s what you need to know. New Annual Fee For new applicants, the annual fee for the Platinum Card is now $550. For Existing Platinum Card Members, the new annual fee will take effect on their annual renewal date if it is after September 1, 2017. If your annual fee renewal date is prior to September 1, 2017, you will be billed $450, and the new annual…
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New Premier Dining Rewards card from Capital One
Capital One has added a new credit card to its cash back offerings: the Premier Dining Rewards card. The card earns unlimited cash back rewards on dining, groceries and all other purchases for no annual fee. If you eat out a lot, this card definitely deserves a look. Card Details Earn 3% cash back on dining Earn 2% cash back on groceries Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases $100 signup bonus when you spend $500 in the first 3 months No foreign transaction fees No annual fee Mastercard World Elite benefits Capital One is one of the few banks that offer the no foreign transaction fee benefit with…
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Comparing Amex Everyday and Everyday Preferred Cards
Whenever I’m asked what the best credit card is, my answer is always, “It depends.” Even making a recommendation between just two cards leads me to respond the same way. Case in point: the Everyday and Everyday Preferred cards from American Express. If you are a fan of Amex’s Membership Rewards program, one of these two cards is a good choice for you. I can’t tell you which is the better choice, but at the end of this post you’ll find a calculator that will help you decide for yourself. Lets take a look at each card’s benefits. Amex Everyday Card 2x Membership Rewards points at U.S. Supermarkets (on up…
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Activate Discover It and Chase Freedom 5% Categories for Q2 Now
Discover It and Chase Freedom are two high-earning cashback credit cards. Every 3 months, there are new bonus cashback categories where you can earn 5% back on purchases. You can activate those bonus categories right now, prior to the start of the new quarter for both cards. Both cards share similarities. Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter. You need to activate the card each quarter to earn the bonuses. And you receive unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Chase Freedom Use My Referral Link to Apply Activation Link This quarter’s Chase Freedom 5% bonus categories are Grocery Stores and Drugstores.…
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Should You Cancel Sapphire Preferred after getting the Reserve Card?
Congratulations! You’ve been approved for the extremely popular Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card! Now what should you do with the your other Ultimate Rewards earning cards like Freedom and Freedom Unlimited? Should you cancel Sapphire Preferred? The answer is different for each card. There’s no reason to cancel the cards that don’t charge an annual fee, but Sapphire Preferred does and also shares many of the same benefits as Sapphire Reserve. I’ll go through each card and explain what your options are. Background Having additional Chase credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards is a great complement to the Sapphire Reserve. You can earn points by purchasing goods and services with one card, then…
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Targeted: SPG Amex 5000 Bonus Points After $5000 Spend
If you have the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express, check your email for a targeted offer. You may be able eligible for an extra 5,000 Starpoints. You can also check to see if you’re targeted by clicking this link and logging in to your American Express account. The Offer American Express is offering 5,000 Bonus Starpoints after spending $5,000 in qualifying purchases on your enrolled SPG card between the time you complete enrollment and May 31, 2017. The enrollment period ends on March 31, 2017. Qualifying purchases can be made by the cardholder and any authorized users and do NOT include fees or interest charges, balance transfers, cash advances, purchases…
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How Does Chase Sapphire Reserve’s Travel Credit Impact the Signup Bonus?
When I applied for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card in January, the signup bonus was 100,000 Ultimate Rewards Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. I’ve been asked what would happen if some of that spending was on travel, triggering the $300 travel credit. If the credit takes you back below $4,000, do you still get the points? I had already received some travel credits as soon as I got the card and was getting close to meeting my own spending requirement. So, I decided to test this for myself. My plan was simple: get to just over $4,000 in total spending and stop using the card. Other…
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Amex Platinum Card to add Priority Pass Guest Benefit
UPDATE: The theory I shared in this post has been confirmed. See Below. Yesterday, American Express announced refreshed benefits for its Platinum Card as well as an increased annual fee. They proudly touted new Uber benefits, 5x Membership Rewards for certain hotel bookings, and a new metal Card design. Strangely, there’s one other enhanced benefit that American Express never mentioned. Beginning March 30, 2017, the Priority Pass guest policy for Platinum Card Members will change. At any visit to a Priority Pass lounge, all Platinum Card Members may bring in two guests for no charge. Card Members will be charged $27 for any additional guests. The old policy automatically charged $27…
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