App-O-Rama Update: US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Credit Card Finally Arrived

During my last app-o-rama (link) on March 15, I applied for the US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Credit Card because of the Winter Olympics promo (see pic above).  I got a pending decision so I called the reconsideration department.

Unfortunately, US Bank doesn’t really have a reconsideration department, the representatives just tell you to wait a few days and call back to see if you were approved.  They also have an automated application status phone number (800-947-1444) that will tell you the status of your application.

Yesterday, when I logged into my US Bank account, I saw a new credit card added to my online account.

I was hopeful that I had been approved for the Visa Signature card, not the standard Visa card which offers a smaller sign up bonus.  I had applied for a previous FlexPerks Credit Card during the Summer Olympics promo 2 years ago and was only approved for the standard Visa card, so I was hoping that that wouldn’t happen again.

Here is a comparison between the Visa Signature and standard Visa cards.

Within my US Bank online account, I found a way to look at the card I was approved for – it looked like the standard Visa card.  Dang!  Not again!

I decided to call US Bank and inquire about the new credit card.  I asked the rep if I was approved for the Visa Signature card or the standard Visa card and she couldn’t tell me.  I then asked her what my credit line was for the new credit card and she said $6,000.

From past experience (mainly with Chase), if you get a credit card with a $5,000 credit limit or higher, you will almost always get a Visa Signature card.  If you get a smaller credit limit, you will normally get the standard Visa card.

So at this point, I was really confused about which card I would get.  Luckily, I didn’t have to wait long to find out.  When I got the mail yesterday afternoon, I got a thick envelope from US Bank with my credit card… the Visa Signature version!

After calling to activate the card, I spoke with the representative and he confirmed that I had received the Visa Signature version and was enrolled in the Winter Olympics promo.  Phew!

US Bank seriously needs to work on their communication skills.  I haven’t received any emails since I applied for the card more than 2 weeks ago.  Even after approving me and sending out the card, I still have not received an email.  Also, since activating the card and using it a few times already, still no welcome email.  Come on US Bank, it’s really not that difficult.

Update 3/31/2014: Apparently someone at US Bank reads my blog and has sent me a Welcome to US Bank FlexPerks email.

Anyways, now my current focus is spending $3,500 in 4 months to get 27,450 bonus FlexPerks + 3,500 FlexPerks from meeting the minimum spend.  With 30,000+ FlexPerks, I will be able to get a $600 plane ticket (or different combinations of $200/$400 plane tickets) for free.

If you apply for a US Bank credit card, specifically the US Bank Club Carlson Credit Card, I strongly recommend freezing your ARS and IDA credit reports (small credit bureaus).  Please read Freezing ARS and IDA Reports.  Also, after applying, you just have to wait and see if you get approved.  Hopefully you get instantly approved, but it might take 1-2 weeks to be manually approved.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below.  Have a great weekend everyone!