topic Re: Possible/Worth upgrading BoA 1/2/3 to VISA Signature? in Credit Cards

Possible/Worth upgrading BoA 1/2/3 to VISA Signature?

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 01:06:24 GMT

Is it worth it (or even possible) to upgrade my 7 year old BoA 1/2/3 cash rewards card with a $7k limit to a VISA Signature? Will they want to do a hard pull? Will they still report my credit limit?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Re: Possible/Worth upgrading BoA 1/2/3 to VISA Signature?

K-in-Boston — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 01:27:12 GMT

If you want/need the Signature benefits, jus call them and request a Visa Signature version of your card. No HP, nothing changes with your account except it may report as “Flexible Spending Credit Card” instead of “Revolving Credit Card” on your reports. The limit will still report.

Re: Possible/Worth upgrading BoA 1/2/3 to VISA Signature?

CreditCuriosity — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 01:47:09 GMT

Suprised they didnt auto upgrade you yet.. Mine started out at 1k, when I cancelled it I believe it was 15k sometime during the 1.5 years I had it I think at 1 year mark it was upgraded to the signature without me asking. You can call and ask although 99% of peope don't use signature benefits.

It would be a SP, but obviously verify that with the CSR during the call.

Re: Possible/Worth upgrading BoA 1/2/3 to VISA Signature?

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 17:35:53 GMT

Interesting twist. I just got off the phone and the CSR said it was not possible to convert it to a VISA Signature even though the BoA website shows the Cash Back card as one. To be honest, he did sound a little unsure and had to put me on hold to figure that out.

Now I'm wondering if I should call back in the hopes of getting a different Rep or just let it go.

Re: Possible/Worth upgrading BoA 1/2/3 to VISA Signature?

K-in-Boston — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 19:00:34 GMT

If you really want/need a VS, hang up and call again. There are some cards that are not eligible (oddly the two with the largest limits in my signature) for Visa Signature/World or World Elite MasterCard, but that shouldn't be one of them. It's BOA, so once you do get it changed expect weeks before you see the card.

Re: Possible/Worth upgrading BoA 1/2/3 to VISA Signature?

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 19:47:08 GMT

Oh boy. I called back and got a different CSR. At first she could only find business cards I could upgrade to. Then she said the VISA Signature cards had an annual fee. Finally she said the VISA Signature cards where the "base" cards and where not eligible for cash back.

After guiding her through the BoA website to the card I was referring to (which showed the VISA Signature symbol and the first two bullet points where 1/2/3% cash back and no annual fee) she said the VISA Signature benefits are only available if I had other accounts with BoA (savings?) and used their wealth management services.

This was the point that I said thank you and to have a good day. I give up.

Re: Possible/Worth upgrading BoA 1/2/3 to VISA Signature?

K-in-Boston — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 20:47:10 GMT

O M G

I assure you that you do not need to be enrolled in Preferred Rewards (the program for those having $20k or more in assets with BOA, Merrill Lynch, and/or Merrill Edge) in order to get a Visa Signature product.

Re: Possible/Worth upgrading BoA 1/2/3 to VISA Signature?

MrDisco99 — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 23:03:56 GMT

Wow that is a ridiculous CSR experience.

Both my Cash Rewards and Travel Rewards cards are VSig. I don't get what is so complicated. I think she was just feeding you BS in hopes that she wouldn't have to actually figure out how to do something she didn't know how to do.

Hang up, call again, rinse, repeat.

Re: Possible/Worth upgrading BoA 1/2/3 to VISA Signature?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 20:25:51 GMT

I gave it one more go. This third CSR was able to "upgrade" me to a VISA Signature and my new card will arrive in 2 weeks with possibly a new number. I'm just hoping she didn't accidentally close my account (my oldest) and open a new one. I'm also hoping this new card is actually a VISA Signature and Cash Rewards card. I did ask her if this will require a HP and she seemed somewhat sure it would not.

I'll know for sure in 2 weeks when the new card arrives and I pull my annual credit report. Next up is a SP CLI for my Citi DC and maybe opening an Amazon VISA as my 3rd card.

Re: Possible/Worth upgrading BoA 1/2/3 to VISA Signature?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 20:57:37 GMT

Thanks everyone for the help and confidence.

Re: Possible/Worth upgrading BoA 1/2/3 to VISA Signature?

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 21:00:39 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I gave it one more go. This third CSR was able to "upgrade" me to a VISA Signature and my new card will arrive in 2 weeks with possibly a new number. I'm just hoping she didn't accidentally close my account (my oldest) and open a new one. I'm also hoping this new card is actually a VISA Signature and Cash Rewards card. I did ask her if this will require a HP and she seemed somewhat sure it would not.

I'll know for sure in 2 weeks when the new card arrives and I pull my annual credit report. Next up is a SP CLI for my Citi DC and maybe opening an Amazon VISA as my 3rd card.

Interesting! I would have let it go, because VS really adds practically nothing. But since you spent the time, glad you got the result.

Re: Possible/Worth upgrading BoA 1/2/3 to VISA Signature?

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 13:16:35 GMT

You absolutely can do the change. I did it.

I had the standard BOA Gold card, and in 2015 changed it to the Better Balance card, and late last year, PC'd to the Sig 1/2/3 card. You just have to get the right rep that knows what they are doing. They told me the same thing about the account numbers, but when I got the card, it just had just been re-issued with new Exp and sec code.

I have always found BOA credit cards to be a pain. I dread calling them which is why I have only done it when required. Frankly the only reason I keep my BOA card is its my oldest account reporting. As soon as my next oldest card hits 15yrs, (my BOA is 18yrs old) I'll likely cancel since my report will have aged well by then.