topic Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE? in Credit Cards

OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

rom828 — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:29:04 GMT

Just got letter advising my Old navy card (current cli $1200) is being upgraded to a Visa.

I've read quite a few posts about the Old Navy visa on this forum, but still haven't garnered a lot of info. I'm hoping someone has some recent experience they can share.

Will the card be reported with the same age as the store card it replaces, or does it report as a new card??

I saw a post advising they had $900 CL on store card and Visa was issued at $3000 (or $5K...don't remember exactly). Is the limit usually higher with the Visa?

Any upsides or downsides I need to consider or be aware of with this upgrade?

Please chime in if you're familiar with this card!!

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

Ron1 — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:36:17 GMT

Upside:

You can use it outside Old Navy. They may offer 3 x Points using the card outside Old Navy ( like this month promotion until May 31.)

Downside:

they closed Old Navy store card. They don't transfer opening date of the store card to your new account. You lose all payment history of your store card. Old Navy will report 04/2010 opened. It means your FICO score might drop because of closing the store card and opening a new account. Decrease AAoA.

Ron.

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

rom828 — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:51:07 GMT

Thanks, Ron!

But rats, I hate to hear it'll report like a new card!!!!

Because of new cards opened '08 and '09, my AAoA is now only 4 yrs so I hate it to go backward!!

I suppose having it report that way is not optional??

Any idea or experience with credi limit??

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

Ron1 — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:43:23 GMT

You cannot ask for Old Navy Visa Upgrade and it is invitation only. I have other GE Money store Card and they told me no upgrade when I called. I've had Old Navy Visa for almost two years and they only gave $250 CLI. I like they gave you special promotion from time to time. This month, I got Triple points by using the card anywhere outside Old, Gap. Some creditors reported Upgraded Card or product change as a new account. By the way, I didn't get $3000 when I got my Old Navy Visa upgrade. By the way, you may lose a few points by closing and opening the account. It will come back after a couple of months. If you don't want to accept, you can request to upgrade Visa after it expires.

Ron.

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

rom828 — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 22:35:30 GMT

Good to know, Ron.

I've got til June 6th to decide if I want to accept the upgrade, and I have 2 cards turning 1 yr old in June that might offset the loss of points for Old navy Visa being a new card....

Might just kinda wait and see and ponder it a litttle more! Does look like the Visa has a good reward system.....and I've certainly benefited from the Old navy rewards since I buy for from them fairly frequently (mostly clearance!) and have enjoyed getting the "Bucks", now known as "Reward cards". And I PIF with them since the interest is so high.

The Visa might be worth having just because it will report as a Visa rather than a store card, but not sure how much diff that really makes. I kinda hate to turn it down since it's "offered", and like you said, you can't upgrade other GEMBs.....I tried to convert my Walmart to Discover and they said I 'd have to apply..no upgrades.

I appreciate your input!

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

rom828 — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:43:08 GMT

Just an update....

talked to GEMB rep this morning about the upgrade.

She advised the Visa would not report as a new card, that card age remains the same.

I asked her to reiterate that the store card would not be reported as closed and the Visa as new, and she assured me that the only reporting change would be it showing as a Visa rather than a store card...no "opening and closing".

Guess I'll just have to see it report to know if she advised correctly.

I was also very pleased to learn that my CL for the Visa is $3000, so a nice increase from my $1200 store card CL. And she also advised, just like with the store card, I can request a CL every 4 months on line..soft pull. This is how I got the CL on the store card from $200 to $1200, so good to know.

As of now, I'm pretty happy with this upgrade..and I hope the way it reports won't change that!!

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

Ron1 — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:57:28 GMT

They may have change their change policy. I had two upgrade from two different GEMB store cards to Visa/MC and I lost the original opening dat and account history. First my PayPal Plus MC upgrade reported as New and then Old Navy Visa also reported as New. They didn't transfer both original account history and opening date to new. Both accounts were reported as Transferred,closed/Never late on my credit report. For example:

1. Pay Pal Credit opened: 04/2005 Closed on: 07/2006 PayPalPlus MC opened: 07/2006.

2. Old Navy Card opened : 01/2002 closed on: 05/2008 Old Navy Visa opened: 05/2008

Both of the account were opened as New and they didn't transfer old account history to new one. I had to restart all over again to rebuild account and payment history. Upside: It is Visa. It will report as Credit card instead of charge account.You can use it outside to earn rewards. They had special promotion throughout the year to help earning more points. Downside: you might lose a few FICO points by closing the old account and opening a new one. AAOA will be decreased.

Ron.

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

Ron1 — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:02:34 GMT

By the way, Old Navy didn't give me any CLI until this year. They always told me I wasn't qualified for it. This year, they sent me a letter and they only gave me $250 for two years of usage.

Ron.

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

rom828 — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:43:10 GMT

I've been very fortunate to get several CLIs since I opened the card in 12-07. If it werent for this forum though, I would not have know to ask for them!!

As far as the reporting, guess I'll wait and see how it reports. I'm pretty much thinking that like you said, AAoA may be affected and I could possiblyy lose a few points, but it's a Visa with a much higher CL.

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

Anonymous — Sun, 02 May 2010 19:25:14 GMT

I also got a letter saying I was being upgraded this week, I called to ask how it would report on my CR's and I was told that it would stay on my CR as the same accound with the same opening date of 11/08 and it would just change to a visa/major cc from the store card and they said it would NOT show up as a new card with my store account closed, but I don't have a whole lot of faith in them, so I'll just wait and see what happens . However while on the phone with them I was told I'd be getting a CLI to 3K from the 650 CL I have now

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

rom828 — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:45:39 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I also got a letter saying I was being upgraded this week, I called to ask how it would report on my CR's and I was told that it would stay on my CR as the same accound with the same opening date of 11/08 and it would just change to a visa/major cc from the store card and they said it would NOT show up as a new card with my store account closed, but I don't have a whole lot of faith in them, so I'll just wait and see what happens . However while on the phone with them I was told I'd be getting a CLI to 3K from the 650 CL I have now

My card came in so before even activating I called back regarding how it would report.

CSR again that it would report with same history. She assured me after first purchase it would be 'merged' with store card and would then report as credit card with all the store card history and opening date.

So yesterday I get scorewatch alert for a NEW CARD!! ARRHHHGGGHHH!! Sure enough, it reported as a new card opened 04-10 (didnt receive actual card though til 7-16). I bought TU reort just to see and it reported same.

I called back to GEMB and very nice CSR apologized and assured me it should have reported as a "conversion" , keeping the original opening date (12-7) and history. She advised she'd send a letter to have the reporting corrected; should take 7-10 for correction to report.

Guess now it's wait & see. Although the CSR was quite helpful, I still have some lingering doubt that this will actually get corrected, since it's now clearly showing on report as Old Navy store card: "closed due to transfer" and the other as OldNavydc (not sure what 'dc' means????) "credit card" opened 04-10.

Has yours reported yet?? Just curious to see what anyone else has encountered with this. As I said, I'm glad for the new card and the higher limit, but I just don't need another 'new' account at this point!

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

Anonymous — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:06:37 GMT

@rom828 wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:
I also got a letter saying I was being upgraded this week, I called to ask how it would report on my CR's and I was told that it would stay on my CR as the same accound with the same opening date of 11/08 and it would just change to a visa/major cc from the store card and they said it would NOT show up as a new card with my store account closed, but I don't have a whole lot of faith in them, so I'll just wait and see what happens . However while on the phone with them I was told I'd be getting a CLI to 3K from the 650 CL I have now

My card came in so before even activating I called back regarding how it would report.
CSR again that it would report with same history. She assured me after first purchase it would be 'merged' with store card and would then report as credit card with all the store card history and opening date.
So yesterday I get scorewatch alert for a NEW CARD!! ARRHHHGGGHHH!! Sure enough, it reported as a new card opened 04-10 (didnt receive actual card though till 7-16). I bought TU reort just to see and it reported same.
I called back to GEMB and very nice CSR apologized and assured me it should have reported as a "conversion" , keeping the original opening date (12-7) and history. She advised she'd send a letter to have the reporting corrected; should take 7-10 for correction to report.
Guess now it's wait & see. Although the CSR was quite helpful, I still have some lingering doubt that this will actually get corrected, since it's now clearly showing on report as Old Navy store card: "closed due to transfer" and the other as OldNavydc (not sure what 'dc' means????) "credit card" opened 04-10.
Has yours reported yet?? Just curious to see what anyone else has encountered with this. As I said, I'm glad for the new card and the higher limit, but I just don't need another 'new' account at this point!

Yep same here!!! It came about two weeks ago and I also called and asked again before using it and and was told the same thing. Well my credit was pulled on friday for a mortgage loan app and there it was as two cards! ugh! I haven't had time to call and deal with it yet but it gives me hope that they even knew what you were talking about when you called and are at least making a effort to fix it I guess I will give them a call tomorrow to try to deal with it. let me know how it turns out for you, I hope we can get this fixed!

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

rom828 — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:38:55 GMT

Thought I'd share this update:

Followed up w/Old Navy today. The CSR advised she did see that the letter was sent on July 19th, just like the agent I spoke with on the 19th said would be done.

The agent today, though, advised it can take 1 to 2 billing cycles for the corrected info to appear on reports.....and previous agent advised 7-10 days.

I do feel more encouraged that something will happen since today's rep confirmed the letter went out......just not sure when!!

Again, guess it's a wait and see situation!

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:19:11 GMT

SO I just had the time to call and deal with this, it is showing as two separate cards on my CR's and when I called I was told there was nothing they would do and it wouldn't hurt my score with it showing up as a new card! Ugh!! I've called 3 times and talked to 3 customer service managers and they all told me the same thing. I'm writing a letter now to see if I can have any luck with that. ...Have you had any luck getting them combined?

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

rom828 — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:34:42 GMT

Nope!

I called again last week and this time the CSR said that 'of course' the new Visa would report as new, but just as you were told, shouldn't have any affect on my score!

I wanted to ask him how he became such a 'score' expert because he's WRONG!

I've been waiting for my NFCU accounts to age to 1 year in July and Sept and now this one shows up as a 4-10 new account!

I told the CSR that in all previous conversations I was assured it would report with the same date as my store card. He then advised that if I'd been told it would be 'corrected', then that's probably what would happen!!!!!!!!!!

So frustrating! I'm glad to have the Visa and its higher limit, and even though the impact might be minimal, it's aggravating to be told something by several different CSRs and then have just the opposite happen!!

I'm going to try back after 1 more reporting cycle if it's not corrected and then like you, will try letter writing etc.

Please post back with any updates!

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:18:11 GMT

Thanks for the update and I will post as soon as I hear anything from the letter... I'm question now is why are they saying that they can't combine the cards when I logged on the website to pay my bill last night and at the bottom of the first page it said "want to earn rewards faster? Try combining your cards" or something like that.. These people are making me really mad!

I have a couple of cards that just turned two and had just opened a new discover card in may, I would have declined the upgrade had I known this would happen, I'm trying to buy a house right now and need every fico point I can get!

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

rom828 — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:38:15 GMT

I know....it is so beyond frustrating!

I saw the same thing about combining cards..that's what prompted my call to them last week. I thought maybe you had to call and request they be combined or something, despite what I'd been told previously.

And that's the call where I was informed that the Visa card would 'always show the newer date as that's when it truly opened'.

It's got be really maddening for you since you're trying to get a mortgage, especially, at least for me, EQ is so sensitive to new accounts. I was so looking forward to everything else aging because I knew I was going for (and got) a Nationwide card to do a BT (so I can get out of debt a little faster!). I wanted to have that as my only new account and now the Old Navy issue gives me total of 2!

My statement drops on the 14th so I'll be interested to see if anything has changed with the way it reports. If not, I think I will go ahead with a letter myself.

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

Anonymous — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 02:01:05 GMT

@rom828 wrote:
I know....it is so beyond frustrating!

I saw the same thing about combining cards..that's what prompted my call to them last week. I thought maybe you had to call and request they be combined or something, despite what I'd been told previously.

And that's the call where I was informed that the Visa card would 'always show the newer date as that's when it truly opened'.

It's got be really maddening for you since you're trying to get a mortgage, especially, at least for me, EQ is so sensitive to new accounts. I was so looking forward to everything else aging because I knew I was going for (and got) a Nationwide card to do a BT (so I can get out of debt a little faster!). I wanted to have that as my only new account and now the Old Navy issue gives me total of 2!

My statement drops on the 14th so I'll be interested to see if anything has changed with the way it reports. If not, I think I will go ahead with a letter myself.

Well hopefully they will get their stories straight and fix this for both of us!.. You're right about EQ being sensitive to new accounts, I paid all of my CC debt off this summer and my TU shot up to 750+ andmy EQ didn't budge one point! I'm guessing its because of the two new accounts I have now, ugh!

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:45:54 GMT

Checking to see if you had any updates? I called a couple more times and sent a letter off about 3 weeks ago but haven't had a reply yet

Re: OLD NAVY VISA UPGRADE-ANY RECENT EXPERIENCE?

rom828 — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:39:57 GMT

Still reporting as 2 accounts! AAARRRGGGHHHHH!!

I've actually disputed a few days ago with the CRAs to see if I get any different result, but I'm not hopeful. I fully expect ON to confirm the reporting as correct, but i thought I'd give it a shot anyway.

I'll post back with results!!