BOA P/C: CCR to PR Elite (same card #, expedited, rewards program changed before activation)

[TyrannicalDuncery3]

I just upgraded my Customized Cash Rewards Visa (Susan G. Komen variety) to Premium Rewards Elite. I have not yet received the new physical card (it should come tomorrow 2025/07/07). I'll try to give an update next week.

Three things of note:

1. I kept my same card number.
2. The rewards program switched over, before activating the new card.
3. I was able to expedite shipment of the new card.

On these three points, I got mixed information from forums and CSRs. In each case, the majority opinion from forums was correct.

1. Some of the CSRs said that there was maybe a 50/50 chance that the card number would change, regardless of what I was switching from and to. One CSR said that the card number ALWAYS changes, in their entire >=3 years working with the company. Many redditors said that they had kept their same card number when switching various products. Well, it turns out that I kept the same card number. I will note that I was switching from Visa Signature to Visa Infinite. The reason why I think I kept the same card number is that I kept my same last 4 digits, according to the website and the shipping emails.
2. As reddit correctly predicted, the rewards structure switched over before I received and activated the new card. Now when I use my same card (the one that says Susan G Komen CCR on it), it is earning on the PR Elite rewards program according to the website. The website shows the picture of the Premium Rewards Elite card and describes it as Premium Rewards Elite. I talked to one CSR about this; they said that this would happen, and that technically I don't even need to activate the new card that BOA is shipping to me. They said that I could just keep using the card that says Susan G Komen CCR on it all the way up until it expires in 2028, and it would work like the Premium Rewards Elite (except a different CVV). Like I said, that has been the case so far.
3. Various CSRs and forum posters said that expediting was not possible. It turns out that expediting IS possible. It seems like I can request expedited delivery during a short window, between the time that they have made their "decision" to switch the card type and the time when the card is shipped out. Some CSRs said that I could call as soon as I see the rewards program switch over on the website; others said that I should just keep calling to find out when it was switching. I chose the latter. I called in one day, before it had switched over on the website, and they said that yes, they had just set up the process of switching the card over and that they had "just sent out the card." I asked them to expedite and they said yes, they would do that. The day after that, it switched over on the website. So I feel like there is a chance that it would have been too late to expedite, if I had waited to see it switch over on the website. After this, I got a few emails about the shipping.

• "Decision": The CSRs said that the upgrade from CCR to PR Elite was "available" for me. They said that, once I request the upgrade, they would make a "decision" of whether I get the upgrade or not. I asked a CSR about this, and what could get me denied. They said that basically nothing could get me denied. I asked whether I would be re-underwritten, and whether any of my credit limits could change as a result of this "decision" process. They said no to both.
• Background: This was shortly after I was denied for a personal checking account (EWS) and business credit card, then approved for the checking account on the phone and the business credit card via recon. Here is my CCR approval post if you want an idea of my credit profile and relationship: https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Card-Applications/BofA-CCR-Approved-after-Recon/td-p/6771732

[TyrannicalDuncery3]

Update: I received the card in the mail today.

1. The card number and CVV and expiration date are the same as my existing card.
2. The card appears to already be activated.
   • The card came with an insert giving me 3 ways to activate the card (QR code, phone number, app).
   • I tried opening the app and asking the Erica AI chatbot how to activate my new card. It asked me which card I wanted to activate. I selected my Premium Rewards Elite ending in XXXX. It said that this card is already active.
   • I tried calling the phone number. After I verified, it told me that my card is already active. (I have one personal card and one business card; my personal card is the Premium Rewards Elite that I just upgraded to, just to be clear.) It asked me whether I wanted to activate another card. I hung up. Maybe if I had entered the card number for my Premium Rewards Elite, it would have sent me to an activation interface. But I doubt it.
   • So I think I can now use either card: the old one that says Customized Cash Rewards, or the new one that says Premium Rewards Elite.
   • So then why does the card come with information on how to activate it? I think they sent me a package that is similar or identical to what they send to people who need a replacement card for their existing Premium Rewards Elite. It came with a return envelope to return my existing metal-core card (the new card I received was metal-core), and a little bit of material saying something like "here is your replacement card." But the package did also contain materials about the benefits of the Premium Rewards Elite card, so I don't think it was totally identical to a replacement card package.

I would be overjoyed if I could spend on the old physical card and not bother activating anything. I prefer the plastic and being lazy.

A few things that I will test and get back to you:

• Spending online
• Spending on the old physical card
• Asking customer service whether my Premium Rewards Elite is activated

[ElvisCaprice]

I'm sure you have your reasons for not applying for the PRE and getting that juicy SUB.  Most folks do the opposite PC, from PR or PRE to CCR in order to get a CCR with no FTF and avoid another year of fees.  With the PRE, some have reported getting those annual fees credited, annually, by applying thru a Merrill Lynch advisor and having a sufficient holding of investments.  

I just did a PC with BofA, and can report also that CC numbers matched, card was already activated.  Although there was no mention of any need to activate the new CC.  I didn't try to use the old CC, just cut it up, but then both of mine were plastic.  The BofA reps always say that the application for the PC needs to be approved.  I've never heard of anyone not getting the approval once submitted.

Enjoy!!