Re: Just need to clarify something regarding Preferred Status
It should, if it don't Customer support can take care of that.
I personally would recommend the digital Upgrade Pack to upgrade to preferred. (That's might not so good a tip in USD then it is in Euro)
There is no difference between the tow ways to become preferred,
but you miss out the benefits of being an former subscriber like getting access to all then released content and the max level.
https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/star-wars/star-wars-the-old-republic/swtor-free-to-play-faqs