I called barclay to ask for a downgrade to the non-annual fee version of the card. 2 different reps told me that there's no such no annual fee version (contrary to what many travel/credit blogs clearly mention).

What gives?

How long have you had the card (including the US Airways card it was converted from)? If less than a year, that could be the problem. There's a "consumer protection" law passed a few years ago that banks are interpreting as not allowing for upgrades or downgrades until you've had the card for at least a year.

Have you tried instead of a retention offer? See this thread in the Credit Cards forum (where, btw, your thread belongs):
If you look at recent posts there, people are getting their annual fee waived on their Red cards often. Why not try for that, and put off downgrading for a year?

Btw, the no-fee version earns only 1 mile for every $2 spent and has a typical forex fee. Why not consider instead downgrading to the Blue (if you can't get the annual fee waived), which has half the annual fee ($50) and still earns 1 mile for every $1 spent, and still has 0$ forex.

Thanks. I asked for a waiver and the rep not only agreed immediately but also threw in a bonus 5,000 miles if I spend on the card $1000 over the next 90 days...

As this is specific to Barclay, we're relocating this post.

~beckoa, co-moderator Information Desk