-
Hi all, I was wondering if I could get some opinions on card management.
I currently have the Amex Platinum which I’ll definitely be keeping because I find it to give me great value (lounges, travel insurance, dining credit etc.).
I also have, and just hit my upgrade voucher for, the Barlcaycard Avios Plus. I’ve now registered for the BAAPP. I’m likely to hit both spends in a year to unlock the vouchers (card used for work), so I was wondering if I should just keep both the BAAPP and the Avios Plus card in tandem, or whether it’s better to downgrade it to the non-paid version, then upgrade again next year to get the new voucher. I could then repeat with the amex card.
Would this look bad to keep upgrading and downgrading, and if I’m likely to spend the thresholds for both, should I just keep them?
You have to decide whether you want to take the risk of Amex and/or Barclays deciding they don’t want people up-and downgrading and withdraw the facility or close you down altogether. We keep one BAPP which we’ve had for 12 years now for this eventuality and now we’ve downgraded the Barclaycard we’ll probably also leave it at that and try and hit the higher spend without having to bother about the monthly fee.
Also having the Platinum and/or the BAPP will bar you getting any other Amex sign up bonus which may or may not be an issue for you.
In my opinion once one find out how inferior the Barclays/Barclaycard voucher is, especially now the BAPP gives you extra seats availability, it spins makes it an obvious choice to downgrade to the free Barclaycard card
I plan to rotate through the cards, i.e. earn, cancel, apply, earn, cancel etc
If work is generating your spending, does it lead to enough spending to justify a higher earning rate in one of the cards?
For me it’s worth having the free Barclaycard for bill payments and for places that don’t take Amex, but otherwise I’m sticking with BAPP for earning and Platinum for the benefits which more than cover the annual fee.
Thanks guys. @Reney, what do you mean exactly by justifying a higher earning rate in one card?
Work does generate enough to hit both spend thresholds – I’m just wondering whether it looks bad to keep cancelling and re-applying once one is hit to save on the annual fees
Work does generate enough to hit both spend thresholds – I’m just wondering whether it looks bad to keep cancelling and re-applying once one is hit to save on the annual fees
If you cancel and reapply frequently enough you’ll end up tripping into the problem that the closed account isn’t really closed in the back end, and you can’t reapply. I’d not do it very often. Maybe Amex will introduce some sort of rule to stop this churning and, in the States, have banned people without warning for sign-up “abuse” based on retrospective analysis of customer behaviour.
Personally, and this is just me, I held the BAPP about a year ago, got the sign up bonus and voucher, and shut the account. I have no intention of reapplying until I’ve spent the voucher *and* I think I’m likely to need another one. This could well be past the two year mark for a new sign up bonus.
For ongoing spend the Gold or Gold business might be better for you as a long term card. You can close Gold and open a BAPP when you need another voucher, switch back when you’re done, and get another free year on Gold. Gold business is my ‘keeper’ Amex at the moment, along with a dollar platinum. Yes, the earning rate isn’t quite as good, but if you spend enough the new bonus structure should work for you, and the business card is excellent for a high spender if you can hit the (high) thresholds.
I’ve not even bothered applying for the Barclays card. I have the Hilton, so would have to loose that permanently, and the voucher is rubbish.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Popular articles this week:
