topic Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom? in Credit Cards

Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 03:18:31 GMT

Hello, this is my first post here.

My issue is sort of related to the "sock drawer" post. I have a Chase Slate card that I'd like to upgrade to a Chase Freedom card. A bit about myself: I have a 738 FICO score as of last month and haven't had a late payment since 2008. My wife and I have a pretty decent income. I primarily use an Amex Gold Card, which I've had since 2011. I run up a $3-4,000 bill per month on my Amex on average. I don't know what my Amex spending limit is, but I've cranked my Amex charge card up to $10,000 with no issues. My only Visa/MC credit card is a Chase Slate card with a $2,400 limit. I first got a Chase card in 2006, which makes this is my oldest account by far. My first Chase card was something that no longer exists. Chase involuntarily moved me into a Slate card in 2011. Long story short, Chase slashed my credit limit on this card to $300 when I closed a Chase checking account and opened a Schwab checking account five years ago. To paraphrase the Chase CSR, it was retaliation for closing my Chase checking account. The credit limit on the Chase Slate card has gradually increased to $2,400 over the years, but I still only use this card when a merchant doesn't take Amex. It doesn't offer me any useful benefits because I don't carry balances. I've called Chase twice to switch this card to a Freedom card, but they shot me down both times. I really lit into the Chase CSR and his manager about an hour ago to no avail. My wife and I want a Visa/MC card that has a useful rewards or cash back program with no annual fees.

Are there any buttons that I can push with Chase to get Chase to convert my Slate card to the Freedom card? If I can't get this account changed to a Freedom card, should I apply for a Freedom card and close my Slate card account? Or would it be better to "sock drawer" my Slate card? Thanks for any recommendations that you might have.

P.S. Chase is the worst!

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

Jarnog — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 03:21:01 GMT

Just from reading these forums, this is not personal experience, I believe you can all and request it.

Or if worse comes to worse, app for the Freedom, get approved then move the limit over.

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

bigblue7722 — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 03:46:37 GMT

If history repeats itself last year chase offered a 200 dollar bonus instead of the normal 100 dollar bonus in June. I would personally wait till then to app for the card (unless you really want it now). After you get approved, ask to close the slate and move the limit to your freedom.

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 03:48:58 GMT

i was able to convert my mom's slate to freedom card without any problems. was a 1 minute phone call.

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

sultan33g — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 03:52:19 GMT

My wife Was able to switch her slate to freedom without any issues. This is also after us having issues with paying down the balance. So it seems like you're in a sticky situation.

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

bigblue7722 — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 03:54:17 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
i was able to convert my mom's slate to freedom card without any problems. was a 1 minute phone call.

Yes but the problem is your missing out on the bonus plus i believe you dont get the AU bonus which is another 25. So i guess the op has to ask himself is a hp worth more than 125 or 225 dollars and a higher credit line...

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

kdm31091 — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 04:20:23 GMT

You can certainly PC it assuming you've had it open long enough (I think it has to be a year).

You'll miss out on a bonus but honestly I wouldn't exactly fret over $100. ($125 if you have an AU)

You can apply for the Freedom to get the bonus, but you're taking a new HP and dinging your AAOA in the process. For me personally that's not worth 100 bucks but it depends.

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 04:50:42 GMT

to me chase is the best! just call them .. you need to call the CSP line

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 05:16:19 GMT

You can PC to Freedom but you won't get that sign up bonus. I think you should keep your Slate card until Chase has $200 sign up bonus then transfer you Slate limit to your new Freedom card.

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 18:47:12 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
to me chase is the best! just call them .. you need to call the CSP line

What is the CSP line? I called Chase's 1-800 number for personal credit cards. Neither the CSR nor the CSR's manager would switch my Slate card to the Freedom card. They said there needed to be a product switch offer, but weren't sure when the next product switch offer would come up and weren't sure if I'd ever qualify to switch.

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 19:01:21 GMT

@kdm31091 wrote:
You can certainly PC it assuming you've had it open long enough (I think it has to be a year).

You'll miss out on a bonus but honestly I wouldn't exactly fret over $100. ($125 if you have an AU)

You can apply for the Freedom to get the bonus, but you're taking a new HP and dinging your AAOA in the process. For me personally that's not worth 100 bucks but it depends.

They told me that PC wasn't an option. My Chase credit card account has been open since 2006. I don't get it.

Assuming that I can't ever get a PC and need to make a new application for a Freedom card, would I be better off closing my Slate card and transferring my credit limit to the Freedom card or sock drawering my Slate card? Again, this is my oldest account. Also, if I sock drawer the Slate card, I suppose there isn't any advantage anymore to getting a Chase product. Are there other cards that are similar to a Freedom card that I should also consider?

Thanks everyone for your help.

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 19:08:32 GMT

@bigblue7722 wrote:
If history repeats itself last year chase offered a 200 dollar bonus instead of the normal 100 dollar bonus in June. I would personally wait till then to app for the card (unless you really want it now). After you get approved, ask to close the slate and move the limit to your freedom.

Was it in June? I did some searching through old Slickdeals posts and the $200 offer was in November 2014 and 2013. I'm planning to garden til then. I hope it's not in June, I have no use for the card in the 5% gasoline category...

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 19:12:47 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@kdm31091 wrote:
You can certainly PC it assuming you've had it open long enough (I think it has to be a year).

You'll miss out on a bonus but honestly I wouldn't exactly fret over $100. ($125 if you have an AU)

You can apply for the Freedom to get the bonus, but you're taking a new HP and dinging your AAOA in the process. For me personally that's not worth 100 bucks but it depends.
They told me that PC wasn't an option. My Chase credit card account has been open since 2006. I don't get it.

Assuming that I can't ever get a PC and need to make a new application for a Freedom card, would I be better off closing my Slate card and transferring my credit limit to the Freedom card or sock drawering my Slate card? Again, this is my oldest account. Also, if I sock drawer the Slate card, I suppose there isn't any advantage anymore to getting a Chase product. Are there other cards that are similar to a Freedom card that I should also consider?

Thanks everyone for your help.

As for other cards out there, we would need more info on what you want out of a credit card in order to give you some recommendations . Are you interested in a cash back card, travel card, etc? The closest to the Freedom with rotating bonus categories is the Discover air card. The Sallie Mae card is also a very popular. iIt really depends on your spending habits that will determine which card is the best for you

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 19:19:26 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
As for other cards out there, we would need more info on what you want out of a credit card in order to give you some recommendations . Are you interested in a cash back card, travel card, etc? The closest to the Freedom with rotating bonus categories is the Discover air card. The Sallie Mae card is also a very popular. iIt really depends on your spending habits that will determine which card is the best for you

I would prefer a cash back card that is either Visa or MC with no annual fees. I'm not as concerned about the rotating bonus categories because it's unlikely that I'd keep track of the bonus categories. My second choice would be a flexible rewards program similar to Amex, but in Visa or MC. I would use this card as a backup to my Amex Gold Card, so it's important that it be no fee and Visa or MC. I may use it more if the rewards are good.

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 19:31:31 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
As for other cards out there, we would need more info on what you want out of a credit card in order to give you some recommendations . Are you interested in a cash back card, travel card, etc? The closest to the Freedom with rotating bonus categories is the Discover air card. The Sallie Mae card is also a very popular. iIt really depends on your spending habits that will determine which card is the best for you
I would prefer a cash back card that is either Visa or MC with no annual fees. I'm not as concerned about the rotating bonus categories because it's unlikely that I'd keep track of the bonus categories. My second choice would be a flexible rewards program similar to Amex, but in Visa or MC. I would use this card as a backup to my Amex Gold Card, so it's important that it be no fee and Visa or MC. I may use it more if the rewards are good.

For cash back cards your best bests are the Discover It, Sallie Mae and Citi Double Cash back cards. In terms of flexible reward program similar to AMEX, the closest would be the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 19:47:22 GMT

Honestly, the Amex gold doesn't look like anything special to me. I'd try to PC that to an Amex Everyday Preferred or something similar for the MR points.

Personally, if I were in your shoes (expenses justify the AF), I'd PC to the Amex Blue Cash Everyday after opening a Chase Sapphire Preferred. The CSP points are valued higher than MR points from what I hear. 1 point on everything, 2 points on food and travel. If points are valued at 2 cpp, that's a 2% on everything, 4% on food and travel card with a smaller AF than your Gold card.

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 19:58:09 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Honestly, the Amex gold doesn't look like anything special to me. I'd try to PC that to an Amex Everyday Preferred or something similar for the MR points. - he already earns MR points with the gold card and if he PCed to the EDP card, he wouldn't get any bonus MR points. Zero reason for him to do that

Personally, if I were in your shoes (expenses justify the AF), I'd PC to the Amex Blue Cash Everyday after opening a Chase Sapphire Preferred. The CSP points are valued higher than MR points from what I hear. 1 point on everything, 2 points on food and travel. If points are valued at 2 cpp, that's a 2% on everything, 4% on food and travel card with a smaller AF than your Gold card.

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 20:10:08 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Honestly, the Amex gold doesn't look like anything special to me. I'd try to PC that to an Amex Everyday Preferred or something similar for the MR points. - he already earns MR points with the gold card and if he PCed to the EDP card, he wouldn't get any bonus MR points. Zero reason for him to do that

Personally, if I were in your shoes (expenses justify the AF), I'd PC to the Amex Blue Cash Everyday after opening a Chase Sapphire Preferred. The CSP points are valued higher than MR points from what I hear. 1 point on everything, 2 points on food and travel. If points are valued at 2 cpp, that's a 2% on everything, 4% on food and travel card with a smaller AF than your Gold card.

Thanks for the advice on the Gold card. I also need to review my Amex options, but I'm going to put that decision off until my next AF payment comes due next February. Amex told me that I can PC to whatever I want, so all options will be on the table. That may be a subject for a new topic.

Right now, I'm just trying to get my Chase Slate card sorted out. I'm leaning towards applying for a Freedom card or the Citi Double Cash card that you mentioned and then sock drawering my Slate card. From what I'm reading on the SD thread, closing my oldest credit card account may be bad. It would be ideal if someone knew some trick that I haven't tried or someone different to call to get a PC from my Slate card to Freedom. Then I'd avoid a hard pull and sock drawering. IME, the difference between dealing with Amex and Chase is night and day.

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 20:11:56 GMT

How many recent inquiries do you have? From the sounds of it, you only use 2 cards and they're both mature. If this is the case and you don't have plans to acquire any large loans (mortgage), I wouldn't worry about the inquiry. The people here who are inquiry sensitive have 8+ inquiries on each report. If you don't fall into either category, an inquiry wont hurt too bad and you'll get a nice $100 signup bonus instead of getting nothing by PCing.

Re: Anything I Can Do to Switch from Chase Slate to Freedom?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 20:15:05 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Honestly, the Amex gold doesn't look like anything special to me. I'd try to PC that to an Amex Everyday Preferred or something similar for the MR points. - he already earns MR points with the gold card and if he PCed to the EDP card, he wouldn't get any bonus MR points. Zero reason for him to do that

Personally, if I were in your shoes (expenses justify the AF), I'd PC to the Amex Blue Cash Everyday after opening a Chase Sapphire Preferred. The CSP points are valued higher than MR points from what I hear. 1 point on everything, 2 points on food and travel. If points are valued at 2 cpp, that's a 2% on everything, 4% on food and travel card with a smaller AF than your Gold card.

Thanks for the advice on the Gold card. I also need to review my Amex options, but I'm going to put that decision off until my next AF payment comes due next February. Amex told me that I can PC to whatever I want, so all options will be on the table. That may be a subject for a new topic.

Right now, I'm just trying to get my Chase Slate card sorted out. I'm leaning towards applying for a Freedom card or the Citi Double Cash card that you mentioned and then sock drawering my Slate card. From what I'm reading on the SD thread, closing my oldest credit card account may be bad. It would be ideal if someone knew some trick that I haven't tried or someone different to call to get a PC from my Slate card to Freedom. Then I'd avoid a hard pull and sock drawering.

Hard to say why they are giving you a hard time with the PC attempt. I'd call them back and ask again and find out why they won't make a simple change like this. My only guess is that it has to do with the fact that you were converted to the card originally. That's just a guess though. There really isn't a trick, you just have to get the right CSR and find out the reason.

Closing your oldest card won't hurt you now as it will continue to report for 10 years and therefore not affect your AAoA.

i also agree with HappyCamper that one inquiry is not going to kill you and rewards you with at least $100 if you just apply for the Freedom