Strategy to obtain US Amex

[olorinn]

Hey guys I have finally got my US HSBC credit card in my hands! Has anyone successfully managed to sign up to a streaming service and got the streaming credit applied? If so which services in particular?

I'm trying to sign up to HBO and it's not recognising the payment

HBO Max works for me on the HSBC Premier, maybe HSBC are blocking your transaction?

 

[blacksultan]

HBO Max works for me on the HSBC Premier, maybe HSBC are blocking your transaction?

Usually need to approve online purchases via SecureCode .

 

[GerrardGerrard]

HBO Max works for me on the HSBC Premier, maybe HSBC are blocking your transaction?

Which country are you in if I may ask? When I click pay it doesn't ask to approve the purchase it just says the bank details are incorrect. Whereas when I signed up via prime video for HBO it worked but its not the correct merchant code so won't get the $5 streaming credit

 

[GerrardGerrard]

Usually need to approve online purchases via SecureCode .

When I spoke to HBO they just said I was trying to use a foreign card and it was region locked. Surely this can't be?

 

[albyd]

Yes, I have US streaming services and need to use a VPN to access them.when signing up, use a VPN and you US address. When accessing them on your TV, also use the VPN. Your VPN provider will have an app in your TV’s App Store. Even if your provider have an AU service, they won’t let you ‘roam’ outside the US while ‘traveling’.. also, best to use a less well-known US city for your VPN as more popular US cities are frequently blocked.

YMMV.

 

[Tiki]

Citi Strata Premier update: Annoying verification letter mailed 4 Sept arrived today 15 Sept (Cali time). I put the code in and instant approval. No temporary card number on screen as I think some people get. I tried to get them to at least expedite it to Torrance but they won't budge from 7-10 days normal mail. I even offered to pay for it. I keep getting call centres in India or Philippines, can't seem to get anyone in authority. Card with last 4 digits is in my existing online banking along with AA card but I had to click on something to link them.

Anyway to get the card faster or at least a temporary number? I want to book hotels on Rove for the road trip and we are leaving 4 Oct, still need to get the card to Torrance and then to Brisbane.

 

[desafinado74]

Interesting discussion. I'm visiting the US next month so was thinking about opening a Chase account on person using my ITIN to increase the chance of acceptance for their IHG card as well as diversify from HSBC. Is this perhaps not such a good idea? Would of BoA account be a better bet for the diversification side of things? I'd probably just do transfers to/from HSBC US and Revolut.

When i was in USA for a holiday back in April / May, i managed to open checking accounts with Chase, BofA and Wells Fargo. I also successfully applied for credit cards from them. Mind you, i already have a 3.5 year old US credit file, prior to my visit, and also an ITIN.

As others have mentioned already, BofA is the most foreigner friendly bank and most straightforward to deal with. If you have your heart set on Chase, just go for it. You got nothing to lose. If a branch rejects you, just go to another one. And it is so much easier and stress free when you open checking accounts and apply for credit cards at a branch, instead of doing it from Australia.

 

[desafinado74]

Citi Strata Premier update: Annoying verification letter mailed 4 Sept arrived today 15 Sept (Cali time). I put the code in and instant approval. No temporary card number on screen as I think some people get. I tried to get them to at least expedite it to Torrance but they won't budge from 7-10 days normal mail. I even offered to pay for it. I keep getting call centres in India or Philippines, can't seem to get anyone in authority. Card with last 4 digits is in my existing online banking along with AA card but I had to click on something to link them.

Anyway to get the card faster or at least a temporary number? I want to book hotels on Rove for the road trip and we are leaving 4 Oct, still need to get the card to Torrance and then to Brisbane.

And this is why i did not open a checking account and credit card with Citi when i was in America. I was also interested in the Strata Premier, but backed out in the end, after reading so much horror stories about Citi's fraud locks and verification quirks.

 

[albyd]

I got my Citi card back when they had a foreigner program. They are pretty jumpy though depending on the country you are in. For instance, Malaysia, when I ordered a Grab (like an Uber), I would need a verification code. That was mostly fine. Thankfully so far AU has been ok.

 

[desafinado74]

I got my Citi card back when they had a foreigner program. They are pretty jumpy though depending on the country you are in. For instance, Malaysia, when I ordered a Grab (like an Uber), I would need a verification code. That was mostly fine. Thankfully so far AU has been ok.

That is good to know re Citi I must admit, so far i have not used my American credit cards outside of America. I am just paranoid about the cards being locked for fraud

 

[Tiki]

I’ve had no problems with Citi AAdvantage card in Australia either in person or online except for some reason Vodafone doesn’t like it. But they like Chase cards. But knowing how skittish Citi is, I won’t use it outside of Australia and US based websites. Actually I used it for Solomon Airlines website but from Australia. Didn’t dare actually bring it on the trip!

 

[lunne]

Wife is in Las Vegas and tomorrow morning heading to the local BofA branch to open a checking account.

For the sake of making it easier to get an Atmos Rewards CC down the line, what type of account should she try to open? Would a BoFA Non-resident bank account be sufficient, or is that just gonna be a problem when applying for Atmos as they would have on file that she's living overseas?

She has a SSN and a US mailing address that we've used successfully for both Chase (checking + CC) and Amex (CC), but the actual address is in Las Vegas and with US Global mail, so might raise flags if she claims it's her residential address?