Downgrading from the SMBC Gold Prime

[Viralriver]

Hi all, I have a Rakuten premium card and an SMBC Gold Prime credit card. They both obviously have annual charges and I want to downgrade my SMBC one since it's no longer necessary. I still want to keep a CC open with them so I can make Visa purchases when Mastercard doesn't work (and Rakuten seems to decline my payments more frequently than SMBC).

I took a look at the 切り替え option and the only card I see which is free is this one. However when I click to switch, it tells me I'm not able to (with no other error message). The criteria seem to only require that I am above 18 (I'm 29), and I can't see any other smallprint that would affect me.

Has anyone been in a similar situation to me? I'd shoot them an email but I can't find any contact details for them (if you know how, please do let me know!). I'm also not in Japan for a couple of months and by the time I'm back it's likely they'll take my next annual fee payment, so really hoping to solve this without needing to go into store (or calling them since it would be expensive).

Any advice/help would be appreciated!

[TBS]

I'd shoot them an email but I can't find any contact details for them (if you know how, please do let me know!). I'm also not in Japan for a couple of months and by the time I'm back it's likely they'll take my next annual fee payment, so really hoping to solve this without needing to go into store (or calling them since it would be expensive).

How about calling them on Skype?

One thing to consider is they'll send the new card signed delivery, so if nobody is around to receive it for a couple of months, it will be returned and you could face further hassle.

FWIW also look at the new numberless gold card. There a 5500 yen fee for the first year, but if you spend 1 million yen on it all subsequent years are free. It offers higher effective cashback than Rakuten Premium Card over this first 1 million (1.5% vs 1%), and also offers higher SBI investing points (1% instead of 0.5%) vs the basic numberless card you linked to.

[Viralriver]

Thanks for that - that's actually a great deal! Unfortunately trying to switch to that also gives me the error of not being able to apply.

"ご希望のカードへの切替えはお申し込みいただくことができません"

I wonder if they're just trying to lock me into a card with an annual fee and that one's just for new customers only..

Looking at my bank statement I was charged last year in November so I think I have a little time to go sort this out once I'm back before that kicks in. Hopefully they can handle it instore, as I'd much rather do it in person than over the phone.

[TBS]

This could be the issue: https://bbs.kakaku.com/bbs/88050001164/SortID=24794012/

It says SMBC doesn't allow card downgrades (gold NL is lower rank than the old gold cards, apparently). Suggested solution is to apply afresh for a new one, then cancel the current one once that arrives.

It's just randomers on a internet forum tho, so I'd still check this with SMBC first.