AGR Credit Card change (October 2022)

[joelkfla]

I just received a notice from BofA that my card will be billed the annual fee on the September statement. That's a month and a half away; I haven't yet received my August statement.

The notice says I can close the card within 30 days of the date the statement is mailed and the annual fee will be credited back, and that I can continue to use the card during that time (see excerpt below). That would be mid-October.

I was intending to cancel the card this week. However, I have a trip scheduled the last week of September, and I'm thinking of booking another trip for October. Now I'm thinking I will keep the card open until at least September, so that I can get the extra points if I book an October trip this month. I toyed with the idea of keeping it open until October for the onboard food discount on my late September trip, but I've never purchased food in the Cafe when occupying a sleeper, and it's unlikely I will start doing so now.

Your Annual Fee will Bill on Your September 2022 Statement: We will credit your account for the Annual Fee if you close your account by calling us at 1.888.704.9515 (open 24 hours a day) within 30 days of the mailing of the statement on which your Annual Fee is billed. You may continue to use your account during this period; however, if you use or maintain a balance on your account thereafter, you will have to pay an Annual Fee. You must pay the New Balance Total in full by its Payment Due Date for each statement that you may receive after you close this account.

 

[TheVig]

I just received a notice from BofA that my card will be billed the annual fee on the September statement. That's a month and a half away; I haven't yet received my August statement.

The notice says I can close the card within 30 days of the date the statement is mailed and the annual fee will be credited back, and that I can continue to use the card during that time (see excerpt below). That would be mid-October.

I was intending to cancel the card this week. However, I have a trip scheduled the last week of September, and I'm thinking of booking another trip for October. Now I'm thinking I will keep the card open until at least September, so that I can get the extra points if I book an October trip this month. I toyed with the idea of keeping it open until October for the onboard food discount on my late September trip, but I've never purchased food in the Cafe when occupying a sleeper, and it's unlikely I will start doing so now.

My annual fee hit two months ago. The notice you got was the same notice I got, Just different dates of course. I paid the fee. I'm beating the crap out of the card to earn every possible point up until the end.

 

[fhussain44]

I just hope the new card is not from Chase. Incredibly hard to get cards from them with their restrictive rules.

 

[MccfamschoolMom]

I just hope the new card is not from Chase. Incredibly hard to get cards from them with their restrictive rules.

Both my primary credit card and my Amazon Prime credit card are from Chase. I don't recall our having had any difficulty qualifying for them, although that was many years ago.
I'll want to look carefully at the terms/conditions/features of whatever new AGR credit card is offered this fall, regardless of provider. Something with 0% interest on balance transfers (preferably also with no annual fee) would be ideal, as we currently reserve one credit card (Wells Fargo this year; previously a Citibank card) for large purchases we would otherwise need to take out a loan for, and we specifically look for one with a 0% interest feature for that particular card.

 

[blueman271]

I just hope the new card is not from Chase. Incredibly hard to get cards from them with their restrictive rules.

Their credit and income rules aren’t overly restrictive when compared to CC companies like Amex or Citi or Capital one. Where they differ is the 5/24 rule. If you want a Chase card and you have opened 5 credit cards within the last 24 months you just have to wait. If you don’t they will almost certainly deny you, regardless of your income and credit qualifications, and you take the hard pull for nothing.

 

[diesteldorf]

I don't mean to cross post, and just started another thread in the main forum, but I wonder if this could provide a clue as to the new provider of the AGR card, though, to be fair, I also got an Amtrak American Express offer many moons ago....Guess we just need to wait and see.

Check your Chase credit card offers. This is probably targeted, but you can get 10% on Amtrak, up to $9.00, per card. I had it on 4 of my Chase cards. I may book some travel, and/or cancel and get e-vouchers, since I know I'll use any credits within the next 12 months.

 

[Trogdor]

I don't mean to cross post, and just started another thread in the main forum, but I wonder if this could provide a clue as to the new provider of the AGR card, though, to be fair, I also got an Amtrak American Express offer many moons ago....Guess we just need to wait and see.

I doubt it means anything. I got the exact same deal on both Chase (though, strangely, not all of my Chase cards, only one of them) and BofA (I don’t have an Amtrak card with BofA). I will often see those kinds of deals being offered by both Chase and BofA, and having multiple Chase cards (including two of the same type), I will sometimes get the same, sometimes get different offers on each card.

Not sure what triggers it, but it is almost 100% certainly not related to any kind of future branded credit card deal.

 

[TinCan782]

Check your Chase credit card offers. This is probably targeted, but you can get 10% on Amtrak, up to $9.00, per card. I had it on 4 of my Chase cards. I may book some travel, and/or cancel and get e-vouchers, since I know I'll use any credits within the next 12 months.

My wife and I each have a Chase Freedom card ( we each have the BofA AGR World Card) and did not receive this Chase promo.
We have been with Chase for many years prior to the previous Chase AGR credit card.

 

[dwebarts]

Check your Chase credit card offers. This is probably targeted, but you can get 10% on Amtrak, up to $9.00, per card. I had it on 4 of my Chase cards. I may book some travel, and/or cancel and get e-vouchers, since I know I'll use any credits within the next 12 months.

I just checked. I have five Chase cards and the offer appears on two: Freedom (but not Unlimited) and, surprisingly, Marriott.

 

[joelkfla]

I just checked. I have five Chase cards and the offer appears on two: Freedom (but not Unlimited) and, surprisingly, Marriott.

Marriott doesn't surprise me. It indicates to the bank that you have an interest in travel, and I'm sure Marriott would love for you to take a trip on Amtrak and stay at one of their properties.

 

[Chatuchak678]

Is there any news? My annual fee will post on 8/31. Should I cancel before 8/31 or wait til the news if it does not announce until September?

Thanks.

 

[TheVig]

Is there any news? My annual fee will post on 8/31. Should I cancel before 8/31 or wait til the news if it does not announce until September?

Thanks.

Nothing yet. My statement cut on the 20th. No verbage on the statement about ending.

 

[MccfamschoolMom]

Is there any news? My annual fee will post on 8/31. Should I cancel before 8/31 or wait til the news if it does not announce until September?

Thanks.

You won't lose the AGR points already earned if you cancel the card, so unless you're planning on booking any Amtrak travel before the end of August, and so long as you have another credit card on which you can make purchases, I'd recommend cancelling the card before the annual fee is charged again. (I thought whatever new card from whichever issuer will have AGR point perks wasn't going to be announced before October, though.)

 

[Chatuchak678]

You won't lose the AGR points already earned if you cancel the card, so unless you're planning on booking any Amtrak travel before the end of August, and so long as you have another credit card on which you can make purchases, I'd recommend cancelling the card before the annual fee is charged again. (I thought whatever new card from whichever issuer will have AGR point perks wasn't going to be announced before October, though.)

My main concern is that I’d rather to product change to a no AF card from BoA than straight up closing if possible, but they are a pain to so

So if they announce they will change my card into any other no AF BoA card I am fine, I worry they will change the card into an AF fee BoA card I don’t need or want, like Alaska card, their Premium Rewards card etc.

And I am not sure if I can get my AF refunded if canceled after 8/31 if they end up giving an AF fee I don’t want

 

[MccfamschoolMom]

My main concern is that I’d rather to product change to a no AF card from BoA than straight up closing if possible, but they are a pain to so

So if they announce they will change my card into any other no AF BoA card I am fine, I worry they will change the card into an AF fee BoA card I don’t need or want, like Alaska card, their Premium Rewards card etc.

And I am not sure if I can get my AF refunded if canceled after 8/31 if they end up giving an AF fee I don’t want

I see how that would be a cause for concern. You might want to contact BoA customer service yourself, if their communications to you thus far aren't answering your questions about what would happen to your BoA credit card with AGR perks, once it's no longer tied to AGR. My husband and I have never had a credit card which required an annual fee. (We do have 2 cards linked to our Amazon account, though, and I love having the "shop with points" credit to pay for things!)

 

[chrsjrcj]

I tried doing a product change to the no fee card and was denied by BoA since the product is no longer offered. I’m hoping some announcement is made soon because my annual fee posts at the end of September.

 

[joelkfla]

I tried doing a product change to the no fee card and was denied by BoA since the product is no longer offered. I’m hoping some announcement is made soon because my annual fee posts at the end of September.

But you have 30 days from the date the bill is printed to cancel the card and reverse the fee.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

But you have 30 days from the date the bill is printed to cancel the card and reverse the fee.

This is an important detail but not many people seem to know about it.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/canceling-credit-cards-will-i-get-my-annual-fee-back/

 

[chrsjrcj]

That’s good information, thank you! Looks like the timing of my AF may work out then.

 

[Bonser]

I see how that would be a cause for concern. You might want to contact BoA customer service yourself, if their communications to you thus far aren't answering your questions about what would happen to your BoA credit card with AGR perks, once it's no longer tied to AGR. My husband and I have never had a credit card which required an annual fee. (We do have 2 cards linked to our Amazon account, though, and I love having the "shop with points" credit to pay for things!)

I've never had annual fee with my BOA Amtrak card either.

 

[MccfamschoolMom]

I've never had annual fee with my BOA Amtrak card either.

I remember seeing on the Amtrak website (before BOA stopped offering its Amtrak cards to new customers) that there were 2 BOA credit cards which could earn AGR points. The one with an annual fee apparently earned points at a higher rate, and included a few additional perks not available with the no-annual-fee version.

 

[TinCan782]

I remember seeing on the Amtrak website (before BOA stopped offering its Amtrak cards to new customers) that there were 2 BOA credit cards which could earn AGR points. The one with an annual fee apparently earned points at a higher rate, and included a few additional perks not available with the no-annual-fee version.

Correct. The World Card (annual fee) does have some higher earning rates and perks than the non-fee card.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I remember seeing on the Amtrak website (before BOA stopped offering its Amtrak cards to new customers) that there were 2 BOA credit cards which could earn AGR points. The one with an annual fee apparently earned points at a higher rate, and included a few additional perks not available with the no-annual-fee version.

Have both cards. One is for my everyday spending, which I pay off each month. The other is for other expenses, like car maintenance, unexpected expenses, etc. l

 

[Old MM]

Well, I called the BoA customer service number on my card, last night. Asked what would be happening to the card rewards, just as when I had called them earlier and reported here. Not only did I get the same answer (no changes) but the agent went a step farther and affirmed that purchases will continue to earn AGR points and be transferred to Amtrak. No plans to end the relationship with Amtrak. I've got the no fee version if that matters.

 

[Shanson]

If the relationship is to continue, why did they cut off new spplications? I suspect that BoA management hasn't advised their call center staff of the changes.