Thank you for your comment!! I’m so happy to help 🥰 this was one of those cases where I didn’t realize how much I actually knew about this topic until my most recent trip and the latest “snafu”. 😂
I’ve learned so much in reading these hacks! Wow…It’s actually kind of bittersweet for me as I feel like I really screwed up with my credit cards while living in the Philippines and not having a job for a few months. Oh the regret! I never had a travel card but I had so many others. I’m telling you, Kimberly, I have no idea how to come back from that blow, so reading this article has reinforced my grief about the mistakes I made with my credit cards.
Is there any way to come back after they’ve gone into collections?
Ohhhh I’m so sorry to hear that! I’ve had to build my credit up from zero twice in the past. The last time I had to get a consolidation loan after one of my businesses went bankrupt (not actual bankruptcy but I ended up in $25k credit card debt from the business). The consolidation loan was great and I highly recommend this if it’s not too late. They called all my credit cards and negotiated a much lower fee, plus lower interest rates. I did have to pay an amount equivalent to my rent for 5 years and cut up all my credit cards BUT I was able to pay it all back. Then to build up your credit back up you get a credit card, even a secured one, and you spend $100 on it and pay back the minimum each month. You do this for a year at least, then you will qualify for a travel credit card. I built my credit back up over the years and even now, at times, I put $100 on one card and set up monthly auto monthly minimum payments. I’ve never been in collections but I assume that the consolidation loan company could help with that. I hope this helps!!
Super helpful! I did not know that about going directly to the airline’s site vs using the credit card’s. I only use Chase currently so hearing about your BS experience with them is really good to know for going forward. I hope they get zinged by karma for being so crappy to you!
I'm so glad this was helpful! You can always ask me as well, I'm happy to help walk you through it :) I honestly think that customer service agents get so much crap from most people that that's their karma already! I wouldn't be able to do that job!
I'm not happy that United does this, but if you fly them more than once a year using their miles, having one of their credit cards opens up a lot of flight options that are "cardmember exclusives". Because of where I live in the US (tiny regional airport with 7 outbound flights a day) United is the best option for most of my trips anyway. While American serves here too, their routing often involves long layovers or a major dogleg to Phoenix.
Thank you so much for your comment Katie, this is very helpful! I've never used an airline exclusive card but I do know some people who love them. It wouldn't work for me since I live in Europe but it's great that you're making it work because it sounds like your options are so limited.
Yayyy! Thank you so much for your comment Daniel!! It wasn’t until I purchased my latest plane ticket with points that I realized after doing this for 10 years, I can hopefully help others do it too!!
Thanks! So much great info here. Thanks for taking the time to do all the research and share!
Thank you for your comment!! I’m so happy to help 🥰 this was one of those cases where I didn’t realize how much I actually knew about this topic until my most recent trip and the latest “snafu”. 😂
It's amazing once you start writing sometimes to realize how much you know, right?!
YES! Also, when someone asks a question and you know the answer!!! It's so cool 😄
I’ve learned so much in reading these hacks! Wow…It’s actually kind of bittersweet for me as I feel like I really screwed up with my credit cards while living in the Philippines and not having a job for a few months. Oh the regret! I never had a travel card but I had so many others. I’m telling you, Kimberly, I have no idea how to come back from that blow, so reading this article has reinforced my grief about the mistakes I made with my credit cards.
Is there any way to come back after they’ve gone into collections?
Ohhhh I’m so sorry to hear that! I’ve had to build my credit up from zero twice in the past. The last time I had to get a consolidation loan after one of my businesses went bankrupt (not actual bankruptcy but I ended up in $25k credit card debt from the business). The consolidation loan was great and I highly recommend this if it’s not too late. They called all my credit cards and negotiated a much lower fee, plus lower interest rates. I did have to pay an amount equivalent to my rent for 5 years and cut up all my credit cards BUT I was able to pay it all back. Then to build up your credit back up you get a credit card, even a secured one, and you spend $100 on it and pay back the minimum each month. You do this for a year at least, then you will qualify for a travel credit card. I built my credit back up over the years and even now, at times, I put $100 on one card and set up monthly auto monthly minimum payments. I’ve never been in collections but I assume that the consolidation loan company could help with that. I hope this helps!!
I will check on this because I think I might be too late but it's worth checking into. Thank you so much for this!
I really hope it’s not too late!!!!! If you want the name and information of the company I used, let me know!!! I can DM you ❤️
Super helpful! I did not know that about going directly to the airline’s site vs using the credit card’s. I only use Chase currently so hearing about your BS experience with them is really good to know for going forward. I hope they get zinged by karma for being so crappy to you!
I'm so glad this was helpful! You can always ask me as well, I'm happy to help walk you through it :) I honestly think that customer service agents get so much crap from most people that that's their karma already! I wouldn't be able to do that job!
I did it for 3 years (call center) and it was a living hell. But I was never rude to anyone so that rude Chase agent you had was not ok!
I'm not happy that United does this, but if you fly them more than once a year using their miles, having one of their credit cards opens up a lot of flight options that are "cardmember exclusives". Because of where I live in the US (tiny regional airport with 7 outbound flights a day) United is the best option for most of my trips anyway. While American serves here too, their routing often involves long layovers or a major dogleg to Phoenix.
Thank you so much for your comment Katie, this is very helpful! I've never used an airline exclusive card but I do know some people who love them. It wouldn't work for me since I live in Europe but it's great that you're making it work because it sounds like your options are so limited.
These are awesome travel hacks! I hear a lot of good things about Chase and Wells Fargo so thanks for confirming their benefits.
Yayyy! Thank you so much for your comment Daniel!! It wasn’t until I purchased my latest plane ticket with points that I realized after doing this for 10 years, I can hopefully help others do it too!!
I’m still figuring out how to get the most out of points so this post was helpful!
Oh good!!! Sometimes we all have to go through some trial and error too before it works. 😳