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Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP

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Wavester64
Valued Contributor

Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP

I have been constantly getting offers to upgrade my BCE to BCP.

 

One the site during this crisis, it mentions the following:

 

Due to the impact of COVID-19,
for eligible Card accounts approved from December 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020 for which you are eligible for a welcome offer, the period to make eligible purchases to earn your welcome bonus will be extended for an additional 3 months. Eligible Cards are U.S. Consumer and Business Cards issued by American Express National Bank to a Basic Card Member.
 
The upgrade offer is only $150 for $1000 spent in 3-months (I was waiting for it to go up on the advice of others, but it always stays at $150). Does the verbiage above concerning "additional 3 months" apply to me as well since it's an upgrade? i.e. will I get 6-months to make that $1000 or still only 3-months?
 
Also, side question about the BCP and the $6000 limit on spending for the 6%: Is there a tool that helps you keep track of this on Amex or is it old school and I need to keep track of it myself?  Smiley Indifferent





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K-in-Boston
Epic Contributor

Re: Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP

I would probably contact Amex to clarify whether the extension also applies to upgrade offers; I'm not sure that a Welcome Offer is considered exactly the same as a bonus for upgrading.

 

For your side question, that's an easy one:

 

Screen Shot 2020-05-13 at 12.42.47 PM.png

Navigate to the Statements & Activity tab.  On the left, click View By Year and 2020 Year to Date (or appropriate year).

 

Screen Shot 2020-05-13 at 12.43.54 PM.png

Choose the appropriate category (which in your case would be Grocery) to filter the transactions.

 

Screen Shot 2020-05-13 at 12.44.00 PM.png

Scroll to the bottom and you will see your YTD transaction total (minus credits) displayed at the bottom for that category.

Message 2 of 8
Wavester64
Valued Contributor

Re: Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP

Thanks @K-in-Boston Smiley Happy






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Wavester64
Valued Contributor

Re: Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP


@K-in-Boston wrote:

I would probably contact Amex to clarify whether the extension also applies to upgrade offers; I'm not sure that a Welcome Offer is considered exactly the same as a bonus for upgrading.

 

For your side question, that's an easy one:

 

Screen Shot 2020-05-13 at 12.42.47 PM.png

Navigate to the Statements & Activity tab.  On the left, click View By Year and 2020 Year to Date (or appropriate year).

 

Screen Shot 2020-05-13 at 12.43.54 PM.png

Choose the appropriate category (which in your case would be Grocery) to filter the transactions.

 

Screen Shot 2020-05-13 at 12.44.00 PM.png

Scroll to the bottom and you will see your YTD transaction total (minus credits) displayed at the bottom for that category.


Odd, I just noticed I don't have one in BCE for Groceries (from the pic you provided, neither do you) Do I have to create a "tag" for that?






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wasCB14
Super Contributor

Re: Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP

Groceries fall within the "Merchandise & Supplies" category for me.

 

If you shop at different stores, you may need to tag each one as grocery separately. I mainly use tags as notes on estimated tax payments and tax-deductible stuff. I don't use any tags for groceries because I don't really need that sort of single-transaction detail.

 

Though the downside is that my grocery spend is blurred with my streaming video spend.

Personal spend: Amex Gold, Amex Schwab Plat., BofA PR+CCR(x2), Costco
Business use: Amex Bus. Plat., BBP, Lowes Amex AU, CFU AU
Perks: Delta Plat., United Explorer, IHG49, Hyatt, "Old SPG"
Mostly SD: Freedom Flex, Freedom, Arrival
Upgrade/Downgrade games: ED, BCE
SUB chasing: AA Platinum Select
Message 5 of 8
K-in-Boston
Epic Contributor

Re: Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP

That's Business Platinum, so no grocery spend on it, but looking at my Gold Card, you're right.  Grocery purchases are under Merchandise & Supplies.  Those are the only transactions shown in that category for me since the card is only used for grocery and restaurant spend, but I suppose worst case, you could just put check marks next to each actual grocery purchase to get a new total at the bottom; shouldn't be too much of a pain unless you are making multiple trips each week.

 

Edit: @wasCB14 beat me by mere seconds.

Message 6 of 8
wasCB14
Super Contributor

Re: Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP

Even if an Amex rep told me I had another 3 months (6 total) to meet the minimum spend, I wouldn't want the hassle of the rep being mistaken and my having to prove to Amex that its employee told me otherwise.

 

It's just $1k so you can probably meet much of it with 6% spend naturally, even in just 3 months. Maybe a little spend will be less-than-optimized, but you can be sure of getting the bonus. When I upgraded I got a no-fee Plan It promo so I was willing to accept 1% cash back for a few 24-month "installment loans".

Personal spend: Amex Gold, Amex Schwab Plat., BofA PR+CCR(x2), Costco
Business use: Amex Bus. Plat., BBP, Lowes Amex AU, CFU AU
Perks: Delta Plat., United Explorer, IHG49, Hyatt, "Old SPG"
Mostly SD: Freedom Flex, Freedom, Arrival
Upgrade/Downgrade games: ED, BCE
SUB chasing: AA Platinum Select
Message 7 of 8
Wavester64
Valued Contributor

Re: Questions concerning upgrading BCE to BCP


@wasCB14 wrote:

Even if an Amex rep told me I had another 3 months (6 total) to meet the minimum spend, I wouldn't want the hassle of the rep being mistaken and my having to prove to Amex that its employee told me otherwise.

 

It's just $1k so you can probably meet much of it with 6% spend naturally, even in just 3 months. Maybe a little spend will be less-than-optimized, but you can be sure of getting the bonus. When I upgraded I got a no-fee Plan It promo so I was willing to accept 1% cash back for a few 24-month "installment loans".


I agree, but before seeing your post I checked anyway with a rep via online chat. He did say the 3-month extension does apply to the upgrade as well. Not worried about making the $1K in 3-months like you said, but it's nice to know just in case.  Smiley Happy






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