M$ speed bumps

[cv91915]

We sell sea shells by the sea shore.

 

YMMV.

[mec]

More than a decade ago I installed a wood burning stove, made of soapstone, into my existing double sided fireplace.  I joined a wood burning forum to learn about proper installation, and other things related to burning wood. One of the popular topics then was to discuss the price of free wood. Chainsaw, pickup truck Gasoline, time ... MS is a similar pursuit. You have to purchase the "free money" or "free travel" by paying gift card fees, money order fees, buying gasoline, and investing time... in exchange for the return of cash back, hotel stays, flights, statuses, certificates, and the float on the borrowed funds. I like to consider any MS proposition two ways. First I try to guesstimate the discounted rate on the return, sometimes it is fairly straight forward in the case of fixed value points and at other times it is a likely range based on possible redemptions that interest you. In the case of variable value points there is also a chance that you will be able to use them at a an additional bonus redemption rate or see a devaluation of them before you can use them.   Then, I look at that overall return for the time invested in the activity. No doubt it is most lucrative to be spending toward sign up bonuses rather than collecting regular rewards, The discount on the return for signup bonuses is lucrative. I don't MS on sign up bonuses mostly out of fear of having the bonuses clawed back by the issuers, and use MS to accrue several sign up bonuses worth of points over the course of each year at an acceptable discounted rate. 

 

In addition to the issuer's rewards, there are also portal rewards, offers and cash back program rewards that can tip the return from "not worth it" to a rate I find to be worth a nominal effort. There are lots of different opinions on what is "worth it" out there and you really need to find your own. 

 

Il'l also add that from the time I started to investigate MS to the time I started to engage in it was about a year and a half of reading and research. It can be very confusing due to outdated info (as has been said) and an essential part of the learning process is small scale experimentation in your local environment, as there are substantial differences regionally. If you are MSing for hotel or airline points there is also a lot of time needed to learn about the loyalty programs... and because there is a sense in the community that open forums discussing methods lead to those methods being shut down, there is a great deal of reluctance to post specifics. PM's for sensitive questions are one way to get past some of that. 

[GreenDragonLady]

My WM said you can't get a money order with a VGC.  Just cash or a debit card.  The website states that too:

 

[mec]

25 minutes ago, GreenDragonLady said:

My WM said you can't get a money order with a VGC.  Just cash or a debit card.  The website states that too:

 

Different stores have different policies. Most Visa and MC GCs do have pin numbers. Some will work at WM if the cashier doesn't manually intervene in your using them. Others will only allow up to $49.99 money purchases. 

 

I don't use WM for MOs, I just buy them at a local grocery store chain with Vanilla Visa and MC GCs. Which don't work at WM.

[GreenDragonLady]

34 minutes ago, mec said:

I don't use WM for MOs, I just buy them at a local grocery store chain with Vanilla Visa and MC GCs. Which don't work at WM.

So you can buy the money orders at the grocery store with the GCs?  I'll have to see if one of our stores will.

 

Thanks!

[Kat58]

40 minutes ago, GreenDragonLady said:

So you can buy the money orders at the grocery store with the GCs?  I'll have to see if one of our stores will.

 

Thanks!

You need to STOP asking stores questions and read this thread first.

 

[mec]

1 hour ago, GreenDragonLady said:

So you can buy the money orders at the grocery store with the GCs?  I'll have to see if one of our stores will.

 

Thanks!

You should always refer to your "gift card" as a "debit card"... because that is also what it is.

[GreenDragonLady]

On 1/11/2019 at 3:36 PM, GreenDragonLady said:

My WM said you can't get a money order with a VGC.  Just cash or a debit card.  The website states that too:

 

Update:

 

Tried to use the debit card at Walmart.  We didn't say anything about it being a gift card or anything.  Just said we wanted to buy a money order with debit (we had set up the pin ahead of time).  When we swiped it the system wouldn't take it.

Next stop:  grocery store.

[Kat58]

3 hours ago, GreenDragonLady said:

Update:

 

Tried to use the debit card at Walmart.  We didn't say anything about it being a gift card or anything.  Just said we wanted to buy a money order with debit (we had set up the pin ahead of time).  When we swiped it the system wouldn't take it.

Next stop:  grocery store.

Why did you have to set up a pin? The VGC's I have purchased comes with a pin in the packaging. I hope you purchased the variable amount ($20-$500) gift card, not those other ones that don't(?) work.

 

[GreenDragonLady]

31 minutes ago, Kat58 said:

Why did you have to set up a pin? The VGC's I have purchased comes with a pin in the packaging. I hope you purchased the variable amount ($20-$500) gift card, not those other ones that don't(?) work.

 

Mine told me if I wanted a pin I had to set it up myself.  It wasn't the variable one.  I'll try again.  Practice makes perfect!  I appreciate everyone's patience with me!

[Kat58]

26 minutes ago, GreenDragonLady said:

Mine told me if I wanted a pin I had to set it up myself.  It wasn't the variable one.  I'll try again.  Practice makes perfect!  I appreciate everyone's patience with me!

Buy a pencil to make sure it's working.

 

[Rorer_714]

12 hours ago, GreenDragonLady said:

Mine told me if I wanted a pin I had to set it up myself.  It wasn't the variable one.  I'll try again.  Practice makes perfect!  I appreciate everyone's patience with me!

Who is the issuer of the card? That makes a big difference if it is going to work or not.

[Chris58]

Staples.com pulling data about purchase CC account from Chase, (and potential implications for this game).

 

I'm just a newbie to this game but I can't help but be "Curious" about something I saw about an hour ago when I ordered $1853.70 worth of "Product" @ Staples.com an hour ago.

 

I've been playing this game with my Ink+ for 2 years, (and just opened an INK Cash last June for the same purpose).

 

I've always been somewhat curious how Staples knew my business name despite my never including it on an order, (and assumed they got this "Data" from Chase).

 

Well, just before I clicked "Submit Order" I saw something I don't recall ever seeing.

 

I saw "Ink Plus", (which can ONLY mean that Staples.com now also knows the actual Chase "Card Product" name via Chase for online orders!!!

 

Any thoughts on this?, (I'm not planning to order via my INK Cash until June as I hit the cap last year).

 

 

 

[cv91915]

3 hours ago, Chris58 said:

Staples.com pulling data about purchase CC account from Chase, (and potential implications for this game).

 

I'm just a newbie to this game but I can't help but be "Curious" about something I saw about an hour ago when I ordered $1853.70 worth of "Product" @ Staples.com an hour ago.

 

I've been playing this game with my Ink+ for 2 years, (and just opened an INK Cash last June for the same purpose).

 

I've always been somewhat curious how Staples knew my business name despite my never including it on an order, (and assumed they got this "Data" from Chase).

 

Well, just before I clicked "Submit Order" I saw something I don't recall ever seeing.

 

I saw "Ink Plus", (which can ONLY mean that Staples.com now also knows the actual Chase "Card Product" name via Chase for online orders!!!

 

Any thoughts on this?, (I'm not planning to order via my INK Cash until June as I hit the cap last year).

 

 

 

There is an industry standard account numbering system that identifies the payment network and the issuer.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payment_card_number

 

Not sure if the merchant is deriving the actual card product from the card number, or if it's being identified by the payment network/issuing bank dynamically when the charge is authorized. 

 

Someone here will know, though...  if not in this thread, post the question in the main Credit Forum.

[Rorer_714]

On ‎2‎/‎9‎/‎2019 at 12:55 AM, Chris58 said:

Any thoughts on this?

 

Don't sweat the small details. Hammer the cards like there is no tomorrow. 

[TheVig]

Simon Malls looking to help.

https://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/simon-mall-gift-card-limit-now-25k/

[Rorer_714]

Not a good sign. 

[Chris58]

Is anybody having trouble ordering from Staples.com?

 

For the last week they show out of stock for all values of VGC, (obviously I only want the 300's).

[Rorer_714]

Yup, been OOS. 200's are in stock.

[Chris58]

On ‎4‎/‎6‎/‎2019 at 10:36 PM, Rorer_714 said:

Yup, been OOS. 200's are in stock.

Oh well, all is right in the world, (just ordered 6 300's), LOL...

 

 

[Chris58]

On ‎4‎/‎7‎/‎2019 at 11:43 PM, Chris58 said:

Oh well, all is right in the world, (just ordered 6 300's), LOL...

 

 

Posted too soon, order cancelled as "Item Unavailable".

 

Shows OOS on website again.

 

On a more serious note, I got a call from the branch manager last week at the small regional bank I've been depositing my MO's at for the last couple of years.

 

Ughhh,, the query came from the "Back Office" which I assume means compliance. I explained the game and she said ok.

 

I made a deposit to my business account today, (no MO's to personal because I was too busy last week to play the game).

 

Made the deposit with the head teller and he brought up the subject unsolicited. He even stated that they recommended account closure, (but he "Talked them out of it" and stated that he told them that during the last 3 years I've been doing this the branch never had any reason to file an SAR). He actually used that term.

 

He introduced me to the new branch manager whom I'd never met and they both said no worries.

 

Then again, it's not really up to them. I might be opening a new account somewhere else soon.

[Rorer_714]

Best of luck but as you probably already know that what the bank employees tell you is useless when compliance is involved. 

[Occam]

GCM is infected with a formjacker.

 

I made a purchase with a pristine card on 5/17; a fraudulent temporary auth for American Airlines appeared the next day. Now I will have to file a dispute in the midst of MSR.  

 

Many similar reports over the past few days so beware.

[Chris58]

On ‎2‎/‎17‎/‎2019 at 6:38 PM, Rorer_714 said:

Not a good sign. 

A very prescient comment Sir. 

 

Just what's happened with Amex tells the tale.

 

Just got my Blue plus business statement a few days ago and sure enough, zero MR's for Simon transactions after 4/11, (and I've no doubt my May cycle transactions were also a waste of time.

[Occam]

On 5/19/2019 at 11:15 PM, Occam said:

GCM is infected with a formjacker.

 

I made a purchase with a pristine card on 5/17; a fraudulent temporary auth for American Airlines appeared the next day. Now I will have to file a dispute in the midst of MSR.  

 

Many similar reports over the past few days so beware.

Update:

 

Symantec's term for the infection is "Formjacking Website 57/Formjacking Website 59".

 

-If you made a purchase at GCM after 4/24/19 via guest check-out:

Consider your credit card #, security code, name, address, and phone # compromised.

 

-If you made a purchase after 4/24/19 while logged in:

Consider your GCM login, password, last 4 digits of your card, type of card, security code, name, address, and phone # compromised.

 

It's possible the formjacker was in place long before 4/24, and the criminals sat on the data until 5/17/19 or so, when they sold it.  So as a precaution it's probably best to change your GCM password & replace any CCs you've ever used there.

 

GCM made security updates 5/22. Anybody want to GP?