SherriZ366 Posted August 18, 2013 #201 Share Posted August 18, 2013 If you click on the link to apply for the card and scroll down it tells you this Card Benefits. Certain restrictions apply to each benefit. Platinum Plus® card benefits differ from Visa Signature® card benefits (i.e., coverage amounts vary and some benefits are not available). Details accompany new account materials. Also when you scroll through the fee schedules you will see that there are two levels of interest rate or a spread based on your credit score and there are 2 sets of fees. So, if your credit is below a certain level, you will pay higher % and fees if you do not pay the balance each month and you will get the lower card with less perks. Also, for those using their card to pay regular bills to get points, most places charge a fee to do that, kinda negates using the card. For example, I could pay my electric bill every month with the rci card, but they will charge me 3.95$ to do it May change my Verizon bill back to AmEx to avoid any charge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SherriZ366 Posted August 18, 2013 #202 Share Posted August 18, 2013 That is why I said "usually". What is strange is that we are not charged any fee through Verizon. Just verified the monthly invoice and invoice detail with amount charged. No additional fees.Will double check with Verizon. (see previous post). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
setsail Posted August 18, 2013 #203 Share Posted August 18, 2013 (edited) For "us", we would never give anyone control of a cc to auto pay bills. Its just us, we are old school and like paper. That being said I went back and checked Verizon, it can be set up two ways, auto every month with a cc or you go in every month manually with a cc, the latter is the only way we would do it and that has a fee, the other, if you give them control of your card does not Edited August 18, 2013 by setsail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomahawk246 Posted August 18, 2013 #204 Share Posted August 18, 2013 "Usually", any creditor where you must physically go online to pay a bill each and every month, uses a service provider to collect their payments and as a result, there is a charge. "Usually" when you can be set up on an auto pay, there is not a charge for a cc payment. There are of course exceptions. When you can pay using a cc that gives you some type of benefit whether it be credit towards a cruise or cash back, why wouldn't you use it? You can look at it as a discount on your creditor's bill. I used it for a sizable medical bill last month and to ease the "pain" :rolleyes: I thought of it as a 1% discount. Turned around the next day and paid down the credit card balance to cover the expense. Keep in mind for those who still write checks. Most banks charge for providing checks and some even either charge to process a check you write or limit the number you can write in a month. If you used a Capital One card it would be a 2% discount. Oh buy the way, I do not work for Capital One. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mein18 Posted August 18, 2013 #205 Share Posted August 18, 2013 May change my Verizon bill back to AmEx to avoid any charge The charge is from Verizon if applicable, not Visa so if you are being charged, you still will be even if you switch to AmEx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mein18 Posted August 18, 2013 #206 Share Posted August 18, 2013 If you used a Capital One card it would be a 2% discount. Oh buy the way, I do not work for Capital One. LOL I hope everyone realizes that you are trying to assist everyone in getting more bang for their buck. As you can see from many of my posts since you first mentioned Capital One, I am sorting out the options. Really was hoping to find fault in CO but none yet. With everything else put aside, it is always refreshing to pull out the RCI card and see the cruise ship however not refreshing enough to lose the opportunity for over $400 more in cruise savings each year. One more question for you. If you have points accumulated, does CO automatically apply them when they see a charge come through from some type of travel or can you pick and choose what to apply the points to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pstone1 Posted August 18, 2013 #207 Share Posted August 18, 2013 Paula, who did you call and what information were you given? My information came from the RCI Redemption Center who is in charge of setting the parameters for the card. Hi Patty: I called Crown & Anchor - I thought since my question involved the DP balcony discount, they would know. I did not write down the person's name that answered the phone but she was very nice and sounded as though she knew. My call was made yesterday before you posted so I thought what she told me jived with what some of the earlier posts were saying. Now I am hopeful that we will be able to use both the points credit and balcony discount as we have in the past. If not, I've already decided we'll be forced to take a 3 or 4 night cruise to use the points :). I think it's a win-win situation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisenfever Posted August 18, 2013 #208 Share Posted August 18, 2013 Hi Patty: I called Crown & Anchor - I thought since my question involved the DP balcony discount, they would know. I did not write down the person's name that answered the phone but she was very nice and sounded as though she knew. My call was made yesterday before you posted so I thought what she told me jived with what some of the earlier posts were saying. Now I am hopeful that we will be able to use both the points credit and balcony discount as we have in the past. If not, I've already decided we'll be forced to take a 3 or 4 night cruise to use the points :). I think it's a win-win situation! Paula, any questions just call the RCI Redemption Center at 1-888-305-4646. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SherriZ366 Posted August 18, 2013 #209 Share Posted August 18, 2013 The charge is from Verizon if applicable, not Visa so if you are being charged, you still will be even if you switch to AmExI'm not being charged now so will just leave it as is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nhsaltshaker Posted August 18, 2013 #210 Share Posted August 18, 2013 Glad to see RC's webpage is not correct, as usual. Love the free OBC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mein18 Posted August 18, 2013 #211 Share Posted August 18, 2013 Glad to see RC's webpage is not correct, as usual. Love the free OBC. We are hoping it is not correct. Going with what appears to be the most reliable phone call so far. Only time will tell for sure. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroDate20 Posted August 19, 2013 #212 Share Posted August 19, 2013 No, it is not in effect yet. Effective date has yet to be determined. Is there still hope for me and others who are just getting to the 125,000 points mark? I'm already booked for Allure in 2014 and intended to redeem my points for the cruise. Fingers crossed!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
believer33323 Posted August 19, 2013 #213 Share Posted August 19, 2013 (edited) I just received a letter from Bank of America stating that as of October 1, 2013. "Merchandise and Cruise rewards will no longer be available for redemption. However, you'll enjoy more hotel and car rental options as well as a new streamlined website experience with more self serve options" I also received an email from my bank stating that my online payment option has been discontinued by Bank of America. That usually happens when the company changes ownership or something else major. I did go online and my account is in good standing so it's not just me. Must be some big changes going on with them. Edited August 19, 2013 by believer33323 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green eyed lady Posted August 19, 2013 #214 Share Posted August 19, 2013 I just received a letter from Bank of America stating that as of October 1, 2013. "Merchandise and Cruise rewards will no longer be available for redemption. However, you'll enjoy more hotel and car rental options as well as a new streamlined website experience with more self serve options" I also received an email from my bank stating that my online payment option has been discontinued by Bank of America. That usually happens when the company changes ownership or something else major. I did go online and my account is in good standing so it's not just me. Must be some big changes going on with them. I'm guessing this isn't the Royal Caribbean Visa card from B of A? Just a B of A rewards card? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancronin Posted August 19, 2013 #215 Share Posted August 19, 2013 I also received the letter for two of my Bank of America credit cards but this is not for the Royal Caribbean Visa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PattyG12 Posted August 19, 2013 #216 Share Posted August 19, 2013 I kept hearing the rumors so I went ahead and redeemed the points I had for OBC for my upcoming cruises. The whole reason I have this card is for OBC. If I can't do that then I guess it's time to close it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lv2BonBoard Posted August 19, 2013 #217 Share Posted August 19, 2013 Can you please tell us exactly what card you are referring to? Thank you. Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asylum575 Posted August 19, 2013 #218 Share Posted August 19, 2013 I got the letter for my NCL card. Well, that's that. Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betmust Posted August 19, 2013 #219 Share Posted August 19, 2013 My son and I got the letter from B of A but it was for AAA card - not my Royal Caribbean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisenfever Posted August 19, 2013 #220 Share Posted August 19, 2013 I kept hearing the rumors so I went ahead and redeemed the points I had for OBC for my upcoming cruises. The whole reason I have this card is for OBC. If I can't do that then I guess it's time to close it. Major changes to RCCL Visa program and for clarification of this see post #121 in this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLACRUISER99 Posted August 19, 2013 #221 Share Posted August 19, 2013 I'll make it easy!:cool: Just spoke to Redemption Center and I got someone who actually gave me some information that makes sense. OBC ~~ The information listed under Rewards Options when it refers to OBC is incorrect and will be corrected. You will still be able to redeem points for a $50, $100, $150 and $200 OBC and use it on any RCI cruise (as well as Celebrity/Azamara). This was not listed before. Seems that there was a miscommunication between the Redemption Center and Marketing and they are in the process of getting that corrected!:eek: Combining Points with C&A Benefits ~~ Yes you Can. If you have a balcony discount and an OBC from booking on board or using a C&A Certificate, you will still be able to redeem points and use it on that booking or any future booking. The only time that a balcony discount would not be applied is if you are booking a "free" cruise.....which kind of makes sense!:D RCI will now have 2 credit cards, a Visa Platinum Plus and a Visa Signature. When someone is applying for either card for the first time, eligibility for a card will be determined by credit level. The reason for this, I was told, is because the Visa Signature has a lot more benefits available. All those that currently have a Visa Platinum Plus card will automatically be enrolled in the Visa Signature Card program and receive new cards. You will keep the same account number and your points will automatically be transferred over to the new card. The young lady that I spoke with did not give me a kick-off date. Guess there are a few more glitches to work out. There is no annual fee for either card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisenfever Posted August 19, 2013 #222 Share Posted August 19, 2013 I'll make it easy!:cool: :o Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare printingchick Posted August 19, 2013 #223 Share Posted August 19, 2013 :o Thanks Ditto! Thanks! So the restrictions for point usage on the newer ships and the inability to combine with things like senior/military/resident discounts seem to be the only down-sides to the changes. The positive change is that points are now good on all RCI owned ships, which is great! Gives me an opportunity to try out Celebrity! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisenfever Posted August 19, 2013 #224 Share Posted August 19, 2013 Ditto! Thanks! So the restrictions for point usage on the newer ships and the inability to combine with things like senior/military/resident discounts seem to be the only down-sides to the changes. The positive change is that points are now good on all RCI owned ships, which is great! Gives me an opportunity to try out Celebrity! You will still be able to combine Visa Points with senior/military/residents/police&fire discounts. You can use the points on any ship. If the ship is new, and you want to use Visa Points, you would have to book a cruise 13 months after it has been introduced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DragonOfTheSeas Posted August 19, 2013 #225 Share Posted August 19, 2013 You can use the points on any ship. If the ship is new, and you want to use Visa Points, you would have to book a cruise 13 months after it has been introduced. I am not sure I will be able to afford the Quantum until it has been sailing 13 months. :p She is pricey right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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