PC ARR+ to ARR to avoid AF

[morgacj2004]

So I got a letter from BC that my AF is coming due next month. Asked to waive the fee and was told no they don't do that. Was told that my only option is to downgrade to the no fee ARR. Was told I would keep any miles curr accrued and get 1k bonus the first time I would use the ARR I just don't find enough value in the ARR+ $89AF to keep the card esp since I have the PFCU travel reward and CapOne Venture. Am I doing the right thing here?

[CreditCuriosity]

IMO you did the right thing as the card is blah after the 1st year being the sing-up bonus especially since the nerf/nerfs.  Keep the regular arrival around and possibly barclay's might offer something new and more exciting in the future and then apply for that then transfer CL to new card and 86 the Arrival.  Just my take on what I would do..  holding pattern, basically SD it and use it every 3 to 6 months

[morgacj2004]

Thanks CC. Good advice 

[Absolution16]

Yeah, I think it is a great call to downgrade your Arrival + to the No-AF version.  I know that websites like the PointsGuy keep praising this card, but I can't see why this card is so special at all.  Not only did they nerf the 10% redemption miles back bonus to 5%, the minimum redemption on this card is $100, which is super annoying.  It is Chip-and-PIN enabled, supposedly, but the experience with that varies so much.  My No-AF version, which I was also told from Barclays that it was Chip-and-PIN didn't even work.

I hope you got your sign-up bonus though.  Make sure you use up your miles accrued, since it is not flexible and cannot be transferred.

[Anonymous]

I am downgrading in April before my AF hits as well. Deosn't make too much sense to keep as it is just 2% but the no AF card is nice for traveling if you have no other means for a FTF free card.

[wasCB14]

It may be wise to downgrade when you can. At some times (I'm not sure about recently) CSRs have told some Arrival+ holders that no PC downgrade was allowed.

*Then again, Barclaycard CSRs do tend to just make stuff up when they don't know the answer to a question.