Amex "I'm going to cancel my card" - bonus points given thread.

[Daver6]

I am nearing retirement and have greatly reduced my earning capacity so I am unlikely to ever get approval for a higher end card again.

I would like to do the annual dance with my Amex Qantas Ultimate but also will wish to retain the card no matter what.

If I cancel and don't hear from the retention department is there still an option to re-instate my card without a credit check?

The way I play it is I directly ask if there is a retention bonus. They tell me they can't see if there is one until I cancel the card. Then just to make sure I ask if I cancel the card can I re-instate it without issue right away. The answer is yes. So I say please go ahead and cancel. They read out the cancellation spiel. Then right away they can see if there is a retention offer. You accept it and card is re-instated (no credit check). No offer, you can still just ask them to re-instate it. It's quite simple and easy.

Previously when I've done the dance, the card has been removed from my Google wallet. For some reason, that hasn't happened (yet) this time.

 

[DC3]

No-one here knows why computer says ‘Yes’ or ‘No”, or what the offer will be. Some have a happy ending, others do not.

 

[DC3]

I would like to do the annual dance with my Amex Qantas Ultimate but also will wish to retain the card no matter what.

Manila is waiting for your invite onto the ballroom floor.

 

[Poojou]

I am nearing retirement and have greatly reduced my earning capacity so I am unlikely to ever get approval for a higher end card again.

I would like to do the annual dance with my Amex Qantas Ultimate but also will wish to retain the card no matter what.

If I cancel and don't hear from the retention department is there still an option to re-instate my card without a credit check?

Rest assured, I've had <$500 spend on my big amex cards for the last oh, 3-4 years? And I've done this dance (cha cha cha) like, at least 5+ times? Don't worry, they want to keep you more than you want them

 

[dylarr]

My parents just did the dance on 2 seperate calls for their Qantas Amex Ultimates.

Both offered 15,000 points by the computer. Better than a kick in the rear so accepted and cards immediately reinstated.

 

[goldenhorn]

Just rang and said I'm thinking about closing my Explorer card, which I've had for 5 years and not used very often.

The first operator said there were no retention benefits due to Australian Consumer Law. I asked him to proceed with canceling anyway.

Transferred me to cancelations team and the team member went through all the motions to cancel, including reading the script that I was at the point of no return.

I said to proceed with cancellation and then he offered 30,000 MR points.

"Yes, please!"

I guess you have to go right to the cliff edge to get the retention offer these days lol

 

[wsthong]

No luck for me last year.
Whenever I told them I wanted to cancel my card, my calls are always being passed to the same guy from the retention team. Sigh!

 

[DC3]

No luck for me last year.
Whenever I told them I wanted to cancel my card, my calls are always being passed to the same guy from the retention team. Sigh!

That would be the same computer decision. Nothing personal, just the algorithm.

 

[Finnr]

Hi all, I’ve only had my platinum for 6 months, needed a boost to get enough points for a flight and did this - I got a 30,000 bonus.

 

[jjftts]

I have been offered 100k points to not cancel.
Just rang the number on the back, did not even transfer to the cancellation team.

 

[exceladdict]

I have been offered 100k points to not cancel.
Just rang the number on the back, did not even transfer to the cancellation team.

Which card and what's your monthly spend?

 

[jjftts]

Which card and what's your monthly spend?

platinum charge, about 40-50k spend per month

 

[exceladdict]

platinum charge, about 40-50k spend per month

my goodness, with the merchant fees you must be generating for them 100k is probably a bargain

 

[nightelves]

Do you have to ring in for this?

 

[dylarr]

Do you have to ring in for this?

Yes

 

[DC3]

Do you have to ring in for this?

Manila is waiting for your call. Perhaps dust off your ballroom pumps.

 

[Jimmy Chen]

Update: did this dance last year and got 150k

called just then, no offer initially, proceeded to tell them that ill continue with the card cancellation
(they saw that i had done the same thing last year)
i mentioned that no AFR and no travel, they asked what would keep me going
told them "give me some points"
put on hold and i got an offer for 180k... tho i spent less than last membership year

 

[dcg]

Called up about cancelling AMEX QF Ultimate, was offered 15k QF points. Accepted.
Seems the higher retention offers are only for MR cards...

 

[Skiddy_au]

Did the dance with an AMEX QF Ultimate about a week ago. Offered 60,000 points. Spend is about $1k/month. Really is random.

 

[Cadboy]

Did the dance with an AMEX QF Ultimate about a week ago. Offered 60,000 points. Spend is about $1k/month. Really is random.

anything you said inparticular or just straight to cancel and then reinstate?