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)
Feb 2, 2018, 5:10 am
#691
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,857
It is my understanding that you can only get a refund of the annual fee if you PC or cancel the account within 30 days of the annual fee appearing on your statement. It has been discussed on several blogs and here on FT. If 10/1 refers to October 1, then the 30 day deadline has passed. So you might not be eligible for a prorated refund.
Feb 2, 2018, 5:43 am
#692
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,259
It is my understanding that you can only get a refund of the annual fee if you PC or cancel the account within 30 days of the annual fee appearing on your statement. It has been discussed on several blogs and here on FT. If 10/1 refers to October 1, then the 30 day deadline has passed. So you might not be eligible for a prorated refund.
Feb 2, 2018, 7:53 am
#694
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: SGN
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Delta Plat
Posts: 84
Thanks for the response! I actually in-optimally use the Ink Plus for my real biz, instead of the category bonus, and recently diverted to the Cap One Spark, so have no use for this card. Kinda blessed with too many points in multiple reward programs, plus the arrival of our infant daughter reducing near future travel, so I am okay with not having the ability to transfer right now. Will probably get the CSR in a year or two, which would restore that ability.
Feb 5, 2018, 9:44 am
#695
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 54
United card product change subject to 5/24?
Does any one know if product changes from the free United Explorer Mileage Plus card to the United Explorer Mileage Plus Explorer card are subject to the Chase's 5/24 rule? I asked a Chase rep today, who said it was not, but who really knows?
I've had the United Explorer Mileage Plus Explorer card for more than 5 years. I especially appreciate the increased award ticket availability it provides. The $95 annual fee is due and I didn't receive any offers when I called Chase. I'm considering a temporary downgrade to the free United Explorer Mileage Plus card. I suspect I will want to return to the Explorer card someday and anticipate remaining well over 5/24 in the future.
I've had the United Explorer Mileage Plus Explorer card for more than 5 years. I especially appreciate the increased award ticket availability it provides. The $95 annual fee is due and I didn't receive any offers when I called Chase. I'm considering a temporary downgrade to the free United Explorer Mileage Plus card. I suspect I will want to return to the Explorer card someday and anticipate remaining well over 5/24 in the future.
Feb 5, 2018, 12:21 pm
#696
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: UA 1K - 2.1MM, HH LT Diamond, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 766
Does any one know if product changes from the free United Explorer Mileage Plus card to the United Explorer Mileage Plus Explorer card are subject to the Chase's 5/24 rule? I asked a Chase rep today, who said it was not, but who really knows?
I've had the United Explorer Mileage Plus Explorer card for more than 5 years. I especially appreciate the increased award ticket availability it provides. The $95 annual fee is due and I didn't receive any offers when I called Chase. I'm considering a temporary downgrade to the free United Explorer Mileage Plus card. I suspect I will want to return to the Explorer card someday and anticipate remaining well over 5/24 in the future.
I've had the United Explorer Mileage Plus Explorer card for more than 5 years. I especially appreciate the increased award ticket availability it provides. The $95 annual fee is due and I didn't receive any offers when I called Chase. I'm considering a temporary downgrade to the free United Explorer Mileage Plus card. I suspect I will want to return to the Explorer card someday and anticipate remaining well over 5/24 in the future.
Feb 6, 2018, 11:21 am
#697
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 34
I just paid for flight tickets using my CSR that used up the 300 dollar travel credit.I was charged the $450 AF as part of my January billing statement, which I've now paid. However, I plan on downgrading to the CSP (now that the 300 dollar travel credit for the year is used up), and the flight tickets will be charged as part of my next billing period. Will I end up losing the $300 credit if I downgrade my CSR to the preferred now (i.e., will I end up paying the full price for my tickets)?
Feb 6, 2018, 5:24 pm
#698
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: UA 1K - 2.1MM, HH LT Diamond, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 766
I just paid for flight tickets using my CSR that used up the 300 dollar travel credit.I was charged the $450 AF as part of my January billing statement, which I've now paid. However, I plan on downgrading to the CSP (now that the 300 dollar travel credit for the year is used up), and the flight tickets will be charged as part of my next billing period. Will I end up losing the $300 credit if I downgrade my CSR to the preferred now (i.e., will I end up paying the full price for my tickets)?
Feb 7, 2018, 10:36 am
#700
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: UA 1K - 2.1MM, HH LT Diamond, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 766
Feb 13, 2018, 11:16 am
#701
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
is it possible to transfer a csp to a ritz visa?
Feb 13, 2018, 12:23 pm
#702
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: UA 1K - 2.1MM, HH LT Diamond, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 766
No, you may only product change (PC) within the same "family". You can PC a CSP to a CSR, CS, FU, Freedom or Slate. Normally, you may only PC after year 1.
Alternatively, you can PC a Ritz to a Marriott personal card (but not a business card). You can PC a United Club Card to a MPE or TravelBank Visa, etc.
Alternatively, you can PC a Ritz to a Marriott personal card (but not a business card). You can PC a United Club Card to a MPE or TravelBank Visa, etc.
Mar 1, 2018, 4:32 am
#703
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: New England
Posts: 485
Downgraded CSR to Freedom - annual fee still there
I couple days ago I downgraded my CSR to a CF in order to avoid the annual fee that was charged on 2/1/18. That cycles billing is due today and I'm not seeing a credit for the $450 fee. Was I missing something...thought if I did the downgrade within 60 days (actually did it in 26 days) that the fee would be removed/credited.
Last edited by mdurette; Mar 1, 2018 at 5:02 am
Mar 1, 2018, 5:53 am
#704
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,857
I couple days ago I downgraded my CSR to a CF in order to avoid the annual fee that was charged on 2/1/18. That cycles billing is due today and I'm not seeing a credit for the $450 fee. Was I missing something...thought if I did the downgrade within 60 days (actually did it in 26 days) that the fee would be removed/credited.
Mar 3, 2018, 2:05 pm
#705
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: 1K 1MM; Bonvoy Ambassador; Nat'l EE; Hertz PC; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,465
I currently have the Chase Ritz Carlton card. I cannot be approved for CSR due to 5/24, will they allow me to convert the RC card to a CSR (I know I wouldn't get signup bonus, but to me it's better than MR points).