topic Re: Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP in Credit Cards

Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP

Wavester64 — Wed, 13 May 2020 16:36:58 GMT

I have been constantly getting offers to upgrade my BCE to BCP.

One the site during this crisis, it mentions the following:

Due to the impact of COVID-19,

for eligible Card accounts approved from December 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020 for which you are eligible for a welcome offer, the period to make eligible purchases to earn your welcome bonus will be extended for an additional 3 months. Eligible Cards are U.S. Consumer and Business Cards issued by American Express National Bank to a Basic Card Member.

The upgrade offer is only $150 for $1000 spent in 3-months (I was waiting for it to go up on the advice of others, but it always stays at $150). Does the verbiage above concerning "additional 3 months" apply to me as well since it's an upgrade? i.e. will I get 6-months to make that $1000 or still only 3-months?

Also, side question about the BCP and the $6000 limit on spending for the 6%: Is there a tool that helps you keep track of this on Amex or is it old school and I need to keep track of it myself?

Re: Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP

K-in-Boston — Wed, 13 May 2020 16:57:44 GMT

I would probably contact Amex to clarify whether the extension also applies to upgrade offers; I'm not sure that a Welcome Offer is considered exactly the same as a bonus for upgrading.

For your side question, that's an easy one:

Navigate to the Statements & Activity tab. On the left, click View By Year and 2020 Year to Date (or appropriate year).

Choose the appropriate category (which in your case would be Grocery) to filter the transactions.

Scroll to the bottom and you will see your YTD transaction total (minus credits) displayed at the bottom for that category.

Re: Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP

Wavester64 — Wed, 13 May 2020 16:58:43 GMT

Thanks @K-in-Boston

Re: Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP

Wavester64 — Wed, 13 May 2020 17:10:50 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
I would probably contact Amex to clarify whether the extension also applies to upgrade offers; I'm not sure that a Welcome Offer is considered exactly the same as a bonus for upgrading.

For your side question, that's an easy one:

Navigate to the Statements & Activity tab. On the left, click View By Year and 2020 Year to Date (or appropriate year).

Choose the appropriate category (which in your case would be Grocery) to filter the transactions.

Scroll to the bottom and you will see your YTD transaction total (minus credits) displayed at the bottom for that category.

Odd, I just noticed I don't have one in BCE for Groceries (from the pic you provided, neither do you) Do I have to create a "tag" for that?

Re: Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP

wasCB14 — Wed, 13 May 2020 17:42:26 GMT

Groceries fall within the "Merchandise & Supplies" category for me.

If you shop at different stores, you may need to tag each one as grocery separately. I mainly use tags as notes on estimated tax payments and tax-deductible stuff. I don't use any tags for groceries because I don't really need that sort of single-transaction detail.

Though the downside is that my grocery spend is blurred with my streaming video spend.

Re: Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP

K-in-Boston — Wed, 13 May 2020 17:43:46 GMT

That's Business Platinum, so no grocery spend on it, but looking at my Gold Card, you're right. Grocery purchases are under Merchandise & Supplies. Those are the only transactions shown in that category for me since the card is only used for grocery and restaurant spend, but I suppose worst case, you could just put check marks next to each actual grocery purchase to get a new total at the bottom; shouldn't be too much of a pain unless you are making multiple trips each week.

Edit: @wasCB14 beat me by mere seconds.

Re: Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP

wasCB14 — Wed, 13 May 2020 17:50:42 GMT

Even if an Amex rep told me I had another 3 months (6 total) to meet the minimum spend, I wouldn't want the hassle of the rep being mistaken and my having to prove to Amex that its employee told me otherwise.

It's just $1k so you can probably meet much of it with 6% spend naturally, even in just 3 months. Maybe a little spend will be less-than-optimized, but you can be sure of getting the bonus. When I upgraded I got a no-fee Plan It promo so I was willing to accept 1% cash back for a few 24-month "installment loans".

Re: Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP

Wavester64 — Wed, 13 May 2020 18:30:58 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
Even if an Amex rep told me I had another 3 months (6 total) to meet the minimum spend, I wouldn't want the hassle of the rep being mistaken and my having to prove to Amex that its employee told me otherwise.

It's just $1k so you can probably meet much of it with 6% spend naturally, even in just 3 months. Maybe a little spend will be less-than-optimized, but you can be sure of getting the bonus. When I upgraded I got a no-fee Plan It promo so I was willing to accept 1% cash back for a few 24-month "installment loans".

I agree, but before seeing your post I checked anyway with a rep via online chat. He did say the 3-month extension does apply to the upgrade as well. Not worried about making the $1K in 3-months like you said, but it's nice to know just in case.