topic Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go?? in Credit Cards

Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 19:37:20 GMT

I need advice here. About a month ago I wanted to PC my Chase Sapphire Preferred to the Freedom. I contacted Chase to do this and they said it wasn't an option. I started a thread similar to this one and received great advice stating that you can only PC from the regular Chase Sapphire to the Freedom, so I'd have to add an extra step in downgrading my CSP to the CS first, then switch to the Freedom.

I did the CSP to CS downgrade nearly a month ago, so today I called and told the CSR I'd like to PC the CS to the Freedom. She said that unfortunately the only option available was to PC the card to the Freedom Unlimited. I asked why and she said that it was the only offer available on my account that she could see. I declined the offer and here I am posting for advice.

Does anyone know why the CS --> Freedom PC isn't available for me? Is this something account-specific, or is that PC simply not an option any longer for anyone? I know the Freedom and FU are equally-tiered cards, so I would think if they'd allow one, they'd allow the other. If this is a new "rule" perhaps they are just trying to get people away from the Freedom and into the FU?

What should I do now? Should I try back with another CSR or two and see if I get a different answer. Should I add another step in the process and do the PC to the FU, then attempt to PC the FU to the Freedom?

The first part of my goal, getting rid of the AF CSP before the AF hit me in May was accomplished, so at this point I don't have any sort of time constraint in getting the Freedom.

Thank you in advance for the advice here everyone.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 19:50:05 GMT

First I would definitely try a few more CSRs, then I would let it sit a few months to see if the option to Freedom shows up, then I go FU if all else fails.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 20:02:27 GMT

I just sent a secure message to Chase inquiring about the CS --> Freedom PC. We'll see what they say. Perhaps I need my account to hit the 1 year mark (4 weeks away) to have other PC options appear? It just strikes me as odd that they'd allow me to switch to the FU, but not Freedom. I would have thought it would either be both, or neither.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

UncleB — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 21:30:18 GMT

@Anonymouswrote:
I just sent a secure message to Chase inquiring about the CS --> Freedom PC. We'll see what they say. Perhaps I need my account to hit the 1 year mark (4 weeks away) to have other PC options appear? It just strikes me as odd that they'd allow me to switch to the FU, but not Freedom. I would have thought it would either be both, or neither.

I wonder if you were to PC to the Freedom Unlimited if you would then be able to PC to a Freedom...

Hopefully you'll get more data points on this.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 22:30:04 GMT

@UncleB
I wonder if you were to PC to the Freedom Unlimited if you would then be able to PC to a Freedom...

That's what I'm wondering. I'll see how this thread goes for the next day or two, then perhaps I'll start a thread inquiring if anyone has done a PC from the Freedom Unlimited to the Freedom. The only thing that I can think of stems from conversations I read on this forum back around the time the FU was released, where members were suggesting that Chase make phase out the Freedom at some point. My thought was that this could be a sign of that if they're allowing a PC to FU but not Freedom.

Still waiting to hear back on the SM I sent to Chase earlier this afternoon. If they again say no go on the PC, I suppose I'll call again and at least do the switch to the FU, as that may "feel" like I'm getting a baby step closer to my goal.

Edit: The only data points I can find using the search feature are several people that did a successful PC from FU to Freedom in 2017. It's possible that since that time Chase has changed their policy on this PC, so unless someone chimes in with a very recent data point I'm not sure I'll be able to be certain if it's a possibility.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 00:00:30 GMT

Got a response via secured message, simply echoing what the CSR on the phone told me: Chase Sapphire can only be changed to the Freedom Unlimited, not the Freedom. I did reply back inquiring as to why and I also asked if I did switch to the Freedom Unlimited if the option would be there to switch to the Freedom after.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

FICOEmpire — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 00:18:02 GMT

As a data point, I opened my CSP in 3/2017 and downgraded to the regular CS 1/2018, 10 months after opening. The rep told me that was the only option for pc'ing a CSP. Last month I pc'ed again from the CS to the Freedom 5% directly with no issue. Not sure why they won't let you pc to Freedom. If it were me I'd go ahead and do the pc to FU and then try to go to Freedom 5%. I bet you'll be able to. I personally don't think the 5% card is being phased out either.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 00:47:40 GMT

@FICOEmpireAs a data point, I opened my CSP in 3/2017 and downgraded to the regular CS 1/2018, 10 months after opening. The rep told me that was the only option for pc'ing a CSP. Last month I pc'ed again from the CS to the Freedom 5% directly with no issue. Not sure why they won't let you pc to Freedom. If it were me I'd go ahead and do the pc to FU and then try to go to Freedom 5%. I bet you'll be able to. I personally don't think the 5% card is being phased out either.

Thanks for the reply and that data. You're time line more or less mirrors mine, just off by 2 months. I opened my CSP in 5/2017 and 10 months in 3/2018 did the downgrade to the regular CS. Like your experience, I was told I couldn't go to the Freedom from the CSP. It looks like you gave it 2 months between your CS to Freedom conversion, where I'm only at 1 month. I wouldn't think that matters, though, as I've read on here that people have done the CSP to CS downgrade then literally the next day or so did the Freedom conversion before the CS even arrived in the mail. Again, it's completely possible that something internally or some rule changed in the last 2 months regarding the PC change to Freedom.

You're probably right that doing the switch over to the FU is my best bet at this point. I'll probably go ahead and go through with that tomorrow, then revisit the Freedom conversion attempt next month.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

Man-Of-Steel — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 01:08:37 GMT

There are a couple of good videos regarding the Chase Product Change options on Youtube. From what I understand, if your CSP account is 12 months old or older, you can PC directly to the Freedom. However, if your account is less than 12 months old, you have to use the following workaround: CSP-->CS-->Freedom Unlimited-->Freedom.

I got my CSP in 10/2017 and I'm also planning to eventually PC it to the Freedom. I might wait until it turns exactly 1 year old and go directly to the Freedom (as I believe the annual fee will be refundable), or I might PC to the CS before the 1 year anniversary and then PC directly to the Freedom.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

Manonfire — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 01:25:47 GMT

Like manofsteel mentioned, aging the CSP to 12 months might be key to PCing direct to the regular freedom. Also, it seems like Chase pushes the FU more so than the regular freedom card, as evidenced by rumors in the past of Chase phasing out the card. I also notice that on the website, Chase displays the CSR, CSP, FU and slate but I rarely see the regular freedom.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 01:53:46 GMT

@Man-Of-Steelwrote:
There are a couple of good videos regarding the Chase Product Change options on Youtube. From what I understand, if your CSP account is 12 months old or older, you can PC directly to the Freedom. However, if your account is less than 12 months old, you have to use the following workaround: CSP-->CS-->Freedom Unlimited-->Freedom.

I got my CSP in 10/2017 and I'm also planning to eventually PC it to the Freedom. I might wait until it turns exactly 1 year old and go directly to the Freedom (as I believe the annual fee will be refundable), or I might PC to the CS before the 1 year anniversary and then PC directly to the Freedom.

Thanks for weighing in on the subject, MoS.

So, if I simply wait it out and cross the 1 year mark, would I then be able to PC from the CS to the Freedom simply because the account [started as a CSP] hit 1 year?

I guess there's no harm in doing the PC to FU tomorrow just to get the process going.

It seems like a lot of unnecessary hoop-jumping to be honest and just a waste of time/energy both on my part and Chase. I mean, they have to go through the process of speaking to me 2 extra times, sending me 2 extra (unnecessary) cards that are just going to get cut right up and of course the costs associated with the above. Granted, the percentage of people out there outside of this forum that doa CSP --> CS --> FU --> Freedom PC is probably a fraction of a percentage point, but still.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

Man-Of-Steel — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 03:27:52 GMT

@Anonymouswrote:
@Man-Of-Steelwrote:
There are a couple of good videos regarding the Chase Product Change options on Youtube. From what I understand, if your CSP account is 12 months old or older, you can PC directly to the Freedom. However, if your account is less than 12 months old, you have to use the following workaround: CSP-->CS-->Freedom Unlimited-->Freedom.

I got my CSP in 10/2017 and I'm also planning to eventually PC it to the Freedom. I might wait until it turns exactly 1 year old and go directly to the Freedom (as I believe the annual fee will be refundable), or I might PC to the CS before the 1 year anniversary and then PC directly to the Freedom.
Thanks for weighing in on the subject, MoS.

So, if I simply wait it out and cross the 1 year mark, would I then be able to PC from the CS to the Freedom simply because the account [started as a CSP] hit 1 year?

I guess there's no harm in doing the PC to FU tomorrow just to get the process going.

It seems like a lot of unnecessary hoop-jumping to be honest and just a waste of time/energy both on my part and Chase. I mean, they have to go through the process of speaking to me 2 extra times, sending me 2 extra (unnecessary) cards that are just going to get cut right up and of course the costs associated with the above. Granted, the percentage of people out there outside of this forum that doa CSP --> CS --> FU --> Freedom PC is probably a fraction of a percentage point, but still.

No problem. And I believe you would indeed be able to PC directly to the Freedom from the CS after you've had your account for a year. So, it might come down to how urgently you want or need the Freedom card.

I agree that it is a lot of unnecessary hoop jumping, but I guess we should be glad that they allow product changes of any type before the 1 year mark. When I had my Citi ThankYou Premier, I was forced to wait the full year before doing a PC. And you're probably right.........I bet the percentage of people requesting these types of product changes (outside of the CC forums) is a low number.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 04:13:15 GMT

Gotcha.

I wish they would just disclose the issue, simply stating, "I'm sorry sir, your account is less than 1 year old so we can't do a PC to X card type for that reason."

I'll go ahead and do the PC to the FU tomorrow just to keep things rolling along here.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 04:37:55 GMT

My accounting tells me Chase billed me the annual fee for the CSP last year on 4/14/2017.

I wanted to PC my CSP to avoid the annual fee (I also have a Chase FU). Checked my account and Chase billed me the AF on 4/1/2018.

Seemed a little sneaky. Combining the CSP into my FU soon though. I'll eat the $95 fee.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

wasCB14 — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 04:49:31 GMT

@Manonfirewrote:
Like manofsteel mentioned, aging the CSP to 12 months might be key to PCing direct to the regular freedom. Also, it seems like Chase pushes the FU more so than the regular freedom card, as evidenced by rumors in the past of Chase phasing out the card. I also notice that on the website, Chase displays the CSR, CSP, FU and slate but I rarely see the regular freedom.

They're definitely steering customers away from the 5%/5x.

1. Making Freedom less visible on their website.

2. Making PCs to Freedom tricky (my ~12/17 CSP-to-FU PC was very smooth).

3. Advertising FU but not Freedom (as far as I'm aware).

4. Sending out a survey that mentions possibly nerfing the ability to feed CSP/CSP with Free/FU URs.

I know they must be worried about losing customers. The card is very popular among normal CC users and UR enthusiasts. But at some point it seems like they plan to drop or further nerf it.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 13:15:00 GMT

@Anonymous
Seemed a little sneaky. Combining the CSP into my FU soon though. I'll eat the $95 fee.

I agree, hitting you with it 2 weeks early. Do you think it's worth a phone call to either try and get it waived? I'm not sure if anyone has had success with that on the CSP.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 13:16:13 GMT

wasCB14,

That's kind of the vibe I've been getting for a while regarding the Freedom, for many of the reasons you mentioned as well as just reading on the forum here.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 19:14:51 GMT

I called and did the PC to the FU today. I thought I almost had the CSR ready to do the Freedom for me. I played dumb and started off asking about the PC to Freedom and she was like, "sure, that's no problem at all..." so I got excited for a minute. Then she came back with, "that's odd, I'm only seeing the option for the Freedom Unlimited here..." and went on to say, "I see that your account isn't quite a year old yet, so that's probably the reason I'm not seeing the option for other cards..."

I'll probably try in a week or two after getting the FU to see if they'll PC that for me, if it's a no go I'll try again after May 2 when the account hits 1 year.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 22:27:35 GMT

About a month or so ago, I switched my Slate to a second Freedom card. The CSR noted that I already had one. I asked if that was a problem because I didn't realize you couldn't have two, but she went ahead with the change. You may consider using the Slate as an in-between step.

Re: Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

awg420 — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 02:05:38 GMT

I had no issues swapping my FU to a Freedom today so that might be the simplest way