Debit Card Rewards Ending

[TheOtherMe]

money.cnn.com/2011/03/25/pf/debit_rewards/index.htm?source=cnn_bin&hpt=Sbin

I just talked to Chase and theirs stop on July 19. After that date, I will be closing my account with Chase and trying to figure out how to get United miles.

[schildi]

Debits cards kinda suck to begin with. What kind of rewards did you get?
You can get 2% straight cash back with a credit card, and better security. Were your debit card rewards a lot better?

[TheOtherMe]

I got airlines miles. At the time I got it, I only qualified for secured credit cards and they don't give you rewards.

I know do have credit cards that give me cash back, but I hate the thought of losing the miles I have accumulated--and it's been by the debit card. I will most likely lose them. I have 17,000 miles and I need 25,000 to get a ticket. Due to the cost of flying now, I hadn't planned on more than one trip this year--if that.

[DVM gone riding]

Closed my chase acct today!!! Was a little sad since I have had that acct since I turned 18, it was my first "adult" checking acct. but I wont pay to bank (I am to good a customer for that) and I have been very unhappy since Chase took over Wamu and the manager that kept me from quitting two years ago is gone now.

[schildi]

Mar 26, 2011 21:09:10 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I know do have credit cards that give me cash back, but I hate the thought of losing the miles I have accumulated--and it's been by the debit card. I will most likely lose them. I have 17,000 miles and I need 25,000 to get a ticket.

Yet another reason to go for cash back instead of miles. Cash buys airline tickets, too, and cash you got does not expire.
Yeah, I'd just move on and use credit from now.

[midjd]

I have a Chase credit and debit card, and though I've never messed with airline miles on the debit card (so this may be totally wrong), I think through the Ultimate Rewards Mall you can put cash toward higher-point rewards. E.g. if you have 17,000 and the flight you want to buy is 25,000, you can cash in all your points and pay $80 toward the difference. You might see if you can do something like this - that way your points won't be completely wasted.

[TheOtherMe]

I will look at that before I just let those miles go to waste. I know once I used some for a hotel room and I gave my nephew 25K miles, which I don't regret. He had gotten an internship in Washington DC and was given only 4 days notice to get there. You know how expensive it is to fly on that short of notice. So I donated my miles to buy him a round trip ticket to DC.

I only write one check a month now. I've been with Chase for about 7 years. The customer service agent I talked to last night didn't know if they would approve me for a credit card or not. I don't live near a branch, but have put my pension in by direct deposit, so it's been easy to make deposits.

I may call my branch back in CO and see what they think about getting a credit card. I know the one I just got with the cash rewards told me that they only gave me the card because of my relationship points combined with my credit score. I should have many more relationship points with Chase since I've only banked at the other bank about 2 years and they issued the card, albeit with a high interest rate.

My credit card from my credit union has the lowest interest rate, but no rewards and I'd like rewards since I will always pay it off.

I know one trip I want to take this year on United, so once I determine the dates, I will see what it costs to use the miles I have to purchase a ticket.