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)
Nov 4, 2017, 8:27 am
#587
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,194
Nov 7, 2017, 6:21 am
#589
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 349
E.g: October statement date is Oct 12, current statement (November?) will end Nov 12 I believe but annual fee was charged Nov 1 and then this next statement will be December?
I feel like an idiot for not understanding this.
Nov 7, 2017, 6:26 am
#590
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,857
But this would still be over 30 days, no? I thought it was 30 not 60?
E.g: October statement date is Oct 12, current statement (November?) will end Nov 12 I believe but annual fee was charged Nov 1 and then this next statement will be December?
I feel like an idiot for not understanding this.
E.g: October statement date is Oct 12, current statement (November?) will end Nov 12 I believe but annual fee was charged Nov 1 and then this next statement will be December?
I feel like an idiot for not understanding this.
Cancel: 30 days for full AF refund. Nothing after that.
Downgrade: 60 days for a full AF refund. Pro-rated after that.
Nov 10, 2017, 10:07 pm
#591
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE, AA EXP MM, UA Gold MM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Titanium, HH Dia, IHG Plat
Posts: 4,777
Get any 5/24-Restricted Card via Product Change?
Assuming you're willing to sacrifice the sign-up bonus, can you do it?
Nov 11, 2017, 9:08 am
#592
Used to be 'flymanbeast'
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Delta silver/marriot platinum
Posts: 2,795
Yes you can
Nov 11, 2017, 1:56 pm
#593
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
No and yes.
No, not any.
Yes, some.
It depends on what card you're starting out with and what card you want to convert to. You can only convert within the same card "family".
Ie, there are restrictions on what you can product convert. But those restrictions have nothing to do with whether the card you're trying to convert to subject to 5/24 or not. One example of such restrictions: You can't product convert a business card to a personal card or vice versa, for starters.
[Redirect not needed now that threads are merged. Thanks.]
No, not any.
Yes, some.
It depends on what card you're starting out with and what card you want to convert to. You can only convert within the same card "family".
Ie, there are restrictions on what you can product convert. But those restrictions have nothing to do with whether the card you're trying to convert to subject to 5/24 or not. One example of such restrictions: You can't product convert a business card to a personal card or vice versa, for starters.
[Redirect not needed now that threads are merged. Thanks.]
Last edited by philemer; Nov 11, 2017 at 8:03 pm
Nov 12, 2017, 11:27 am
#594
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 131
Is there any no-annual-fee card I can PC to from a Chase Mileage Plus BUSINESS card?
Nov 14, 2017, 3:12 pm
#595
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Chicago
Programs: World of Hyatt Explorist; Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 280
Is there a possibility of the 2018 travel credit getting clawed back if you downgrade/PC immediately after receiving the credit?
Nov 14, 2017, 6:27 pm
#596
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,194
Nov 14, 2017, 6:31 pm
#597
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,194
That said, Chase doesn't really have a history of clawing back points.
Having said that, Chase has recently developed new policies to discourage customers from engaging in actions such as this.
From what I've read, many customers intend to do just what you've outlined.
Nov 29, 2017, 6:34 am
#598
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 222
Anyone else having problems downgrading (or product changing) from Ink Plus to Ink Cash card? Both myself as well as my business partner are both just past our first anniversary on distinct accounts for different LLCs and wish to downgrade to the Ink Cash to avoid future annual fees. Chase reps are saying that the card can only be PC'd to the Ink Preferred (which also has a $95 AF). Tried both calling as well as SM and got the same response. I recall people in the past being able to PC from Ink + to Ink Cash but seems like they are no longer allowing that product change any more. Am I missing something or is there a multiple step process?
Dec 2, 2017, 8:46 am
#599
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: DCA/RIC
Programs: HH LTD, AA LTG
Posts: 1,015
Anyone else having problems downgrading (or product changing) from Ink Plus to Ink Cash card? Both myself as well as my business partner are both just past our first anniversary on distinct accounts for different LLCs and wish to downgrade to the Ink Cash to avoid future annual fees. Chase reps are saying that the card can only be PC'd to the Ink Preferred (which also has a $95 AF). Tried both calling as well as SM and got the same response. I recall people in the past being able to PC from Ink + to Ink Cash but seems like they are no longer allowing that product change any more. Am I missing something or is there a multiple step process?
Dec 2, 2017, 12:07 pm
#600
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,508
Now with Serve, USPS MO, etc avenues going down the drain within the past 2 years, I am debating about converting my Ink Plus to Ink Cash to avoid the AF. I just downgraded the Ink Bold to Ink Cash earlier in Oct 2017. I just don't think there is a reason any more to pay $95 AF for the Ink Plus to have access to $50K worth of 5x when the Ink Cash provides $25K for no AF. I still have my CSR so I have access to transfer URs to partner airlines. Any advice?