Chase Sapphire --> Freedom PC = no go??

Anonymous · ‎04-03-2018

I need advice here. About a month ago I wanted to PC my Chase Sapphire Preferred to the Freedom. I contacted Chase to do this and they said it wasn't an option. I started a thread similar to this one and received great advice stating that you can only PC from the regular Chase Sapphire to the Freedom, so I'd have to add an extra step in downgrading my CSP to the CS first, then switch to the Freedom.

I did the CSP to CS downgrade nearly a month ago, so today I called and told the CSR I'd like to PC the CS to the Freedom. She said that unfortunately the only option available was to PC the card to the Freedom Unlimited. I asked why and she said that it was the only offer available on my account that she could see. I declined the offer and here I am posting for advice.

Does anyone know why the CS --> Freedom PC isn't available for me? Is this something account-specific, or is that PC simply not an option any longer for anyone? I know the Freedom and FU are equally-tiered cards, so I would think if they'd allow one, they'd allow the other. If this is a new "rule" perhaps they are just trying to get people away from the Freedom and into the FU?

What should I do now? Should I try back with another CSR or two and see if I get a different answer. Should I add another step in the process and do the PC to the FU, then attempt to PC the FU to the Freedom?

The first part of my goal, getting rid of the AF CSP before the AF hit me in May was accomplished, so at this point I don't have any sort of time constraint in getting the Freedom.

Thank you in advance for the advice here everyone.

Anonymous · ‎04-03-2018

First I would definitely try a few more CSRs, then I would let it sit a few months to see if the option to Freedom shows up, then I go FU if all else fails.

Anonymous · ‎04-03-2018

I just sent a secure message to Chase inquiring about the CS --> Freedom PC. We'll see what they say. Perhaps I need my account to hit the 1 year mark (4 weeks away) to have other PC options appear? It just strikes me as odd that they'd allow me to switch to the FU, but not Freedom. I would have thought it would either be both, or neither.

UncleB · ‎04-03-2018

@Anonymouswrote:
I just sent a secure message to Chase inquiring about the CS --> Freedom PC. We'll see what they say. Perhaps I need my account to hit the 1 year mark (4 weeks away) to have other PC options appear? It just strikes me as odd that they'd allow me to switch to the FU, but not Freedom. I would have thought it would either be both, or neither.

I wonder if you were to PC to the Freedom Unlimited if you would then be able to PC to a Freedom...

Hopefully you'll get more data points on this.

Anonymous · ‎04-03-2018

@UncleB
I wonder if you were to PC to the Freedom Unlimited if you would then be able to PC to a Freedom...

That's what I'm wondering. I'll see how this thread goes for the next day or two, then perhaps I'll start a thread inquiring if anyone has done a PC from the Freedom Unlimited to the Freedom. The only thing that I can think of stems from conversations I read on this forum back around the time the FU was released, where members were suggesting that Chase make phase out the Freedom at some point. My thought was that this could be a sign of that if they're allowing a PC to FU but not Freedom.

Still waiting to hear back on the SM I sent to Chase earlier this afternoon. If they again say no go on the PC, I suppose I'll call again and at least do the switch to the FU, as that may "feel" like I'm getting a baby step closer to my goal.

Edit: The only data points I can find using the search feature are several people that did a successful PC from FU to Freedom in 2017. It's possible that since that time Chase has changed their policy on this PC, so unless someone chimes in with a very recent data point I'm not sure I'll be able to be certain if it's a possibility.

Anonymous · ‎04-03-2018

Got a response via secured message, simply echoing what the CSR on the phone told me: Chase Sapphire can only be changed to the Freedom Unlimited, not the Freedom. I did reply back inquiring as to why and I also asked if I did switch to the Freedom Unlimited if the option would be there to switch to the Freedom after.

FICOEmpire · ‎04-03-2018

As a data point, I opened my CSP in 3/2017 and downgraded to the regular CS 1/2018, 10 months after opening. The rep told me that was the only option for pc'ing a CSP. Last month I pc'ed again from the CS to the Freedom 5% directly with no issue. Not sure why they won't let you pc to Freedom. If it were me I'd go ahead and do the pc to FU and then try to go to Freedom 5%. I bet you'll be able to. I personally don't think the 5% card is being phased out either.

Anonymous · ‎04-03-2018

@FICOEmpireAs a data point, I opened my CSP in 3/2017 and downgraded to the regular CS 1/2018, 10 months after opening. The rep told me that was the only option for pc'ing a CSP. Last month I pc'ed again from the CS to the Freedom 5% directly with no issue. Not sure why they won't let you pc to Freedom. If it were me I'd go ahead and do the pc to FU and then try to go to Freedom 5%. I bet you'll be able to. I personally don't think the 5% card is being phased out either.

Thanks for the reply and that data. You're time line more or less mirrors mine, just off by 2 months. I opened my CSP in 5/2017 and 10 months in 3/2018 did the downgrade to the regular CS. Like your experience, I was told I couldn't go to the Freedom from the CSP. It looks like you gave it 2 months between your CS to Freedom conversion, where I'm only at 1 month. I wouldn't think that matters, though, as I've read on here that people have done the CSP to CS downgrade then literally the next day or so did the Freedom conversion before the CS even arrived in the mail. Again, it's completely possible that something internally or some rule changed in the last 2 months regarding the PC change to Freedom.

You're probably right that doing the switch over to the FU is my best bet at this point. I'll probably go ahead and go through with that tomorrow, then revisit the Freedom conversion attempt next month.

Man-Of-Steel · ‎04-03-2018

There are a couple of good videos regarding the Chase Product Change options on Youtube. From what I understand, if your CSP account is 12 months old or older, you can PC directly to the Freedom. However, if your account is less than 12 months old, you have to use the following workaround: CSP-->CS-->Freedom Unlimited-->Freedom.

I got my CSP in 10/2017 and I'm also planning to eventually PC it to the Freedom. I might wait until it turns exactly 1 year old and go directly to the Freedom (as I believe the annual fee will be refundable), or I might PC to the CS before the 1 year anniversary and then PC directly to the Freedom.

Manonfire · ‎04-03-2018

Like manofsteel mentioned, aging the CSP to 12 months might be key to PCing direct to the regular freedom. Also, it seems like Chase pushes the FU more so than the regular freedom card, as evidenced by rumors in the past of Chase phasing out the card. I also notice that on the website, Chase displays the CSR, CSP, FU and slate but I rarely see the regular freedom.