New Amtrak Guest Rewards Master Card - Fall 2015

[jis]

I think the 1K spend requirement negates the need for a 1099 because the bonus is considered a rebate. If the bonus were just handed over at signup, it may be taxable.

I think you are spot on. That is why bonuses given out upon opening a bank account are reported on 1099, while rebates offered after spending a bunch of money on this or that are not.

 

[bobg252]

I played the phone game for an hour this morning, kept getting told I would have to wait for my letter and they would review my app and have an answer for me in 30 days...

I kept asking for manager and telling them this was not acceptable, that we know why we were all rejected. and apparently it is fixed now.

I told them that those of us in limbo would just like to know how to get the process going again.

Finally they took my number and admitted they they were working on issue with us in limbo and would call me back in 2-3 business days...

i'll be waiting for that call.............

 

[Ryan]

Or you could spend 5 minutes and do it online again? Others have reported success with that.

 

[bobg252]

Or you could spend 5 minutes and do it online again? Others have reported success with that.

that was one of my questions for them was what would happen if I did that, I could get no definite answer from

anyone.

I may just try that, I would wait, except the trip i already have scheduled for the first 2 weeks of oct, i would like to earn

AGR points for my hotels and rentals etc..

 

[Trailrider1951]

Well, I just applied and was approved, for more credit than Chase gave me, LOL. I also am retired, and "lower income" than I used to be, but I have good credit. Now I'm glad I haven't reserved my trip to Seattle in November yet. I can use this trip on this card to count toward receiving the 12000 bonus points.

More free coach trips. Thanks Amtrak!

 

[Bob Dylan]

Just got an E-mail from BOA with an Up Sale offer to apply for the World MC instead of the Lowly Platinum Card!

Since I hadn't applied yet ( was still awaiting further info from AGR, BOA amd and other AU Members, and a better Bonus points offer, I called them.

Was connected with an agent ( "customer service specialist") in India. Since I don't speak English ( I'm from Texas! LOL)we had communication problems.

Finally I was told I had been pre-approved for the Platinum Card with X$$ CL ( Lower than the Chase MC) yada yada. If I wanted to accept, I would receive the Card in 7-10 Business days etc. etc.

If I wanted the World Card, just say the Word.( I do have excellent Credit, but a fixed retirement income).I asked if there was any better better offers on the Bonus Points and other sign-up perks and was told no!

I declined to apply for the World Card since I don't travel that much anymore, won't be riding Amtrak as much under the New AGR2.0 that favors the NEC, and the coupons and the 8,000 points points aren't worth the $79 Annual Fee to me.

Finally decided, what the hey, I'll take the AGR Platinum Card since I'm going to cancel the Mandatory Chase Freedom VISA replacement Card when I receive it! ( you cant opt out, it's a done deal! Bad on Chase for this!)

So in 7-10 Biz Days I'll have a New AGR Platinum MC, a Chase Sapphire Prefered Card, and a Credit Union Signature VISA and be able to answer " What's in your wallet?"

Be interesting to see the expierences others are having, in what looks like a Keystone Kops operation by Chase, BOA and AGR/Amtrak!!!

 

[Anderson]

I saw the mention of that. To quote, "The value of this reward may constitute taxable income to you. You may be issued an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 (or other appropriate form) that reflects the value of such reward."

The language feels like more of a CYA statement than one of "You will get a 1099".

 

[SteveSFL]

Well, it looks like the concerns about Bank of America were well founded. I called the number this morning to find out about getting my "pending" application approved.

I was initially given the "we'll send you a letter in 30 days" response. I asked to speak to a manager, and I explained to her that this technical difficulty they had was really going to be a problem for the loyal card users. She just said, "sorry there's nothing we can do".

I then explained that this matter is being discussed on various frequent traveler forums and other people have had their applications processed when they called in after the online "pending" issue. She finally offered to take my number and call me back "within 2 to 3 business days."

What a bunch of crap.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Just applied and my application is under review. I expect to be denied due to low income. In my case, a very high credit rating doesn't mean a thing.

There is no single rating that all credit decisions are tied to. In fact there are as many as a half dozen ratings that may be consulted at any one time. At this point America's credit rating criteria are so vague, so all encompassing, and so opaque that there is basically no way to fully understand how your various credit ratings are maintained or impacted in any detailed sense. I've seen people who can't manage a budget to save their life receive cards they had no business using. I've seen people who never went into debt and were always very responsible be denied over and over again by every card company. I think what the credit card companies desire most of all are people who are irresponsible enough to repeatedly slip into relatively minor amounts of debt and yet still responsible enough to pay it all back at severely punitive interest rates.

I think the primary reason credit issuers do business with people who can't manage a budget comes from knowing that, unlike a business, consumers can no longer simply wipe the slate clean with bankruptcy. I think the primary reason credit issuers do business with people who have excellent credit is because they know that any given American only needs a single major legal or medical complication to rack up enormous amounts of debt. However, if you manage to reach a low income high safety net period at the end of your life then your value as a credit user is probably rather minimal. Luckily for credit issuers the tax funded safety net at the end of your life is being reduced over time. By the time I'm too old to work the end of life safety net will be worth half of what it was for you. By the time the next generation is too old to work there may be no practical safety net at all.

 

[Sauve850]

I applied and got a pending like others. Took advice and reapplied. Got another pending so I called as others have. Took less than 5 minutes and I was approved she said, twice!

 

[Bob Dylan]

Just applied and my application is under review. I expect to be denied due to low income. In my case, a very high credit rating doesn't mean a thing.

Maybe not Betty! I'm in the same Boat and they approved me for the Platinum Card ( lower CL than the Chase MC) and tried to Up- Sell me to the World Card!

If you didn't receive a notification on -line already, I suggest you call, its a Cluster Flub on-line but people are being approved over the phone quickly!

866-751-1257

 

[chrsjrcj]

I applied online and was denied. Called and they said I had insufficient credit history. That's funny because they gave me my first ever credit card. I also have six other cards (including the chase Amtrak card and two Amex cards). I went into the branch and no dice.

What a joke.

 

[Anderson]

I don't think this process has done wonders for anyone's opinion of Bank of America. AGR's got some collateral damage IMHO: At a bare minimum they ought to have insisted on being able to run some applications that "ought" to be accepted through the system. Ideally they would have arranged to auto-convert everyone to the no-fee card, but there might have been an issue in terms of the Chase contract with that. The counter-example (Continental's conversion) was probably a side-effect of the merger happening (something which probably triggered a conflict between the existing contracts on both sides).

 

[bobg252]

Well, it looks like the concerns about Bank of America were well founded. I called the number this morning to find out about getting my "pending" application approved.

I was initially given the "we'll send you a letter in 30 days" response. I asked to speak to a manager, and I explained to her that this technical difficulty they had was really going to be a problem for the loyal card users. She just said, "sorry there's nothing we can do".

I then explained that this matter is being discussed on various frequent traveler forums and other people have had their applications processed when they called in after the online "pending" issue. She finally offered to take my number and call me back "within 2 to 3 business days."

What a bunch of crap.

tha'ts basically a duplicate of my morning ;-)

 

[JayPea]

Re-applied online and got the Pending message. Tried calling and spent 10 minutes on hold and never did get a hold of an agent. If I have to beg and grovel and wait on pins and needles to find out about being accepted it is not worth the hassle.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I don't think this process has done wonders for anyone's opinion of Bank of America.

The people who spoke positively about BOA previously didn't seem to mind (or even notice) that they had nickeled and dimed other customers or that they repeatedly discriminated against minorities or that they nearly bankrupted the country and with risky mortgages and credit default swaps. Policies which helped create a tidal wave of unmitigated financial destruction that eventually spread across the rest of the world. So why would they hold this relatively minor infraction against them now? If anything the pro-BOA folks are probably cheering them on.

 

[jis]

Re-applied online and got the Pending message. Tried calling and spent 10 minutes on hold and never did get a hold of an agent. If I have to beg and grovel and wait on pins and needles to find out about being accepted it is not worth the hassle.

Eventually you will be told that either:

1. you will get a letter in 30 days

or

2. You will hear from us in 2 to 3 business days

or if you are really lucky

3. You may even get accepted on the spot. Seems pretty random so far.

But having to wait a few days for a decision is generally not unusual at all. 30 days is beyond any reasonable business concerned with customer service. But then one could have a fun chat about what BoA's business model is

 

[Jim G.]

Here is my laugh for the day...Applied yesterday for the World Card. Denied. Called today and talked to a nice young lady. I told her I heard they had issues with online applications yesterday and I would like her to review my application. After a couple of minutes on hold, she came back and told me that my application was denied and after I received the denial letter I could write in and ask for reconsideration. I have a high Fico score, low CC balance, and never missed a payment in my life. After I hung up, I thought I'd play with BOA a little bit. I went back online and applied for the Platinum card. Same info as for the World Card. In less than 60 seconds, I was approved with a $6000.00 credit line, a confirmation number, and a Thank You for being a BOA customer. Go figure!! I'm still Laughing!

 

[jis]

They would rather not collect the $79 fee from you. Don;t you get it. They are really user friendly

 

[willem]

Apparently one cannot apply for the card at BOA's web site. It isn't listed. Seems odd.

I was looking because I couldn't remember if anyone had commented on whether the 5% rebate for redemptions continued with the new card. The page at AGR's application page says yes, for both cards.

I don't have the Chase AGR card. I booked a rewards trip after Chase stopped offering the AGR card. If I get the BOA card (either one) before I travel, will I get the 5% rebate? Who would decide, BOA or AGR?

 

[Everydaymatters]

Just applied and my application is under review. I expect to be denied due to low income. In my case, a very high credit rating doesn't mean a thing.

Maybe not Betty! I'm in the same Boat and they approved me for the Platinum Card ( lower CL than the Chase MC) and tried to Up- Sell me to the World Card!If you didn't receive a notification on -line already, I suggest you call, its a Cluster Flub on-line but people are being approved over the phone quickly!

866-751-1257

I did as you said, Jim. Surprise! I did get approved! My only income is Social Security, which probably puts me on the same income level as a minimum wage worker at McDonalds. So happy news for low wage employees. Apparently you can get this card as long as you keep paying your bills as agreed.

 

[Ryan]

The 5% rebate happens at the time of booking. Since you didn't have it when you booked, you don't get it.

Since we're still under the old rules, if you get a card now, then cancel and re-book the trip after you get it, you'll get the rebate. Up to ou if it's worth the effort.

 

[Bob Dylan]

And the hits just keep on coming!

Yep, the Bean Counters and Marketing Wizards @ BOA don't seem to want the $79 fee and the Higher Spend that Credit Worthy customers would provide! Unless, as in my case, they do!!!

Cue the Marx Brothers and the Keystone Kops!

Is this any way to run a Railroad, er Bank?????

 

[Dovecote]

My wife and I are planning to apply for the annual fee card. The 20k bonus points for each of us will come in handy for a cross country trip in sleepers before the late January zone elimination. Coupled with the Companion fare and Upgrade certificate the $79 annual fee more than pays for itself.

Before we apply I have a couple of questions that hopefully I can get some guidance on. My wife currently has a BOA Travel Rewards Signature Visa. This is a card she inherited after BOA pulled out of the AGR agreement a few years ago. Would she be able to cancel her existing BOA card and replace it with the new BOA AGR card? If that can be done would her credit score take a ding for canceling the one card?

The other question revolves around annual income on the application form. Does the annual income pertain to individual or household income?

 

[Devil's Advocate]

But having to wait a few days for a decision is generally not unusual at all. 30 days is beyond any reasonable business concerned with customer service. But then one could have a fun chat about what BoA's business model is though it is not probably as extremely bad as DA makes it sound like

Hundred million in fines and penalties, tens of billions in direct taxpayer bailouts, and hundreds of billions in over-leveraged liability. Who in their right mind considers that less than extremely bad? This kind of attitude is why I don't fear a government shutdown. Average Americans apparently need even more financial pain before they'll bother to look up and take notice of what is going on around them. Perhaps this is just another example of how knowledge is suffering while ignorance is bliss?