While reviewing the new T&Cs of the:
- Chase Ink Cash
- Chase Ink Plus
- Chase Sapphire Preferred
…I noticed some new language I hadn’t seen before:
Chase cardmembers who currently have or have had a Chase credit card in any Rewards Program associated with this offer, may not be eligible for a second Chase credit card in the same Rewards Program. Chase cardmembers currently receiving promotional pricing, or Chase cardmembers with a history of only using their current or prior Chase card for promotional pricing offers, are not eligible for a second Chase credit card with promotional pricing.
Here’s a screenshot:
It’s under “Replying to this offer”
Why this is interesting
Before, Chase specified a time period of 24 months since you’d last received an offer. And now, that’s gone.
It’s simply, “a history,” and “have or have had a Chase credit card in any Rewards Program associated with this offer” AKA what Chase says, goes AKA no appeal if you’re denied.
This comes hot on the heels of increased sign-up bonuses for the Chase Ink Cash and Chase Ink Plus (a post on their differences coming soon).
Those are small business credit cards. But Chase also applies the new rule to the Chase Sapphire Preferred, a personal credit card.
This is a trio of Ultimate Rewards-earning cards. As of now, the Chase Freedom still has the old/normal T&Cs.
What this means
Ultimately, Chase is watching your card activity. And if they see anything they don’t like, like:
- Closing a card too soon after earning the sign-up bonus
- Already having an Ultimate Rewards card
- Any “history” they deem unacceptable
…they can give you the boot.
But what this new language really is intended to discourage is churning: opening a card, earning the sign-up bonus, and then canceling it.
It’s a bold step for Chase, and the next logical one for them after denying peeps for having 4 or 5 inquiries from any credit card company within the past ~2 years.
Their restrictions are increasing, and it’s getting harder than ever to get a Chase credit card. And especially an Ultimate Rewards credit card.
And, meanwhile, Chase isn’t adding any new transfer partners… In fact, they’re most likely losing Amtrak…
Wondering what this means for Chase, Ultimate Rewards, and future transfer partners.
Bottom line
If you’ve churned, or are thinking about churning, a Chase card: don’t apply for a new one.
For a limited time, you can earn 10,000 more Chase Ultimate Rewards points on the Chase Ink Cash and Chase Ink Plus… if you meet Chase’s definition of a good “history.”
Curious if this type of policy will carry over to other card issuers, and what it means for Ultimate Rewards as a program, and Chase as an issuer.
Marked as developing. Take note, and don’t bother appealing if you’re denied for a Chase Ultimate Rewards credit card.
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So my follow up to this is that they don’t keep records beyond 2 years. They couldn’t find my United card at all meaning the language isn’t as alarming if they don’t keep records beyond a certain time.
Interesting. So maybe the “history” they mention is still 24 months?
So i can sleep peacefully at night, I will say yes. http://thepointsoflife.boardingarea.com/churn-answers-via-chases-secure-message-center/
Well, i think that the most you can say is that they don’t keep records beyond 2 years for the United or other affinity cards. They perhaps do so with respect to the UR earning cards that are the present target of this restrictive language.
That was my thought, too.
I’m a little confused with the “have or have had a Chase credit card in any Rewards Program associated with this offer” language. Does that mean if I have an ink (say the bold + plus) or had an ink (say the bold + plus), I can’t get a second/third ink (say the cash) right?
And it doesn’t mean if I have a Sapphire currently, but no ink ever, I won’t qualify right? So I can still apply for the Sapphire and hopefully get approved?
I read it to say: as long as you don’t have a history of churning UR-earning cards, you can get another one. But the final say is up to Chase. So with this new language, they’re covering themselves.
My experience with Chase churning co-branded cards is actually really good.
My wife and I are able to churn Chase cards (Southwest, Marriott, IHG, United for example) after about 9 months and have never had trouble getting the bonuses.
It looks like it will be more difficult to get Freedom and Sapphire churns in the future (if not impossible) but my guess is that is because that money comes out of Chase’s own pockets- they don’t care (and have no apparent technology to stop)if I get 50,000 points from Southwest 3 times in 2 years.
The key is not asking- just hit the minimum spend and wait for it. If you ask, they may catch it.
This new language also now appears on the Southwest cards.
Uh oh. Wonder what that means for the beloved Southwest Companion Passes.
I checked the Google cached version of that page and the changes have been there since at least August 17. Interesting. http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:c93brpYQLRUJ:https://applynow.chase.com/FlexAppWeb/pricing.do%3Fcard%3DFDTK+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
VERY interesting. It’s been there all this time. Surprised no one saw it sooner!
Super sleuth!
So how do you churn a co-branded card like the southwest premier card? I currently own it and use sparingly. Do I need to close it out then reapply for the bonus points?
Most Chase cards say something in the application similar to, “This product is available to you if you do not have this card and have not received a new cardmember bonus for this card in the past 24 months.”
So you’d need to both close the card AND wait 24 months since you received the bonus to get the same card again.
If you’ve had it for over 2 years, you should be able to close it and then re-open it again (and earn the sign-up bonus, too).