topic Re: BofA Product Change Redux in Credit Cards

BofA Product Change Redux

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:48:49 GMT

So I got my BofA Rewards Amex that I applied for April 9.

Just for kicks I decided to check the online preapprovals page, mostly to see how much they've raised the CL on my preapproved offers now that I actually have a card with them.

They only raised the preapproved CL to $3K, which is kind of disappointing, but I was surprised to see that one of the cards I'm preapproved for now is the Accelerated Rewards Amex. This is the same Rewards Amex that I have now, except that the card is black and it earns 1.25 WorldPoints per dollar versus 1 WorldPoint per dollar on the card I have now. Other than that, the T&C are identical to the standard Rewards Amex that I already have.

I do NOT want to apply for a new card, but if I can get 1.25:1 points instead of 1:1, I would do a product change if I could.

Have any of our members ever done a product change from Rewards Amex to Accelerated Rewards Amex?

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:09:44 GMT

Hah! I get the 'no offers for you' message when I use that link.

One and done for me, I guess!

Thanks for sharing, I was curious when offers would return, if ever.

Good luck on your quest!

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:10:56 GMT

Peas, I've been getting that same message since I applied for the 99/500 card. And that was back in October!

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:12:56 GMT

cheddar wrote:
So I got my BofA Rewards Amex that I applied for April 9.

Just for kicks I decided to check the online preapprovals page, mostly to see how much they've raised the CL on my preapproved offers now that I actually have a card with them.

They only raised the preapproved CL to $3K, which is kind of disappointing, but I was surprised to see that one of the cards I'm preapproved for now is the Accelerated Rewards Amex. This is the same Rewards Amex that I have now, except that the card is black and it earns 1.25 WorldPoints per dollar versus 1 WorldPoint per dollar on the card I have now. Other than that, the T&C are identical to the standard Rewards Amex that I already have.

I do NOT want to apply for a new card, but if I can get 1.25:1 points instead of 1:1, I would do a product change if I could.

Have any of our members ever done a product change from Rewards Amex to Accelerated Rewards Amex?

I haven't, but I just noticed that card this morning, too. I also have the BofA Rewards Amex and was wondering about doing a product change.

If you do it, or if anyone else does, post the results here, please.

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:13:49 GMT

Cheddar - I've been wondering if I could do the same product change. Has anyone else tried?

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Scamp — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:27:22 GMT

cheddar wrote:
So I got my BofA Rewards Amex that I applied for April 9.

Just for kicks I decided to check the online preapprovals page, mostly to see how much they've raised the CL on my preapproved offers now that I actually have a card with them.

They only raised the preapproved CL to $3K, which is kind of disappointing, but I was surprised to see that one of the cards I'm preapproved for now is the Accelerated Rewards Amex. This is the same Rewards Amex that I have now, except that the card is black and it earns 1.25 WorldPoints per dollar versus 1 WorldPoint per dollar on the card I have now. Other than that, the T&C are identical to the standard Rewards Amex that I already have.

I do NOT want to apply for a new card, but if I can get 1.25:1 points instead of 1:1, I would do a product change if I could.

Have any of our members ever done a product change from Rewards Amex to Accelerated Rewards Amex?

Message Edited by scapegrace13 on 04-24-2008 06:27 PM

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:11:57 GMT

Tried to call and find out. Got transferred around. Finally was told I'd be transferred to the department that can answer my question.

Sat on hold for 10 minutes and was unceremoniously disconnected.

I'll try again later.

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:24:28 GMT

Well, it took three tries and about speaking to a total of about twelve different people but I finally have an answer.

I was told that there's no way to product change from Rewards Amex to Accelerated Rewards Amex. The account manager said that if I wanted the Accelerated Rewards Amex, I would have to apply for it, which would mean a new inquiry and a new tradeline if approved. When I pressed her on the question of why this product change isn't possible when I know for a fact that BofA does product changes, she told me that this particular change is considered an "upgrade" rather than a simple change from one card product to another product on the same tier.

I can understand that. It is frustrating, though.

Oh well. I'll be happy with the one I have.

Message Edited by cheddar on 04-23-2008 12:24 PM

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Scamp — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:27:30 GMT

cheddar wrote:
Well, it took three tries and about speaking to a total of about twelve different people but I finally have an answer.

I was told that there's no way to product change from Rewards Amex to Accelerated Rewards Amex. The account manager said that if I wanted the Accelerated Rewards Amex, I would have to apply for it, which would mean a new inquiry and a new tradeline if approved. When I pressed her on the question of why this product change isn't possible when I know for a fact that BofA does product changes, she told me that this particular change is considered an "upgrade" rather than a simple change from one card product to another product on the same tier.

I can understand that. It is frustrating, though.

Oh well. I'll be happy with the one I have.

Message Edited by cheddar on 04-23-2008 12:24 PM

Thanks for posting the outcome, Cheddar - were your calls to main CS #, or the Credit Analyst #?

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:32:09 GMT

scapegrace13 wrote:

Thanks for posting the outcome, Cheddar - were your calls to main CS #, or the Credit Analyst #?

Ya know, I didn't even think about calling the Credit Analyst number.

Good thinking! If nothing else, it's always good to verify a front line CSR's info.

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Scamp — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:27:55 GMT

cheddar wrote:

Good thinking! If nothing else, it's always good to verify a front line CSR's info.

My experience with their main CSR is that, although they want to be helpful and are generally good-natured, they usually aren't ABLE to be very helpful with anything outside of very basic account info.

I'd say give the Analysts a call: 1-866-865-7842.

Good luck, if you do!

Message Edited by scapegrace13 on 04-24-2008 06:27 PM

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:34:40 GMT

scapegrace13 wrote:

cheddar wrote:

Good thinking! If nothing else, it's always good to verify a front line CSR's info.

My experience with their main CSR is that, although they want to be helpful and are generally good-natured, they usually aren't ABLE to be very helpful with anything outside of very basic account info.

If you don't feel like waiting for me to run it up the flagpole with them myself, when I get my new card and ring them up about that, I'd say give the Analysts a call: 1-866-865-7842.

Good luck, if you do!

scapegrace, you have made my day!

Backdoor number success!

I called the credit analyst number, spoke to someone who wasn't sure if he could do what I wanted to do. He wanted to transfer me to the regular CS but I interjected and told him I've been bounced around several times on this issue already today. He said that if I were eligible for an upgrade, the main customer service people would probably have been able to take care of that for me. Seeing how he wasn't sure, though, he asked if he could put me on hold and speak to his supervisor. (That's pretty impressive when he goes to his supervisor and I don't even have to ask for it.)

Supervisor comes on the line (one of the nicest CCC reps ever) and I give her my account number and verify my identity. I explain to her that I just got this card a couple of weeks ago, primarily for the rewards, and now I see I'm preapproved for the Accelerated Rewards Amex, but I don't want a new tradeline on my reports. She tells me she'll see if I'm eligible for an upgrade. She tells me she won't pull a new report but will look at the CR they pulled when I was approved. I agree.

She puts me on hold for two minutes and comes back to tell me that my new Accelerated Rewards Amex will be arriving in the mail in 4-6 weeks, and all the same T&C apply to the new card, including APR. She also assures me that no new credit report was pulled, and no new tradeline will report.

I am stoked. Thanks again, scapegrace, for encouraging me to call the right number!

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Scamp — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:28:30 GMT

cheddar wrote:

scapegrace, you have made my day!

Backdoor number success!

I called the credit analyst number, spoke to someone who wasn't sure if he could do what I wanted to do. He wanted to transfer me to the regular CS but I interjected and told him I've been bounced around several times on this issue already today. He said that if I were eligible for an upgrade, the main customer service people would probably have been able to take care of that for me. Seeing how he wasn't sure, though, he asked if he could put me on hold and speak to his supervisor. (That's pretty impressive when he goes to his supervisor and I don't even have to ask for it.)

Supervisor comes on the line (one of the nicest CCC reps ever) and I give her my account number and verify my identity. I explain to her that I just got this card a couple of weeks ago, primarily for the rewards, and now I see I'm preapproved for the Accelerated Rewards Amex, but I don't want a new tradeline on my reports. She tells me she'll see if I'm eligible for an upgrade. She tells me she won't pull a new report but will look at the CR they pulled when I was approved. I agree.

She puts me on hold for two minutes and comes back to tell me that my new Accelerated Rewards Amex will be arriving in the mail in 4-6 weeks, and all the same T&C apply to the new card, including APR. She also assures me that no new credit report was pulled, and no new tradeline will report.

I am stoked. Thanks again, scapegrace, for encouraging me to call the right number!

Yippee, Cheddar!! Woohoo!! Glad it worked for you!

Is the Accelerated AmEx clear as well? Or some other color...?

Message Edited by scapegrace13 on 04-24-2008 06:28 PM

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:50:12 GMT

scapegrace13 wrote:

Yippee, Cheddar!! Woohoo!! Glad it worked for you! Not sure it will for me, too (my scores are lower and my overall situation not quite as good as yours, I think, and I don't have a preapproval for the Accelerated), but I'll be sure to ask about it when I call about the other card, when it arrives. Tickled to bits for YOU, though!

Is the Accelerated AmEx clear as well? Or some other color...? The regular one IS pretty nifty, being clear!

Thanks!

Nope, the Accelerated Rewards Amex is black. It looks a lot like the Accolades card, but has all the same T&C as the regular Rewards Amex (no AF, 9.99% APR), except that it earns 25% more WorldPoints per dollar spent.

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Scamp — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:28:50 GMT

cheddar wrote:

Thanks!

Nope, the Accelerated Rewards Amex is black. It looks a lot like the Accolades card, but has all the same T&C as the regular Rewards Amex (no AF, 9.99% APR), except that it earns 25% more WorldPoints per dollar spent.

Poor AmEx clear - 'over it' so quickly, are you? lol.

Congrats again on the upgrade!

Message Edited by scapegrace13 on 04-24-2008 06:28 PM

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:59:49 GMT

scapegrace13 wrote:

cheddar wrote:

Thanks!

Nope, the Accelerated Rewards Amex is black. It looks a lot like the Accolades card, but has all the same T&C as the regular Rewards Amex (no AF, 9.99% APR), except that it earns 25% more WorldPoints per dollar spent.

Poor AmEx clear - 'over it' so quickly, are you? lol.

Thanks for the info - I normally don't pay much attention to what cards look like, but I suppose I could do with a fancy-schmancy black cc in my purse, if I do qualify for Accelerated AmEx (and since I'm in the process of moving my savings and checking accts. there, I'd have 2 cc's earning me 1.25/$1, which would be nice).

Congrats again on the upgrade!

Nah, I'm not over it. I would keep the clear design if I had the choice, but getting 25% more rewards points trumps card design every time.

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Scamp — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:07:38 GMT

cheddar wrote:

Nah, I'm not over it. I would keep the clear design if I had the choice, but getting 25% more rewards points trumps card design every time.

I figured. And I'm with you on that!

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:48:37 GMT

WTG Cheese!!!!

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:48:11 GMT

Thanks, Peas!

Re: BofA Product Change Redux

Scamp — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:26:40 GMT

cheddar wrote:

Thanks!

Nope, the Accelerated Rewards Amex is black. It looks a lot like the Accolades card, but has all the same T&C as the regular Rewards Amex (no AF, 9.99% APR), except that it earns 25% more WorldPoints per dollar spent.

Message Edited by scapegrace13 on 04-24-2008 06:26 PM