Cannot convert Uber Visa

[Anonymous]

Hello, I haven't seen many data points for this posted yet (maybe I missed it).  I have had the Uber Visa card from Barclay for about two years or more now.  Like many of you, I received the notice a few months ago that the rewards were changing, effective February for me, and I would no longer get straight cash back.  I don't use Uber/Uber Eats at all, so this makes the card pretty worthless for me.

I called last weekend and pressed them pretty hard to consider converting me to one of their other cards.  Nope, they would not even consider it, I would have to apply separately for that if I desired.  I really don't like any of their cards, I was just hoping to convert to something I could occasionally use vs. the Uber Card which is now worthless to me rewards-wise.  I ended up cancelling my account on the phone right then and there which was pretty quick and painless.  Oh well, maybe somebody else will have better luck converting than I did.

[wasCB14]

Barclays has historically been pretty strict about not allowing PCs outside of a card family. Around August 2019 they wouldn't even let let me downgrade my Aviator Red to a no-AF Aviator (White?) which was in the same card family. So your experience is not unusual.

[kerplunk]

Seems pretty stupid on Barclays part. 

PC'ing a card: keep the customer and don't have to pay out a SUB.

Not PC'ing: lose their customer and develop a poor reputation.

[Anonymous]

I agree, I would rather have left the account open since it had a $25K CL and with no FTF I may have given it very occasional use if they would convert/PC.  Now, they have lost a customer and any spending I would do completey.  Considering Barclay's reputation I do not believe anyone in that company actually cares though.

[wasCB14]

Maybe Uber insisted that no one be able to change the card as a condition of Barclays getting the deal.

Uber Cash probably costs Barclays significantly less than actual cash as a rewards currency.

Uber has no reason to care about the wants of customers who don't book rides or use Eats. People who use their service regularly probably like the changes.

[imaximous]

I tried to get out of this card even before they announced the reward changes and they said no. At this point, I'm only keeping it in case I'd like to get a different Barclays card, so I can move its entire limit to the new card and close it.

[coldfusion]

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@wasCB14 wrote:

Maybe Uber insisted that no one be able to change the card as a condition of Barclays getting the deal.

Uber Cash probably costs Barclays significantly less than actual cash as a rewards currency.

Uber has no reason to care about the wants of customers who don't book rides or use Eats. People who use their service regularly probably like the changes.

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It's pretty standard fare for an issuer to not allow co-branded cards to be PC'd to a core card.  As an example try to PC a Chase United card to a Freedom Unlimited.

The is one occasional exception - if the card is being discontinued because the relationship between the partner and issuer is dissolving the issuer may offer the cardholder one of their own core cards as a replacement.

[wasCB14]

True. Even Citi which is pretty flexible about PCing away from AA cards won't allow PCs away from Costco AFAIK.

[Shooting-For-800]

You cant PC but you CAN move your credit lines around.

If you had or got another card, you could have moved all the CL over to it.

[FinStar]

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@kerplunk wrote:

Seems pretty stupid on Barclays part. 

PC'ing a card: keep the customer and don't have to pay out a SUB.

Not PC'ing: lose their customer and develop a poor reputation.

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Conversely, seems pretty reasonable based on contractual agreement/liability with the CC program.  They're under no obligation to PC. 

Another way to look at it, an exit strategy.  Customer is likely unprofitable or will no longer use the card.  By the same token, losing this account isn't preventing Barclays from generating hundreds on a monthly basis. It works both ways.