This card has now been discontinued and is no longer available for new sign ups.
Update: The Bank of America Premium Rewards Travel Card has now launched but the Merrill+ is still available for phone sign ups according to Frequent Miler. This is your last last chance to get this card so I’d recommend going for it right now if you’re at all interested.
Someone with inside knowledge gave us a heads up that the Merrill+ card will be discontinued for new applications on September 18th or 19th. This is consistent with what Frequentmiler was told that it’ll end mid-September.
The source also said there are no plans of product changing existing Merrill+ cardholders to another card. Of course that could happen at some point down the line, but there are no imminent plans of doing so.
Brief details about the card:
- Sign up bonus of 50,000 points after $3,000 in spend (only available via phone)
- Points are worth up to 2¢ each (read our full guide to their valuation and redeeming them here)
- No annual fee
To apply for the card call them on 866-751-1257 and mention the offer. If necessary mention the offer code BAABZX.
I’ve got a second card and finished my spending requirement, got 53k points ready to spend. I’ve got 3000 points left from my other Merrill card, anyone know if we can combine these points or no? What am I going to do with 3000 points from my first Merrill card? Any idea?
Cash out? Call in. No min.
anyone who was “approved in error” got Merrill to approve card second time successfully?
Does someone know if you can spend 3000$ on something that would trigger the bonus and that return the item?
Also turns out those 90 days start counting as soon as you get approved for the card and not when you activate it which was the case I thought…
“that return the item?” what do you mean?
gift cards?
No, anything. I can go to Saks and get a suit, jacket or whatever…But Ferris is sayimg that this is considered fraud so I guess it won’t work.
It will work just fine, don’t let him scare you… but yes you may get blacklisted and it could hurt your future relationship with BoA/they could attempt to make an issue of it. Saying this is fraud is stretching the term. While I agree it’s definitely a moral line, let’s not try to scare people into thinking the Feds will be showing up at their door, as though anyone can prove that the return was an intent to “commit fraud” when doing such activities is only against the “in good faith” of the issuer’s TOS… not a legal situation punishable by jail time such as stealing credit card information, false reports of credit card fraud etc.
My purpose of this comment is to say two things: don’t scare people, don’t give your opinion, give the facts, when the facts are the question – for example “can it be done?” and to you MA, people have tried, people have thought of, and people have done this. It’s definitely not a new topic. 🙂 good luck. If it’s not obvious, it’s ideal to not use this approach. It does normally bite you in the butt.
Thanks for the answer. I most probably won’t do it but now I just wonder how they can prove you did it intentionally…I mean if I buy only 1-2 things for 3k and nothing else, yes it would be very suspicious….but if keep using it for a longer time and buying smaller things spread in time I don’t know how they can accuse me in that case.
Agree. It is not a fraud for sure… but if you spend $3k, get the bonus, and then return goods on $3K (or as a matter of fact any amount bringing you below $3K)… and intend not spending more at all, then keeping the bonus may be a problem.
They may take the bonus back (if you have not spent it already). For example, Amex is actually doing that with MR. There are reports showing that Amex takes the bonus back if a given transaction (even the small one) which has triggered the bonus (the one which was the “last drop”) is returned. People managed to get the bonus back, since they spent more after that within required time, but that required calls, and account reviews.
BofA is not known to use such practices though.
Bottom line, you can definitely do that, but you may loose your bonus, or as @tinytavsa said ruin your relationship with a given bank… and I would advise against doing so, not only because good faith, but also because it may cost you more at the end if you loose any future opportunities with BofA.
Good luck
This is considered fraud and is illegal. There is a line, and you are crossing it. You could get blacklisted if you don’t use the card again after this as it would not be considered “in good faith” by the CC issuer. Plus, it’s not worth the time of buying a few large ticket items and going through the hassle of returning them. Customer Service lines can often take 15-30 minutes.
Thanks for the input. I could buy only one item so the hassle of returning is a silly argument.
And what do you mean not using it after this? Many people get this card only for the bonus and they shut it down after they get it or never use it again after they make the 3000$ spending…
oh, now I see, what M.A. wants to do…
I won’t judge him or anyone else – only banks can judge!
I can say that if you spend $3,000 bank make little money of it a least (on fees) otherwise it will lose a lot of money.
Small purchase if you really need it ($400) to reach $3,000 within 90 days I think is ok (to return later) but nothing more then that….
I mean that in a court of law, not spending after your bonus and returning the large item(s) you purchased proves you did not act in good faith and engaged in fraud. The bank could go after you legally and win. You could get a big fine and possibly go to jail.
Thanks for the DP Trippy! I went ahead and called into the recon line again to see what my status actually was. Turns out I was approved on the 19th but there was a security alert on my application (likely my address since I recently moved). Answered a few questions to confirm my identity and was also able to get free expedited shipping during the same call. Online status changed to approved about 30 minutes later.
Congrats!
Will anyone who applied under the wire on the 18th or 19th share if their online status changed? I applied in the 18th, called into recon the 19th and was approved, but the card still hasn’t shown up in my online account nor has my application status changed.
Not sure if it’s worth another call to see if something is wrong or not.
I applied on 15th, got approved on 19th, the status changed to approved within a couple of hours and appeared online after midnight.
+1 Same dates as Trippy. My status changed almost instantly, and card appeared under my login the next day at some point.
Actually applied on the 15th and status just changed to denied today. Called recon directly, got transferred to “preferred” team, and had them pull EQ since i froze EX due to number of pulls and got approved.
Has any one used this card with Plastiq? Planning to meet the MS with rent payment.
@Craig – I got the card 2 weeks ago and have made a payment with Plastiq for my car payment (to help meet min spend as well). Worked with zero problems.
I had no problem paying my rent with Plastiq on this card.
Does MS work for this card?. Or do they have RAT like teams?.
I don’t MS, but last year on my Merrill, I did one $1500 BB&T bank account opening. Then, the rest was Christmas shopping and/or paying cable/phone/insurance bills. Easy.
Hey, what is “MS” and “RAT like teams” ?
thanks
MS – Manufactured Spending. RAT – Rewards Abuse Team (they go after folks that abuse the system by doing MS and getting points).
oh, cool, good to know about MS! Which cards have RAT? is there a list here somewhere?
RAT is a Amex specific thing. Not sure if others do or is there a list. Maybe DoC can chime in.
Hey, NBG can you tip me what’s the best method/way to use MS with your experience? As I see Amazon Payments are dead, and pretty much all other methods. (i never tried or knew anything about MS) thanks
This page should also help you: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/knowledge-base/credit-finance-acronyms/
Recon’d was told could not issue two of the same card to me. Mentioned i wanted to separate costs for a new venture and she told me “well you currently can do that with your Merrill and Alaska cards.”
Thanks for your consideration. Have a nice day. Goodbye.
shot down lol
Haha, I love (hate) when reps get sassy.. always good stuff.
Dang have to eat my own words…family member (2/24, 780+) who applied yesterday evening got denied today. Given that they are no longer accepting apps, does anyone know if recon still possible after today? Also anyone know if they there is a recon number that works past the 7A-7P EST hours?
I guess – no new apps, but we have 30 days if they performed credit check on your submitted app or if you submitted it before the deadline and it’s pending!
Can’t hurt to try recon, well, other than mixed reports of getting more hard pulls. I would think the promo info is still in their system, just can’t take new apps. The number I got given was 1-866-434-5389, but I am not sure that was a “recon” number, or the exact hours.
who can tell – is it true that they cannot relocate (split/shift) credit limit from one Merrill+ to new one? For example, my friend have Merrill+ with $14,000 and he asked to relocate the limit to get second new Merrill+. Recon said it’s impossible. Is it?
thanks
Seen mixed reports on that. Might be a HUCA? Some reps might be more apt to get applicants approved than others? Or, maybe they can only reallocate from a different BoA card?
My 2nd Merrill+ from 9/18/17 was approved by splitting credit limit from my 1st Merrill+. They had to move $5k out of$12k for approval.
LISA, thanks a lot! Gadget is right HUCA and depend of the reps mood 🙂