Barclays Credit Card Application Status: (How to Check, Reconsideration) [2021]

Are you trying to check your Barclays credit card application status?

Well, you’re in luck as Barclays makes it easy to check your status with a simple application status checker.

In this article, I will show you how to check your Barclays credit card application status online or over the phone. Then I will give you some handy reconsideration tips that have worked for me when Barclays has denied me.

Interested in finding out the top travel credit cards for this month? Click here to check them out! 

How to check your Barclays credit card application status

You can check your application status by accessing Barclay’s application status checker or by calling Barclays customer support. I prefer checking online as it’s less cumbersome than calling.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Check your Barclays credit card application status online

The type of credit card you are applying for will determine which application status checker you can choose to check your Barclays credit card application status. 

  • For personal Barclay credit cards: click here 
  • For business Barclay credit cards: click here

You won’t need an application number, but you will need the following to check the status:

  • Last name
  • Last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN)
  • ZIP code
  • E-mail address

(Remember, it must match the information you gave during the application process.)

After filling the blanks with your information, you’ll be able to view the status of your credit card application.

You will only see the most recent credit card application status dating up to 90 days from the application submission. It’s not like Amex application status checker which allows you to look at all past applications.

You will see three messages when checking the status of your Barclays credit card.

  • Denied
  • Reviewing (pending)
  • Approved

Application status: “denied”

If your status says that you’re denied, then you’ll probably want to call the reconsideration line phone number found below. 

Reasons for your denial will usually be related to the number of inquiries, the number of new accounts, debt-to-income ratio, or not following the Barclays credit card rules.

Application status: “reviewing” or “pending”

If your application is being reviewed, then you may just need to wait a few days because Barclays is processing your app. Sometimes calling into the reconsideration line will expedite this but other times you must simply wait it out.

An application being reviewed will usually be because someone has to review your credit report and determine if you are too risky or not profitable.

Application status: “approved”

Congratulations, you have been approved! You won’t need to do anything else besides waiting up to 10 business days for your credit card to arrive at the billing address.

Check your Barclays credit card application status by phone

You can check your Barclays credit card application status via phone by calling the following numbers:

  • +1-877-523-0478
  • +1-888-232-0780

Stay on the line until you can say or select the option to “check on an application.” Make sure you have your information ready.

If you need, they can also direct you to a credit analyst for reconsideration.

What Barclays credit cards can I check my application status for?

You should be able to check your status for any Barclay personal or business credit card including:

  • AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard®
  • Diamond Resorts World Mastercard®
  • Choice Privileges® Visa Signature® Card
  • Carnival® World Mastercard®
  • Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard®
  • AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
  • Holland America Line Rewards Visa® Card
  • JetBlue Plus Card
  • Barnes & Noble Mastercard®
  • Hawaiian Airlines® Business Mastercard®
  • FRONTIER Airlines World Mastercard®
  • Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®
  • JetBlue Business Card
  • JetBlue Card
  • NFL Extra Points Credit Card
  • Priceline Rewards™ Visa® Card
  • Princess Cruises Rewards Visa® Card
  • RCI® Elite Rewards® Mastercard®
  • Uber Visa Card
  • Upromise® Mastercard®
  • Wyndham Rewards® Visa® Card

How long does approval take?

If your credit card approval is not instant, it could take up to 10 business days to process the application manually.

If you suspect things are lingering too long then check with the reconsideration line number below.

On another note, Barclays is known to make applications go into review. Don’t worry too much if your application is being reviewed as it’s common with people that have high or low credit scores.

How long does it take to receive a Barclays credit card?

Barclays claims you will receive your credit card within 10 business days of your application being approved. At the time of approval, Barclays will also quote the number of days it will take for you to receive your card, usually up to 10 business days. 

In my experience, it usually took no longer than seven business days to receive my new Barclays credit card. Barclays will expedite cards for a fee.

Can I check for credit limit increase approval?

Barclays doesn’t have a tool to check the status for your credit line increase online. 

So, the only way for you to check is to call Barclays and talk to a credit analyst. They will give you the status and might request more information from you or perhaps give you reasons why you were denied a credit line increase.

You can call a Barclays credit analyst for personal cards with this phone number:

  • +1-866-408-4064

For business cards:

  • +1-866-710-2688

Barclays credit card rules

Barclays has a few rules for new applicants restricting credit card sign-ups. These rules aren’t exclusive to Barclays as other bank issuers will also have rules.

No limit to the number of cards

Barclays doesn’t have a limit to the number of Barclays credit cards you hold. That means you can hold as many cards you want with Barclays, but only if you get approved. Still, it might be a good idea to keep it to a reasonable number. 

90 days for minimum spend

You have 90 days from when you applied for your Barclays card to meet your minimum spend. Therefore, you start counting the 90 days once you applied for the card, not when you received it.

Barclays doesn’t have any hard rules

Surprisingly, Barclays doesn’t have many hard rules across all their cards. While some claim they have rules regarding the number of cards you can apply within 24 months (6/24), Barclays doesn’t put anything in writing and doesn’t always enforce these rules. 

Some soft rules like waiting 6 months to apply for a new Barclays credit card are true for some people. Yet, there are data points out there showing how it’s not the same for every person.

Barclays actually focuses on the credit report more than anything else. So, if your score is not above 700, you will have a harder time getting a Barclays credit card approved.

Barclays credit card reconsideration line

If you’re not approved, or even having an application under review, you will want to call up a Barclays credit analyst. They will be able to review your application and give you feedback or request more information from you and perhaps get you approved for a credit card. 

Barclays reconsideration phone number and hours for personal cards

The phone number for personal card applications is:

  • +1-866-408-4064

You can also try:

  • +1-800-308-6008

And the operating hours:

  • 8am to 12am EST (midnight) seven days a week

Barclays reconsideration phone number and hours for business cards

The phone number for personal card applications is:

  • +1-866-710-2688

And the operating hours:

  • 8am to 8pm EST seven days a week

What to say in a reconsideration call

Handling a reconsideration call isn’t very difficult, but there are a few things you should consider.

The first is that you need to have a good reason for why you’re seeking a card.

Here are some excellent reasons for seeking new credit cards:

  • You need the credit card(s) to help segregate your expenses for some purpose (e.g., starting multiple businesses)
  • You’re switching or trying to build up a relationship with a specific airline like American Airlines (only works if you’re getting that particular co-branded card)
  • You don’t want to pay foreign transaction fees, or you are attracted to some other benefit (e.g., primary rental car insurance)
  • You prefer one interest rate (APR) over another (especially when dealing with balance transfers)
  • Prefer pin and chip over sign and chip
  • You want to utilize the benefits and gain awards by using the card for everyday spend (everyday spend shows profitability towards Barclays)

Generally, it’s not a good idea to tell the phone reps that you’re just going after a card because you think it has a “great sign-up bonus.” That will make you look like an unprofitable customer, or even worse, a “gamer” which any bank has come to despise.

Don’t be nervous when calling Barclays. The credit analysts have the power to change your application denial to an approval. Plus, if you are calm and cool and not trying to game the agent, they will be more willing to help you out.

Barclays credit pulls

Barclays is known to pull from the TransUnion credit bureau.

This is great as TransUnion is pulled from the least compared to the other credit bureaus, so you can give your credit report a rest in many cases. 

If you got denied by Barclays, you would still have a hard pull on your credit report. Hard pulls will stay on your credit report for two years but should lose their effect for FICO scores after one year. 

Barclays referrals

While Barclays doesn’t have an official refer-a-friend program like Amex, it does sometimes target current cardholders giving targeted cardholders referrals to hand out.

Unfortunately, the targeted referrals from Barclays aren’t frequent and come in waves lasting a limited amount of time. So, if you can take advantage of referring someone to get some kickback, you should do it and call yourself lucky.

Final word

Don’t be worried if your application is pending as Barclays is known to take their time to review applications. If you did end up getting denied, call that retention line as those credit analysts do have the power to approve you.

I hope you found this article helpful. Remember we aren’t Barclays, so we cannot guarantee anything, but if you have any questions, drop them down in the comments below.

This article was originally published by Steve Smith.

American Express Return Protection Guide: (Exclusions, Claims) [2021]

Offers contained within this article maybe expired.

One of the great perks about using a credit card to make a purchase is that you’ll usually receive built-in protections for that purchase. This is especially the case with Amex cards which offer great return protection.

In this article, I’ll explain what Amex return protection is and how it works. I’ll also show you how to file a claim if you need to and talk about some of the limitations and excluded items, some of which you might not have expected to be excluded.

What is American Express return protection?

Return protection is a special perk that allows you to receive a refund from American Express when the store you made the purchase from has refused to allow you to return the product.

If you try to return an eligible item within 90 days from the date of purchase and the merchant won’t take it back, American Express may refund the full purchase price, up to $300 per item (excluding shipping and handling charges).

Amex will reimburse you up to a maximum of $1,000 per card member account per calendar year based on the date of purchase. So the key limitations are that the return attempt must be made within 90 days of purchase and that you can reimbursed up to a maximum of $300.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

What Amex cards offer return protection?

Not every every Amex card will offer return protection. Here are some of the different Amex cards that you might look to for this coverage:

  • Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card
  • Amex Gold Card (Senior Version)
  • Business Gold Rewards Card
  • Business Platinum Card
  • Blue Cash Preferred from American Express
  • Delta Reserve Credit Card
  • Delta Reserve for Business Credit Card
  • Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
  • Platinum Card from American Express (different versions)
  • Plum Card
  • Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card
  • Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
  • Amazon Business American Express Card
  • Amazon Business Prime American Express Card
  • Centurion Card from American Express
  • Business Centurion Card from American Express

You do not have to enroll your Amex card into any special kind of program as the protection is built in to your card’s benefits.

You can search for the terms for your specific card here. 

Amex return protection limitations

As you would expect with a benefit like this, there are going to be quite a few restrictions on the benefit.

Location

The first restriction is related to the location of the purchase. The terms and conditions state that the purchases must be made in:

  • 50 United States of America,
  • District of Columbia,
  • Puerto Rico,
  • U.S. Virgin Islands,
  • American Samoa,
  • Federated States of Micronesia,
  • Marshall Islands,
  • Palau,
  • Guam and
  • Northern Mariana Islands

Must use your card

You must also charge the full amount on your eligible Amex card to get a full refund.

Refund limits

As stated, refunds are limited to $300 per eligible item, and $1,000 per Card Member account per calendar year based on the date of purchase, not during the year the claim was filed.

Condition of the product

The item that you purchased must be in the original purchase condition (not visibly used, defective, or damaged in any way) and must be in working order.

Denied attempt for the return

To get coverage, the merchant from which the item was originally purchased must also have denied an attempted return of the item.

Any item purchased from a merchant that has an established return/satisfaction guarantee program which is greater than or equal to the terms of Return Protection, and provides coverage for your claim, will not be eligible for a refund.

Product rebates, discounts or money received from lowest price comparison programs will be deducted from the original cost of the item. The maximum you will be compensated will not exceed the amount charged to the eligible Card Account.

Amex return protection exclusions

There are quite a few items that are excluded from the Amex return protection program. Some of these items are items that you would expect to be excluded like living animals. However, there are a number of items that you might think would otherwise be returnable.

I’ve bolded some of the items that I didn’t expect to be excluded by this program and/or items that you should be aware of.

  • Animals and living plants
  • One-of-a-kind items (including, but not limited to, antiques, artwork, and furs)
  • Limited edition items
  • Going-out-of-business sale items
  • Consumable or perishable items with limited life spans (including, but not limited to, food, perfume, light bulbs, and batteries)
  • Jewelry (including, but not limited to, loose gems, precious stones, metals, and pearls)
  • Watches
  • Services and additional costs (including, but not limited to, installation charges, warranties, shipping, handling or memberships)
  • Rare and precious coins
  • Purchased used and/or altered items (including, but not limited to, purchases at auction sites and second- hand stores)
  • Custom-built items
  • Compact discs, digital video discs, mini discs, audiotapes, videotapes
  • Computer software
  • Firmware (including, but not limited to, console games, etc.)
  • Maps
  • Books, magazines or periodicals of any kind
  • Health care items and /or medical equipment (including, but not limited to, blood pressure machines and diabetes equipment, items or supplies used for maternity care)
  • Personal hygiene items (including, but not limited to, all electrical or non-electrical toothbrushes, razors, or any devices (medical or non-medical) that have been personally used and could be considered a health risk to others);
  • Formal wear (including, but not limited to, bridal wear, gowns, prom dresses, and tuxedos)
  • Tickets of any kind (including, but not limited to, transportation passes or tickets and event tickets)
  • Motorized vehicles (including, but not limited to, cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, and airplanes), their parts and accessories (e.g. car battery) as well as those parts and accessories intended for use with the motorized vehicles (e.g. a trailer or audio or visual components)
  • Land, buildings and fixtures (including but not limited to, central air conditioner, built-in kitchen appliance and water heater)
  • Firearms
  • Ammunition
  • Negotiable instruments (including, but not limited to, promissory notes, stamps, and travelers checks)
  • Cash and its equivalent (including, but not limited to, gift cards and gift certificates)
  • Items permanently affixed to home, office, vehicles, etc. (including, but not limited to, garage door openers and car alarms)
  • Seasonal items (including but not limited to holiday decorations and costumes)

“Final sale”

It’s pretty common to purchase items that are “final sale” meaning that the merchant won’t allow you to return these items. When this happens, you should still be covered Amex return protection.

How to file a return protection claim

Once you have verified that the merchant will not accept the eligible item, you can file your claim over the phone.

To file a claim, call 1-800-228-6855 within 90 days of the purchase date to notify Amex of your request.

Within 30 days of that phone call, Amex will need you to send in the following:

  • A copy of the original store receipt
  • A copy of the American Express Card record of charge
  • Any other items deemed reasonable by us to process your request

Be sure to keep the item in an easily retrievable place because once your request has been reviewed and deemed eligible, you may be asked to send the item to Amex within 30 days for further evaluation.

You will also need to keep a record of your shipping receipt, as you will need to provide proof of shipping in the event that your eligible item is not received. Amex will reimburse you for all shipping costs.

In reality, you’re not always asked to send in your receipts or even the item you couldn’t return. This is true for cheaper items but if you’re dealing with more expensive items (i.e., those close to $300), Amex might require you to send them in.

If you don’t have to send any additional items to Amex, you might get reimbursed for your item very quickly — sometimes within just a couple of days.

Return protection phone number

If you have any questions you can call the return protection phone number at 1-800-228-6855.

Final word

American Express return protection is a solid benefit that you should definitely consider taking advantage of. The key with perks like this is to act promptly and to keep track of your documentation.

Chase Sapphire Preferred $50 Hotel Credit Guide [2021]

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is once again one of the hottest travel rewards credit cards. This is due in large part to the industry-leading welcome bonus that was recently increased to 100,000 points but it also is due to the additional enhancements to the card. One of these enhancements was a new $50 hotel credit.

But how exactly do you use this credit and is it actually a good deal?

In this article, I will break down how you can use this credit and some pros and cons that might make you think twice about the value of the credit.

What is the $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit?

The $50 hotel credit is a credit issued every year that can go towards a hotel booking made via the Chase Travel Portal.

If you were approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred on or after August 16, 2021 you will instantly be able to use the credit once your account is open. However, if you had the card opened before that date you will have to wait until your account anniversary to use the credit. After that, you will receive the $50 credit every account anniversary.

Tip: You can easily keep track of your credit card perks like the $50 hotel credit with the free app WalletFlo. It will also keep you up-to-date on all of the latest promos and credit card offers. So be sure to check it out!

Use WalletFlo to keep track of all your credit card perks and credits.

How to use the $50 hotel credit

To use the credit, you need to log into the Chase Travel Portal at ultimaterewards.com.

If you have multiple Chase cards you will be asked to select your card and make sure that you select your Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

Once you are logged in, navigate to the travel screen. On desktop, you simply click on the three bars in the left hand corner and then scroll down to “Travel” and click on that.

Next, navigate to “Hotels” and then simply go through your search and booking process as you normally would. You should be able to use your credit on any of the hotels you find in the search results so feel free to book any property you’d like.

After you make your hotel booking, the statement credit should automatically post to your account within two days of your purchase posting to your account. It should then appear on your monthly billing statement within 1 to 2 billing cycles.

In my experience, Chase has been pretty solid with posting credits quickly. But in the event you do not see your credit after a week or two, you can always call the number on the back of your card and inquire about it.

Is it worth it?

So now that you know how the credit works, a big question is whether or not the credit is worth it?

In other words, in light of the $95 annual fee that the Chase Sapphire Preferred has, does this credit provide sufficient value to make the card a keeper?

The answer to that question is that it depends.

The biggest knock against the $50 hotel credit is that you have to use it on a hotel booked through the Chase Travel Portal, which is powered by none other than Expedia.

This means that you will miss out on hotel elite perks for your stay. For example, you will almost assuredly not get any type of elite night credits for your stay or earn loyalty points for the respective elite program.

There is still hope for your elite status benefits such as upgrades, free breakfast, late check-out, etc. In order to maximize your odds of receiving those benefits, you should call or email the hotel ahead of time and ask them to add your loyalty number to your reservation.

You can also do this when you arrive at the property but I find it better to do it ahead of time before you actually arrive at the property/check-in desk.

I have booked a number of hotel stays through online travel agencies over the past few years and have had a tremendous amount of success with receiving elite status benefits with Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt.

Because you can still receive some of your elite status perks (albeit with a little bit of extra work and luck), I think the $50 hotel credit still holds a lot of value for many travelers.

Tip: Because you lose out on other elite benefits, credits like this are often good for non-chain hotel bookings. So if you can find a cozy cabin located off the grid in the Chase Travel Portal, you might get more value on a stay like that.

It’s worth pointing out that the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers some other solid perks.

There is the $60 Peloton credit that is good for digital memberships and all access memberships. Together with the $50 hotel credit, you could actually turn a small profit with this card!

Other major benefits include:

  • 25% bonus when using points in the Chase Travel Portal
  • 12 months of DashPass
  • Primary rental car coverage
  • 10% anniversary points

And then you have the solid bonus categories like 3X on dining, streaming, and online groceries. So just make sure you’re aware that there are major value opportunities beyond the $50 hotel credit, since some of these perks could offset the $95 annual fee by themselves.

FAQ

Does the $50 hotel credit rollover?

No, if you do not use the $50 credit, you will not be able to utilize it in the next year.

How do you get the $50 hotel credit?

The credit is automatically applied to your card when you make a hotel booking through the Chase Travel Portal. It does not require activation.

Is the credit issued every calendar year or anniversary year?

The $50 hotel credit is issued every anniversary year.

Do you earn bonus points on the $50 purchase?

No, you do not earn additional bonus points on the $50 portion of your hotel purchase.

Final word

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is no doubt one of the most popular credit cards for travelers right now. The $50 hotel credit makes it a lot easier to offset the already relatively low annual fee of $95. However, you do lose out on some potentially valuable perks when utilizing this credit and that is something that everyone should be aware of.

American Express Uber Eats Pass Guide [2021]

Offers contained within this article maybe expired.

Food delivery services such as Uber Eats and GrubHub have exploded in popularity over the last few years. They make finding and ordering food much more convenient in many areas of the country.

The drawback is that they come with a lot of fees including delivery fees which can be quite pricey.

Luckily, there are ways to avoid these delivery fees with memberships like Uber Eats Pass.

And now it’s possible to get a free Uber Eats Pass membership with certain American Express cards.

In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Amex Uber Eats Pass including how to enroll and what to expect.

What is Uber Eats?

Uber Eats is a food delivery service app that allows users to order meals from various restaurants and have the meals delivered directly to their home or another desired location.

What is the Eats Pass Membership? 

The Eats Pass Membership is a monthly subscription through Uber Eats that offers various benefits including $0 delivery fees, 5% off restaurant orders over $15, and $0 delivery fees on grocery deliveries over $30 in select markets.

Typically, this membership would cost $9.99 per month or $119 per year.

For a regular Uber Eats user, this perk can result in some pretty massive savings.

The delivery fees will change based on when and where you order your food from but it’s not uncommon to have to pay a few bucks per order.

If you order Uber eats once a week, it’s very possible that the waived delivery fees could save you over $200 in a year alone.

And when you also factor in the savings on restaurant orders over $15 and grocery delivery orders over $30, those savings can add up even higher.

So for people who are already using Uber Eats, this is really a fantastic saving opportunity.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

What is the American Express Eats Pass membership? 

If you have an eligible American Express card, you can get the Uber Eats Pass for free for up to 12 months!

The stipulation is that you must enroll by December 31, 2021.

Tip: Since this benefit is offered in a 12 month timeframe, you don’t want to activate the subscription until you are confident that you will actually be using it.

What American Express cards get the Eats Pass membership benefit?

You can receive the Uber Eats Pass if you have one of the following consumer American Express cards:

How to enroll in the benefit

To enroll in the Uber Eats Pass offer, first make sure that you have downloaded or updated to the latest version of the Uber Eats app.

Once you are in the app, add your eligible American Express card to your wallet.

After you have added your card, you should be able to see a prompt to enroll in Uber Eats Pass.

If you have already added your eligible card, then all you have to do is claim your complimentary Uber Eats Pass within the app and confirm your enrollment.

You will see a tab for Eats Pass in the bottom right corner of the app and once you click on that you will see a call to action button that says “Start Eats Pass.” Simply tap on that to enroll.

If your card has been added you should see a slide up window that indicates when your billing will begin and that you qualify for 12 months free. Remember that this will auto renew when your 12 months are up.

You can find out more about how to enroll here.

Note: Some people including myself have experienced a glitch where the membership was only activated for six months. If this happens to you, you can try re-adding your eligible American Express card and if that does not work contact Uber Eats.

New change

In order to receive your Uber Eats Pass benefits you must use an eligible Amex card for payment. In some cases, this may mean you’ll have to miss out on bonus points (e.g., using the Platinum instead of the Chase Sapphire Reserve).

Monthly discount

A new discount will be applied to Uber Eats Pass members for Uber rides. You’ll be able to save 10% on your first 3 eligible rides of every month. Only UberX, UberXL, Uber Green, and Uber Comfort rides are eligible for the 10% rides discount. Only Uber Black rides are eligible for the 15% rides discount.

Other Uber benefits

You can save on Uber if you have an American Express Platinum Card or Gold Card with special monthly credits that are issued.

The Platinum Card receives a $15 monthly credit on Uber that comes in the form of Uber Cash ($30 for the month of December). This means that you can use this credit on Uber rides or on Uber Eats.

And starting early next year, the American Express Gold Card will provide card members with $10 monthly credits in Uber Cash which can also be used on Uber rides or Uber Eats.

Tip: If this is a lot for you to keep track of, I would recommend you use the free app WalletFlo to help you keep track of all of your credits.

American Express Uber Eats Pass FAQ

What happens when my Uber Eats Pass membership expires?

After you have used your membership for 12 months, you will be automatically charged $9.99 or the current pass rate.

This means that you need to remember to cancel your Eats Pass in order to avoid the fees.

If you would like to know the exact day that your pass ends, simply click on the Eats Pass tab and scroll down under “learn more” and you will see the exact date the offer ends.

When is the enrollment deadline?

You must enroll in this benefit before December 31, 2021. You will have the benefit for 12 consecutive months from the date that you enroll.

Do I need to tip when ordering from Uber Eats?

Generally, yes it is a good idea to tip your Uber eats delivery driver. You can read more about the tip or not to tip a debate here.

What if I am already enrolled in Uber Eats Pass?

If you are already enrolled, simply select the Eats Pass icon to enroll in a complimentary membership through American Express.

Once you enroll, your membership will become complimentary at the start of your next billing cycle.

Will my membership auto renew?

Yes, Uber will auto-bill you for Uber Eats Pass starting 12 months from the initial enrollment in the benefit.

Final word

This is a fantastic way to save for someone already using Uber Eats.

If you are new to Uber Eats then it can also be a great way to save but you need to factor in that sometimes you have to pay other fees such as service fees or sometimes even deal with marked up prices.

$75 Southwest Priority Credit Guide [2021]

Travel credits are an easy and efficient way to cut down the annual fee of a credit card. The Southwest Priority Card offers a special $75 travel credit that can help accomplish the task of offsetting your fee to basically nothing.

But there are some rules and limitations that you need to know about with this credit, and in this article I will tell you everything you need to know.

What is the $75 Southwest Priority credit?

The $75 Southwest Priority credit is a special perk offered by the Southwest Priority Credit Card that you can use to cover the cost of Southwest tickets and fees but there are some exceptions.

Keep reading below to find out more!

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Southwest Priority Credit Card

First, here’s the entire rundown of highlights for the Southwest Priority Credit Card.

  • Bonus spending:
    • 2X Rapid Rewards on Southwest purchases
    • 2X Rapid Rewards on hotel and car rental partner purchases.
    • 1X Rapid Rewards on all other purchases
  • $75 Southwest annual travel credit
  • 7,500 anniversary points each year
  • Four Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
  • 20% back on in-flight drinks, WiFi, messaging, and movies
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Earn tier qualifying points towards A-list Status
  • $149 annual fee applied to your first billing statement

The great thing about the $75 credit is that it is such an easy way to come out on top in value with his card.

The $149 annual fee can be offset a few different ways. Based on a Rapid Rewards valuation of 1.46 cents per point, the 7,500 anniversary points are worth ~$110.

When you add on the $75 travel credit, all of a sudden you’ve got $185 worth of value coming your way each year which is over $30 more than the annual fee!

And that is without factoring in other benefits like the upgraded boarding, savings on in-flight drinks, etc.

So for somebody who is truly interested in flying with Southwest Airlines, this card has an amazing long-term value proposition.

How to use the credit

The $75 travel credit will be automatically applied to your account after you use it. There is no need to register or to enroll.

The credit should appear on your statement as soon as you purchase posts according to the terms and conditions:

“Statement credit(s) will post to your account the same day your Southwest Airlines purchase posts to your account and will appear on your monthly credit card billing statement within 1-2 billing cycles.”

Be careful about cutting it close when it comes to using your credit at the end of the anniversary year.

That is because the credit will be issued for the year in which the transaction posts to your account.

So if you make a purchase on the last day of the anniversary year and that purchase does not post until a couple of days later, the purchase would be allocated towards the following year’s $75 credit.

Anniversary year 

According to Chase, “Anniversary year means the year beginning with your account open date through the first statement date after your account open date anniversary, and the 12 monthly billing cycles after that each year.”

This means that if you opened up the card on June 1, 2021 and your 12th statement closed on June 20, 2022, your next credit should reset June 20, 2023.

If you have switched to the card then the account open date is going to be the date that the switch is official within the Chase system.

So let’s say you had the Southwest Plus card originally opened on June 1, 2019. But let’s say that you switched from the Southwest Plus card to the Priority Card on July 15, 2021.

That would mean that the renewal date for the credit is going to be July 15, 2022

If you are unclear on what your anniversary date is, my recommendation would be to call Chase.

Uses for the credits?

Below are different ways that you might think about using your credit. Some of these are permitted while others are not.

Upgrades

Upgraded boardings to Business Select are excluded in the terms and conditions. If you’re not familiar, Southwest does not have a true business class cabin. Instead, they have a type of “business” ticket that offers following perks:

  • Guaranteed A1-A15 boarding
  • Fly By lane access
  • Free premium drink
  • 12 Rapid Rewards per dollar spent
  • Fully refundable fare
  • Standby

While you cannot use your credit for upgraded boarding, the card does come with four upgraded boardings per year.

In-flight purchases

In-flight purchases are purchases like alcoholic beverages and Wi-Fi.

Keep in mind that Southwest will give you free snacks and drinks on many flights so there would be no need to use your credit in some cases.

Related: How to get a free drink coupon on Southwest

Fees

When you use Rapid Rewards to book a Southwest flight, you will always be subject to fees. These fees can range from $5.60 all the way up to $100 or more if you are flying to certain international destinations.

There are multiple reports of people using their credit to cover these fees so it seems like a commonly accepted way to cash out on your credit.

Gift cards

Many people have had success using the credit on gift card purchases. Personally, I would recommend going with an e-gift card.

Using travel credits on gift cards is not always a guaranteed successful outcome so always be prepared for the possibility that your credit may not trigger after a gift card purchase.

Southwest EarlyBird

Southwest EarlyBird automatically checks you in 36 hours prior to your departure.

It is a great way to ensure that you will get a good seat, such as a window or aisle seat. However, it will not guarantee you a boarding position in the group a boarding.

According to multiple reports online, the credit can successfully be used for Southwest EarlyBird.

FAQs

Is the $75 credit issued on the calendar year or anniversary year?

The $75 credit is issued on an anniversary year basis.

Can you use the $75 credit on upgrades?

According to the terms and conditions, purchases made for upgraded boardings are excluded.

Can you use the $75 credit for Southwest EarlyBird?

Yes, many people have reported success when using the credit to cover a Southwest EarlyBird purchase.

Can you use the $75 credit for gift cards?

Yes, many people have had success using the credit for gift cards.

Final word

The Southwest Priority $75 travel credit is a great perk because it is easy to use and can be used on a wide variety of expenses that go even beyond airfare. Together with the other perks like the anniversary points and upgraded boarding passes, you can quickly offset the annual fee for this credit card.

Chase Sapphire Purchase Protection Guide (Reserve and Preferred) [2021]

Purchase protection is rock solid for the Chase Sapphire Reserve. It’s one of the benefits that could end up saving you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in unexpected situations, so you definitely want to know how to utilize it.

In this article, I’ll explain the basics of the protection and how to file a claim. I’ll also give you some tips on how to deal with the claims process. 

What is Chase Sapphire Reserve purchase protection?

Chase Sapphire Reserve purchase protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year. So if you purchase a new fancy electronically and it went to poop within 3 to 4 months of purchasing it, you could get coverage for that purchase.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Is coverage different for the Reserve vs the Preferred?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Chase Sapphire Preferred have very different purchase protection limits.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred (full review here) only gets coverage up to a maximum of $500 per claim and up to $50,000 per account while the Sapphire Reserve gets up to $10,000 per claim. The Chase Freedom and the Chase Freedom Unlimited also both have this $500 per claim limitation.

The $500 limit compared to the $10,000 limit is a very dramatic difference.

It is also the reason why I choose to put large purchases on my Sapphire Reserve and NOT my Freedom Unlimited even though the Freedom Unlimited would earn me more points since it earns 1.5% back on all purchases. 

If you are curious as to how this protection stacks up to some of the competition, take a look at the chart below which breaks down the purchase protection for several different cards:

CardClaim limitAnnual limitTime covered from purchase
Amex Gold Card$10,000$50,000120 Days
Amex Platinum Card$10,000$50,000120 Days
Citi Prestige$10,000$50,00090 Days
Chase Sapphire Preferred$500$50,000120 Days
Chase Sapphire Reserve$10,000$50,000120 Days
United Explorer Card$10,000$50,000120 Days
Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card $10,000?90 Days
Chase Sapphire Purchase Protection
Chase Sapphire Preferred Purchase Protection.

I thought Chase did away with this benefit?

Effective 08/26/18, Price Protection and Return Protection were discontinued. Price protection kicked in when a price dropped shortly after you purchased it and return protection would help if you out in some scenarios if the store would not allow you to return your item.

Both of these protections are different from purchase protection, which focuses on the purchase being damaged or stolen.

What loss is covered by the purchase protection?

The purchase protection will cover theft, damage, or involuntary and accidental parting with property within 120  days from the date of your purchase.

According to Chase, “[i]nvoluntary and accidental parting with property” means the “unintended separation from an item of personal property in which the item’s location is known but recovery is impractical to complete.”

This phrasing is a bit vague but it can be interpreted to mean that items that are truly lost are not covered since you wouldn’t know the location of a lost item.

However, sometimes lost items do get covered at times.

In some situations, it might be the case that you could describe an item as both lost and stolen.

For example, if you left a phone on a plane and it never turned up you might say it was lost. But if someone deliberately saw it under your seat, grabbed it, and didn’t turn it in, that could be considered theft.

So the distinction between lost and stolen isn’t always crystal clear. It will be up to you to decide how to represent the facts of your situation but anytime that true theft is involved, generally there needs to be some sort of police report filed so keep that in mind.

What is the limit for purchase protection?

Purchase protection will replace, repair, or reimburse you up to a maximum of $10,000 for each claim and up to $50,000 for each year. However, you should note that the limit for coverage will be the amount showing on the receipt of your purchase if that number is below $10,000.

$10,000 is one of the higher limits for purchase protection so this is definitely a solid perk.

Do I get a repair or replacement?

The decision to replace, repair, or reimburse you will be made at the Benefit Administrator’s discretion.

You will only be reimbursed up to the dollar amount to replace or repair the item or the program limit, whichever is less.

Note to be eligible for coverage, you must charge some portion of the price of the purchased item to your Account.

Who is eligible?

You as the cardholder will be covered and also whoever receives gifts purchased with your Chase credit card account.

A lot of people don’t realize that gift recipients receive coverage as well.

What is not covered?

Credit card companies like to exclude certain types of purchases from protections like this. There are a lot of different types of exclusions but typically they involve items that you don’t purchase from a retail store.

Here is a list of what’s not covered:

  • Animals and living plants
  • Antiques and collectible items
  • Boats, aircraft, automobiles, and any other motorized vehicles and their motors, equipment or accessories, including trailers and other items that can be towed by or attached to any motorized vehicle
  • Computer software
  • Items purchased for resale, professional, or commercial use
  • Items that mysteriously disappear. “Mysterious disappearance” means the vanishing of an item in an unexplained manner when there is an absence of evidence of a wrongful act by a person or persons.
  • Items under the care and control of a common carrier (including U.S. Postal Service, airplanes, or delivery service)
  • Items including but not limited to, jewelry and watches from your baggage unless it is hand-carried and under your personal supervision, or under the supervision of your traveling companion who is previously known to you.
  • Losses resulting from:
    • abuse
    • fraud
    • hostilities of any kind (including, but not limited to, war, invasion, rebellion, insurrection, or terrorist activities)
    • confiscation by the authorities
    • risks of contraband
    • illegal activities
    • normal wear and tear
    • flood
    • earthquake
    • radioactive contamination
    • or damage from inherent product defects
  • Losses resulting from mis-delivery or voluntary parting with property
  • Medical equipment
  • Perishables, consumables, including but not limited to perfumes, cosmetics, and limited-life items such as rechargeable batteries
  • Traveler’s checks, cash, tickets, credit or debit cards, and any other negotiable instruments • Used or pre-owned items

How do I file a purchase protection claim?

Call the Benefit Administrator within 90 days after the loss, damage, or theft.

You can file a claim by calling1-800-874-7702 or you can do it online at www.eclaimsline.com.

I would advise to initially call the Benefit Administrator to clear up any questions you might have and then to just file your claim online, since it’s much easier to track the process that way.

Also there are two important deadlines you don’t want to forget about:

If you do not contact the Benefit Administrator within 90 days of the loss, your claim may be denied.

Also, be sure to provide all of the information requested and return the information within 120 days from the date of loss, theft, or damage.

What documents do I need to submit with my claim?

Do your best to keep records of all receipts and any claim or incident reports. These are vital if you need to prove the loss of an item and without them all you have is your word that your item disappeared, which will probably not be enough.

These are all of the documents that Chase lists that you might have to submit with your claim.

  • Your completed and signed claim form
  • A copy of your card receipt
  • A copy of the itemized store receipt
  • if more than one method of payment was used, documentation linking the purchase back to the Account must be included
  • A copy of the police report (made within 48 hours of the occurrence in the case of theft), fire report, insurance claim, loss report or other report sufficient to determine your eligibility for Purchase Protection
  • A copy of your insurance declaration page, when applicable
  • Documentation (if available) of any other settlement of the loss
  • Any other documentation deemed necessary, in the Benefit Administrator’s sole discretion, to substantiate the claim

If the claim is for a damaged item:

To substantiate your claim, you may be asked to send the damaged item to the Benefit Administrator (at your expense). Therefore, it is always a good idea to hold on to the damaged item just in case you need to send it in.

Do I have to file a claim with my insurance company?

Yes.

If you have personal insurance, like homeowner’s, renter’s, or automobile insurance, you are required to file a claim with your insurance company and to submit a copy of any claims settlement from your insurance company along with your claim form.

At the discretion of the Benefit Administrator, a copy of your personal declaration page may be sufficient when the claim amount is within your personal insurance deductible.

Coverage is excess

Purchase Protection provides coverage on an “excess” coverage basis.

That means it does not duplicate, but pays in excess of, valid and collectible insurance or indemnity (including, but not limited to, homeowner, renter, automobile, or employer insurance policies).

After all insurance or indemnity has been exhausted, Purchase Protection will cover the loss up to the amount charged to your Account, and subject to the terms, exclusions, and limits of liability of the benefit.

This is why it’s not always a good idea to split large purchases because it can make utilizing benefits like this a headache and complicate the process.

Purchase Protection will also pay for the outstanding deductible portion of your insurance or indemnity for eligible claims.

Damages to part of a set of goods

Chase states:

Where a protected item is part of a pair or set, you will receive no more than the value (as described herein) of the particular part or parts, stolen or damaged, regardless of any special value that the item may have as part of such a pair or set, nor more than the proportionate part of an aggregate purchase price of such pair or set.

This sounds like it means that if you lose one item of a three part set (say some sort of fancy cookware), then you may be limited to 1/3 the price of the set.

That could pose a problem if you lost the most valuable part of a set so that might be something you can work out with them.

Purchase Protection is not “contributing” insurance, and this “non-contribution” provision shall take precedence over “non-contribution” provisions found in insurance or indemnity descriptions, policies, or contracts.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Additional Provisions for Purchase Protection

There are a few additional provisions that you might want to be aware of.

Due diligence

You shall use due diligence and do all things reasonable to avoid or diminish any loss or damage to property protected by this benefit.

Fraudulent claims

If you make any claim knowing it to be false or fraudulent in any respect including, but not limited to, the cost of repair services, no coverage shall exist for such claim and your benefits may be canceled.

Any and all relevant provisions shall be void in any case of fraud, intentional concealment, or misrepresentation of material fact by the Cardholder.

Claim file will be open for 6 months

Once you report an occurrence, a claim file will be opened and shall remain open for six months from the date of the damage or theft.

Claims must be substantiated within 6 months

No payment will be made on a claim that is not completely substantiated in the manner required by the Benefit Administrator within six months of the date of damage or theft.

You must give the Benefit Administrator all assistance as may reasonably be required to secure all rights and remedies.

Legal action

If you plan on taking legal action against them for your claims, there are a few requirements for that:

  • No legal action for a claim may be brought against the Provider until sixty (60) days after the Provider receives proof of loss.
  • No legal action against the Provider may be brought more than two (2) years after the time for giving proof of loss.
  • Further, no legal action may be brought against the Provider unless all the terms of this Guide to Benefit have been complied with fully.

How will I be reimbursed?

At its discretion and depending on the nature and circumstances of the incident, the Benefit Administrator may choose to address your claim in one of two ways:

Repaired or replaced

A damaged item may be repaired, rebuilt, or replaced wholly or in part. A stolen item may be replaced.

You will be notified of the decision to repair, rebuild, or replace your item within fifteen (15) days following receipt of the required proof-of-theft/damage documentation.

Reimbursed

You may be reimbursed for the covered item.

The reimbursement will be for no more than the original purchase price of the covered item as shown on your Account receipt, less shipping and handling charges, up to a maximum of $10,000 dollars per claim and $50,000 per year.

You will only be reimbursed up to the amount charged to your Account or the program limit whichever is less.

Under normal circumstances, reimbursement will take place within five business days of receipt and approval of all required documents.

You can read more from the official terms and conditions here.

4 tips for dealing with benefit claims

1. Prepare to be patient

If you’ve never dealt with a benefits administrator, you should know that things can move very slowly.

It’s not uncommon for these things to go on for several weeks or even months to get resolution. While patience will help you get through the process, don’t be afraid to call up and check on the status of your claim to make sure things are moving along.

2. Don’t be afraid to hound them

You will likely have to be the one to follow up on your claim because the agents will often not contact you to keep you in the loop.

3. It can be frustrating, stay calm

Sometimes they do things that are very annoying/frustrating like send requests for more information you’ve already sent to them. 

This happened to me a couple of times on one of my claims and it was driving me crazy. Do your best to stay calm. For the most part, the phone agents were pretty professional and usually sounded like they were interested in helping.

4. Stay organized

It’s very important to keep track of all of your documents and a record of everything you’ve sent them.

You should be able to view all of the documents you’ve submitted online, which is why I don’t recommend mailing in forms. But if you do, then you just need to keep even better records.

Final word

The Sapphire purchase protections for the Reserve are very strong. Make sure you get familiar with how these perks work so you don’t miss out on any value in the future. You might also be interested in learning more about the rental car insurance for the Reserve.

Barclays Aviator Companion Certificate Guide [2021]

A lot of credit cards offer a companion certificates or companion pass opportunities. Some of these are issued on an annual basis automatically but others require you to earn them with a bit of spend.

The Barclays Aviator companion certificate is one of those that you have to earn with your hard-earned spend. In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about this companion certificate, including whether or not it is worth it.

What is the Barclays Aviator companion certificate?

The Barclays Aviator companion certificate is a special perk you can earn by putting enough spend on a Barclays aviator credit card. The certificates come in different forms depending on the type of card that you have:

Card Name# of certificatesPriceSpend Requirement
AAdvantage Aviator Silver2$99$20,000
AAdvantage Aviator Business1$99$30,000
AAdvantage Aviator Red1$99$20,000

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Is the Aviator companion certificate worth it?

$20,000 is a lot and spend for many people so you want to make sure that you are putting your spend to good use for this perk.

Since this is a companion certificate, you obviously net more value by purchasing a more expensive fare.

A good way to analyze your value proposition is to consider the $99 fee plus the taxes and fees which may average around $130.

So to break even you basically want to purchase a ticket that is more expensive than $130 which should not be very difficult to do since you can use this for roundtrips.

For many card members, it’s not very difficult to get a couple of hundred dollars in value from this perk by purchasing a ticket between $300 and $500. For many domestic roundtrips in economy, that is probably a nice sweet spot to shoot for.

Note: the terms do exclude the most expensive economy fare classes.

Remember that the annual fee for the Aviator Red is $99 so if you were trying to offset that annual fee, you would need to purchase a ticket for at least ~$230. Again, that is not a very challenging task which is why this benefit allows these cards to be “keeper cards” for people who fly American Airlines.

Aviator companion certificate rules

Spend requirement

The $20,000 (or $30,000) in spend needs to be met during your account anniversary year (not calendar year) and the terms state that your account must remain open for at least 45 days after the anniversary date. As long as you meet those two requirements, you will be good to go.

Receiving the companion certificate

The terms also state to allow 8 to 10 weeks for the delivery of the certificate. This is on top of the 45 days you will be waiting after your anniversary date, so it could take a little while for your certificate to arrive after your anniversary date.

Don’t be surprised if it takes about two months from your account anniversary date for the perk to appear.

Your companion certificate should arrive in an email and the snail mail and it will provide you with directions on how to book.

Domestic routes in economy class

The companion certificate must be used on domestic routes only. Also, it is only valid for economy class fares. So if you want to experience American Airlines first class, this certificate won’t help you out there.

If you happen to be a resident of Alaska or Hawaii, the eligible travel is defined as a round-trip originating in either Alaska or Hawaii and continuing to the lower 48.

$99 minimum payment

When you use the companion certificate, you will have to pay $99 for the companion ticket plus any taxes and fees. Typically, these fees will range between $21 and $43 so be prepared to shell out a bit more cash for the ticket.

This is very similar to the Alaska Airlines companion certificate which also requires a similar payment.

Eligible routes and airlines

Eligible travel is defined as travel within the lower 48 (contiguous United States) but see the Hawaii and Alaska exception above.

The flights will need to be marketed and operated by American Airlines or marked it by American Airlines and operated by one of the following:

  • Compass Airlines
  • Envoy Air
  • Republic Airline
  • SkyWest Airlines
  • Mesa Airlines
  • PSA Airlines
  • Piedmont Airlines, Inc.

Note: the certificate is not available for travel on codeshare flights booked with an American Airlines flight number but operated by another airline.

Blackout dates

One drawback to this perk is that you may have to contend with black out dates when booking. You can check out the prior blackout dates below that were found (among other helpful details) via middleagemiles.

  • 2019: Jan 1-3; Feb 15-19; Mar 8-11; Mar 15-18; Mar 22-25; May 24-28; Jun 28-30; Jul 1-7; Nov 27-30; Dec 1-2; Dec 14-23; Dec 27-31
  • 2020: Jan 1-3; Feb 14-18; Mar 6-9; Mar 13-16; Mar 20-23; May 22-26; Jun 30; Jul 1-6; Nov 25-30; Dec 12-23; Dec 27-31

Upgrades

Upgrades are not allowed per the terms of the certificate. However, some have had success getting upgraded with elite status. This may not be the norm but you can certainly give it a try with the gate agent and you might have some luck.

14 days in advance

You will have to book your flights using your companion certificate at least 14 days prior to your departure.

You will also have to mail in forms which will need to be received seven days before your departure so slackers be warned, this is not a perk that you want to wait until the last minute to use.

Expiration

The companion certificate will be valid one year from the issue date. This means that you must make your booking and complete your travel by the expiration date. Once your companion certificate arrives, you should be able to view the travel expiration date.

Cancellations

One of the biggest drawbacks to this perk is that if you use the certificate and then cancel your flight, you will not be able to get your certificate replaced. So you need to be extremely careful when making a reservation.

How to book the companion certificate

When you receive your email, you will see the American Airlines meeting services phone number which is 800–433–1790.

You will need to have all of your reservation details on hand when you call this number including your flight details, AAdvantage number, and your companion certificate number.

As soon as you make a reservation, you need to mail in your companion certificate within the required time frame. American Airlines will need to receive this signed certificate within 14 days of your phone booking. If you fail to mail it in, your flight will not be ticketed.

(The agent on the phone should provide you with the address to send the certificate to.)

After you send off your certificate, be on the lookout in your email inbox for your eTicket.

FAQ

Do I have to use my American Airlines credit card to book?

Yes, you must pay for your tickets with the credit card that you earned the companion certificate with.

Will companions earn miles or elite credits on the flight?

The terms state that you will not earn miles or elite credits on the flight but in practice some people have earned both redeemable miles and elite qualifying miles.

Can I upgrade my ticket when using the certificate?

The terms and conditions state upgrades are prohibited but in practice some people have had success with obtaining upgrades. Your mileage may vary in this area.

When does the Aviator companion certificate expire?

The companion certificate will expire one year from issuance and the date of issuance will often be around two months from your anniversary date.

Can I use the companion certificate for basic economy fares?

No, basic economy fares are excluded.

Final word

This perk is a great way to offset the annual fee and to come out on top in terms of value. If you can book tickets of $200 or more, you can completely offset the annual fee and make up for the fees associated with this perk.

The major drawback to this perk is that it does require you to jump through some hoops for the booking and is a bit old-fashioned with forcing you to mail in a physical signed certificate.

But if you can deal with a little bit of legwork, this can be an awesome benefit to use every year.

Zales Credit Card (Payment Options, 0% APR, Review) [2021]

The Zales credit card is very popular for anyone thinking about making a large purchase at Zales.

That’s because it offers 0% APR for different lengths of time depending on the payment option that you go with. But is this card a good credit card option?

This article will dive in deep to review the Zales credit card’s benefits and show you why you need to be careful going with this card and its various payment options.

I’ll also show you how to save money when shopping at Zales and give you some info to ponder about Zales diamonds.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Zales (brief history & locations)

Zales is one of the most well-known jewelry stores in the US.

The company started back in 1924 in Wichita Falls, Texas, when Morris (M. B.) Zale, William Zale, and Ben Lipshy opened the first Zales Jewelers store.

As part of their marketing strategy, the Zale brothers launched a credit plan where customers paid “a penny down and a dollar a week,” which helped make  jewelry and other merchandise like cameras affordable for the average working American.

The success of this credit strategy led to the company expanding to12 stores in Oklahoma and Texas by 1941. Zales Jewelers eventually moved its headquarters from Wichita Falls to Dallas in 1946 and in 1998, it opened up online shopping at www.zales.com.

Over the past 90+ years, Zales grew from a single store selling jewelry, appliances and cameras to a major international jewelry corporation.

Zales has expanded to over 700 stores and become one of the largest fine jewelers in retail shopping malls across North America and Puerto Rico.

If you’re looking for a Zales store you can search for store locations here.

Who issues the Zales credit card?

Comenity is the parent company of Comenity Bank and Comenity Capital Bank and Comenity Capital Bank issues the Zales Credit Card.

Some report that if Comenity Bank approves you then you might have to put down money at the time of purchase. If Comenity Capital Bank approves you then you should get a standard credit line.

Comenity is also known for issuing various store credit cards, including:

  • Bed Bath & Beyond
  • Big Lot
  • Crate and Barrel 
  • DSW
  • Forever21
  • Game Stop
  • J. Crew
  • LOFT
  • And many, many others. 

I don’t usually hear a lot of great things about the Comenity customer service but I’ve never had a personal experience with them.

Zales Credit Card application

Here’s a breakdown of the Zales credit card benefit.

  • No down payment Everyday Promotional Plans
  • Receive exclusive cardholder coupons, jewelry inspection reminders and cleaning notifications via email** throughout the year
  • $50 Off a purchase of $149 or more on your birthday
  • Free standard shipping
  • 10% OFF any repair service when you use your Zales credit card

You can find the Zales credit card application here.

Zales Credit Card

No down payment; Everyday Promotional Plans

Being able to walk out of a jewelry store with no down payment is pretty special but you’ll only be able to do that if you sign-up for a special promotional plan.

There are two promotional plans available to cardholders.

  • No Interest if paid in full within 6, 12 or 18 months.
  • 9.99% APR if paid in full in 36 months

So if you can pay off your balance within 6 to 18 months you can get an interest free plan but if you extend it out to 36 months you you’ll have to pay 9.99% for your APR.

Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the purchase balance is not paid in full within the promotional period or if you make a late payment.

I’ll talk more about the deferred interest below, but one major factor to consider here is that you’ll be charged interest even if you make a late payment. Some report that they’re not able to set up auto-pay which could mean they are at a bigger risk to miss a payment.

So if you struggle to pay your bills on time, this could be a very bad thing because failing to pay your bill on time could amount to hundreds or even thousands of dollars worth of interest fees.

Receive exclusive cardholder coupons, jewelry inspection reminders and cleaning notifications via email throughout the year

Jewelry inspection and cleaning notifications can be important because under some care plans, you can lose the perks if you don’t regularly get your piece inspected or cleaned.

For example, Zales states:

You may have your Zales diamond cleaned and inspected as many times as you want, free of charge, for as long as you own it. To maintain your Lifetime Diamond Commitment limited warranty, you need only bring your diamond to Zales every six months for cleaning and inspection, along with your record-keeping card.

So if you miss an appointment, you can miss out on that valuable perk.

And while it’s very easy to mark your own calendar to remind yourself about making an appointment, it is nice to receive an automatic reminder just in case you forget to mark it down or mark it down incorrectly.

But still, I wouldn’t put that much value in this benefit.

I’m also not sure about the frequency that coupons are sent out to cardmembers. I didn’t find a lot of raving reviews about them so it makes me feel like they’re not that special.

Also, Zales regularly puts on many sales and promotions so it’s not like there’s a shortage of those to go around.

$50 Off a purchase of $149 or more on your birthday

This is a decent benefit since it is essentially a $50 sign-up bonus which for a store card is okay. But this perk is often offered when signing up for the Zales email list so it’s not very exclusive (although some require you to spend $300).

Accounts opened in your birthday month or in the 2 months prior to your birthday will receive the birthday benefit during your birthday month the following calendar year.

It honestly feels a little cheap that you don’t get your discount if your birthday is in the two months following when you open up your card and that you have to wait 14 months for that coupon to come around.

Tip: If you want to save money on your Zales purchase then be sure you go through a shopping portal to earn cash back. It’s often possible to get over 5% back through many portals.

You can check the current cash back rates on CashBackMonitor.

Free standard shipping

You’ll get free standard shipping (3-5 business days) valid for the U.S. and U.S. territories when you use your Zales credit card.

It would be nice if they offered expedited shipping since some promos found on the Zales website offer free shipping on other purchases. So you’re really not coming out that far ahead.

10% Off any repair service when you use your Zales credit card

I know quite a few people who have purchased or received nice jewelry over the past few years but not many of them have needed repairs. And if they did, the repairs weren’t that expensive.

So getting 10% off something you will rarely need that’s likely not that expensive in the first place, isn’t the strongest benefit.

Overall

Overall, this is not a very strong credit card when it comes to the benefits department.

They don’t offer a lot of unique value propositions and so the card doesn’t stand out. The strongest point of the card is the 0% APR that you’re eligible for but that perk comes with a lot of warning as shown below.

But the 0% APR with no down payment is very competitive.

As a point of comparison, the Jared credit card requires a down payment for its lowest special financing plans.

Specifically, the Jared credit card requires:

  • 12 Month Special Financing: $1,000 minimum purchase and 20% down payment require
  • 18 Month Special Financing: $5,000 minimum purchase and 20% down payment required.

Also, the Kay Jewelers credit card also requires a down payment for its lowest special financing plans ($500 minimum purchase and 20% down payment required).

So if you’re not wanting to make a down payment for an engagement/wedding ring, the Zales credit card can be one of the best jewelry store cards.

Tip: If you’re in need of a guide for engagement rings, check out this article here.

Zales Credit Card payment options

The biggest perk of this card is the ability to pay 0% interest on your purchases.

But you need to proceed with tons of caution on this.

As already stated, missing one payment can kick in interest. But if you fail to pay off your balance in time that can also kick in interest as shown below.

Deferred interest

Deferred interest can be a beautiful thing when you pay off your balance in the required time.

How it works is that you’re allowed to receive special financing for a large purchase like an engagement ring.

If you pay off your entire balance within the promotional period (e.g., 6 months, 12 months, etc.) then you don’t pay any interest. But if you fail to pay off that balance, you’ll get hit with all of the interest from those prior months.

About 1 in 5 people do not pay off their balances in time when dealing with deferred interest. 

And the data is even more revealing when you break it down by credit scores.

People with “deep subprime credit scores” only pay off their deferred interest balance 46 percent of the time. So if you’ve got a poor credit score, the statistics say that you are more likely to fall victim to deferred interest — this should be a major red flag.

People with “super-prime credit scores” payed off their balance by the deadline 86 percent of the time. So if you’ve got a perfect credit score or at least a great credit score, you probably will be able to avoid the interest based on the stats.

In the end, it all comes down to how responsible you are and how prepared you are to deal with potential surprises down the road that could interfere with your ability to pay off your cards. If you’re financially stable, deferred interest isn’t so bad.

How much can you owe in deferred interest?

The amount owed will obviously vary based on the purchase price of the jewelry but because were’ dealing with diamonds, gold, and other expensive materials, the potential for paying a lot in interest is huge.

Men spend an average of $5,978 on engagement rings. If you assume that much on a purchase and interest at 29.99% for 18 months, the total spent on interest would be $2689.20!

And that’s with the average cost.

So in many cases, this can result in owing thousands of dollars. 

If the balance is not paid in full in 36 months or if you fail to make any payment when due, regular credit terms will apply and interest will be imposed from the end of the promotional period at the standard, variable Purchase APR of 29.99%, based on the Prime Rate.

So not only will you owe interest, but you’ll owe interest at a very high rate.

Why this is all such an issue

A lot of people don’t understand how deferred interest works, so they end up signing up for these programs without even knowing what they are getting themselves into.

Then they miss a payment or don’t pay off their balance 100% and the next thing they know, they feel like they’ve been blind-sighted with a $2,000 surprise bill.

And then there’s a lot of people also don’t have experience in dealing with deferred interest or even credit cards in general for that matter.

All it takes is you getting a little sloppy with your record keeping or organization for you to make a simple mistake that could cost you thousands of dollars.

So unless you’re a very organized and disciplined person, you may not be the best fit for a deferred interest payment plant.

You can read more about deferred interest here.

Fees

For purchases made under the 12 and 18 months promotional Credit Plans, they will add a transaction fee of $9.95 per transaction.

However, when you make a purchase under the 6 months promotional Credit Plan, they will waive the transaction fee of $9.95. It also seems that you can get the fee waived for 36 month plans.

This seems like a very pesky fee but it’s something to be aware of so that you can consolidate your transactions the best way that you can.

Can you get the Zales Credit Card with bad credit?

One of the great things about the Zales Credit Card is that you don’t need superior credit to qualify for the card.

People have gotten approved for this card with credit scores in the 500s though you might want to try to get your score up into the 600s so that you have better approval odds and can get a credit line you’ll actually be able to use (remember, this is a jewelry store).

If your credit score is really low then there are some cards that will offer you decent options to help rebuild your credit score.

These include the following cards:

Discover it Secured Credit Card

Low Credit Score Credit Cards

  • No annual fee
  • Minimum deposit is $200
  • No late fee on first payment and paying late wont increase APR
  • Rewards (see below)
  • Reports to all three credit bureaus
  • Free FICO score

Capital One® Secured Mastercard®

Bad Credit Score Credit Cards

  • No annual fee
  • Minimum deposit is $49, $99, $200
  • Variable  APR 24.99%
  • Credit line increase possible
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Reports to all three credit bureaus

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

  • No annual fee
  • Get access to a higher credit line after making your first 5 monthly payments on time
  • Fraud coverage if your card is lost or stolen

You can also read my guide on how to instantly improve your credit score if you think you’re in need of a boost.

Final word

The Zales card isn’t a horrible card if you’re responsible and you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into. In that case, getting 0% APR on your large purchases can be a great benefit that saves you tons of money.

The only issue is that there is the potential for this to backfire for many and there aren’t a lot of other solid perks that make this card attractive. I’d probably just go with another 0% APR card if that was the benefit I needed since those other options can present you with more value.

Delta Reserve Lounge Access Guide (Guests & Restrictions) [2021]

For those who frequently fly Delta Airlines and are interested in airport lounge access, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve is a great option. It comes with a number of different lounge access benefits but how exactly do these benefits work and what are the limitations?

In this article, I will break down all of the details related to Delta SkyMiles Reserve lounge access, including things like the guest policies.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve overview

  • Solid welcome bonus available at times
  • 3X on Delta
  • 1X on all other purchases
  • Delta Sky Club access
  • Centurion Lounge access
  • Escape Lounge access
  • Companion certificate
  • Status boost
  • Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check credit
  • Upgrade priority
  • First checked bag free (learn more)
  • Priority boarding
  • 20% discount on in-flight purchases

Related: Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum Review

Delta SkyMiles Reserve Lounge access policy

Like many other credit cards with a high annual fee, one of the core benefits of this premium card is airport lounge access.

Over the past couple of years we have seen the lounge access for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve expand to include more options, thus bringing more value to cardmembers.

As a cardmember you are now given access to the following lounges:

  • Delta Sky Clubs
  • Centurion Lounges
  • Escape Lounges

However, there are a lot of terms that apply to your entry and to any guests you may want to bring along. So keep reading below for more details.

Related: Delta SkyMiles Value Guide

JFK Sky Club counter seating

Delta Sky Club access

Delta Sky Clubs are the branded lounges for Delta Airlines that you can find in many locations. With the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, you will be granted two different types of Delta Sky Club access: 1) complimentary entry and 2) one-time guest passes.

Complimentary entry

Delta SkyMiles Reserve receive complimentary Delta Sky Club access when traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight.

This access is only for the individual cardmember which includes the primary cardholder and also authorized users.

Card members traveling on a Delta partner flight that is not marketed or operated by Delta can still access the lounge but at an exclusive per visit rate of $39 per person, per location.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve members can also bring up to two guests or immediate family members at the exclusive per visit rate of $39 per person, per location. (Children under 2 years of age may accompany the card member for free.)

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card must be used as the payment method to receive the exclusive per-visit rate.

Also, guests must be flying on same day Delta or Delta partners.

In order to gain entry you must present your card, same day Delta or Delta partner boarding pass, and your government issued ID. The name on your boarding pass must match the name on the card.

Also, individuals must be at least 18 years of age to access the Delta sky club and 21 years of age to access locations with a self-service bar, unless they are accompanied by a supervising adult who has access to the club.

Guest passes

As a Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardmember, you will also receive two one-time guest passes when you open up your account and each account anniversary after that.

This means that you can bring a guest with you for free up to two times every year.

You will be able to find these guest passes in your Wallet in the Fly Delta app and in My Profile on delta.com under Certificates, eCredits, and Vouchers.

These guest passes will expire within one year from the date of issuance. If your account anniversary month changes your passes will be issued within your new renewal month.

In order to use this guest pass, you must present your card, same day Delta or Delta partner boarding pass, and your government issued ID.

Something super important to note is that the Basic Card Member must be present in order to use the one-time guest passes. Also, the guests must be traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight.

You can only use two one-time guest passes per visit.

ATL F concourse Sky Club outdoor deck

Centurion Lounge access

Amex Centurion Lounges are some of the nicest lounges found in the US.

They are known for having some of the best food, service, and decor especially when compared to the lounges offered by the major domestic carriers. They are usually associated with Platinum Cards but access was opened up to certain Delta cards relatively recently.

When you book your Delta flight with the Reserve card, you can get complimentary access to Amex Centurion lounges. This applies to both the basic card member and the authorized users.

Note: the eligible flight must be booked on a U.S. issued American Express charge or credit card.

You can also bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person but guests must be traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight.

To get access you will need to present your card, a boarding pass showing a reservation for Delta Airlines, and a government issued ID.

A card member must be at least 18 years of age to enter without a parent or legal guardian. If there is a self-service bar, the cardmember must be of the legal drinking age in the jurisdiction to enter without a parent or guardian.

Escape Lounge access

Escape Lounges offer complimentary food, drinks (including alcoholic beverages), high-speed Wi-Fi, charging stations, and areas to relax and enjoy some comfortable space away from the crowds. Many of these lounges are found at smaller airports but you can also find these at bigger airports like Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

They now go by the new name “Escape Lounges – The Centurion® Studio Partner.”

It sounds a lot fancier but as far as I know this was just a re-brand of the name and nothing substantive about the lounges has changed as of yet.

However, one thing that did change with the re-brand is that access was given to Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders.

The key thing to note here is that access was given to card members when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight.

This is the big distinction between the Platinum Card which offers access regardless of which airline you’re flying on.

To access these lounges you will need to present your Delta SkyMiles Reserve card, a boarding pass showing your reservation for same-day travel on Delta, and also your government-issued ID.

If the cardmember is under 21 years old, they may need a parent or guardian to be with them for some lounges.

Something else to note is that the eligible flight must be booked on a US issued American Express credit card.

This means that you could still use the Platinum Card to purchase your airfare as long as you still had your Delta SkyMiles Reserve on hand.

As far as guests go, the terms state that card members may bring up to two guests at a per visit rate equal to the guest fee of the Escape Lounge location. You should also note that guests must be traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight.

Final word

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve continues to receive more lounge benefits and it is quickly becoming one of the best cards for lounge access. I would still go with the Platinum Card above this card for lounge benefits not to mention all of the other perks but the value is definitely starting to rack up in the lounge department for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve.

Amex Platinum $179 CLEAR Credit: Discounts Explained [2021]

The Amex Platinum CLEAR credit is one of the easier credits to use available on the card. But there are some steps that you should take if you would like to maximize this credit, especially if you have a membership with United or Delta and are planning to add family members to your account. In this article, I’ll break down everything you need to know about the $179 Amex Platinum CLEAR credit.

What is the Amex Platinum CLEAR credit?

The Amex Platinum CLEAR credit is a perk offered by the Platinum Card and Business Platinum Card that allows you to offset the cost of a CLEAR membership by $179 every year.

Tip: Use WalletFlo to help you keep track of all of your credits! It’s free and is one of the best ways to manage all your credit cards and promotions!

What exactly is CLEAR?

CLEAR is a special service available at 50+ airports nationwide that allows you to jump ahead of the line whether you are in the standard TSA security checkpoint line or if you have TSA Pre-Check.

It works by obtaining your biometric data such as scans of your fingerprint, eyes, or facial features and storing them in an encrypted manner. It then verifies your identity by matching your biometrics with its database every time you visit the airport.

It’s one of the best ways to save a lot of time when flying on busy days since even the TSA Pre-Check line can get long. CLEAR also offers expedited entry into select stadiums around the US. You can read more about CLEAR here.

LGA Terminal C CLEAR TSA Pre-Check

How to use the Amex Platinum credit

It’s very easy to utilize your Amex Platinum CLEAR credit. First, you will need to enroll in the CLEAR program. You can do that by using this link right here or one of the partner links below (which I recommend).

If you already have a membership all you need to do is log-in but if you have not created an account you will need to do that. If you are enrolling online, enrollment will be a two-step process.

First, you will fill out all of your basic information online. All you need to input is your contact information and date of birth and then provide the form of payment which in this case needs to be your American Express Platinum Card.

Both the primary cardmember and authorized users can trigger the credit but there is only one $179 credit available across all accounts. Also, keep in mind this credit is issued every calendar year.

Important: If you have a membership with United or Delta then make sure that you sign up through the partner pages (Link for Delta; Link for United) that allow you to input your frequent flyer number. Otherwise, you will not see the discount whenever you proceed to do the registration.

The Platinum clear credit will cover the cost of my membership plus my spouse’s.

After you submit your information you should receive an email asking you to set up your accounts which really just means set a password to your account.

The next major step of enrollment is to visit a CLEAR airport location in order to finalize your enrollment. CLEAR should provide you with the closest location after you submit your contact information. (You do NOT need to set up an appointment at the airport location.)

All you need is your government issued ID in order to complete the process. You can actually use CLEAR as soon as you enroll.

CLEAR memberships automatically renew each year unless canceled, so you want to keep track of your enrollment date. Also, American Express has no control over the application and/or approval process for CLEAR. (If your application is not approved, you will receive a refund for the charges.)

It could take up to 2 to 4 weeks after your CLEAR transaction for your statement credit to post. If you do not see a credit after 4 weeks, call the number on the back of your card.

CLEAR Costs

The standard cost for an annual CLEAR membership is $179 per year. You can also add up to 3 adult family members for $60 each per year. (Children under 18 can simply tag along for free and there is no enrollment needed.)

If you plan on using the credit for more than one person you really need to make sure that you take advantage of any discounts available to you. Just by signing up for the frequent flyer programs of either Delta or United you can save yourself a good amount ($60) so I think everyone should at least look into that.

Below are some of the discounts you may be eligible for.

SkyMiles Members

  • Diamond Medallion® Members: Free
  • Platinum/Gold/Silver Medallion Members: $109
  • Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members: $109
  • General Members: $119

United

  • Premier® 1K® members: Free
  • Premier Platinum/Gold/Silver members: $109
  • United U.S. Credit Cardmembers: $109
  • MileagePlus members: $119

Amex Green Card

It is also worth noting that the American Express Green Card comes with a $100 CLEAR credit.

If you have both the Platinum and the Green card, you could add your second and third family member separately after you sign up with the Platinum and change your payment method to the Green Card if you wanted to maximize the credits for both the Platinum and the Green Card. I have not personally tried this but I think it would work.

Students

Once verified, students can get a membership for $50 per year.

Promos

Promotions for CLEAR memberships are always going out.

Sometimes they are giving away one month for free but other times I have seen free trials for up to six months. In addition, you can get discounts such as two months free for referring your friend. Other discounts may allow you to add family members for a small discount.

Unless you have multiple family members you probably don’t need to wait for a discount because your $179 credit can cover your membership as well as an additional one.

Which airports have CLEAR?

CLEAR is available at 50+ locations which include the following:

  • Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  • Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
  • Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
  • Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
  • Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD)
  • Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
  • Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
  • Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
  • Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL)
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)
  • Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
  • William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)
  • George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
  • McCarran International Airport (LAS)
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
  • Miami International Airport (MIA)
  • Minneapolis−Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)
  • Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
  • LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
  • Nashville International Airport (BNA)
  • Westchester County Airport (HPN)
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  • Orlando International Airport (MCO)
  • Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
  • Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
  • San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
  • San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
  • St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
  • Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
  • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
  • Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Final word

The combination of CLEAR and TSA Pre-Check is one of the ultimate ways to breeze through an airport even during peak business hours. Now that the Platinum offers a credit that can cover the cost of not only a single membership but also an additional family member’s, it’s easier than ever to get on board with CLEAR.

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