Chase Freedom Unlimited Now Available – Should You Apply/Product Change?

According to an anonymous source, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is now available for sign ups in branch and over the phone (backed up by this exchange PointsCentric had). You should also be able to product change an existing Chase branded personal card (Chase Slate, Chase Freedom, Chase Sapphire or Chase Sapphire Preferred) into this new card. It should also become available online sometime during April (most likely April 8th) when Chase launches it’s official advertising program for the card.

Card Details

  • 150 sign up bonus after $500 in spend within three months
  • $25 bonus for adding an authorized user and them making their first purchase
  • 1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases
  • 0% Introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers for 15 months

Should You Apply/Product Change?

Keep in mind that if you want to apply for this card, you’ll be subjected to the Chase 5/24 rule. Basically meaning you won’t be approved if you’ve got five credit cards in the past two years (from any issuer, not just Chase). Because of this, most people will be looking at this as a product change option rather than an apply option, but basically the reasoning behind both decisions is pretty much the same.

  • You shouldn’t product change if you don’t have a card with the ability to transfer to Chase’s travel partners (e.g Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Ink Plus). The Freedom Unlimited (Chase FU card) earns 1.5% cash back (really 1.5 Chase UR points), but you can only transfer those points to travel partners with one of these annual fee cards. There are cards that earn 2%+ cash back, so downgrading doesn’t make sense if you just want a cash back card.
  • You need to value Ultimate Rewards points at 1.34¢ a piece otherwise you’d be better off putting that spend on a 2%+ cash back card.
  • You need to look at how much spend you’d be able to put on a regular Chase Freedom’s 5% categories. The regular Chase Freedom offers 5% back in rotating categories (with a cap of $1,500 in spend per quarter). Let’s say you max out those categories every year (unlikely for most people, but just making a point) you’d earn a total of 30,000 Chase UR points on $6,000 in spend. You’d need to spend $20,000 on the Chase Freedom Unlimited to earn the same amount of points.

I have a couple of regular Chase Freedom’s, I don’t max out all of the quarters anymore but I do probably earn ~15,000 Chase UR per card. My breakeven would be $10,000 a year on the Chase FU card, I do value Chase UR at more than 1.34¢ a piece but at the moment I don’t have that much non-category spend that isn’t put towards meeting minimum spend requirements on other cards, so I’m not going to bother product changing to the new Chase FU card.

For others that don’t utilize the 5% rotating categories or do have a lot of non category bonus, non minimum requirement spend then this card is a pretty good option. Let me know what your plans are in regards to the Chase FU card in the comments and also if you were able to successfully product change or apply.

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zjts
zjts (@guest_415348)
June 5, 2017 23:02
zjts
zjts (@guest_415331)
June 5, 2017 22:43

Are there 2 separate cards Chase{forums-storename-auto-links} freedom & Chase{forums-storename-auto-links} freedom unlimited? Or was the freedom changed to the freedom unlimited?

above
states the unlimitd has 1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases while the original freedom has the 5% rotating categories

On https://creditcards.chase.com/credit-cards/home I do not see the original Freedom card, does it even exist anymore?

J.C.
J.C. (@guest_237058)
March 25, 2016 10:35

They are applying 5/24 to at least some phone applications.

App’d on the phone. Instantly shot down. Called to inquire reason and analyst stated elevated number of new accounts. Asked if they could take a second look considering my overall excellent Chase relationship, but he said in this case their hands are tied.

Ken
Ken (@guest_237537)
March 26, 2016 17:42

In Feb. I called in to apply for the 80k IHG offer and applied online for Hyatt same day. Hyatt card was instantly approved with 20k limit (highest CL ever!). Waited out on the IHG and it took 3 weeks to process and got denied. Called recon and they mentioned how many new cards I have and told me that its “too excessive.” Same thing happened in Jan. when I applied for the Marriott business card…I received the mailer for 80k and went for it and got shut down with the same “excessive” verbiage. Sad times…but I guess you cant win ’em all 🙂

Jonathan
Jonathan (@guest_237989)
March 27, 2016 18:29

Not sure how many new cards you got. I had 15 new cards for the past two years. I got approved for 80k IHG, 50k SW premier, and 50k SW business within 40 days. IHG & SW premier got instant approved for 30K CL each. SW business took a day to be approved for 32K CL without calling recon.

One trick is each time I got approved on one card, I always SM Chase to reduce the credit line to 7-8K within one week.

I still debate myself if I want to apply Freedom unlimited after IHG, SW premier & business this year. I just got approved SW business three days ago.

Carlos
Carlos (@guest_236845)
March 24, 2016 20:17

Guys look and if anyone needs proof let me know.
I dont know what this Chase 05/24 rule but from what im reading I dont think its accurate.
For example and I said some of this in another post.
I have the United, Freedom, Amazon, Disney, Marriot, and have had them all under 12 to 15 months.
Applied for the Freedom unlimited in branch and approved.
I credit the Doc site with getting 6 other citi banks, 1 BBVA, and have applied probably in upwards of many other cards this year alone, cant really give an amount but its a ton this year, a ton last year.
My point is I dont get declined, I get approved for every one, started recently not getting instantly approved but I get them with a generous credit line and its not relocated.
My relationship with Chase is huge and im a bank private client.
Do they pick and choose who they apply the 05/24 rule because they are exempting me.

My wife on the other hand has 2 slates, and a United of which I am also authorized on those and she gets declined for opening to many accounts.
Can someone please elaborate on wether they pick and choose on this please?

P
P (@guest_235876)
March 22, 2016 20:21

My sister successfully product change her Chase Sapphire (not Preferred) into the Chase Freedom Unlimited. Should be very nice for all our Costco expenses later on.

Sam
Sam (@guest_234161)
March 17, 2016 14:29

Thinking about making a huge purchase at Costco using my Chase Freedom. Will Costco be included in the warehouse category?

Big ugly
Big ugly (@guest_233095)
March 14, 2016 10:40

I don’t use the gas category on my existing Freedom, and I have a SM MC for Amazon and groceries year-round. So if I PC my CSP, it would be to the Freedom Unlimited probably. I may just cancel, though, since I would almost never use a CFU (except for possibly COSTCO) and give myself a better chance at getting approved for some Chase apps next year when I have a fresh 24 months.

Jonathan
Jonathan (@guest_237978)
March 27, 2016 18:15

I have similar case, I only use less than $150 on gas on my two existing Freedoms this quarter since I have a lot of 15% off gas card( Shell, BP, Chevron, or Exxon) or I usually get $1 off per gallon from Kroger gas station. I also have a SM MC for Amazon, gas, and groceries year-round.

I only spend full $1500 each from my two Freedoms when the bonus category is grocery since I spend a lot from Kroger/Walmart each month.

I am still wondering if I want to PC one of my Freedoms to Freedom unlimited after I spent $1500 grocery bills next month. I have a 2.625% BoA travel. I am not sure if a Freedom unlimited minus a Freedom will be better than BoA travel with no foreign transaction fees.

kraja
kraja (@guest_233022)
March 14, 2016 02:28

Possible to change chase amazon card to freedom unlimited

Bill
Bill (@guest_233060)
March 14, 2016 07:59

There are two questions to ask first:
1. Do you have more than 5 new cards in 24 months? If yes, then you’ll have to PC.
2. Do you have other uses for the inquiries, such as another card you want, or keeping your inquiries low prior to a major purchase? Again, if yes, then you may want to PC.

If you’re not worried about #1 or #2, you could apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited, collect the bonus, and decide what to do with the Amazon Visa later. The Amazon Visa earns 3% year-round, without requiring a Prime membership.

P
P (@guest_235878)
March 22, 2016 20:28

I asked them about this and they said no. I have the Amazon visa – my oldest card and rarely used now.

Credit
Credit (@guest_233002)
March 13, 2016 23:54

I have cap I want to pc. Should I get a sapphire or a freedom unlimited.

Also got denied for ink+. Who says 5/24 is starting in march. I applied in Feb and they took one month to reject. It already started for me I will call them tomorrow. What should I say?

Finally my csp # was stolen. They think kohl’s dB was hacked. Who knows.

Kevin
Kevin (@guest_232990)
March 13, 2016 23:19

I sent a secure message to chase for my wife to product change her sapphire which we had downgraded from the sapphire preferred when the annual fee hit. They did it no problem. Here is the message they sent.

Hello, my name is XXXXXXX. Thank you for contacting
Chase to change the product to a Freedom Unlimited for
your account ending in XXXX. It is my pleasure to assist
you today.

Let me share that I am pleased to inform you that the
account is eligible to switch to a Freedom Unlimited card.

Earning points:
? Unlimited 1.5% (per $1 spent) cash back on every
purchase
? Points are earned when purchases of products and
services are made
? Returns and refunds: Points will be deducted from
customers point balance

Accelerated earnings:
? Earn an extra 5 to 15% cash back when you shop online
with Shop through Chase

Redemption minimum:
?No minimum point requirement to redeem points

Rewards expiration:
? No expiration on points earned as long as account is
open

Further the annual percentage rate (APR) and account
number will remain the same.

Discontinued offers:
*Sapphire 2015 First Friday Dining offer. Earn one
additional point on all dining purchases, totaling 3X, on
the First Friday of each month through 2015. Additional
point is displayed as First Friday Dining Bonus under
Rewards Summary on statement.

*Sapphire Dining First Friday – cardmembers will earn one
incremental point for a total of 3X points on dining
transactions on the First Friday of each month. Offer will
start on 5/3 and end on 12/6. Sapphire customers are
automatically enrolled in offer. There are no

Please review the following information before we process
your request:
-Any promotional balances attached to the old account will
transfer to your new account based on terms of the
original promotion.
-If you have previously been excluded from receiving
solicitations, you will continue to be excluded going
forward.
-If any of the terms of your account have changed, you
will receive a letter in the mail explaining the changes
and your right to reject them.
-Please note that the expiration date and signature panel
code will change. if you have automatic charges billed to
this account, you will want to inform those merchants of
the new expiration date once you receive your new cards.

If you wish to continue with this request, please reply
using the Secure Message Center. We’re not able to process
your request unless we receive your confirmation.

If you need any other assistance, you can send us a secure
message. We appreciate your business and thank you for
choosing Chase.

Thank you,
XXXXXXXX