BofA Product Change Help?

[in0wh3r3ul1v3]

Hi all!

I'm new to these forums. I have a question about how to go about doing a product change with Bank of America. Currently I have my DDA accounts with them, and a Humane Society Visa with a limit of $1500. This has been my limit since I opened the card in 2008. They have denied me for a CLI more times than I can count. Granted, I am a student and do not have substantial income, but I have recently been eyeing the Accelerated Rewards Amex. I have, admittedly, kept a high balance on the card ($1000+), but as of April when they started charging me a $59 annual fee, I vowed to pay the card off so as to either close it or do a product change.

Right now, I have $394 left to pay, but I would like to know what else I should do besides paying the card off, to make myself a more appealing candidate for the Amex. I do not know my credit score, other than my TransUnion, which I found out through SallieMae after applying for a loan for school this Fall. It is 711. FWIW, I have received offers for the Amex Green & Gold cards, albeit through Amex and not BofA. I like having access to my card with my Online Banking, and I like the Black styling of the BofA Amex.. Which is why I would rather apply for their Amex as opposed to the "real thing." PLUS, I believe the BofA Amex is a revolving credit card, and not a charge card.

I applied for the Amex online a few months ago, and they said something like "You already have an adequate line of credit with us." So.. I'm hoping that a product change would make more sense than two credit cards.

[flyingmd]

I have a BoA rewards visa with a 7500 line and called to PC to the accelerated rewards AMEX. First time I called I had a balance on the account and I was initially told I could only switch to another visa or MC product. (don't know if it had anything to do with the balance frankly. I called again 3 weeks ago and got another csr through the backdoor number and this time they said no problem. I am still waiting for the card and for it to show online. It is my understanding that what you can PC for with BoA depends on a lot of unknown factors, and that it even depends on which rep you get. There are several threads on this board regarding this. I would call and ask and if you don't get a yes, call back another day and speak to a different rep. In my case they didn't even do a soft pull but I have heard of both soft and hard pulls depending on circumstances. In a straight PC, they just issue you a new account with the same credit line as you had and transfer over any remaining balance. The age of the account may or may not reflect once the PC goes through. Also keep in mind that if you have any rewards with your current product you will LOOSE them if you don't redeem them BEFORE the PC. Good luck. Let us know. (in all t hreads here it appears that it takes at least 3-4 weeks for the PC and to get a new card.

[in0wh3r3ul1v3]

For the most part, I'd like to get rid of my AF. But I also wasn't sure if maybe I had agreed to like.. a fixed CL or something when I applied for the Humane Society Visa.

Once I pay off the card, I will try the backdoor number and see what happens.

Are there any other students out there who have had luck getting the Accelerated Rewards Amex? I assume they ask for income and occupation, so what would I say about that? I am a 21-year-old, full-time student and I live with my mother. I do have a part-time job as a bank teller, but I'm not making millions. How do I tactfully answer questions about how much money I have? Talking to a credit analyst sounds scary.