Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with chase

Savings for convenience?

Raze2k — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:55:09 -0800

Should I bother with a savings account? I recently dug myself out of credit card debt and for the first time in years, I'm finding myself no longer living check to check. I've continued to use one of my cards for most of my expenses, partially for convenience, but mostly for the cash back rewards now in tandem with Chase Blueprint (specifically 0% APR on all purchases, as long as I completely pay my bill each month with extra points for having a Chase checking account).

Having said that, I now find the balance of my checking account growing and I feel as though I ought to be earning interest. The sticking point here is that I need the money to be very liquid and easily accessible. Most of my accounts are with Chase and I'd like to keep it that way. Unfortunately I don't have a high enough balance to qualify for their interest-bearing checking accounts and the interest on their savings accounts is currently a pathetic 0.01%.

Since I'm not sure of my financial needs over the next year and I want to keep my funds readily available at a moment's notice, is it worth bothering with a Chase Savings account -- if only to provide the convenience of separating theoretical savings from day-to-day funds?

I'm not at a point where I feel comfortable transferring funds to an online-only bank and, admittedly, convenience is huge to me. Are there any down sides to opening a new savings account (other than the obviously terrible interest rate)?

Note: Chase Savings accounts are free as long as you have a minimum balance of $300.

Depositing plain cash with ATMs?

Askiba — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:34:10 -0800

How safe is it to deposit plain old cash into a bank's ATM? This seems like a really strange question, but follow along with me for a bit.

Ever since I've gotten my bank account (at Chase) my mother has dissuaded me from making deposits, especially just cash, into ATMs. She insists that I can't trust them for such a procedure because the machine's contents are removed by people who don't work for the bank (on that note: is that even true?), and that I'm going to get robbed at some point.

Being teenage and all, I think my mom's theory on this is baseless. The one time I suggested that might not be true and that I'd just like to save everyone some time and just slip it in a deposit envelope, she gave me a disapproving look and said "Fine, do what you want, it's not my problem if you get robbed."

I've never heard such a thing happening to anyone, and I likely would have, because who wants their money getting swiped? But the idea got into my head and I've always used a clerk behind a desk to make a deposit in person. Personally, I'm getting extremely tired of it and I think it's wasting my time, not to mention the hapless clerk I have to ask to deposit the cash (especially when I just want to throw in $10 and no checks). I'll probably always use a desk clerk for large deposits involving several kinds of money, though.

So, should I really believe my mother's reasoning?

Escape from Chase

zenpop — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:27:20 -0800

Credit union virgin. Several questions re CUs in Seattle area. I want to get out from Chase, who took over Washington Mutual this year. I can't stand them. Totally subjective reasoning, but that's not what I'm writing about. Would like to understand the benefit of using a credit union. And understand what credit unions are about in general. Totally innorant. And finally, can someone recommend a credit union in West Seattle or near that area (I live on Vashon Island). One that has online banking abilities and will be able to handle my personal AND business accounts.

Why can't I quit her? My head says NO but my heart says GO. please HELP!

anonymous35 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:42:49 -0800

Why can't I quit her? My head says NO but my heart says GO. please HELP! Some pretext before you start reading: I'm a pretty conservative guy. I've only had one serious relationship in the past (for one year and it ended badly when I started attending college). The prospect of one-night stands aren't that appealing to me. In the four years I attended undergrad, I've had opportunities to 'hook up' with girls but decided to pass if there wasn't a prospective of a relationship. In short, I was always looking for that special connection with someone. I never found it throughout college (in part because I wasn't actively looking; instead I sacrificed the latter two years of my social life for academics). Things changed recently with a person I never ever thought of as a potential girlfriend.

Here are the details:

I'm 23, recently graduated and work full time. She's 20, and will be a rising junior at the school I graduated from. We are both from the same hometown but school separates us 100 miles apart during the semester.

We met through a mutual friend, actually her ex-boyfriend (and only bf) of two years. I consider him a good friend and while the two were dating, it NEVER crossed my mind that I could see her as a potential girlfriend. However, they had a falling out as soon as she left for her freshman year (my senior year); they don't speak to each other anymore, I don't speak to him at all anymore, (and he has moved four states over).

Things started heating up this past winter when she came back from school and I had time off from work. We hung out on a daily basis, and although there was nothing intimate, there was a special bond forming between us. Daily hugs were long and drawn out, we would hold hands and cuddle on the couch for movies. After she left to go back for school, I thought that would be the end of communication, but she constantly texted me, which would follow up with me calling her every two or three days. I would never call her on the weekend out of respect for her space and allowing her to 'enjoy the social college scene'. Plus, I didn't want to be a burden if I called everyday. Conversations would be filled with nothing and everything, and for the first time in a long time, I finally felt that special connection. We flirted through text and I talked about going to visit her. However, things reached a boiling point when I mentioned the idea of visiting her for valentine's day, in which she abruptly told me that the flirting had to stop. She said she wasn't ready for a relationship, wanted to explore her options with other guys but wanted us to stay amicable and be 'friends'. Yes, the dreaded F word. Caught in the moment, and in an act of desperation, I told her everything that was on my mind and how I felt about her, how it was only the beginning of something special, and how I didn't want to lose that. It culminated into me running out of words to say and us deciding to take a break from talking to let things cool.

Fast forward two weeks later (late Feb). I caved. I texted her a simple, 'how are you doing', and this vicious cycle continued again. Flirting. Laughing. Long passionate hugs and holding hands. Pretending everything was the same again before that 'talk'. She would now start sending emails to me at work. I visited her a few times, with the first time slept over (but on her couch), and most recently (about a month ago) slept over with her. However, things did not get intimate, and I did not want to bring up the issue in an effort to avoid that awkwardness. Note: a main reason why I am attracted to her is that she is very conservative and although we didn't get intimate, I definitely felt it was progress from both sides.

Two weeks ago, I went back to school for a big concert and she knew I would be in town, however, not a single call or text Fri or Sat. I gave her a call and we met up for a picnic Sun. Things were going smoothly until I dropped her off, and in a jokingly way said 'hey, you never called me the last few days'. She shrugged it off and said 'you know we are really good friends. You have your friends at home and I have mine at school'. We left things at that
and there have been one or two texts between us the last two weeks. I've tried to give her space by not calling her at all, especially since final exams are this week. But in the last few days, I feel like salt is being poured on my open heart wound - on her facebook, she's been flirting with a new guy non-stop whom she met through her best friend at school.

I have not said or mentioned a single word to her about this new guy, nor have I called her in almost two weeks. However, in the past five months, if there was a lull in the communication I would call her and things would be 'back to normal' and have escalated progressively each time. This is where my ambivalence sets in - I can't help to think that if I cut her off completely, then I would lose out on the opportunity. The only reason I am seriously contemplating contacting her is that I just don't want to look back and regret not doing enough at the time.

Perhaps in the back of my mind, I keep thinking that something 'great' would eventually develop out of this 'not so much friends, yet not gf/bf' relationship. However, it has become too taxing on my heart, with all the rollercoaster up and downs associated with it. I feel like I am perpetually trying to catch that prized fish, I know exactly where it is, keep dipping in the water, but only get nibs back. If I continue to try, will I eventually catch it?
I told myself I would never want to be the guy that would do all the chasing, and in order for a relationship to work, both sides would have to put in equal weight. In some aspects this hurts more than my first (and only) serious relationship post-break up. For my first relationship, the timing was right but the connection (looking back now) wasn't that great. Now, in my current situation, the connection is off the charts, but the timing is a little off. I am extremely attracted to her physically but can't see us being only friends.

I'm stuck in a rut now and I don't know which way to turn. The past year since my graduation has been a downward spiral. I had a great paying job with a career path set up, but was laid off due to the economy two months into 'the real world'. Returned back home and found another job, live at home, and give half my paycheck to my folks to help out with the mortgage because my father lost his job as well. The opportunities to meet women are bleak, since the demographics within the new company are middle-aged and with families.

So which way do I turn? Run for the hills and cut her off (something I don't think I am ready for yet), or continue to keep it casual (even though it burns like hell to find out about this new guy)? I am still (foolishly perhaps) holding onto the hope that when she gets back home for the summer, we would have more time together as she wouldn't be bogged down with schoolwork and the distance.

I sincerely appreciate any advice you guys have. Thanks for listening (and reading).

I'm looking for a good credit union in NYC.

Optimus Chyme — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:36:46 -0800

I'm looking for a good credit union, but I don't know what I'm eligible to join. Basically Washington Mutual / Chase is god-awful and I'd like to join a small community credit union or something like that. I live in NYC. So, uh, what the heck do I do?

Can I skip Verified by Visa? It worked once...

0xFCAF — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:22:19 -0800

I didn't enter my "Verified by Visa" password, but NewEgg charged and shipped my order anyway. Can I skip this part every time? Over the weekend I was ordering some stuff from NewEgg. I got to what I thought was the last page ("Confirm your order" or whatever), clicked Submit, saw it go to the "Processing..." page, and went AFK for about two hours.

When I came back, I saw that it had actually gone on to this page, asking me for my Verified by Visa password, which I've done before on NewEgg and a few other merchants. I figured my order was actually not placed, but lo and behold an email from NewEgg was in my inbox stating they had successfully charged the order, and in fact it has just now shipped and appears on my credit card.

So in the future can I just close this window and skip the Verified by Visa part (since I always forget my password anyway), is NewEgg just doing it for good looks, or what?

Tips for a 'City Chase' first timer?

imaswinger — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:29:51 -0800

Anyone have any tips for a City Chase first timer? I just found out about it this morning, so I'm pretty clueless (and it's in two days).

Clark W. Griswold sure likes to sing!

paddingtonb — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:25:52 -0800

Help me solve a bet regarding the Chevy Chase National Lampoon Vacation series Does Clark W Griswold ever sing "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore"? It can be in Christmas Vacation, National Lampoon's Vacation, or European Vacation.

Ten dollars worth of goods and services are on the line here, people.

Thanks! :)

Is the Free Money Worth it?

icebourg — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 18:51:05 -0800

I'm being offered free money to try a Chase service out. Should I take it? I just got a $20 check from Chase. The catch is that by cashing it I am automatically enrolled in the "Chase Payment Protector Plan". What the plan does is completely irrelevant to me, I would never use the service. They claim I can cancel in 30 days and get my money back, thus giving me a free $20 bucks. (and even if I didn't get the first month's payment back, I'd still make about $18-$19 bucks overall)

If anyone here has done this before, I'd like to hear about your experience. Remembering to cancel it in 30 days won't be a problem, but how difficult is it to cancel? Can I just do it online? Do I have to call someone? Were they AOL drones that would never let you cancel? Or were they fairly reasonable about it?

What's the least manipulative stable credit card company?

alizarin — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 10:27:42 -0800

What's the least manipulative stable credit card company? I had an Amnesty International VISA - a tiny percentage of the purchases were donated to Amnesty. Good card, good customer service, they didn't do anything creepy. Then one day POOF, it's replaced with a Citibank Visa, an 8 day window to pay the bill every month, and constant examples of predatory practices. This is the 3rd time I've had a descent credit card bought out by an ultra-manipulative Citibank or Chase. Are there any non-creepy, stable credit cards to be had? BTW - I have very good credit.

What to do see in DC area

flummox — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 05:02:01 -0800

Washington DC, Bethesda, Chevy Chase....Off beat, ( off the mall too probably), things to do between Christmas and New Years. Bonus for vegan, macro, farmers market food ideas

We've got company

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 11:11:47 -0800

Not even kidding: What are some good ways to avoid being tailed after a downtown meeting with people I don't want to follow me home and find out where I live? Anyone know of good tips for shaking pursuers, either from the movies or real life?