topic Re: Converting credit card to charge card in Credit Cards

Converting credit card to charge card

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 17:19:30 GMT

I currently have an Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card. I have had the card for several years. I have never had a late payment, I have kept utilization under 50%, and I pay the card off twice a month. I also have a few other cards that I use much less, that have much lower credit limits, and that I have had longer.

I am considering converting my Amex to the Amex Platinum. However, I don't entirely understand how this will impact my score. I have seen multiple threads on how adding a new card that is an Amex Platinum will impact credit score, but nothing answering my question about conversion. A few things I'm wondering:

- From what I've read, it seems the switch would decrease my available credit number significantly since the Platinum has no credit limit/is a charge card, and since the Blue Cash alone accounts for the majority of my total credit line. It would also decrease my credit utilization because the Blue Cash is my primary card. What would the net impact on my score be? Is there a way to know/calculate?
- The Blue Cash is several years old. Would the switch reset the age of my account?
- What would the overall effect be? Are there any ways the Platinum would uniquely impact my score positively or negatively compared to the Blue Cash/a "conventional" card?

Also, this is moving slightly away from score questions, but any ideas whether the switch would impact what charges are approved? Particularly, would there be any reason to think charges approved on the Blue Cash would not be approved on the Platinum? I often use the Blue Cash for work travel expenses, which is not an issue with my current limit on that card. It would be problematic if that changed with the Platinum, because my other cards have much lower limits and it would be difficult to use them instead. I am guessing this would not be an issue as the Platinum is a slightly more exclusive card from what I see, but thought better to ask.

Thank you for any thoughts!

Re: Converting credit card to charge card

K-in-Boston — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 17:33:29 GMT

Welcome to the forums! You can only product change to the Blue Cash EveryDay. American Express does not allow product changes outside of card families such as Green/Gold/Platinum/Centurion, Blue/EveryDay/EveryDay Preferred, Blue Cash EveryDay/Blue Cash Preferred, etc.

Re: Converting credit card to charge card

Peteyglad — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 17:58:02 GMT

K is correct, there is no way to convert. You will need to apply for the Platinum and then close out your current card if you decide.

Re: Converting credit card to charge card

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 00:50:24 GMT

@Peteyglad wrote:
K is correct, there is no way to convert. You will need to apply for the Platinum and then close out your current card if you decide.

Yes, or convert (after getting the plat) the bcp to the no annual fee Blue Cash Everyday (which will keep the same credit limit and history as the existing card).

If you app for the Platinum the only score change will be caused by a new account (and possibly an HP, although that is often not the case now). It's unlikely that charges that are accepted today on the BCP will be rejected on the plat, not really because of the ranking of the product, more that it is a charge card with the expectation that it will be paid in full, so the overall risk is less.