After you downgrade an AMEX...

[Anonymous]

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@FinStar wrote:

I've received and seen higher than that offer with the same spend criteria.  So, it's a matter of preference whether you want to bite now or later.

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With AF waived?   I've seen $150 with AF waived, $250 without.

The latter is technically a little better, but I find the one without the AF more compelling for some reason!

[SecretAzure]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@FinStar wrote:

I've received and seen higher than that offer with the same spend criteria.  So, it's a matter of preference whether you want to bite now or later.

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With AF waived?   I've seen $150 with AF waived, $250 without.

The latter is technically a little better, but I find the one without the AF more compelling for some reason!

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Same for me. I prefer the $150 without having to pay anything right now which I just upgraded to yesterday.

If I do decide the AF is not worth it for me, I should downgrade after  the AF hits and I've paid it, right? 

[K-in-Boston]

@SecretAzure no need to wait until you have paid it, but I would wait until it has shown on the statement (Amex usually charges AFs when the statement is generated and not a minute sooner), at which point you have 30 days.

[Wavester64]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@K-in-Boston wrote:

No wait on upgrade offers.  As soon as an offer is there, it should be yours. 

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Thanks, K. Do the offers get better than this or should I jump on it? I wouldn't mind another year of 6% on groceries. 

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I remember when I was offered this same offer I waited and waited for something better and nothing came along so I took this offer just before the cut-off

[Curious_George2]

Informative thread. Do the experiences  described here also happen on Green/Gold?

[Anonymous]

Just be forewarned, that unless something has changed as far as welcome offers are concerned, since you already had the BCP product code, the system will find you ineligible. Marketing's systems historically have not communicated in such a way to see if you're actually eligible, hence the time-of-application/upgrade disclosures.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Just be forewarned, that unless something has changed as far as welcome offers are concerned, since you already had the BCP product code, the system will find you ineligible. Marketing's systems historically have not communicated in such a way to see if you're actually eligible, hence the time-of-application/upgrade disclosures.

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That's not what I have heard. Upgrade offers don't have lifetime language and are targeted per account while new card bonuses have lifetime language. 

"If we in our sole discretion determine that you have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with the welcome offer in any way or that you intend to do so (for example, if you applied for one or more cards to obtain a welcome offer (s) that we did not intend for you; if you cancel or downgrade your account within 12 months after acquiring it; or if you cancel or return purchases you made to meet the Threshold Amount), we may not credit $150 statement credit to, we may freeze $150 credit credited to, or we may take away $150 statement credit from your account."

They reserve the right to not pay it but I haven't abused SUBs at all (I only have two cards with AMEX, both of which have gotten plenty of use beyond the SUBs, and a third I closed without even getting the SUB) so I would be surprised if they opted not to pay it. 

[FinStar]

@Anonymous- good to see you around the forums!

[notmyrealname23]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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 Upgrade offers don't have lifetime language and are targeted per account while new card bonuses have lifetime language. 

This is a copy and paste of the upgrade offer that's attached to my account (Green->Platinum, 25k points on spending $2k in 6 months, 10x Membership Rewards on gas and supermarkets for 6 months for up to 15k of spend):

"Welcome offer not available to applicants who have or have had this or previous versions of this Card. We may also consider the number of American Express Cards you have opened and closed as well as other factors in making a decision on your welcome offer eligibility."

I called AMEX when I saw this (since I was curious) and was told I am a past Platinum account holder (because of a past Chapter 13, my Platinum was closed only when the bankruptcy was resolved in early 2019, even though AMEX shut it down over a decade ago), and thus I would be denied the bonus were I to request an upgrade.

Needless to say, I'm not taking the upgrade.  But I offer this to you as a data point about AMEX and upgrade offers.

[Anonymous]

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@notmyrealname23 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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 Upgrade offers don't have lifetime language and are targeted per account while new card bonuses have lifetime language. 

This is a copy and paste of the upgrade offer that's attached to my account (Green->Platinum, 25k points on spending $2k in 6 months, 10x Membership Rewards on gas and supermarkets for 6 months for up to 15k of spend):

"Welcome offer not available to applicants who have or have had this or previous versions of this Card. We may also consider the number of American Express Cards you have opened and closed as well as other factors in making a decision on your welcome offer eligibility."

I called AMEX when I saw this (since I was curious) and was told I am a past Platinum account holder (because of a past Chapter 13, my Platinum was closed only when the bankruptcy was resolved in early 2019, even though AMEX shut it down over a decade ago), and thus I would be denied the bonus were I to request an upgrade.

Needless to say, I'm not taking the upgrade.  But I offer this to you as a data point about AMEX and upgrade offers.

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Interesting. I guess they have some with lifetime language and some without. Mine is an offer without it.