MyCardBlog

One of my readers scanned a mail from Chase and sent it to me yesterday about this promotion. I haven’t received any information about this promotion and it seems this is a targeted offer. Make 3 purchases with your Chase Freedom Card using “blink” by June 6, 2008 and you will receive either $10 or 1,000 bonus points depending on your rewards program. (card earning cash back will get $10 and cards earning points will get 1,000 points) This is a new promotion targeted to all Chase Freedom Visa Card Members (MasterCard version doesn’t have blink feature.). Actually, all Chase Freedom Cards come with “blink” technique which will render your checkout in a more convenient way.

Here is detailed procedures:

1. Shop at participating merchants. You can use blink at thousands of places. Visit chaseblink.com for a complete list of merchants that accept Visa payWave. Just look for this symbol on the reader at checkout.

2. Wave your card in front of the secure reader to complete your purchases. You don’t need to swipe your card, and there’s no signature required for most purchases under $25. (It seems Chase Freedom Card doesn’t require signature for orders under $25 now even you don’t use blink.)

3. Get a $10 statement credit. Your account will be credited on a future statement once you complete 3 blink transactions between now and June 6, 2008. (Only transactions made with the Visa payWave feature during the promotional time frame are eligible for this offer. Visa payWave transactions occur when the card is waved in front of the secure reader at checkout. The reader will indicate that the Visa payWave transaction has been processed. Transactions not eligible for the offer include swiped transactions, online transactions, PIN, ATM and other transactions not processed over the Visa network.)

Chase ran the similar promotion about blink in last September. For this new promotion, there is no signing up necessary and the blink feature is built in and this promo is for all Chase Visa Freedom cardholders. (MasterCard doesn’t have blink feature.) Since I haven’t received the email, I called Chase Freedom Card customer service and was told that I should receive an mail if I am eligible for this offer.

For locations that accept “blink” payment, you can click here.

Chase is also promoting their “check credit card” which will give you $25 cash back for spending over $250.

I have a post about the latest Chase Check Card Promotion. I believe some of you have already received an email from Chase if you have spent more than $250 on your chase check card. Because Chase is “famous” for missing promotion bonus, some of you may still hesitate whether or not to take this chance to earn extra $10 off with all your purchases (total $750). This post is an update on previous one with my own experience with this promotion.

Last Friday I received a notification from Chase stating that I have reached $250 in qualifying debit card purchases and a cash bonus will be deposited into my checking account within 14 days.

Recently, you enrolled in the Chase Cash Back debit card promotion, where you earn $25 for every $250 spent in qualifying purchases. You have successfully reached $250 in qualifying debit card purchases, with your Chase debit card ending in: 2527. A cash back reward will be deposited into the primary checking account associated with your debit card within 14 days, as long as your account is open and in good standing at time of fulfillment.

Remember, your Chase Visa Check Card is a better way to pay for everything! Continue to earn another $25 cash back for each additional $250 you spend in qualifying purchases* through June 15, 2008- up to a $75 total.

Plus, you can earn free rewards with Chase Visa Extras(R)!

I made two purchases on April 13 and 15 respectively. The first transaction appeared in my www.ChaseGetCash.Com account on April 17 and the second transaction showed up on April 15. It’s so quick this time! It’s really a surprise to me. Following are two sreenshots from my account at chasegetcash.com.

The most important part in this promotion is how to define the qualifying purchases. You should always remember that:

Qualifying purchases include all debit card purchases made without using a PIN. Such non-PIN purchases include purchases you sign for, contactless blink purchases, Internet purchases, phone or mail-order purchases, small dollar purchases that do not require a signature, and bill payments (where billers process the transaction as a credit card). Cash advances and cash transactions do not qualify.

You can also subscribe to receive an notification from Chase once you have spent more than $250 in your account. For those who can’t spend more than $750 before June 15, 2008. You can buy some gift cards and use it later. In this way, you can still get the cash rewards.

Update: I can see the $25 appeared as visa rewards in my account this morning.

Actually, I received the email about winning a free trip to 2008 Beijing Olympic Games one month ago. This post is a kind reminder for those who didn’t use their Chase Visa Credit/Debit/ATM Card during last month and this month. There are two sweepstakes going on right now. The first one is Visa “You Could Take Part in it All” Sweepstakes for Chase Bank/Freedom Credit Card, Chase/Small Business Credit Cards, Chase/Debit Cards and for Chase/United Mileage Plus Sweepstakes from 2/1/08 through 4/30/08. And the other one is Visa “You Could Take Part in it All” Sweepstakes for Chase/Credit Cards from 3/1/08 through 4/30/08. The first sweepstakes is targeted offer for certain Chase Credit Cards and Debit Cards (like Chase Freedom Card). The second one is targeted for all Chase Visa Cardholders. There is no distinct difference between them. All you need to do is to make a purchase by using your Chase Visa Card (Credit or Debit). Then you will be automatically enrolled in the Visa “Take Part In It All” sweepstakes

Visa network is a sponsor for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. They want to let all of visa cardholders take a chance to visit Beijing in 2008. Of course, Visa wants you to use their visa card to book hotels and airline tickets. If you win the grand prize, you can get:

• 5 days and 4 nights in Beijing, China
• Roundtrip airfare and luxury hotel accommodations
• Daily event tickets
• Special event at Visa Olympic Reunion Center
• Exclusive VIP and upgraded hospitality
• All meals included
• Official Visa U.S. Olympic Team apparel
• $500 Visa Gift Card

About the chances to win the trip: every time you use your Chase visa card to make purchases, you get one sweepstakes entry to win the free trip. That means anything from groceries and gassing up the car to eating out at a restaurant could help you win a trip for two to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games! If you don’t want to use you visa card, you can also participate the sweepstakes by mailing a 3″x5″ card hand-printed with complete name, address and day and evening tel. #s, and the words Visa “You Could Take Part in it All” Sweepstakes for Chase/Credit Cards for Chase Bank to: “You Could Take Part in it All” Sweepstakes for Chase/Credit Cards, Box 4118, Grand Rapids, MN 55730-4118. Entries must be postmarked by 4/30/08, and received by 5/7/08.

On or about 5/15/08, a random drawing will be conducted. Only two people will be the winners who will be notified on 5/17/08. Estimated value of each grand prize is about $27,000!

Details of the sweepstakes can be found here. Go Beijing Olympic Games!

It’s really difficult to start a credit history without credit history. Confused? In other words, you can’t get credit unless you have already had credit. Here are 5 common tips for you to get your first credit card.

1. Get a Secured Credit Card

This type of credit card requires you to make a certain amount of deposit in the credit issuers account. Of course, the credit limit is the amount you put in there. BOA and HSBC is secured credit card friendly banks. The good thing about this approach is the credit issuers are reporting your credit record to the credit bureaus. In this way, you can build your credit history in a short time, let’s say about 6 months. After about 6 months, you can request to upgrade your secured credit card to an unsecured credit card. Or you can try to apply for other credit cards which offer better cash back and rewards programs.

2. Try the Bank or Credit Union Where You Have Your Checking and Saving Account

I believe this is a really good approach to get your first credit card. You have your account in their institutions. Banks will feel “safe” to issue a credit card to you. Talk to a bank representative about opening up your first credit card. Having an existing relationship will improve your chances at getting a credit card application approved. For example, I have a friend who doesn’t have a SSN. She opened a checking account at National City Bank and then she talked to a bank representative about getting a credit card from National City Bank. Technically, if you don’t have a SSN, you can’t get a credit card. However, the bank representative called the credit department and requested to issue a credit card to my friend and it worked! A girl without SSN can get a credit card! Another example is University of Illinois Employees Credit Union issues credit cards to their students even you don’t have a solid credit history. So if you have the chance to get a credit card from your banks or credit unions, do not hesitate to get one.

3. Try a Student Card

College students are favorite for most credit card issuers. Because you’re likely to carry huge credit card balance which means you are very profitable to them. Typically, the credit card issuers will not ask about your annual income. And they know that your parents will pay your credit card bills. If you’re enrolled in college, you have a very good chance of getting approved for a student credit card.

4. Try some Cards Issued by Retailers or Department Stores

These cards generally aren’t a good deal — even with the discounts they offer on initial purchases — because the interest rates are way too high compare to other credit cards. But you can use them as long as you pay your balance full every month. So the high APR doesn’t bother you. After 6 months, you can pull the trigger for another card. Go to Target, BestBuy or other retailers and submit your application in store.

5. Get a Loan

This is the last resource you can approach. For example, you can apply for a small amount personal loan—$500. After paying for a small amount of interest and fees, typically $100, you can have a good loan record in your credit history. Yes, you are paying money to build your credit history in this way. If you fail to get a credit card after trying the above 4 methods, you can try this one.

At last, we should all be aware that “authorized user” approach is of no use today. Your credit card issuers will not report the credit record to the credit bureaus for your authorized users.

From low fees to frequent-flyer miles: 7 credit card will give you something back.

1. Household/Orcahrd Bank Platinum Card with 2% Cash Back

Both cards can give you 2% cash back for everything! Yes, it’s true. They are much better than those cards with only 1% cash back. If you have one of these card, your minimum cash back is 2%. You can selectively use this card and other cash back cards to achieve better cash back rate. Actually, both Household Bank and Orchard Bank are owned and operated by HSBC Bank. HSBC is new in the credit card market. Their targeted consumers are those with low credit scores but have the ability to pay their debits. Previously, this card can is by invitation only. If you receive an mail invitation to apply for this credit card, you are guaranteed to get approved. But you have to make sure that there’s a “2% cash back” in your invitation letter. Recently, Household Bank is promoting the visa version. You are allowed to have one master card and one visa card. Online application site is www.hbaccept.com (for those received the invitations).

2. Blue Cash from American Express

Once you’ve charged $6,500 in a year, you can get 5% back on grocery, drugstore and gas purchases and 1.5% on everything else vs. 1% for the average cash-back card. (Below $6,500 you earn 0.5% to 1%). Blue credits the cash to your account automatically, so you don’t risk leaving rewards on the table. As stated at the very beginning, the power of the Blue Cash Card appears when you spend more than $6,500 in this card in a year. In a word, this is a for those big spenders. Another feature worths mention is this card offers 4.99% APR for balance transfer for life! if you are short of cash, you can borrow money from this card. The 4.99$ APR is much lower than those payday loans.

3. Discover More Card

The most attractive part of this card is it offers 5% cash back on selected categories which are changing every quarter. plus Discover is working to offer better cash back rewards program for its newly launched ShopDiscover Rewards Program. You can also get about 5%~15% for shopping through ShopDiscover. The other feature is the low fee balance transfer offer. Not many issuers still offer 0% interest for 12 months on balance transfers. Discover does. Plus, it caps its balance-transfer fee at $75 vs. $99 or more at other banks. You’d better pay off all your balance before the introductory period expires, but even if you can’t or don’t, the interest rate is not that terrible: It starts at a respectable 10.99%.

4. Starwood Preferred Guest Card from American Express

This is a great hotel rewards card for those who want to get rewarded for free hotel stays. The minimum points you need to redeem for a free night stay at Starwood Hotels is 2,000 points. The sign-up bonus for this card is 10,000 points. You can redeem for an Amazon.Com gift certificate for only 9,000 starpoints. The gift certificate will be shipped to you via UPS next day air. (super quick!!!) You can also transfer those starpoints to other rewards programs like AAdvantage miles.

5. Citi PremierPass Card-Elite Level

You earn one point for every dollar charged, plus a point for every mile you fly. (Note: miles can not be redeemed as ThankYou points before your spending match the miles.) You can double your points at supermarkets, drugstores, gas stations, commuter transportation and parking merchants. Redeem points for plane tickets on any airline; you won’t face blackout dates and restricted seats. If your spending can match your fly miles. You can redeem those fly miles to thankyou points. That’s why this card is best is best to buy flight tickets. The rate starts at 10.24%. Recently this card is offering 20,000 sign-up bonus after 4600 in purchases are made with 3 months of account opening.

Bank of America has been running the “Museums On Us” for about 10 years. This yeas is the 11th year and the promotion will be beginning this May. What’s the “Museums On Us” program? In celebration of National Museum Month, Bank of America’s “Museums On Us” program is providing free access to 86 of the finest cultural institutions on the East and West coasts to Bank of America or MBNA cardholders. The exclusive opportunity offers members the chance to visit an array of museums, historical sites and science centers with a guest for free.

How can you get the free admission?

Members must present their Bank of America or MBNA ATM, debit or credit card to gain a free general admission to any participating institution. Photo ID may be required. The offer is not valid for special exhibitions, fund-raising events or ticketed shows, and it is not to be combined with any other discounts or offers. Select museums and institutions in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island apply. You can check out the whole list of participating institutions here.

One difference they make this year is they add “visit your favorite museum for free on the first weekend of every month“. Last year, they only ran this promotion from May 1 to May 31. It seems this year they will run this promotion for a longer times. The final news press will be released at the end of this April. You can check out the latest information here. This is really a great opportunity for your family.

If you don’t have a credit card issued from Bank of America, you can find out one here.

Note: List of museums participated in 2007

2007 Bank of America Museums on Us™ Program Participating Institutions

California
Asian Art Museum San Francisco
California Academy of Sciences
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
de Young Museum
Legion of Honor
Riverside Art Museum
Riverside Metropolitan Museum
Autry National Center
California African American Museum
Skirball Cultural Center
Kidspace Museum
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Japanese American National Museum
Ocean Institute
Discovery Science Center
Orange County Museum of Art
Laguna Art Museum
Newport Sports Museum
Surfing Heritage Foundation
Newport Nautical Museum
San Diego Natural History Museum
California Center for the Arts, Escondido
San Diego Museum of Man
San Diego Museum of Art

Connecticut
Stamford Museum & Nature Center
The Children’s Museum
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
Bruce Museum
Mashantucket Pequot Museum

Delaware
Delaware Museum of Natural History
Winterthur Museum & Country Estate
Delaware Art Museum

Maine
Maine Discovery Museum
Farnsworth Art Museum and Wyeth Center
Portland Museum of Art

Massachusetts
The Old State House Museum (The Boston Historical Society)
Cape Cod Museum of Art
DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Museum of Science, Boston
Museum of African American History
New Bedford Whaling Museum
Norman Rockwell Museum
Provincetown Art Association & Museum
Springfield Museums at the Quadrangle
Worcester Art Museum
American Textile History Museum

New Hampshire
Hood Museum of Art
Children’s Museum of Portsmouth
Seacoast Science Center

New Jersey
Jersey City Museum
Montclair Art Museum
Morris Museum
The Newark Museum
The Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum

New York
Albany Institute of History and Art
The Hyde Collection
New York State Museum
Bronx Zoo
New York Aquarium
Historic Hudson Valley
Museum of the Moving Image
Whitney Museum of American Art
Museum of Modern Art
Studio Museum in Harlem
New York Hall of Science
Brooklyn Museum of Art
Museum of Television & Radio
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
South Street Seaport Museum
Old Westbury Gardens
Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum
Rosamond Gifford Zoo
George Eastman House
Buffalo Zoo

Pennsylvania
African American Museum in Philadelphia
Independence Seaport Museum
National Constitution Center
Philadelphia Museum of Art

Rhode Island
Providence Children’s Museum
Museum of Work and Culture
Rhode Island School of Design Museum
International Tennis Hall of Fame

Vermont
Montshire Museum of Science

Discover just updated their website few days ago. Their url is www.discover.com now although the previous url: www.dicovercard.com is still available. To be honest, I really like current design in my account. Another feature I want to mention here is they just launched the ShopDiscover program. ShopDiscover is a rewards program which will give you extra rewards in addition to the cash back or other rewards you can accumulate for online shopping through ShopDiscover. For example, if you place an order at www.circuitcity.com through the link at ShopDiscover (in your account), you can get extra 5% cash back plus up to 1% cash back you can get for using your discover card. SO it’s a rewards shopping program similar to Chase Rewards Plus and Citi Cash Bonus Center. The only difference here is ShopDiscover offer better cash back than other rewards programs. For example, Dell home offers 5% cash back at ShopDiscover while Chase Rewards Plus and Citi Cash Bonus Center only offer 2% cash back. Apple store offers 5% cash back at ShopDiscover, Chase Rewards Plus only offer 4% while Citi Cash Bonus Center only offers 1% cash back. GNC.Com offer 15% cash back at ShopDiscover, Chase Rewards Plus only offers 6% cash back and Citi Cash Bonus Center offers 8.5% cash back. You can also find out that ShopDiscover program offers better cash back rate from HP, OfficeDepot, SonyStyle, TigerDirect and other famous online shopping websites. It’s really great!

The only drawback for ShopDiscover is that due to the high cash back rate, there are only limited merchants you can choose from. For example, Staples.Com and BestBuy.Com are not offering cash back at ShopDiscover while you can still get about 3% cash back from Chase Rewards Plus and Citi Cash Bonus Center.

Another good news is cash back Bonus (ShopDiscover) offers are valid for all Discover Cards that offer a Cashback Bonus Rewards program. Double Miles offers are valid for Miles by Discover CardDiscover Business Miles and card members. (Chase Rewards Plus is dedicated to Chase Freedom card members.) You don’t have to enroll in a special website like Chase Rewards Plus and Citi Cash Bonus Center. The ShopDiscover link is available at your online account. All you have to do is login your online account and click the related retailer’s link. It’s much easier and safer. The cash back will be accumulated in your regular Cash Back bonus program. You can redeem the Cashback Bonus you earn through ShopDiscover just like your regular Cashback Bonus. If you choose to redeem your cash back for a gift certificate, your cash back bonus will be increased or even doubled! (That’s why I like Discover More Card.)

As far as I know, Discover is working hard to get more online merchants. They want to give our customers better options for using Discover Card. Discover is also committed to offer minimum 5% cash back for their Discover card members.

American Express and Costco launched the TrueEarnings Card on September 1st, 2004. This card is not new any more since most Costco shoppers have this card. (Costco only accepts American Express Cards.) The reason for this post is to briefly introduce this card. Because I know some of you are not aware that there is a very good credit card for traveling and dinning out.

This card offers:

• 3% cash back at all gas stations
• 3% cash back at all restaurants
• 2% cash back for traveling (including lodging, airline, car rental, travel agency atc.)
• 1% cash back on essentially everything else

This card is very attractive because it offer 3% for dining out. (Of course, there is another student card offering 5% cash back on dining—Citi mtvU Card.) But don’t forget the 3% cash back on gasoline! What makes me love this card more is American Express offers 2% cash back on traveling. If you want to focus on a single credit card and include all of the cash back together, this is a decent card to shot. At least this card is better for other general 1% cash back cards.

This card also features no annual fees. But you have to have a Costco membership to apply for this card. You cash back is awarded to you annually no matter how much you have accumulated on that card, i.e. there is no minimum requirement to redeem your cash back. All the cash back will be sent to you as a Costco coupon which can then be cashed out or used to buy any merchandise at any Costco warehouse.

The business version for this card is also available. The only difference here is the business version offers 5% cash back on gasoline. If you don’t actually have a business, you can refer to this post and check out how to apply for a business card without a real business.

In conclusion, the TrueEarnings Card from American Express is good for everyday purchases. And of course, it’s an ideal card for Costco members.