Product Upgrade/Conversion

**hjm331** · January 29th, 2008, 04:23 PM

I've never been through the process of product upgrade/conversion. If anyone has been through this process, can you please explain to me how it works?

**smcc** · January 29th, 2008, 05:01 PM

Good evening HJM 331, I used to have a Platinum Visa with BOA and they upgraded my account to a World Points Platinum Plus Visa. This was done with no input from me whatsoever. I think the upgrades are again based on your relationship with the bank or maybe the bank is phasing out a product and moving those using the product either laterally to a similar card/product or upgrading the consumer based on his history with the bank. Again my opinion...................

**hjm331** · January 29th, 2008, 05:26 PM

smcc, do u get to keep the same account number?

**smcc** · January 29th, 2008, 05:56 PM

Sorry but your account number will change in the upgrade hjm331. All services you have tied to your old account will have to be notified of the change in card number so they can tie whatever service provided to the new card. They retire your old credit card number and put it back in the bin sort of speak to be used again by someone else

**hjm331** · January 29th, 2008, 11:39 PM

Oh alright. One more question smcc. I have a 6-7 month worth of payment history on my credit report. What will happen to that payment history? If the new card will takeover and continue kinda like a relay race, then I will try upgrading my card. If not, then I will stick to this card because the card that I have right now is my 2nd oldest card. I need the new card to continue reporting on the payment history that I originally upgraded from.

**Meya** · January 30th, 2008, 01:29 AM

I dont know if this fits the category, but one of my charge cards changed financial backers and they closed our old accounts and started new ones as a brand new account. The name on the credit report is totally different than what it was before and my scores actually stood still...no increase and no decrease.

**hjm331** · January 30th, 2008, 01:42 AM

well, let's see if we can get any other info in here. This is a very important topic.

**smcc** · January 30th, 2008, 05:33 PM

Meya is correct HJM551, the bank will close your old account and start a new history with your new credit card number. Realize though that when a prospective lender looks at your credit report and see's this They (the lender) can look at the date closed on account (a) and look at the open date of account (b) and can decipher that you were either upgraded or you applied for a new card. Should the lender really get picky and notify the bank in question, the bank can clarify what actually happened (that you were upgraded to a better product). You as the consumer don't lose out end the end...................

**hjm331** · January 30th, 2008, 08:27 PM

Smcc, I called BofA today and they said that I couldn't upgrade because of the type of card I had which is a student card. Now isn't that a load of [crap].

*Edited by FG*

**smcc** · January 31st, 2008, 05:41 PM

HJM331, all is not lost. if you are working and going to school you should be able to apply for one of their standard Visa's. How long have you had your Student Visa? My son had a secured Visa from the bank and made his payments on time for a year and they gave him an unsecured card for $1000

**hjm331** · January 31st, 2008, 10:01 PM

smcc, I've had the card 7 months now. They started me out with $700. I asked them for a $500 CLI but they only approved me for $300. Remember, no late payments, never went over the limit. I stopped using the card ever since they didn't upgrade me to the Americard. Maybe that will change their mind lol

**Eric** · February 2nd, 2008, 01:47 AM

hey HJM

Whenever we upgrade an account we dont say that this is a new account number and you lose the time factor. Actually our systems make the old account number "shadow" the new number. So that you still get the time credit for the account and you get the upgrade. Yes you get a new number but our system would show us that the account has been open since whenever you originally opened the account.

**hjm331** · February 2nd, 2008, 10:34 AM

Thanks for the info Eric. Well it looks like I'm going to have to wait a couple of years until I can apply for one of their cards. BofA doesn't give too many CLI's huh?

**gk8491** · February 2nd, 2008, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by 100379

Smcc, I called BofA today and they said that I couldn't upgrade because of the type of card I had which is a student card. Now isn't that a load of [crap].

*Edited by FG*

I was able to convert a student card to Boa Amex without a problem. Call them again and tell them you want add Word Points rewards to your card.