American Express Membership Rewards - Change Optima to a different affinity?

I'm thinking about changing my Optima to a different affinity? i.e. Hilton to Starwood

Am I assuming correctly that this should just take a call to Amex w/my corresponding account numbers (optima and hotel)??

You assume incorrectly.

As far as I know, you will need a new card.

Tried to change the Cash Back card to Starwood. No dice. Had to reapply. They approved it right away and within about 10 days the new card arrived.

I now have 4 Amexes (5 if you count the corporate card). Sheesh!

Definitely you'll have to get a new card. It would be way too easy otherwise.

d

Somehow it is not consistent.
After the free year with my Delta Amex, I asked first to waive Delta fee - nope, never, then I asked to be switched to Cash Rewards - no way, they say it is a different department; the same rep advised me to move to Starwood. So i did just that and even got 1000 sign-up points.
Ditto for my wife, Delta moved over to Hilton, no approval required, 7500 bonus point given.
I guess all these in the same dept.
All you need is to ask them.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UpgradeMe:
As far as I know, you will need a new card. </font>
When I switched from Amex Gold to Starwood, a rep told me I had to reapply because I was switching from a charge card (i.e., no credit limit) to a credit card.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> When I switched from Amex Gold to Starwood, a rep told me I had to reapply because I was switching from a charge card (i.e., no credit limit) to a credit card.

</font>

That makes sense (kind of). What I don't understand is why you need to reapply when switching from one Optima to another.



[This message has been edited by skofarrell (edited 03-05-2002).]

My understanding is that you have to reapply. However, once you have the new card you can combine both your credit lines into the new.

When I first got my AMEX Plat card, I headed out on a vacation the next day or thereabouts...and the card's mag strip would not work.

AMEX could not simply issue me a card with the same number and a working mag strip...they had to create an entirely new account number. Major hassle getting the card account replaced at several places where I had auto-payments in place. AMEX doesn't seem to recognize the hassle they create for their cardholders.

Even though I HAD physical possession of the old card...thus there was not a "lost card/security issue" with retaining the same account number....still AMEX saw fit to create an entirely new account number.

Moral of the story - don't ever lose your card..or wear it out before it officially expires...or try to convert it to a new affinity....seems that AMEX simply can't manage what most banks can.

When I switched from Hilton to Starwood, they just changed it. They may have given me a new card number.... don't remember.

Switched from the DL card to the SPG, they definately replaced the card. Why even bother?

ILUVCITIBANK, they can reissue with the same number, I have had it done.

I wish they did that for me!
Would have been a heck of a lot easier!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ILUVCITIBANK:
When I first got my AMEX Plat card, I headed out on a vacation the next day or thereabouts...and the card's mag strip would not work.

AMEX could not simply issue me a card with the same number and a working mag strip...they had to create an entirely new account number. Major hassle getting the card account replaced at several places where I had auto-payments in place. AMEX doesn't seem to recognize the hassle they create for their cardholders.

Even though I HAD physical possession of the old card...thus there was not a "lost card/security issue" with retaining the same account number....still AMEX saw fit to create an entirely new account number.

Moral of the story - don't ever lose your card..or wear it out before it officially expires...or try to convert it to a new affinity....seems that AMEX simply can't manage what most banks can.</font>

I went through this hell the last time my mag stripe wore out on my Delta Platinum Optima Card. I also have everything I possibly can automatically bill to the card for milage. I tried calling several times and walking the supervisor tree each time.

(As an aside, whenever I do this with AMEX or any other company, if the CSR that I dealt with was polite and professional but simply wasn't able to give me what I want, I always mention this to the supervisor. This is a good idea for a couple of reasons: (1) It doesn't get the front line CSR into trouble for just doing their job, and (2) It gives the supervisor the impression that you aren't a complete jerk, and they may be more willing to use their discretion to help you out.)

Anyway the end result was that it is indeed possible to get a card reissued with the same number. However for some arcane reason only vaguely understood to have something to do with security, they must disable your card from the time of creation until you receive the new card. No matter how many times I called I could not get past this one.

So ultimately I crossed my fingers and hoped nothing automatic would bill during the deactivated period. I got mostly lucky and only my netflix subscription fee needed to be re-billed.

On the bright side, I did my best to wrangle an adjustment to my yearly fee as compensation for the hassle. The supervisor claimed it was not within his power but he would contact someone with the authority, but could not make any promises (he did say his past experience with these requests was mixed). He called back in an hour oe two telling me that they would refund my entire yearly fee. :-)

Sweet Willie, I just changed my Optima to Starwood a few months ago. It took one phone. I got a new card in the mail. Can't remember if it's a new number. If you want to get Starwood, there is a bonus offer that you can sign up for (sorry I don't have a link) to get 4K points.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by VPescado:
Anyway the end result was that it is indeed possible to get a card reissued with the same number. However for some arcane reason only vaguely understood to have something to do with security, they must disable your card from the time of creation until you receive the new card.</font>
Having your card disabled isn't that big a deal. You just have to do a little prep work.

First, make sure you have another card to use. Second, don't use your card for a few days so no charges will post. Third, look at your past statements to see when automatic debits were withdrawn - call on a date far away from the debit dates. Lastly, call in the morning, Monday-Thursday, so that you'll have a card by the next day.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by VPescado:
However for some arcane reason only vaguely understood to have something to do with security, they must disable your card from the time of creation until you receive the new card. No matter how many times I called I could not get past this one. </font>

This actually is the part of your situation that makes the most sense. They want to avoid sending an active card through the mail.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Steve M:
This actually is the part of your situation that makes the most sense. They want to avoid sending an active card through the mail.</font>

Nope, Since I had the last card over a year the expiration date was pushed out another year. That card would need to be activated by me.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ChaseTheMiles:
Sweet Willie, I just changed my Optima to Starwood a few months ago. It took one phone. I got a new card in the mail. Can't remember if it's a new number. If you want to get Starwood, there is a bonus offer that you can sign up for (sorry I don't have a link) to get 4K points.

</font>

Do you have to re-apply or just call them and ask for the change.

DCW, one call was enough to switch the card.

But, I had to call again a few months later to remind them about the sign-up bonus, which then appeared within a couple of days.

[This message has been edited by ChaseTheMiles (edited 11-23-2002).]