I have a question about dealing with MBNA. Have any of you tried to upgrade your account from preferred to platinum plus? Any success? Also, does MBNA respond to planetfeedback? Here is the planetfeedback letter I sent to them. -------------------------------- Dear Customer Service, I am writing to request that my account be upgraded to platinum plus status. My account number is: <>. In August of this year, I applied for and received a MBNA Fidelity 529 College Reward Card. Initially, I was told over the phone that the I was approved with a credit line of $1500. I was slightly annoyed as most of my other cards start at $5000, but I was glad to have been approved. However, because my initial credit line was under $2000, my account was set up as a preferred account. Since then, I found the service at MBNA to be excellent, and I switched all my purchases to be made with my MBNA card. Earlier this month, I made a credit line increase request, and was approved for $5500. Thinking that I was now above the $2000 threshold, I inquired about if my account has been upgraded to platinum plus status. I received conflicting information on that. The first representative I talked to immediate said my account was now platinum plus, and he said he would sent out new cards for me. When when the new cards arrived, they were still listed as preferred. I then made another call and was assured that my account was now platinum plus, but the online account site still indicated that it was a preferred account. I finally made a call yesterday, and was told that the account is still a preferred account, but the representative gave me the number to retention to inquire about upgrading account. I called retention, and a very helpful lady answered the call. She listened to my concern and came back to me, telling me that it would be impossible to upgrade my account without changing account number and losing my reward points. She also told me that my card benefits are very similar to the platinum plus accounts. I was annoyed, but I was glad that she explained to me. Later on, I called mastercard to inquire about the benefits for my account, specifically, because I make so many purchases, I was looking for services such as extended warrenty and purchase protection. The lady said my account type shows up as undefined (instead of platinum or gold), and that I needed to call in to MBNA to ask about it. So I called retention again, and another person told me how that she was unable to do so, because MBNA does not offer platinum plus cards on this affinity group at all, so every account, regardless of initial credit line, is set up as a preferred account. She also gave me the number to new application department to inquire. I called the application department, and was told that platinum plus is offered on this Fidelity reward card (contrary to what retention told me). I was also told that I could apply for another of the same card, and convert over. So I put in my application, took the hit in credit inquiry, and was transfer to a credit analyst who told me that since my account was recently granted a credit line increase, she couldn't open up another account for me. My question is: Ever since I received my MBNA credit card, I have been enjoyed using it. I like how the purchases show up immediately online, and I have been charging everything on it. However, I would really like to be able to have a platinum plus account and its associated benefits. It is ironic that all my other cards are platinum, but this card that I like the most, is a classic card. I would like to ask for my account to be upgraded to a platinum account, without losing the account number, history, or reward points. Thank you for considering my query. I look forward to your response. --------------------------------
If the first 4 numbers of your new cards that arrived are either 5490 for Mastercard or 4264 for Visa.. You have a Platinum product. IF the card does not have either of those Prefix numbers you do not. Hope this helps.. RJ
Well, mine starts with 5329, so I guess no platinum for me. Any one has any luck getting MBNA to convert (not new account) from one card type to another? Also, is there an executive office of customer service (or something like that)? I get the sense that regular customer service can't help in this.
I don't know there is a direct path from Preferred to Plat plus I would challenge what they said about not approving your PP app because you just got an increase, that doesn't make any sense. I guess you could wait 6 months and then call "R" and see what they can do. Since you only opened it in Aug, that already is quite a hefty increase
Re: Re: MBNA Preferred to Platinum Upgrade? Sean, Try calling 800-421 2110...If you have an open account with a credit line of 5500.00 . you should be able to have it upgraded from a preferred to a Platinum.. The only thing that would need to be done is to just reissue new numbers.. In your previous post , you said that you had new cards sent for this account.. did your previous cards for this account have the same prefix of 5329?.. If this is an open account ..you should be able to do it... If you do not anywhere by doing this. let us know.. Good luck.. RJ
Re: Re: Re: MBNA Preferred to Platinum Upgrade? This is also in the agreement for your card I have read this application, and everything I have stated is true. I am at least 18 years of age and either a United States citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S. I authorize MBNA America Bank, N.A. ("MBNA") to review my credit and employment histories and any other information in order to approve or decline this application, service my account and manage its relationship with me. I consent to MBNA's sharing of information about me and my account with the organization, if any, endorsing this credit card program. I authorize MBNA to share with others, to the extent permitted by law, such information and its credit experience with me. In addition, I may as a Customer later indicate a preference to exempt my account from some of the information-sharing with other companies ("opt-out"). If I accept or use an account, I do so subject to the terms of this application and the Credit Card Agreement as it may be amended; I also agree to pay all charges incurred under such terms. I understand that if this application is approved for an account with credit line of less than $2,000, I will receive a Preferred card. I accept that on a periodic basis an account may be considered for automatic upgrade at MBNA's discretion. I consent to and authorize MBNA, any of its affiliates, or marketing associates to monitor and/or record any of my phone conversations with their representatives. MBNA may consider this application a duplicate if another MBNA credit application has been received from me within the past 90 days. The MBNA Privacy Notice is available online and accompanies the credit card. If you do not have any success... just ask for their Manager or Supervisor..
Re: Re: Re: MBNA Preferred to Platinum Upgrade? I have a gold MBNA card with a $7500 limit. I just called the number about upgrading to Platinum and the guy could not do it. Said he could transfer me to the department that can open me a platinum card. I said ok, and then just hung up. I know that they will pull a hard for it. I just took 2 hards from the 2 months ago trying to get a TL increase. That I did not get. Scores with 640ish at the time, closer to 700 now, but I still do not want to take a hard for it. I'd rather wait till I get to 720 a use a hard trying to get a blue or something.
Re: Re: Re: Re: MBNA Preferred to Platinum Upgrade? Greg, You needed to be transferred to the Telesales department for an ABC, ( Associated Bank Change), this would close your present Gold Card and just send out a Card with Platinum numbers.. Is your card with a Certain Affinity? Providing you have handled your Gold card well, there should not be any problem.. Good Luck
Re: Re: Re: Re: MBNA Preferred to Platinum Upgrade? It was Originally a First Union Gold Card, now it is a Wacovia Gold Card. It is in good shape, almost 4 years old, never been over or late. It is at about 51% utilization.
Re: Re: Re: Re: MBNA Preferred to Platinum Upgrade? Rubyjean, Is there a way to get the APR lowered on a affinity card? Is 421-2110 the number to call? How long do you have to wait before MBNA looks at lowering your APR automatically if they do at all?
Re: Re: Re: Re: MBNA Preferred to Platinum Upgrade? Greg, let us know if MBNA pulls any hards during the upgrade to Plat. plus
Re: Re: Re: MBNA Preferred to Platinum Upgrade? I will try calling that number. By the way, they said they sent out the new card, but they were exactly the same as the old one (same number, even same preferred customer service number at the back). I don't mind new numbers, but I don't want this to be a new account (on my credit report) or losing my reward points. I will make the call and post the update. Peter
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: MBNA Preferred to Platinum Upgrade? If they sent out the card with the same numbers as you had it may have been a mistake,Cards would have different Prefix( first four numbers).. Good luck
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: MBNA Preferred to Platinum Upgrade? YOU ARE NOT "APPLYING" FOR A SECOND CARD---NO INQUIRY IS NEEDED!!! "IF" they say they MUST...I say FORGET IT!!!!!
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: MBNA Preferred to Platinum Upgrade? Brad, YOu can call at any time to ask for a lower apr. They never give it automatically. Most call before activating the card to get a lower apr. I called within the first year. It might have been within the first 6 months. You can call whenever. I use to call every 6 months and simply ask if a lower rate was available on my other cards. Once you get under 8-9%, they are reluctant to go lower. I think some may have a 6.9 fixed.
Re: Re: Re: Re: MBNA Preferred to Platinum Upgrade? You may want to redeem the points first. I do not think that the platinum plus has rewards so you would not be able to use them if you converted. Unless there is a plat. plus with the same rewards. I can't say for sure since I have not been to the web site in quite a while. However, I think that 'R' would be the best place to start. I am not sure about MBNA but I got a new account on my credit report when I upgraded from AMEX gold to to amex gold rewards. ANd they promised that it would not happen. HTH,
Re: Re: Re: Re: MBNA Preferred to Platinum Upgrade? i had a mbna visa ($1500 to start) raised by bdd. swtiched to a visa points (forget which) got the low intro apr, then switched to quantum travelrewards got intro rate, then told them travelrewards sucks (now at $9800 limit) and got quantum worldpoints and the intro APR again. never had a problem, just asked to telesales and it was done, new card took forever to arrive each time. the APR was lowered to 9.9% on the quantum, my new ebay card is 8.9%, and i think i'll have a 9.9% when the ACFederal switches over, or i'll just roll them all into my quantum worldpoints. so i can get some gift cards never ever had a problem talking to the right department. Sometimes the CSR's took care of it, sometimes they wouldn't and transferred me. odd. i've used telesales to convert goldoption loans into cards, roll loan lines into my visa, etc. you just gotta be persistent and talk to the right people pleasantly.. mbna is one of my favourite cards but i dont really care for the black quantum visa, i liked the old color better.
Re: Re: Re: Re: MBNA Preferred to Platinum Upgrade? Interesting....Sam, when you call to switch the card, did you have to get new number/lost reward points? Also, did you say that there is a certain department that I should talk to. By the way, thanks to everyone who posted and helped! Peter
Re: Re: Re: Re: MBNA Preferred to Platinum Upgrade? umm yeah i think i did lose the points, and yes i got a new number for each card switch. It took like 3-4 weeks to get the new card back then, maybe faster now, mbna always has been slow. lol.
Re: Re: Re: Re: MBNA Preferred to Platinum Upgrade? Sam, I forgot to ask: Did it report as a new account on your credit report (with the old one closed), or did it report under the same tradeline? Thanks!
