I wrote about my Chase Sapphire Reserve application attempts and the ultimate card reconsideration approval. The 1.5 cents Pay Yourself Back feature convinced me to go for the Sapphire Reserve card, and I slowly met the minimum spend, mostly on grocery store purchases. Those purchases coupled to meet the spend requirement and to offset spend via the new Pay Yourself Back feature.
But I made one strategic error. While my grocery store spend in September is enough to cover all the points I intend to cashout thanks to a few gift cards, the $4,000 spend threshold for the signup bonus was only met after the September statement closed. So I’ll have 50,000 points (and then some) posting on my October statement. That’s after the 1.5 PYB feature has already ended on September 30.
Sure, the PYB feature will probably remain available into October and beyond, but we have no idea what the available categories will be, or even if the rate will remain at 1.5 cents.
Typically the method for expediting your points with Chase is by changing the statement due date to result in a quicker statement closing. You can change your account due date online (which then results in a statement close date change). I wanted to hear what the Chase reps would say about this. According to what two reps told me, it won’t be until the following statement that the statement close date actually changes. I went ahead and changed my statement anyway with the hopes that it works. I chose the 26th of the month as my due date with the hopes that it would result in a September 29th close date (that’s what my math says). We’ll see…
(Small update 9/27/20: It appears that my changing the statement date DID work as in my Ultimate Rewards account it’s showing that the signup bonus points will post on my next statement on October 1. Unfortunately, I timed it a bit wrong as I was aiming for September 29-30, but in any case, it seems general idea of changing the statement date could do the trick.)
There’s been some discussion in the comments about the fact that in the PYB interface it shows that you have many more weeks to continue redeeming points. For example, on a grocery purchase in mid-September, it might show that you still have 80 days left to redeem. That seems to imply that grocery purchases made before September 30 will be able to be redeemed into October and beyond. However, my guess is that it won’t work, in practice. I tried getting Chase to comment on Twitter this without much luck.
[Update 9/29/20: In the end, Chase extended the PYB redemptions which renders some of this discussion irrelevant.]
Has anyone been able to redeem transactions made AFTER Sept 30 and the PYB still works as before, i.e. at the same 1.5x value?
Other than the news posted by online sites, there is NO official announcement, incl Press Release (like when it first started) from Chase at all.
PYB is extended through 4/30!
William Charles 
Chuck
Chase Ink Business Preferred and Plus: October 1, 2020 through the end of the year, cardmembers’ points will be worth 25% more when applied to select online advertising and shipping purchases, as well as towards contributions made to eligible charitable organizations.
Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve: Continuing through April 30, 2021, Sapphire Reserve cardmembers’ points will be worth 50% more, and 25% more for Sapphire Preferred cardmembers, when redeemed for statement credits through Chase towards purchases at grocery and home improvement stores, when dining at restaurants, including takeout and delivery services, as well as contributions to eligible charitable organizations.
All other Ultimate Rewards eligible credit cards including Chase Freedom, Freedom Unlimited and the new Freedom Flex: Starting October 1, 2020, points will be worth 25% more when redeemed towards donations made to eligible charitable organizations.
BTW, does anyone know if the Global Entry credit is 4 years to the date or by the month.
My last credit posted on 9/26/2016 and I was wondering if I can get another one by charging
the fee on 9/27/2020 ?
To answer my own question –
Yes, the GE credit is 4 years to the day. I paid for GE on 9/27 and got the credit posted the same day. Time to close my CSR. It has been a decent run….
Edit: never mind.
“So I’ll have 50,000 points (and then some) posting on my October statement. That’s after the 1.5 PYB feature has already ended on September 30.”
He doesn’t have the points to redeem yet.
Thanks for the suggestions 🙂
Can’t access Ultimate Rewards atm (“We’re working on Ultimate Rewards right now.
Please try back later.”). Maybe the post 9.30 updating is in the works.
Can you ask for an acceleration? I know AmEx has done this in the past.
I asked, no luck (and the linked post says also that Chase doesn’t do it)
If I pay my balance by using Pay Back Yourself and I will end up with negative balance due to the previous $300 travel credit. Anyone know what is going to happen to the negative balance? Will Chase send a check to me or leave the negative balance there in my account? Or will Chase cancel that particular (Pay Back Yourself) payment that causes the negative balance?
Thanks.
This, but they will automatically send the check after 6 months if you still have not used up the balance.
SM and ask for a check. You have to pay the minimum balance, even if you have a negative balance (stupid I know) or they may close your card
Your negative balance will be reported to the credit bureaus just as it should be reported as, a negative balance! Similar to a negative balance on a checking account, this derogatory mark on your credit will severely impact your future applications, mortgages, and potential car loans. And don’t forget, amex RAT will still come after you for this negative balance as well. You shouldn’t have MS’d on your cards, but since you did, you need to face the consequences of your novice act.
Hmmmmm, sarcasm or fundamental lack of understanding?
Seems pretty clear sarcasm to me
Hey
Chuck , I have some experience with Chase due date changes. Last time I changed my payment due date, the statement didn’t close until the new date of the next month. So 2 months of statement will be combine to one on the next cycle. Hope this helps.
Thanks, yeah, that’s what they were saying would happen. I was just surprised that they’d be willing to let it slide an extra month – seems like a good way for someone to gain a month to pay a bill which they can’t afford at the moment.
I don’t think they will halt redemptions at September 30. The counter is pretty explicit with how many days you have left. It would be easy for them to make the counter show the smaller of 90 days, or Sept 30. If it were Citi or something, I wouldn’t trust the counter. But I do here.
Agreed. I would be shocked if they halted the program on 10/1 and not give the ability to PYB for purchases made by 9/30.
10/1 will be interesting.
It’s going to be extra interesting with this month’s Chase “Flex” rebranding that offers 3% dining on their no annual fees cards. Wirth no Chase Rewards travel in my foreseeable future (I will only be taking road trips to AirBnBs with kitchens, if I can help it), the only thing keeping me on board with CSR is transferring all of my Ultimate Rewards Points for the CSR 1.5x PYB feature. If it disappears (or the category switches to something I don’t use), it’s curtains for the CSR!