Customer Service Experience with BOA Premium Cards / PR - Different than other cards?

[audioman00]

Can anyone confirm or deny whether the customer service is unique / different / improved for either BOA Premium Rewards card, BOA Premium Elite Rewards card, or being in the Platinum Honors Tier of Preferred Rewards? 

Thinking about making the switch to BOA PER as my daily driver but am hesitant to give up my Amex customer service ease. 

[xenon3030]

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@audioman00 wrote:

Can anyone confirm or deny whether the customer service is unique / different / improved for either BOA Premium Rewards card, BOA Premium Elite Rewards card, or being in the Platinum Honors Tier of Preferred Rewards? 

Thinking about making the switch to BOA PER as my daily driver but am hesitant to give up my Amex customer service ease. 

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Almost no difference. When you call the customer service, they initialy thank you for being a Platinum Honor customer . The rest remains the same.

[NAVYCHOP]

I have also started using the BOA premium rewards elite as a main driver over AMEX Platinum based on the cash back rewards I receive as a BOA Platinum Honors Rewards member.

There are three areas where AMEX is superior:

(a) AMEX Platinum customer service is superior.

(b) When you make an online payment with AMEX, the payment is credited immediately and increases an AMEX available credit line for credit cards instantly.  In contrast, BOA states that your payment is credited on the day you pay but even if you pay from a BOA checking account, BOA's system may take one day, two days or a weekend to credit the payment.  Even Wells Fargo acknowledges payments immediately like AMEX, which is why I am surprised BOA uses such an antiquated system.

(C).  I always PIF.    If you make multiple payments to credit cards mid-cycle as I do, I like how the AMEX website shows your remaining amount to pay your last statement in full.  In contrast, BOA premium rewards elite as a credit card will show zero dollars due after you make more than the minimum payment.  To ensure you have paid the last statement balance in full by the due date to avoid interest, you will need to use a calculator and scan through your current payments to figure out the remaining balance required to pay in full by the due date.

[audioman00]

Thanks @NAVYCHOP - this is super helpful. How much time do you typically spend waiting on the phone with BOA? Or what would your rate Amex customer support out of 10 and what would you rate BOA support out of 10? Interested in the comparison. 

[NAVYCHOP]

I rate AMEX as a 10 out of 10 for customer service.  They set the standard.   Maybe I'd rate BOA a 7 as a more basic customer service, but I don't think I have ever waited very long on hold if at all.  Even if it is basic customer service where they simply recognize your Rewards status upon answering, perhaps the call receives priority at their call center.  I have no idea but this is just a guess.

Either way, I am happy with both cards.  AMEX Platinum plays a key role with the 5x points for airline purchases and cruises.  I also use the AMEX Platinum when I have gigantic charges that would far exceed the BOA assigned credit limit, particularly as large Platinum balances do not seem to affect my FICO score, only the Vantage scores which I do not care about.  The travel fringe benefits for the Platinum Card are also essential for me.  When I travel internationally, the AMEX Platinum provides me piece of mind as I know I could meet any unexpected charge.

Still, I would encourage you to obtain the Premium Elite Rewards card as an addition to your portfolio as the $450 in reimbursable benefits brings the annual fee down to about $95 a year.  I have some family members who love the CCR card with the 5 percent rebate in a specific category but then you have to track that you are not maxing out on the cap.  Also the CCR rewards outside the main category are not as generous.  Similarly the CCR carries a 3 percent FTF so we are always using my AMEX Platinum and Premium Rewards Elite card overseas as the CCR card is not worth using outside the United States. I also have had good experience using the Premium Rewards Elite card overseas with my PIN to buy train tickets at unstaffed kiosks in locations such as Germany.

One other comment:  The Premium Rewards Elite card allows you to designate yourself and I believe up to three others with electronic priority pass memberships in your phone's wallet (they will not issue actual Priority Pass cards like AMEX).  AMEX allows you to bring only one additional guest at no charge into a Priority Pass Lounge.  In contrast, I believe the BOA Priority Pass allows more than one guest to accompany you into the lounge.  All these factors make the BOA Premium Rewards Elite card a "no brainer" as an addition to my AMEX Platinum when I travel the world.

[audioman00]

@NAVYCHOP super helpful. Thank you. CCR is definitely a great card, but just not personally worth adding another card for only $525 / yr in cashback. I need to focus on uncapped rewards 

[xenon3030]

I have 3x CCR. So, essentially there is no issue with the cap . The categories have also very wide coverages.

[MJ-san]

You probably won't feel a difference unless you are dealing with the wealth management folks. My relationship manager has a direct line into the specialist team in the credit card division and any request or issue I've needed help with has always been a breeze.