Feb 12, 2016, 8:56 am
Last edit by: beltway
This is the general 2016-2019 thread for weighing the relative merits
of keeping, downgrading, or canceling Chase-issued credit cards.
Post-2019 discussion continues in this thread.
of keeping, downgrading, or canceling Chase-issued credit cards.
Post-2019 discussion continues in this thread.
What's the main reason people product change (PC)?
The benefits offered by a particular card, might suit you better than the card you are holding. Many people, unable to qualify for a new Chase Sapphire Reserve application, upgraded from the Sapphire Preferred to the Sapphire Reserve, because the benefits of the CSR's cash reimbursements made the annual fee a nominal difference the first year. And vice versa- the onerous $450 yearly fee of the CSR makes an appealing case to downgrade to the Sapphire Preferred, and eventually to the no-fee Sapphire or a Freedom card.
Many people product change to avoid the annual fees on the premium versions of the card. Keeping the card open, via a product change, keeps the account open. This allows you to retain the seasoned account, and the banking relationship that the older card has established with Chase.
Why not just cancel the card and be done with it?
This may be the right choice for you, but others want some of the card benefits without having to reapply. Also, Chase has become very restrictive for new card applicants. For Chase cards, you must wait 24- 48 months since the last time you received a bonus before reapplying. Please see the threads on the individual cards for updated overlay rules.
An additional (and more stringent) overlay is the infamous 5/24 rule, which Chase instituted in May 2016 as a counter-measure against churning, or, as they refer to it, "Serial Starters." The 5/24 rule is that you won't be eligible for most Chase card products if you've opened more than 5 credit cards in 24 months. For more on this and other application-related issues, see the current "Applying for Chase Credit Cards " Master thread.
Finally, canceling certain cards--those earning Chase Ultimate Rewards--may deprive you of the ability to exchange UR for miles/points in air & hotel programs. See Ultimate Rewards transfer partners, times & rules.
Is there any way I can keep a card without paying the annual fee?
See Chase Retention Bonuses: June 2015-Present
Are there any restrictions on product changes?
Product changes are only allowed within the same card "family," and are not permitted between business and personal cards. Also, Chase cites the federal CARD Act to deny product changes on any account less that one year old.
Will a product change count as a new card?
No, you will keep your same card number, "opened on" date, credit line, automatic payment arrangements, etc. A product change does not count against Chase's 5/24 limitations on new cards.
Will I get a signup bonus when I change?
No, product changes do not result in point bonuses. Signup bonuses are reserved for new applicants only. For the complete list of public sign up offers, check the Chase sitemap here: https://creditcards.chase.com/sitemap
Is there a place I can look to compare cards?
Go here: https://creditcards.chase.com/credit...D=177087865887
Click: All cards
Place a checkmark in the Compare box for up to three cards.
Click: Compare cards...and you should see a side-by-side display.
I've figured out what I want to switch to. How do I product change my card?
Call the number on the back of your card.
Product changes for the Ultimate Reward Business and Personal Card Family
The UR family of cards includes the Chase Ink business cards, the Freedom Unlimited, the Freedom Card, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Reserve and Sapphire.
The Slate (personal) card is also available to downgrade to. It has no annual fee and does not earn any type of reward points. It offers a low fee (currently 0% for the first 60 days) balance transfers and APR.
Personal Cards
- Freedom: 5X points in rotating quarterly categories up to $1500 spend per quarter. If you max out the $1500 every quarter, it totals 7500 UR per quarter, or 30,000 UR per year.
- Freedom Unlimited: 1.5X for all spending, no bonus categories. $20,000 in spend would net 30,000 UR per year.
- Sapphire Reserve: $450 annual fee, $300 annual travel credit, 3X points for travel and dining. Books travel through the UR portal for 1.5 per dollar. Lounge access and other goodies. See the thread here for details.
- Sapphire Preferred: $95 annual fee, 2X points for travel & dining
- For discussion specific to the Sapphire Preferred Card, see Chase Sapphire Preferred - Keep, Downgrade, or Cancel?
- Sapphire: Not available to new applicants. Available as a product downgrade/change only, must tier down from the Sapphire Reserve to Sapphire Preferred to Sapphire or Freedom cards. No annual fee. Some Customer Service Reps are citing that the original product (i.e., the CSR), must be held for one year before downgrading. Please provide data points in the thread if this happens to you.
Business Cards
- Ink Plus: $95 annual fee, 5X office supplies, 5X cellular/landline/cable; 2X gas and hotels
- Ink Preferred: 3x on travel, shipping, internet/phone/cable, & some online advertising.
- Ink Cash: No annual fee, 5X office supplies, 5X cellular/landline/cable; 2X gas and restaurants
If you still have a legacy Ink Classic or Ink Bold business card, neither of which is available for new signups, you can product change to one of the other Ink cards.
Considerations for downgrading/upgrading:
Can I combine my UR points?
Yes, UR can be combined freely across the cardholder's own personal and business accounts.
What about transfering my UR to another person's Chase UR account? To their air/hotel partner account?
With restrictions, UR from a personal card can be transferred to a person living at the same address. Business cards allow transfer to owners of the company listed as authorized users.
However, be warned that there are transfer restrictions. Unauthorized transfers have resulted in shut-downs. Review the Chase T&C for details before planning a transfer. For discussion, see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chase...-accounts.html.
The Freedom cards, no-fee Ink Cash, and no-fee Sapphire cards do not allow UR transfer to airline/hotel partners. If you are downgrading from a premium UR card and will only have no-fee cards left, it may be prudent to transfer your points to the partner of your choice beforehand.
I know I can use UR to pay for travel directly (as opposed to transfering points into a travel partner program). Do the Chase UR cards differ on this?
Only the Sapphire Reserve books travel on the UR portal for 1.5. So you can stack your card bonus opportunities when your UR points are combined into your CSR account and used for booking travel. If, for instance, you earned 5x on your Ink Plus on your phone bill, and combine those 5x Ink earned points into your CSR's UR account, you'll now get an additional .5 in value when you redeem them on the travel portal.
Product Changes for United Airlines Cards
There are options to downgrade or upgrade UA cards.
- United Mileage Plus Card- no annual fee, 1 UA mile per $2 in spend
- United Mileage Plus Explorer Card- $95 annual fee, 1 mile per dollar earning, additional award inventory on UA, free checked bag, 25% bonus on the shopping portal.
- United Plus Club Card- $450 annual fee, 1.5 miles per $1, many additional premium card benefits
- Business Cards for the Mileage Plus and Club Card give you a choice to upgrade or downgrade between those two.
Southwest Airlines Cards
The difference here is a nominal $30/3000 points per year.
Personal cards
- Plus Card- $69 annual fee, 3000 bonus points upon renewal
- Premiere Card- $99 annual fee, 6000 bonus points upon renewal
Chase Product Change/Card Conversion: Downgrade, Upgrade, Keep or Cancel? (2016-2019)
Dec 5, 2016, 8:52 am
#361
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 199
PC CSP to CSR
I have a csp annual fee just posted 12/1,looking to upgrade it to csr. My billing period ends 12/9.
If I upgrade csp to csr will I maintain the same billing period? Trying to see if I can get the $300 travel credit for 2016 to post in time.
If I upgrade csp to csr will I maintain the same billing period? Trying to see if I can get the $300 travel credit for 2016 to post in time.
Dec 6, 2016, 3:48 pm
#362
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,099
I would imagine that it would, since an upgrade (or downgrade) keeps the same card number, transfers over the CL, the outstanding balances, etc. But you've got to hustle for a 12/09/16 close date, since you've got to make the charge and it must post before 12/09. See the CSR travel credit thread for more information.
Dec 21, 2016, 7:45 am
#363
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 812
So I currently have a Freedom, Freedom Unlimited, CSR, and CSP. When the CSP posts, I plan to PC it. Since I have the Freedom already, I have heard of Chase cracking down and allowing people to only have one Freedom card. If they enforce that on me, is there any reason to not PC it to a Slate card? I would never use it, but it's better than closing the account IMO.
Dec 29, 2016, 3:48 pm
#364
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 77
So I currently have a Freedom, Freedom Unlimited, CSR, and CSP. When the CSP posts, I plan to PC it. Since I have the Freedom already, I have heard of Chase cracking down and allowing people to only have one Freedom card. If they enforce that on me, is there any reason to not PC it to a Slate card? I would never use it, but it's better than closing the account IMO.
I'm currently up to a CSR, 3 Ink Cash, CFU, CF, and IHG Rewards just from Chase alone.
Dec 31, 2016, 9:22 am
#365
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
My parents have a UA Club card which will expire in march but dont want to pay fees.
Questions:
1. When is the latest they can cancel the card? On the MPE card, I recall they will refund the fee if they cancel within 60 days. but I've read 30days or prorated
2. From what I read, its better to apply for a MPE then cancel the club card to avoid the fee because downgrading won't waive the annual fee for the MPE, is that correct?
3. When I tried cancelling my MPE, they usually offer another United card with no fee or club cards but still earns some miles, maybe free bags, not sure. They said it wasnt on their site and would never give me any info on it. Could they switch to this card? Would it still count towards PQD waiver?
4. Will the money they spend towards the PQD waiver on the club card still count after it is cancelled/converted?
Questions:
1. When is the latest they can cancel the card? On the MPE card, I recall they will refund the fee if they cancel within 60 days. but I've read 30days or prorated
2. From what I read, its better to apply for a MPE then cancel the club card to avoid the fee because downgrading won't waive the annual fee for the MPE, is that correct?
3. When I tried cancelling my MPE, they usually offer another United card with no fee or club cards but still earns some miles, maybe free bags, not sure. They said it wasnt on their site and would never give me any info on it. Could they switch to this card? Would it still count towards PQD waiver?
4. Will the money they spend towards the PQD waiver on the club card still count after it is cancelled/converted?
Last edited by eng3; Dec 31, 2016 at 12:58 pm
Dec 31, 2016, 4:52 pm
#366
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Programs: Milege+, SkyMiles, AAdvantage, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,685
My parents have a UA Club card which will expire in march but dont want to pay fees.
Questions:
1. When is the latest they can cancel the card? On the MPE card, I recall they will refund the fee if they cancel within 60 days. but I've read 30days or prorated
3. When I tried cancelling my MPE, they usually offer another United card with no fee or club cards but still earns some miles, maybe free bags, not sure. They said it wasnt on their site and would never give me any info on it. Could they switch to this card? Would it still count towards PQD waiver?
Questions:
1. When is the latest they can cancel the card? On the MPE card, I recall they will refund the fee if they cancel within 60 days. but I've read 30days or prorated
3. When I tried cancelling my MPE, they usually offer another United card with no fee or club cards but still earns some miles, maybe free bags, not sure. They said it wasnt on their site and would never give me any info on it. Could they switch to this card? Would it still count towards PQD waiver?
http://www.doctorofcredit.com/chase-...refund-policy/
#3 is addressed here:
http://www.doctorofcredit.com/chase-...e-card-review/
Last edited by eajusa; Dec 31, 2016 at 5:04 pm
Dec 31, 2016, 6:42 pm
#367
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
#3, Not entirely. Does spend on the no-fee Mileage Explorer card count towards the PQD waiver?
Dec 31, 2016, 8:20 pm
#368
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
2016 PQD Waiver: In 2016, the PQD requirement is waived for Premier Silver, Premier Gold and Premier Platinum qualification for members (i) whose address with MileagePlus is within the 50 United States or the District of Columbia; and (ii) who during the applicable calendar year have spent at least $25,000 in Net Purchases, on a MileagePlus co-branded credit card issued by Chase Bank USA, N.A. at the time in 2016 when they qualify for Premier status. There is no PQD waiver for Premier 1K qualification. Only the primary Cardmember is eligible for the PQD waiver. "Net Purchases" are purchases of goods and services made by you or any authorized user on your account minus any returns or refunds, and do not include balance transfers, cash advances, cash-like charges such as travelers checks, foreign currency, and money orders, any checks that are used to access your account, overdraft advances, interest, unauthorized or fraudulent charges, or fees of any kind, including an annual fee, if applicable. Purchases made by authorized users will qualify toward the primary Cardmember's Net Purchases total but authorized users are not eligible for the PQD Waiver. If the primary Cardmember has multiple MileagePlus Chase credit cards, Net Purchases on those cards will be combined to calculate the $25,000 spend for the PQD waiver. For MileagePlus Chase Credit Card members who open an account in 2016, the "Calendar Year" includes only the portion of the year from the date when the Cardmember's credit card account is approved through December 31 of the same year. Therefore, the Cardmember may have less than 12 months in 2016 to qualify for the PQD Waiver.
Dec 31, 2016, 9:13 pm
#369
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
Disclaimer: I am not a UA flyer. Here are the 2016 PQD Waiver terms:
Qualifying cards are not listed by name, nor are "free" cards excluded by the terms. However, would it make sense to spend $25,000 on a card that earns 1 mile per $2 rather than pay $95 for a card that earns 1 mile per dollar?
Qualifying cards are not listed by name, nor are "free" cards excluded by the terms. However, would it make sense to spend $25,000 on a card that earns 1 mile per $2 rather than pay $95 for a card that earns 1 mile per dollar?
Is 12.5k RDM > 35k RDM - $95
Jan 2, 2017, 8:00 am
#370
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
Jan 4, 2017, 3:44 pm
#371
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: HHonors Diamond, MileagePlus Silver, Executive National
Posts: 125
Have CSR and CSP; best option to downgrade to from the CSP?
Jan 4, 2017, 3:54 pm
#372
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
The recurring answer is Freedom (for the quarterly 5X bonus categories) or Freedom Unlimited (for the 1.5 points per dollar on all spending). Neither one is best, you need to think about your own spending personality. Are you disciplined to use the right card for different types of spend? Do the Freedom categories from previous years align well with your spending? Are you usually working on earning a new account bonus for another card so that the Unlimited card would seldom be useful?
Jan 5, 2017, 12:06 am
#373
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 95
Cancel or downgrade?
I have the Sapphire Preferred and will get the Reserve. I already have the Chase Freedom Unlimited for 1.5x earnings. Should I downgrade the Preferred for the regular Freedom with 5x category earnings or a regular Chase Sapphire with no annual fee?
Jan 5, 2017, 7:28 am
#374
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Greater Chicagoland Area
Programs: frontier Elite, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,455
I would get the Freedom unless you somehow can't make use of the bonus categories. The 5% back is huge when it's at least 7.5% when redeemed for travel with the CSR portal, especially if you can max them out.
Jan 5, 2017, 9:33 am
#375
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: WN A-List Pref, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 460
Having a no-fee CS along with a CSR isn't really remotely as valuable as having CF + CSR. The other consideration is how much spending you would have, as CF has a diminishing return after you max out the categories.