Chase Freedom Credit Card

History of this card:

Chase Shell canceled when chase's relationship with shell ended.
converted to Chase Freedom
After 9/11, Chase renamed Chase Freedom to Chase PerfectCard
Now that Freedom is popular, they are issuing cards under the Chase Freedom name again

Looks like they updated the generic card design for this one. It's about time, as the one for the past year was really blah. While the rewards structure technically is better than PerfectCard, PC still holds the unique advantage of next-statement statement credits for awards at any level. This is good for folks like myself who don't spend $5k at the 1% level frequently. (It looks like the monthly cap would stifle bigger spenders too.)

I take it from the card history SIS provided that Freedom in its previous form automatically credited at PC reward levels, and the fastfood reward is new addition to this incarnation?

So this is secretly a 1.25% CashBack card.

Not bad. Time to add this into my AOR list...hopefully they'll add a signup bonus soon.

This seems like an OK deal for low spenders who are patient. 1.25%/3.75% might soon be the best you can get (who could never reach a good weighted average with Blue Cash) with Dividend ending and Chase Cash Plus and Reward Plus applications being somewhat "hidden" and stories of people getting different cards after they applied. There is still HSBC but it seems good credit does not guarantee you a card with HSBC like it does Chase and Citi.

FWFBooster said: This seems like an OK deal for low spenders who are patient. 1.25%/3.75% might soon be the best you can get (who could never reach a good weighted average with Blue Cash) with Dividend ending and Chase Cash Plus and Reward Plus applications being somewhat "hidden" and stories of people getting different cards after they applied. There is still HSBC but it seems good credit does not guarantee you a card with HSBC like it does Chase and Citi.

Very likely....it's still a better deal then Citi is offering it's current and new customers on their Dividend Cash Card....Not as good as the old Chase Rewards Plus/Cash Plus cards which so far, they have allowed those of us who have it to continue with...

I have Rewards Plus and keeping my fingers crossed that they let us continue with it...However, if they ultimately switch us to a new program, this won't be as bad as, say the current Flexible Rewards with it's 1% on everything...and still better then the Citi offering.....It is a rather PRETTY CARD though and it does have BLINK

Bob45 said:
UnixLab said: This new Freedom card is VISA Card.
My old Freedom card is Master Card.

I don't remember if I can relocate credit from master card to visa card.

The new card comes in both MasterCard or Visa.

The new one comes in MasterCard and Visa versions, as did the old Chase Freedom/PerfectCard gas card. It's just that that older product was primarily MasterCard, so you'll see much more of them around.

I have a "Perfect Card" that eveloved through all the names since the Shell Chase Card. It currently has no use. Did anyone try to see if Chase would allow conversions to the new Freedom card?

Nummerkins said: It'll be interesting to see just what counts as a quick service restaurant. The ad mentions a wide variety of places. Once FWers get their hands on this card I'm sure we'll be able to see whether this also includes bars/sit down places/etc. Could be a very good card if the restaurant rewards are pretty generic.

"Consumers can earn three percent Cash Back or three times the points on grocery, gas and quick service restaurants, including places like Subway, Panera Bread, Boston Market, Denny’s and Dunkin’ Donuts."


AlexTheMan said: I have a "Perfect Card" that eveloved through all the names since the Shell Chase Card. It currently has no use. Did anyone try to see if Chase would allow conversions to the new Freedom card?

Any existing Chase card holders can convert, just call the customer support number on your existing Chase card.

FWFBooster said: This seems like an OK deal for low spenders who are patient. 1.25%/3.75% might soon be the best you can get (who could never reach a good weighted average with Blue Cash) with Dividend ending and Chase Cash Plus and Reward Plus applications being somewhat "hidden" and stories of people getting different cards after they applied. There is still HSBC but it seems good credit does not guarantee you a card with HSBC like it does Chase and Citi.

Will this Freedom soon replace Cash+/Rewards+?

vapno said: AlexTheMan said: I have a "Perfect Card" that eveloved through all the names since the Shell Chase Card. It currently has no use. Did anyone try to see if Chase would allow conversions to the new Freedom card?

No use? What about the automatic rebates over waiting months to cash out in $50 increments only? Not to mention Freedom has a lesser rebate schedule than Cash and Rewards Plus, except for fast food. To get the 1.25% redemption tier, you'll have to spend as much as $20,000 before redeeming points. That's a long wait for many people.

I agree that automatic rebates are nice, however, I already use Citi Dividend/Chase rewards for all 5% cash and I use AMEX Costco for 3% at restaurants plus I also use Citi Premiere Pass Elite for all 1% categories to get enough matching for my flight points. With that, Chase Perfect card had really no use. I have enough Citi/Chase accounts to cover me in the 5% purchases throughout the year, which looks like it may coming to an end. For me, I may be switching one of my 3 Chase cards to the new Freedom card to be used just for fast food.

slimshadyxix said: Will converting from a Chase Plat result in a hard inq? Is the conversion even possible? Thanks

What did the Chase CSR say when you asked them?

greatpgmr,

The customer service representative told me that I was born in India, was 5ft 10inches and weighed 200lbs. He also told me that he knows nothing about the Chase Freedom card and that I should ask members of fat wallet. Hence why I asked, but apparently you still find it appropriate to tell me to call them and find out the details. So I took your advice again and this rep told me I was 6ft 4 inches born in Chile and weighed a meager 75lbs but still knew nothing about the Chase Freedom card and also told me to ask members of fatwallet. So I guess, the reps know more then fatwalleters and no questions should ever be asked on fat wallet according to you.


On a more serious note, if you do a product conversion between cards with almost any issuer they will not run a hard inquiry. This is in fact a form of retention for many credit card companies. Thus, since you already have an established line of credit and payment history there is no need to run a hard inquiry for a product conversion.

Joe1690 said: greatpgmr,

The customer service representative told me that I was born in India, was 5ft 10inches and weighed 200lbs...

Joe1690 and slimshadyxix,

Not sure if you are the same person posting with multiple profiles? Regardless, you are both very funny people!! Actually, I have had no foreign personnel answer my calls to Chase and when I called they told me it was a simple "product trade" to get the Freedom card. A new number would be issued, but no inquiry required.

You might not like the quality or locale of CSR's at the card issuers these days, but don't think this forum is going to replace them. Learn to use them effectively.

greatpgmr said: Joe1690 said: greatpgmr,

The customer service representative told me that I was born in India, was 5ft 10inches and weighed 200lbs...

Joe1690 and slimshadyxix,

Not sure if you are the same person posting with multiple profiles? Regardless, you are both very funny people!! Actually, I have had no foreign personnel answer my calls to Chase and when I called they told me it was a simple "product trade" to get the Freedom card. A new number would be issued, but no inquiry required.

You might not like the quality or locale of CSR's at the card issuers these days, but don't think this forum is going to replace them. Learn to use them effectively.

Nah I dunno Joe but thanks for the info.

I've just called in to trade my plain Chase Platinum to the new Freedom card. The Indian lady over the phone mentioned that the extra 2% is only for the first 12 months. I asked her to confirm and she repeated that the extra 2% was only for the first 12 months. It sounds a bit weird but I converted anyway regardless, since my card currently has no rewards.

Did anyone else get this 12-month period?

craig10x said: wrx2004 said: I've just called in to trade my plain Chase Platinum to the new Freedom card. The Indian lady over the phone mentioned that the extra 2% is only for the first 12 months. I asked her to confirm and she repeated that the extra 2% was only for the first 12 months. It sounds a bit weird but I converted anyway regardless, since my card currently has no rewards.

Did anyone else get this 12-month period?

I doubt it...doesn't say anything on the info page about the 3% rewards only being for 12 months...perhaps she got confused with the 0% APR business..that's for 12 months.....You know how it is what the staff in those India Call Centers (lol)...suggest you call Chase Customer Service during the daytime tommorow and speak to an American CSR.....be sure to report back here

My feeling also was that she was confused. Didn't think about the 0% BT though. I just didn't think Chase will waste the effort to have some people with the extra 2% for 12 months and some others have no restriction. I will give them a call once I receive my new card.

Well, I called customer service to find out some more info about the rewards but was unable to find out more details at this point except that CashBack levels are 5000 points = $50 and 20,000 points = $250. Interestingly, the lady told me that if I enrolled in the freedom card with CashBack option the points expire after 36 months but if you enroll in the freedom card with points they expire after 60 months. This is weird because you can transfer between the programs supposedly without losing points but suddenly if you tranferred from points to cash your point balance may drop dramatically since the points expire 24 months earlier then with the points program.

The card can be found on the main Chase site. More detailed Feel free program information.

LOL -- "Need help finding the right rewards card?" It's at the bottom right of the OP's link. Give it a try.

FWFBooster said: ... Chase Cash Plus and Reward Plus applications being somewhat "hidden" ... What are you talking about, it's right here.

Edit: looks like the application site was pulled on or around 2006Sep20.

SUCKISSTAPLES said: ArbolLoco said: I've had this card forever, and I never figured out why they changed the name of the card. I mean wouldn't "freedom" in the name be an asset after 9/11?A lot of people were angry at the name change and thought Chase was trying to capitalize right after the tragic event...

now that 5 years have passed , they are all too eager to capitalize on the tragic event

I want my Chase French Card back.