Unsolicited Cap1 Venture Upgrade- Can I tweek it?

[chan85]

Got a letter in the mail today from Cap1, they want to upgrade my Plantinum Mastercard (2% groceries/gas, 1% everything else, $39 annual fee) to the VentureOne (1.25 miles/dollar, no annual fee). I have wanted some kind of travel card for a while and was considering the SouthWest Airlines credit card at some point in the future.

My hesitation is the brochure that came with the letter. It has an earnings example- if I spend $500 per month for a year, that's 7,500 miles, which translates to $75 in travel expenses. That's it!? Is that good?? That seems like not a big reward! But when I did the math its actually a little bit more of a reward bsaed on my spending, but I can only use it on travel, so I will miss the flexibility. Currently I put most all my spending on my Amex Zync, but since they took away most all the benefits, I was planning to transfer all my spending (primarily recurring monthly bills) to my Capital One Platinum Visa (no annual fee, 1% cash back) starting next month, so I can pay the balance on the Amex off and then just rack up my cash back on that card. I am using this card because I recently paid it completely off so I can fit charges on it, as opposed to the Mastercard which is practically maxed out (I am rearranging finances and paying it off over the next year, that's a whole 'nother post).

Do you think I could ask them to put the 2% gas/groceries on the Visa, and then upgrade me to the 2% cash back on the VentureOne for the Mastercard. I have seen others get that upgrade when offered the lower percentage. Also, do they increase the credit line on the cards? Isn't the Venture One Signature card? Do they offer that on the Mastercard?? And doesn't the credit line start at $5,000??

[09Lexie]

Bump

[Grover627]

I received the same solicitation from Cap One. When I called, I also had the same concern about this being switched to a travel rewards card, albeit one with no AF. I asked if they would consider switching me to a different product, like the Quicksilver card, which would still be no AF and give me 1.5% cash back. I was very happily surprised when the rep told me that it would be no problem to do that!

She did tell me that my CL (just got a nice bump last month) and APR would need to remain the same, at least for now.

All in all, I am thrilled with this! At least for me, Capital One has been terrific!

[chan85]

Thanks guys for the feedback.

So I tried the chat function the same night I posted and of course they weren't able to assist. They didn't see any offers on my accounts. So I emailed EO on Monday morning. Just got off the phone with a rep. He pulled up my 3 cards, one of which was a switch over from HSBC. That card had no offers, but my Visa and Mastercard both had an offer for the Quicksilver Platinum 1.5% cashback and no AF, and two offers for the Venture One, a regular Venture One and a Venture One Pro, both 1.25 miles and no AF. He looked at both and there was no difference that he said he could see. He said I could log on and look at my offers onlne as well, which I did with him on the phone, and nothing showed up. But he saw them so I guess that's all that matters.

I ended up switching my Visa to the Quicksilver 1.5% cash back since I was only earning 1% now, and then switching the Mastercard to the Venture One Pro. Not perfect, but close enough.

He seemed new, not as sure of all his answers as the last time I talked to someone from the EO, and he put me on hold a few times to ask for help. I tried to google the Venture One Pro and nothing came up, plus nothing on the forums. But I decided to go with that one because "pro" must mean something, even if its just internal with Cap1. He also said my rewards wouldn't be available for 7-10 days which I found odd? So basically I won't start earning until I get my new cards. I also asked about Signature cards and I literally heard crickets from him so that's another reason I think he was new. But I am still glad that Cap1 is growing with me!

[09Lexie]

At least you got some if not most of your items.