topic Re: AmEx Product Upgrade question in Credit Cards

AmEx Product Upgrade question

frugalQ — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:21:45 GMT

Hi Everyone,

I just logged into my AmEx account to review my charges. Apparently, AmEx is in the process of changing their website. So, I was playing around in there and under the 'view my offers' section there's an area that lists the Gold PR Gold and Platinum charge cards and says upgrade now.

Do you know if it is a hard pull? Do you think they would offer me the chance to upgrade if I was not eligible? For reference, I just got the Green Card back in April, and was told then that i would be eligible for upgrade in 13 months

I have not had the chance to call AmEx as I am sitting at work in a training workshop I plan to call after work, but i wanted ot see if anyone else has run across this.

Tax in advance for all responses!

Re: AmEx Product Upgrade question

pizzadude — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:24:04 GMT

I believe that it would not be a hard pull for a product change. In terms of being elligible, if they let you do it now that is great, but I have always heard that you have to wait 13 months...

Re: AmEx Product Upgrade question

frugalQ — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:29:50 GMT

@pizzadude wrote:

I believe that it would not be a hard pull for a product change. In terms of being elligible, if they let you do it now that is great, but I have always heard that you have to wait 13 months...

I was told by an account rep when I applied that I would be eligible for upgrade after 13 months. I am just curious as upgrading popped up as an option for me. Maybe that option is standard when you check status while logged in, and when you click the 'apply' button it will say if you are eligible or not.

I will contact them this afternoon, ask about it, and post their response on this thread.

Re: AmEx Product Upgrade question

Anonymous — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:05:08 GMT

Yeah I never fully understood AMEX PC/Upgrade policy. I thought it was 13 months with Zync to other charge cards. For some reason, I thought you could PC within charge cards whenever aside from Zync. I would definitely call and verify etc. Might also want to see if you are eligible for any bonus MR points for upgrading to higher AF.

Re: AmEx Product Upgrade question

hedgeclipper2 — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:06:01 GMT

Can one upgrade from the Hilton HHonors card to the Surpass card without the 13 month minimum? I don't need it this year, but maybe next year when my Gold status will downgrade to Silver.

Re: AmEx Product Upgrade question

Anonymous — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:06:14 GMT

"Upgrading" or "downgrading" an Amex charge card does not result in a hard pull, atleast it never has for me and I've done several product changes. As for the 13 months, yes you will have to wait 13 months to "upgrade" to a card with a higher annual fee, even though the offer is available on the website. I do know this from experience. It's because credit card companies can't raise fees on an account now until after 12 statements have cut; Amex has interpreted this to include customer-initiated requests to product change to a higher annual fee card.

Re: AmEx Product Upgrade question

RyVision — Thu, 31 May 2012 20:29:25 GMT

I was recently told on the phone by a new account specialist who took my app for Blue that I'd have to wait over 12 months (ie: 13) to change to BCP but it would not require a pull, that they actually wouldn't even look at my report at all to do the change. I don't know how certain that is, other than the person sounded experienced.

Re: AmEx Product Upgrade question

frugalQ — Thu, 31 May 2012 22:01:57 GMT

I called Amex and the analyst told me that I was indeed eligible for a product upgrade....and it's treated like a PC.

I am not sue how I became eligible since I just got the card in April. I'm wondering if it's because I have a Corp Green card since 2004, and they backdated my personal card to that year.

The analyst told me that I was eligible for the offer of 15K MR points if I spent $30K in one calendar year...yes, $30K.

I didn't PC yet because I'm wondering if there will be a better sign up offer down the road. Its funny....I have been kicking myself for not applying g for the PR Gold in the beginning. Now that I have the opportunity to get it, I'm deciding to wait for a better offer. LOL

Re: AmEx Product Upgrade question

OhioCPA — Thu, 31 May 2012 22:27:17 GMT

I thought the Credit Card Act only applied to credit cards, not charge cards. Thus, a PC from a Green to a Gold would not fall under the Act. Since I first got my Green and Gold cards the option to PC to the Platinum or Gold PR has appeared on my online account. I know my due date on my Gold card changed when I accepted the extended payment option. I assumed this was a result of the card now falling under the Act since it was now more like a credit card.

Re: AmEx Product Upgrade question

frugalQ — Thu, 31 May 2012 23:24:36 GMT

It may not apply to charge cards, but I was told by the analyst who took my original application that I could upgrade after 13 months.

I didn't want to ask about the 13 month rule for fear that they would rescind the offer (I'm paranoid, I know). However, later, I will call them back to ask about it.

Re: AmEx Product Upgrade question

Anonymous — Thu, 31 May 2012 23:54:01 GMT

where exactly d you see the "offered" cards ? when i log onto AMEX i dont see anything like that.

i already have a mix for charge, revolvers and biz cards so maybe they see that and i cant upgrade anything ????

Re: AmEx Product Upgrade question

frugalQ — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 00:11:13 GMT

I clicked on 'cards' at the top, then 'let us help you find a card'

This is one of the pages that was upgraded. I believe there were 3 options, click on the one that says 'view your current special offers' (not the exact words.

The page that comes up are a bunch of cards that you have the option to add to your list. On the left side it says 'upgrade your card' and there's a list of all of the charge cards that are available for upgrading. I guess this page will look different depending on the offers available to each account.

Now, these are not exact instructions....I am not near a computer and going from memory. My apologies

Re: AmEx Product Upgrade question

CK_Charles_Lover — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 21:01:08 GMT

Just thought I'd share. I just got my GPR card last month had one statement cut. When I signed onto amex last night, and hit additional cards, it said upgrade to Platinum. I clicked on it and it told me I would keep my card number and all that stuff. So I just thought it was interesting that it probably means that for all or at least GPR and Platinum charge cards the criteria is the same. Also you don't have to wait 13 months or anything. I did not upgrade, I just wanted the 25,000 points for the GPR card. They also credited me those points 3 days into my billing month when I reached $2000 in charges, which I couldn't believe. Figured it would take weeks and weeks for the points. LOVE AMEX!

Re: AmEx Product Upgrade question

sjt — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 21:20:22 GMT

@frugalQ wrote:
I called Amex and the analyst told me that I was indeed eligible for a product upgrade....and it's treated like a PC.

I am not sue how I became eligible since I just got the card in April. I'm wondering if it's because I have a Corp Green card since 2004, and they backdated my personal card to that year.

The analyst told me that I was eligible for the offer of 15K MR points if I spent $30K in one calendar year...yes, $30K.

I didn't PC yet because I'm wondering if there will be a better sign up offer down the road. Its funny....I have been kicking myself for not applying g for the PR Gold in the beginning. Now that I have the opportunity to get it, I'm deciding to wait for a better offer. LOL

Was the corporte card a Business Card or the actual Corporate Card?

Re: AmEx Product Upgrade question

frugalQ — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 22:21:45 GMT

It is a true Corp card issued to me through my employer. I guess I'm considered an AU on my employers corporate account. However, I'm still now sure how my personal green card is upgradeable after 3 months.

Even though the cards still show as an upgrade offer, I've decided not to upgrade until after September. The 2x points categories on the PR Gold are the same categories as the Discover and Chase 5% categories for Q3 (gas and restaurants), so It doesn't really make sense for me to start the PR Gold AF clock until sometime in Q4. I can use my Green until then.