topic Re: Merrill+ in Credit Card Approvals

Merrill+

grinlikechelsea — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 21:58:09 GMT

Disclaimer: I am not applying now. Relax, ERT.

I am curious about the requirements for this card. Since it is a Visa Signature, obviously a $5K CL is the minimum, but I was wondering if you have the card, what your profile looked like when you applied. Also, how do you like the card? The benefits seem pretty stellar.

Thanks everyone!

Re: Merrill+

Leadberry — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 22:04:39 GMT

I'm pretty sure I've heard of people getting the Merrill+ with starting CL's under $5k. May have to look in to that one.

Re: Merrill+

newUser0 — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 22:04:49 GMT

Is this from FIA Card services?

Re: Merrill+

grinlikechelsea — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 22:06:05 GMT

@newUser0 wrote:
Is this from FIA Card services?

Yes.

Re: Merrill+

grinlikechelsea — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 22:07:22 GMT

@Leadberry wrote:
I'm pretty sure I've heard of people getting the Merrill+ with starting CL's under $5k. May have to look in to that one.

Huh. I haven't heard that before. I didn't think they offered it lower than $5,000. Do you remember if they got a Visa Plat or was it the Sig?

Re: Merrill+

thom02099 — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 22:19:16 GMT

@grinlikechelsea wrote:
Disclaimer: I am not applying now. Relax, ERT.

I am curious about the requirements for this card. Since it is a Visa Signature, obviously a $5K CL is the minimum, but I was wondering if you have the card, what your profile looked like when you applied. Also, how do you like the card? The benefits seem pretty stellar.

Thanks everyone!

I have the card and other than no means to apply on line (have to call in), it really wasn't any more difficult to get than my BofA Cash Rewards card. IIRC, my score was in the 760s or so when I applied; they pulled TU (in Colorado). They were very generous with CL, offered $10K up front, asked if that was enough! They've since been generous with CLI, got an instant approval to $15K not all that long ago. And you're right, the bennies are quite nice, I simply haven't taken advantage of all of them, though I've been racking up the points with them -- put a hefty hospital bill on the card as out-of-pocket medical expense and recently paid most of it off.

EDIT: One thing they DID do, they screwed up my application. I specfically asked for the Plus card, the CSR for whatever reason, seemed to think I was actually in need of the Total Merrill card, and that's the one that got sent to me. Decent card as well, but not what I wanted. So upon receipt of the wrong card, I had to call back in and make sure I got the RIGHT card, even going so far as telling them "the black card with the silver bull on the front and the + on it" ! ! !

Re: Merrill+

grinlikechelsea — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 22:20:23 GMT

@thom02099 wrote:
@grinlikechelsea wrote:
Disclaimer: I am not applying now. Relax, ERT.

I am curious about the requirements for this card. Since it is a Visa Signature, obviously a $5K CL is the minimum, but I was wondering if you have the card, what your profile looked like when you applied. Also, how do you like the card? The benefits seem pretty stellar.

Thanks everyone!
I have the card and other than no means to apply on line (have to call in), it really wasn't any more difficult to get than my BofA Cash Rewards card. IIRC, my score was in the 760s or so when I applied; they pulled TU (in Colorado). They were very generous with CL, offered $10K up front, asked if that was enough! They've since been generous with CLI, got an instant approval to $15K not all that long ago. And you're right, the bennies are quite nice, I simply having taken advantage of all of them, though I've been racking up the points with them -- put a hefty hospital bill on the card as out-of-pocket medical expense and recently paid most of it off.

EDIT: One thing they DID do, they screwed up my application. I specfically asked for the Plus card, the CSR for whatever reason, seemed to think I was actually in need of the Total Merrill card, and that's the one that got sent to me. Decent card as well, but not what I wanted. So upon receipt of the wrong card, I had to call back in and make sure I got the RIGHT card, even going so far as telling them "the black card with the silver bull on the front and the + on it" ! ! !

Thanks for the great information! My scores are more or less in that neighborhood so I think I'll be okay whenever I apply for it.

Funny enough, I had the same problem with BoA. I asked to PC a previously secured BoA Cash to the BoA Accelerated Rewards Amex. They sent me the Accelerated Cash Amex, which they said wasn't available anymore. I certainly wasn't complaining though! Glad everything was fixed in the end though!

Re: Merrill+

grinlikechelsea — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 23:00:25 GMT

Ugh the itch to app...

Re: Merrill+

budugu — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 01:01:38 GMT

I recently applied for it and got it with a score range of 675-725 score.

Re: Merrill+

Kenny — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 01:14:43 GMT

Is this better than a 2% cash back card? Just curious...?

Re: Merrill+

grinlikechelsea — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 03:29:21 GMT

@KennyS2006 wrote:
Is this better than a 2% cash back card? Just curious...?

From my understanding, it depends what you want to do with the rewards. If you want flat cash back, 2% will be better for you. What makes the Merrill+ so attractive to me is the flexibility of the points, no AF/FOREX fees, and all the little fringe benefits it offers. I think I'll be an excellent card to have in my portfolio when I go abroad later this year. Hope this answered your question!

What number did you guys call? Did you just call BoA and say you would like to apply or is there another number?

Re: Merrill+

budugu — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 11:56:34 GMT

I called the number on the ML card website. 1 st around they did not. But second time they forwarded me to the same boa fia phone app dept. so call again to verify.

The main advantage of the card is overseas where Amex acceptance is low or merchant will charge additional fee. Otherwise fidelity is hard to beat.

Re: Merrill+

lg8302ch — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 12:07:54 GMT

This is also an interesting card to me. Since I do hardly use the BofA cash rewards card anymore I wonder if they can also PC from other BofA cards to the Merill+ ? Anybody has ever done a PC from another BofA/Fia card?

Re: Merrill+

yudeology101 — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 14:56:27 GMT

It's a nice looking card.

Re: Merrill+

acb5456 — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 16:08:07 GMT

My scores were 725-750ish when I applied. It's been a great card and the Merrill Wealth Management reps are always very nice and, in my opinion, more helpful than their BofA counterparts And they are also, as another person mentioned, very generous with credit limits! Good luck if you apply!!! fingers crossed!

Re: Merrill+

grinlikechelsea — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 16:41:39 GMT

@lg8302ch wrote:
This is also an interesting card to me. Since I do hardly use the BofA cash rewards card anymore I wonder if they can also PC from other BofA cards to the Merill+ ? Anybody has ever done a PC from another BofA/Fia card?

My partner PC'ed a BoA Power Rewards Visa Signature into the Fidelity AmEx. He did have to contact the EO though.

Re: Merrill+

swpopham — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 17:17:44 GMT

going with the merrill card was a good choice for us because of the 100% U.S.A customer service. I have only called them once for a CLI and 1 time for a question but I have never had a bad experiance with them. They are discover card friendly and helpful.

I dont regret the choice at all my EQ score was about 720 when she approved me. They are utlization sensitive, she saw a 7k balance on my navy card and was going to deny but she asked to pull TU where she could see payment amounts. I allowed and she saw last month was paid in full. She approved on the spot. No other questions

Re: Merrill+

celluloid17 — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 17:57:27 GMT

I have no plans to travel abroad anytime soon, but if I did, this would definitely be the card I would apply for. It seems like the perfect travel card for someone who doesn't want an AF. Part of me wants to apply anyway, but I'm now in the garden and should stay there for awhile.

Re: Merrill+

Open123 — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 17:59:51 GMT

Not bad for no annual fee.

Depending on the value of their rewards program, I can see where one would opt for this over some of the fee based no-forex cards, such as Venture and Arrival. Anyone know the value of their rewards program? Any direct transfer partners?

Re: Merrill+

grinlikechelsea — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 18:02:15 GMT

Thanks for your input everyone! It is much appreciated and I am glad that everyone that has been approved enjoys their card. I'm going to wait until a few of my inquiries hit the 1 year mark and the CLIs report on my reports before I app. Hopefully I'll get it!