Altitude Black Annual Fee Reduction

[albyd]

I think I'm going to cop it this year as have a year to go on interest free promo so those savings easily cover the annual fee. Might just downgrade to a less expensive card next year as I'm no longer interested in Altitude points just want to preserve my limit should I re-assess Westpac's offering down the track.

 

[coolstepslg]

for those that received a letter that states no annual fee when you get charged the fee just submit a complaint online via their website and take the letter to the branch as proof. I finally got my fee refunded and its now on going every year. so It was worth fighting for your rights.

 

[potm]

For those with balance transfers, I was able to change my altitude black card to their cheapest card and keep my balance transfer in tact. Don't think I've even been charged the annual fee yet for the new card which should be something like $55.

 

[albyd]

Thanks for sharing potm I might try to do the same as not planning to use it as my earning card post the BT and only paying the annual fee as having BT cash in my mortgage saves more than the annual fee.

 

[Tyrone Wood]

I've just applied for this card through an invitation via my bank Westpac.
I applied for this card with no annual fee attached. The normal annual fee is $395 as mentioned. However I'm unsure if this is for the first year or life. On my financial table it says the following "$0.00 annual fee. Charged to your account following the first cash advance or credit purchase transaction and charged to your account in subsequent years on or after the anniversary of the first charge." does this mean it's $0 for life?

Below it also states westpac can change fees and terms at any point.

 

[steved]

I called up today to try to get a fee reduction and they didn't want to budge on the Black card annual fee. Yhey told me I couldn't cancel the card as I owed money on it so I paid the card in full today and will try again tomorrow.I got the card fee free last year and don't see the value in $395 annual fee and I only use the Amex card . I told them I would get a Amex explorer for the same price and better value.

 

[steved]

I called up today to cancel and the retention team took $200 off the annual fee so I kept the card for $195.00 a year fee which isn't too bad.
Only good for one year and I did get the first year fee free.

 

[BillytheFIsh]

I called up this week to try and get another fee waiver/reduction, but no one was interested at all so I think there must have been a change in policy (I tried a few different agents over a couple of calls). I'm not really interested in their cheaper cards and I can't justify $395/year so I cancelled.

Although I've changed cards a couple of times, I think that line of credit started life as a virgin credit card about 10 years ago.

 

[jastel]

Just had my Earth Black card renewed, and was charged the fee, my old manager who used to take care of things has moved on, the new one said he would fix it at our intro meeting which was just before the card fee renewed, I am a Business Customer, not huge $$ but been there 40 years and with family accounts as well, and told him I would just go to Commonwealth etc for the fee free and bonus points, while Westpac would get the customer who was leaving Commonwealth for the same reasons...so why not keep me here? He said it shouldnt be a problem. Nearly 2 months later, multiple phone calls and emails to him, no action. (Which actually worked to my advantage I guess)
Was in town so I walked into the branch last week and made a bit of a scene, of course he wasnt there and on holidays, the main branch manager came out, who I had not met and apologised for the slack service, she rang the card dept and got me a refund for another year.
She did stress things have tightened up and it wouldnt happen again, unless the card was packaged with a home loan Advantage thingo, which I dont have.
So seems like things HAVE tightened up a lot.

 

[sykoticx]

My anniversary came up and called up the Westpac team and noone seemed to care.
Sent me through to the rentention team who started processing the cancelling and then asked why I wanted to cancel my card.
Explained the annual fee was too high and was happy to stick around if it was reduced and they said not possible.

Done deal. Onto the next credit card.

 

[Nutcase]

Was in town so I walked into the branch last week and made a bit of a scene, of course he wasnt there and on holidays, the main branch manager came out, who I had not met and apologised for the slack service, she rang the card dept and got me a refund for another year.

You made a scene for $400?

 

[jastel]

Just a little one...

It was more about the lack of service from the new manager.
Tell me yes or no but dont stuff me about for 8 weeks.
Had the Black card fee free for a few years now so it adds up...if you dont ask you dont get!

 

[WLGFlyer]

Anyone with recent luck getting the $250/$300 waived or reduced?

I just spoke to them on the phone and they wouldn't budge, stating that this was a premium card and the fee had already been reduced from the previous year (back when it came with the AMEX and was $395).

Spend about $75k on it this year.

 

[bernardblack]

Now that it's coming up on a year since the separate Amex-managed Altitude cards came out: Has anyone who previously had the Altitude Black combo comped as part of their loan package, managed to get a fee rebate or waiver for the separate Amex cost?

 

[Pegasus]

Well i just took up Westpacs invitation this morn to take up this card & get 40k points ( $199 yearly fee ) . Approved in 2 minutes. ( have had the platinum altitude for many years )

 

[Chimp]

Now that it's coming up on a year since the separate Amex-managed Altitude cards came out: Has anyone who previously had the Altitude Black combo comped as part of their loan package, managed to get a fee rebate or waiver for the separate Amex cost?

They sent me a cheque for $72 last month out of the blue (WBC customer with home loan package).

 

[lonewolf]

I am also wondering if Westpac will cover the Altitude Amex annual fee as they used to pay for both for me when they were combined as i have a home loan with them.

 

[Matthew Allan]

I haven’t received a discount to the annual fee but I’m have negotiated at discount to the interest rate applied to the card.
After some negotiations, I have got a 5% discount off the interest rate for the life of my account.
So I’m pretty sure I’m now paying 15.79%, that’s if I don’t pay off in full as I normally do.

 

[Matthew Allan]

I haven’t received a discount to the annual fee but I’m have negotiated at discount to the interest rate applied to the card.
After some negotiations, I have got a 5% discount off the interest rate for the life of my account.
So I’m pretty sure I’m now paying 15.79%, that’s if I don’t pay off in full as I normally do.

 

[WLGFlyer]

Any recent experience with getting the fee waived?