topic Re: BCE upgrade to BCP? in Credit Cards

BCE upgrade to BCP?

MrDisco99 — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 21:06:27 GMT

I got my BCE a couple months ago (going for my 3X CLI this weekend!) and I've been enjoying the very nice bonus it came with... 100/1000 plus 10% on up to $2000 in restaurants within 6 months (about halfway there now).

After looking at my grocery and gas spend, I'm thinking it's a little more than enough to justify going for the BCP despite the fee. I'm wondering what would be the best way to make that transition.

If I call and ask for a PC, I'd save a HP, but I assume I'd lose out on the bonus. Is a PC even possible? Would the AF take effect right away or would it be waived for a year? Should I wait until I've completed the BCE bonus spend before asking for it?

If I just app for the BCP I burn a HP, which would kick me out of the garden, but it might be worth it if I can find a good offer. I think the standard BCP bonus is 150/1000 which is nice, but I'd rather hold out for something better. I've heard 250/1000 + 10% on $2000 restaurants is possible, but don't know how hard that is to come by. Also, with this option I know for sure the AF would be waived the first year. One downside is I can't see where it would make much sense to hold both a BCE and BCP. I'd probably end up merging them anyway.

Has anyone done this? Any advice?

I'm probably going to watch my spend over the next couple months to figure out for sure if it's enough to make the BCP sustainable, so I'm not in any hurry.

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 21:19:05 GMT

You wont be able to PC it to the BCP this soon as Amex. like all creditors, is not allowed to increase or add an AF during the first year of card ownership due to the Card Act. You would have to apply outright for the card. Still may only be a S|P as lots of people are being approved for new cards with Amex without a HP when they are already have accounts with them.

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

dragontears — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 21:20:59 GMT

Most of the time you can not PC from a no-AF card to a AF card in the first year due to the CARD act

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

MrDisco99 — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 23:56:18 GMT

Ah I was not aware of that.

Would a PC be an option next year?

If I go for the app, would I be able to combine the limits into the new card?

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

austinguy907 — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 00:24:14 GMT

From 10-12 months you'll probably see upgrade offers with bonuses attached to them.

If you app and pick up a new BCP you can move the limit from BCE after it's 12 months old or somewhere around there.

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

MrDisco99 — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 00:49:18 GMT

@austinguy907 wrote:
From 10-12 months you'll probably see upgrade offers with bonuses attached to them.

If you app and pick up a new BCP you can move the limit from BCE after it's 12 months old or somewhere around there.

Nice! If they're going to give me a bonus for the upgrade, that's worth waiting for.

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

austinguy907 — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 01:40:46 GMT

I upgrade mine at the end of Dec and picked up $150/$1000 spend because I was already going to be spending $1400 for a year of insurance so I bit the bullet on the upgrade. I was thinking they would be charging the $95 AF too when the time came and they did a prorate of $42 or something around there which didn't eat into the bonus quite as much. I've been trying to catch myself to put more groceries on it since they're 6% vs 3% and have picked up some additional cashback that way as it's supposed to be. I hate that they lag 1-2 months for the rewards to show up but, they show up like they'e supposed to.

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 01:42:31 GMT

They won't approve you for a BCP if you have a BCE. I know this because I tried it way back. You can't have both BCE and BCP.

If you don't want to take my word for it call and ask.

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 01:44:36 GMT

BTW, they offered me the $150 upgrade at 12 months. It was worth it for me.

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 01:47:11 GMT

I upgraded last month, spent 1k in two weeks and three days later got the $150 statement credit automatically. Not sure why anyone has to wait a few months.

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

austinguy907 — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 01:51:42 GMT

I'm pretty sure the wait with other companies is in case there's a return or charge back to prevent someone charging for a ton of rewards, collecting them, and then getting a refund. BOA was pretty quick for the bonus showing up and 3 days to redeem for a credit. Chase on the other hand seems a bit slow since meeting the spend requirement it's been a week or two and it's still not showing up. Then again the statement hasn't cut either on that one.

AMEX though yes, within 48 hours of the charge posting the reward shows up. It's nice to see it happen quickly and it instantly reduces the balance w/o any wait or hoops to jump through.

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

9CLINE — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 02:02:35 GMT

+1 wait for offer it will come ,,,mine showed up after having card about a yr,,,,like you I too noticed that it would be better to have the BCP so when offer came I took it, was easy simple transition...no new acct...
Good Luck 2 ya !!!!!!!!

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

MrDisco99 — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 04:23:39 GMT

My signup bonuses from Chase showed up as UR points in the next statement along with that month's purchase rewards.

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 04:35:04 GMT

My DW has the BCP once we reach the max for grocery it then goes to my bce. Our spending for grocery is just about $7000 per year so we could not justify 2 bcp. I also buy some odd and ends for quick pick up at the grocery with bce.

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

Discover2016 — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 05:15:16 GMT

Yep it took me exactly one year to be able to PC my BCE to BCP.

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

MrDisco99 — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 12:16:59 GMT

So when you guys did the conversion, did the fee show up right away? Was it waived the first year?

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 12:27:49 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
They won't approve you for a BCP if you have a BCE. I know this because I tried it way back. You can't have both BCE and BCP.

If you don't want to take my word for it call and ask.

I thought some people here had both, so that surprises me. I have a OBC with a BCE (and used to have it with an BCP)

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 22:55:05 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
They won't approve you for a BCP if you have a BCE. I know this because I tried it way back. You can't have both BCE and BCP.

If you don't want to take my word for it call and ask.
I thought some people here had both, so that surprises me. I have a OBC with a BCE (and used to have it with an BCP)

Can't have both. Can't have Everyday Blue & Everyday Preferred either. One or the other.

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

TiggerDat — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 23:00:10 GMT

@MrDisco99 wrote:
I got my BCE a couple months ago (going for my 3X CLI this weekend!) and I've been enjoying the very nice bonus it came with... 100/1000 plus 10% on up to $2000 in restaurants within 6 months (about halfway there now).
........blah, blah, blah, .............
...........blah, blah, blah, .................

Has anyone done this? Any advice?

I'm probably going to watch my spend over the next couple months to figure out for sure if it's enough to make the BCP sustainable, so I'm not in any hurry.

Wait it out. I used to have the BCP, but I also had other cards with no fee and good rewards that the rewards were not enough to justify the AF, so I downgraded.

Recently, they have emailed me an offer to get $100 if I upgrade to the BCP......

So you might get lucky and get an upgrade offer.

But Yes, you do have to wait for a year before they are allowed to upgrade it.

Re: BCE upgrade to BCP?

DaveInAZ — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 23:51:08 GMT

I have a hard time seeing where the $95 AF justifies the BCP over BCE for anyone. Yes, you get double the spend amount & rewards for groceries, plus an extra 1% on gas. Maybe for those with large families, but folks with large families tend to buy groceries at wholesale clubs and/or Walmart, where you don't get the 6%. Or if you have a gas guzzler and/or drive alot, but there's cards out there with better than 3% on gas.

For me, after 2 divorces I've been happily single for a long time, so I don't spend that much on groceries. And it's a 10 minute commute to work in my car that gets 40mpg. BCE works just fine for me.