Chase: Can't change card type because of new credit card act
 

So I called chase to try to change over my southwest visa over to something else while I was living abroad. Just any card without an annual fee.

The agent first offert to try to convert the card to such an account, then came back and said they're no longer able to do that anymore because of the "new credit card act". Has anyone heard of this? Sounds like BS to me...

It is BS. More likely they have clamped down due to the credit crunch.

I'd cancel the Chase card and go after BofA's Charles Schwab Invest First Visa. The Schwab card does not have an annual fee, and more importantly for you, no foreign exchange (FOREX) fees.

Capital One and PNC Bank also offer no FOREX cards.

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I encountered this the other day. I have a United card with a very high limit that I don't want anymore. I don't want to give up the credit line though.

Only options seem to be to pay the annual fee or cancel the card.

Oh absolutely, SWA card hasn't been used in 6 months and I've been using FIA in conjunction with the brokerage account for those last 6. But I'd hate to just cancel a $19K credit line. I'll have to ponder this over. Most likely, I'll cancel anyway on principal. Still, not too happy about it.

The SWA card does not report a limit to the CRAs, so you won't lose anything on utilization. If you know you're not going to use it while you're gone, cancel it and reapply when you get home...

Just to be clear, did you specifidally ask about being converted to the United "bronze" card (I don't know if that's what they officially call it), the one with no annual fee but 1 mile for every $2 in spend?

Even if they can't convert you, it may be worth pestering them about it (explaining over and over again that you'd keep the card if only it didn't have the annual fee, even if it had lower earnings) and perhaps (no guarantee!) they'll make some other offer (like bonus miles or a credit against the annual fee) if they can't actualy convert you.

It's possible the new credit card act excuse is not total BS, but not quite truth either. It could be that their lawyers have said "put this and that on hold, because we're not quite sure how we have to change the rules pending the new credit card act", and in that sense it may be due to the new credit card act (not that the new credit act doesn't allow them to do this, but just that new the new credit card act requires that they reexamine many rules and their lawyers might feel they have to put some processes on hold in the meantime).

A small nit to pick, but there is nothing in the law that says you can't convert products. If Chase management (or their lawyers) make up a policy because of their interpretation of the law and its impact on the company, that is their prerogative. But again, using the law as an excuse is BS. They are doing it for selfish reasons, as all big companies tend to do.

Amex for instance decided (for reasons known only to them) last Oct to disallow transfer of credit lines between active cards. Again, nothing in any law, just their knee-jerk reaction to the credit crunch. I'm assuming Chase is doing the same thing.

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Yep, I specifically asked for the 1 mile per $2 card and was turned down.

I also tried explaining that I would like to keep a card with them just not this one, but they didn't care. Keep in mind that I had spent over $80k on this card last year.

Converting Chase card to another type
 

Hi folks,

Like many people, I signed up for the Chase BA for the 100k bonus last spring, but I have no interest in paying the annual fee to keep the card (especially bc of the Avios change-over). What I'd really like to do is to convert/downgrade the card to the Chase Freedom since the Freedom will be a great compliment to the Sapphire Preferred and carries no annual fee. Does anyone know if this is possible?

I'm not interested in applying independently for the Freedom card, despite the $300 sign-up bonus, bc the bonus isn't high enough to be worth the credit inquiry or further reduction of average account length for me right now (I'm still new to the cc game and building up my score).

Many thanks for any help! I've searched the boards and blogs but wasn't able to find info on this.

I asked Chase this question earlier this week and was told that the British Airways VISA cannot be converted to "any other rewards card". You may receive a different answer.

IMHO, converting cards, even if possible, is a waste of time.

The banks are looking to give big bonuses to "new" customers--not to customers they already have.

And, the biggest secret, if secret it be, on FT is that the bonuses are where the free first class flights are to be found. :D

why wouldn't you want the chase freedom card's bonus if you have the sapphire..seems worth it to me..i would just wait a few months...is your annual fee up for the BA card?

Thanks for all the replies! Sounds like I probably won't be able to convert, but I'll ask when I call to cancel just in case.

I appreciate the benefit of applying for the freedom separately to get the 30k bonus points, but at this point I'm limiting new apps to cards with bonuses of at least 50k points in the programs I value.

Convert Annual Fee CC to non Annual Fee Version
 

I have been looking at the Chase Sapphire Card a lot and as much as I am interested in the 50k signup bonus. I have a fragile credit score, since I only have 2 card one being 2 yrs old the other being 9 months. (I am a 19 year old student fyi). So I am looking to start churning yet, though I would love to take advantage of signup bonuses since I am in the market for a new card.

My question is if I were to go for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, get the 50k bonus, would I be able to convert the card into the No annual fee version after the first year. My spending doesn't justify the annual fee for most cards, its typically $300-$400 a month, unless of course I was going for a signup bonus, in which case, I would make it higher.

Thanks,

The Visa signature cards have a pretty high credit score requirement + decent income too. Not sure if you'd qulify based on your post. You could always get it for a year and then ask for a fee waiver, etc.

Edit: but yes, so can convert it to the Chase Freedom card which has no annual fee

I honestly dont think you will be approved. I personally wouldnt waste a credit pull...

Looking at my database, the lowest credit score I see for approval on the Sapphire card is 710 Transunion and 715 Experian with a 43% likelihood they will pull Experian. Average approval score is 758 with a standard deviation of 25 points

Agreed. I applied for the Sapphire Preferred immediately after I graduated from college and had my first job.

I was denied because I didn't have enough history even though I had a Chase card for 5 years and another random card.

Did you ever call in to try this? If so, what was the outcome?

Transferring Chase LOC from one card to another and other questions
 

Hey guys, I had a few questions and wanted to know if I could get some info/advice regarding my scenario since I have never done it before.

Here is my situation: I have a United MP Visa Platinum card (my oldest card), and a Presidential Plus card that I recently acquired in October 2011. Both cards have a good CL. With the announcement of the new United MP Club Card, I was thinking of closing my PP account and trying to convert my MP Visa Plat to the new MP Club Card, therefore eliminating the need for two cards and having one card with the combined CL of the two.

My questions are: Can I transfer my existing LOC on my PP card to the MP Visa Platinum account, and then close the PP account? And since I am going to ask Chase to convert my MP Visa Plat to the new Club Card, would I be able to keep my existing account info (account number, CL, length of account, etc)? I dont want my MP Visa Plat account history effected at all if I am able to do any of this, since it is my longest held account with a great CL and no negatives on it whatsoever.

Any info/advice/guidance would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance to anyone who replies!

EDIT: Another option I am considering is keeping the PP card and converting my MP Visa Plat to the Sapphire Preferred card. Any ideas regarding this option? I know I have been eligible for the Sapphire card because every time I go into my local branch they always say "you're pre-approved" for it. Thanks again!

Ok so I got more info, I cant change my Mileage Plus Visa to another pure Chase product (i.e. Sapphire). It can only be changed to another United card, which wont help me since I already have the Presidential Plus account.

Sorry for the post, and thanks for looking!

Can downgrade my Chase Sapphire preferred to Chase Ink Bold?
 

I am a newbie, already have a couple of Chase CC
Sapphire preferred
United
Hyatt

I like the Sapphire preferred a lot, but I will leave USA very soon, and wish to use Chase CC outside of USA in a daily base. So no foreign transfer fee is a must.
Is it doable to " use Chase CC outside of USA in a daily base"?
is it possible to change Chase Sapphire preferred to Chase Ink Bold?


:confused:
Thanks!!!:D

Why would you want to downgrade instead of applying for a new card? In this way you get the sign-up bonus. Keep in mind Chase Ink Bold is a business card, so you may want to think of a business in mind (ebay selling works) when applying. Chase is unlikely to approve a card if they learn you are moving permanently. However, many travelers use U.S. based cards overseas.

Chase Sapphire Preferred has no foreign transaction fees.

Thanks so much MD/DC Flyer and tpeflyer.
You answers really help!

I don't think they would let you do this. Problem is one is a personel card and the other is a business card. Sign up for the Ink card, both don't have foreign exchange fees as far as I know. By signing up you can earn 40,000-50,000 Points and then in the future if you wanted to cancel your CSP card you have a place to transfer the points. Good luck on the move.

When did you get your Hyatt card? I believe the most recent Hyatt card have chip and pin technology and 0% foreign transaction fee.

If you have an old version- then you still have the Chase Sapphire P. which also has 0% foreign transaction fee.

I agree with the above comments. There is no reason to try and downgrade your Sapphire to the Ink Bold ( I don't think it's possible anyway). If you want the Ink Bold then you should apply for it, so you can get the sign-up bonus.

I hope this helps and best of luck on your travels.

Thanks jjmiller69 and gwhit21!!
Your comments are appreciated.
So one more question, Does Chase look at your personal (consumer) CC history when you apply a business card? Since I have my Hyatt cc last month, maybe right now is not a good time to apply a new card, if they consider biz card and personal card in the same category.

PS: I do have biz card from Amex and Citi.

Thanks!

Chase will approve your business card by pulling your personal credit. After the initial approval all credit activity is tied to the business (credit limit, opening, and closing).

My general rule with Chase is only one card every 90 days, but I have 6 Chase cards. If the Hyatt card is the only Chase card you have applied for in the last 4-6 months, you can get approved. You will have to call the reconsideration line though.

I hope this helps.

Thanks TheNoobTraveler.
Unfortunately, Hyatt is not the only one I got with Chase in the last 6 month.
I also got United and BA. So I guess to wait a while might be better for now.

Converting a Sapphire Preferred Visa to a MasterCard
 

My two personal Chase "no foreign exchange fees" cards happen to be Visas (Sapphire and Marriott). My plan is to convert my Sapphire Visa to a MasterCard early next year after I have received my 7% point bonus for 2012. Then I will have both a Visa and MasterCard with no forex fees to have all my bases covered outside the US.

Has anyone out there successfully had their Sapphire Preferred Visa converted into a Sapphire Preferred MasterCard? Thanks!

Convert Priority Club Visa to United Explorer?
 

Does anyone know if Chase would be willing to convert a current Priority Club Visa card to a United Explorer card instead? I have decided to jump ship from SkyTeam to Star Alliance and would rather not attempt another credit card app, especially from Chase at this point. I am hoping they would just convert the card and not consider it a new credit request or inquiry.

Thoughts?

I don't see the point of converting Visa to Master, as in almost all cases they are equally acceptable worldwide. If you do want another MasterCard, I would recommend just simply apply for a new one. Many credit cards offer sweet sign up bonus these days. If you are looking to avoid foreign transaction fees, I think most cards from Capital One will qualify.

I have the Sapphire Preferred Visa. I applied for the MC and they said no, already have the card.
I called the recon line and pleaded for the MC "so I could use Chase at Sam's Club" (MC only). They said they could close the Visa, issue MC. OK.
1 week goes by, nada. I secure email and reply thread below:
Dear ,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us again in
regards to changing your account.

As much as I would like to help you, I regret to inform
you that the option to change your account to a Chase
Sapphire Preferred Mastercard is currently not available."

They can switch to the non preferred version only.

I called back to the recon line and received the new MC Preferred a week later-and supposedly will receive another 40k bonus when completing spend requirement-we will see in about a month.

Is the annual fee waived too, first year, on that Visa to MC conversion?

Welcome to Flyertalk. While MasterCard and VISA appear to be interchangeable brands in the USA this is only because they had interlocking ownership for a few decades. This ended as the result of an anti-trust suit, and the banks which formerly owned those networks are still making compensation payments to American Express and Discover.

MasterCard and VISA now compete with each other and "exclusive" acceptance deals (see the Olympics) are becoming more common. This said, I would rather carry a MasterCard and VISA from separate issuers.

Not really a conversion-killed visa new mc-fee waived-so far

I tried to convert my visa preferred to MasterCard but they said I can't. I would have to downgrade to a regular sapphire card and convert into MasterCard which really weired. Did you have to close your visa and reapply for MasterCard. Did they do a hard pull

Is your new Sapphire Preferred MC the metal sandwich type like the Visa version, or did have they have to go back to using a full plastic blank?

Also, what type of MC is it (I am guessing it is a World Elite)?

Thanks!

And lock yourself out of getting those bonus points?

(Once you get it through a convesion -- if you can, which I don't know -- you'd be locked out of apolying for it and getting all those many tens of thoussands of bonus miles.)

Also, I bet some of the other persk, like the lounge passes, would not necessarily come with a converison either.

And even if they allow you to convert, they may run an inquiry! (You can't prevent it, and the agent wouoln't necessarily accurately be able to tell you if it would happen. And even if it hadn't happened to some in the past, Chase could have changed policy since. Not that many people do conversions, so anecdoates of their experiences usually tend to be dated, which makes it more likely that htings could have changed between the time they had their experience and when you try it.)

So why all this effort to lose singup bonuses with so little payoff??? :confused: Why not just wait until you're ready to do another Chase app?

(Carry-on everything and the checked bag fees won't matter to you anyway. And it's not like you get priority seating or anything really super useful like that with the card, assuming you are carry-on only...)

Had the Visa-applied MC-rejected-called recon line-cancelled visa, moved credit limit over to MC-hard pull-it is a World MC and just like the metal Visa