Comments on: Chase Freedom Card $250 Sign-up Bonus

By: Cap

Cap — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 13:01:42 +0000

Jodi: I didn’t get to sign up with this offer, but it appears that others have gotten their bonus (from the Fatwallet discussion thread).

I signed up for another bonus, which was only $100 and yeah it did post to my reward account. This was a targeted snail mail offer that I received at home though.

How will they weasel out? I’m pretty sure they can just not post the reward after your first purchase, and when you ask about it.. simply say there was never such a promotion.

Funny thing is, I use to hate my two Chase cards too, till they finally upped my limit and started giving me random bonuses on my cards. So use the Chase Freedom quite a bit lately, and have already racked up $27 or so in cash back. It’s a bit unfortunate, but it’s the best reward card I have left.. (since my Citi Dividend has lower its cash back rate).

By: Michael R. Wolcott

Michael R. Wolcott — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 08:45:09 +0000

Concerning Chase Manhattan Bank – I LOATHE them – I have had AWFUL experiences with them and I don’t care if they were offering me one million dollars to open up an account – I would NOT. I have heard from others who also have had problems with Chase Manhattan Bank – so if I were you, I would bypass this offer else you may live to regret it later.

Sincerely,

Mike

By: Jodi

Jodi — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:46:05 +0000

Well, a free $250 just sounds too good to be true. You may be able to get something like that from your grandma, but a credit card company? Somewhere in that fine print they have to have a way of getting back that $250. Maybe I’m biased, because I already have a chase card which I absolutely hate, but this sounds kinda like that deal you talked about earlier (last year maybe?) about getting a free computer with card sign-up.
So my question to you Cap: Did you get a true $250 after your first purchase? And how will Chase try to weasel their way out of the bonus? Their website states nothing about the requirements of receiving/being denied this bonus.
Thanks for all your info!

By: Cap

Cap — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 00:01:23 +0000

haha well, yeah credit cards companies sure do like do that. they always have a way to say “our terms and condition are always changing” and you’ll be placing yourself at their whims if they suddenly change program terms and conditions.

Jodi: still, chase isn’t exactly a fly by night bank, and this specific card has been around and pushed for awhile now, I’ve had the card for half a year now? the details of how the reward program work is pretty clearly lay out in that page, and I believe what they meant when they say “complete program rules and regulation” = additional fine print and legal notice they’ll have to let you know.

granted it’ll be great to have that upfront, but what happen is they use the same site to tailor to many different people. if you visit the chase site, you may not see that same offer of $250 sign-up bonus. so not everyone will get the same sign up bonus (if any at all).

Anonymous: as far as the fatwallet discussion has shown, it means current card holder of the Chase freedom card. others called the reps and was told they’re eligible for the bonus even though they have other chase cards.

Adam: what they meant by that is.. they’ll credit $200 in cash to your reward program, and you can claim $250 in cash for that. basically, 200 of this “point” can let you claim $250 in cash. it’s one of the feature of the reward program. if you accumulate up to $200 in cash back, you can claim $250. so far I’ve accumulated $28, so yeah won’t happen anytime soon.

either way, I’m definitely not pushing you guys to sign up for this. you certainly shouldn’t if you’re not comfortable with the terms or the site, as Chase won’t be the first company to try and weasel out of sign-up bonus. but yeah just clearing up questions, and letting those that may be interested to know that the promotion is back.

it’s basically very similar to the popular Sony credit card, which has a $150 credit bonus after your first purchase.

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 17:56:47 +0000

As one other person already pointed out the fine print on that page looks a little suspicious to me. It says something about exchanging rebates for the $250…I don’t like the sound of that. Perhaps this is good for some people but not me. Thanks anyway.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:53:20 +0000

What does current member mean? Member of chase, or member of chase freedom?

By: Jodi

Jodi — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:20:04 +0000

I see this statement “Complete program rules and regulations will be sent when an account is opened.” So you have to do the damage of opening a new credit card before one knows all their rules and regulations? Hmm, sounds shady to me. I need to know all the rules before I start throwing my money and information at them. This looks like it’s marketed to those that “just want another damn credit card! And I don’t care if you don’t tell me the restrictions before I sign up!” oh yeah and, “I think your credit card is cool because of your cool music, so open two accounts for me!”