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

[Captain Halliday]

Just joined Amex on the cancellation ballroom dance floor with my Qantas Ultimate American Express.

Mentioned that I'd just been charged the annual fee and wanted to see if there were any offers on my account if I kept the account open. Agent checked and said unfortunately there was not. I said I'd like to cancel the card and see if any offers show up after cancellation. I also confirmed that if I changed my mind, I could re-instate the account after the card had been cancelled on the same call. The agent confirmed so I proceeded with cancellation.

Offered 40,000 QFF points. Accepted the offer and re-instated the card.

Took no more than 5 mins.

I’m about ready to give this method a shot.

AF due in June, but if I’m going to cancel I’d like to start the 18 exclusion clock sooner rather than later si I can move to Platinum Charge.

Two questions:
1. Anyone been successful getting an offer to a higher card, in particular Plat? I figure unlikely as it’s a charge, but asking just in case.

2. I’ve just used the $450 QF credit for a flight in May. Any downside to cancelling the card before taking the flight?

 

[tinkybelle]

As long as within the year you paid for and don’t get it refunded all good

 

[ChrisFlyer]

1. Anyone been successful getting an offer to a higher card, in particular Plat? I figure unlikely as it’s a charge, but asking just in case.

Yes, but only within the same product family, e.g. upgrading from Qantas Discovery to Ultimate, Velocity Escape to Platinum and Essential to Plat Edge/Explorer. Charge has to be a separate application as it's a different type of credit product, but it still never hurts to ask over the phone what might be possible.

 

[sudoer]

I've mentioned this a few times on AFF but when the Westpac QFF co-branded Amexs were discontinued a few years ago, I was successful in moving to the Platinum Charge instead of the Elevate Premium card they wanted to move me to. I was eligible for the full SUB (rather than a lesser 'upgrade' bonus) despite still serving out my 18 month direct Amex SUB exclusion.

I did make it clear that I had no interest in the Elevate Premium card and would be cancelling if they couldn't offer me a Platinum Charge SUB.

Highly recommend calling Monday-Friday 9-5pm for the best chance of speaking to someone onshore, rather than getting a scripted response from the offshore team. Amex can make these exceptions when they want to.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Highly recommend calling Monday-Friday 9-5pm for the best chance of speaking to someone onshore, rather than getting a scripted response from the offshore team. Amex can make these exceptions when they want to.

Good data point and advice thanks.

Will try this approach and if not, fingers crossed another very large sign-up is offering is about 18 months!

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Can someone confirm with me that if you attempt to cancel after you've used the $450 travel credit for the plat charge, you won't get it pro-rataed? Does this also apply to dining credit and accor free night?

 

[Captain Halliday]

I’m about ready to give this method a shot.

AF due in June, but if I’m going to cancel I’d like to start the 18 exclusion clock sooner rather than later si I can move to Platinum Charge.

Two questions:
1. Anyone been successful getting an offer to a higher card, in particular Plat? I figure unlikely as it’s a charge, but asking just in case.

2. I’ve just used the $450 QF credit for a flight in May. Any downside to cancelling the card before taking the flight?

No joy on a higher card, as expected.

15k retention bonus via the method outlined by @dylarr here.

Fewer than I would have liked, but kicks the churn decision down the road a little bit and I can still exit before the AF hits in June.

However, it did spark another thought.

Whether this method might be a good way to get MrsH over the line for PC before a run of award flights in June that would otherwise not earn SC.

 

[asdf1234]

I called Amex today to cancel my Qantas Ultimate Card. Got placed on hold for around 5-6 minutes then got read the cancellation mumble. My card got cancelled and I was told that a cancellation letter will be sent to me.

Afterwards, the call agent asked why I wanted to cancel. I said it was because Amex didn't really provide any benefits to its existing card members in keeping the card, whereas other card providers offered great incentives to join. Agent then proceeded to offer me 40k Qantas Points with no pre-spend requirement. I accepted the offer.

 

[exceladdict]

I called Amex today to cancel my Qantas Ultimate Card. Got placed on hold for around 5-6 minutes then got read the cancellation mumble. My card got cancelled and I was told that a cancellation letter will be sent to me.

Afterwards, the calls agent asked why I wanted to cancel. I said it was because Amex didn't really provide any benefits to its existing card members in keeping the card, whereas other card providers offered great incentives to join. Agent then proceeded to offer me 40k Qantas Points with no pre-spend requirement. I accepted the offer.

That's excellent! What was your credit limit and monthly spend, if you don't mind sharing?

 

[asdf1234]

That's excellent! What was your credit limit and monthly spend, if you don't mind sharing?

Credit limit is 25k and monthly spend is roughly 10k give or take.

 

[one9]

Has anyone been successful with a retention offer with the Qantas Business Rewards Card? Should I try before or after the annual fee is charged? Thanks

 

[Poojou]

Called up again just now - got the 'no offers sir' line

interestingly, I asked if i cancelled could i reinstate it right away... she said no... and that I'd need to get another application.

Very interesting - never heard of this before!

 

[zhuang281]

Called in today and requested the cancellation team- turns out I was already connected to an onshore centre.

I told them "I am looking at getting some loans in the near future and am seeing if I should cancel my platinum. Do you have any points available this year before I decide".

They said "I will have to go through the cancellation process as you have asked to cancel. I can see what is going on after".

Said sure, got offered 70k and kept it. The way they responded made me feel like they were guiding me towards saying yes cancel. So forget about asking about points, just confirm you can reinstate if you change your mind and go ahead with cancellation.

This was my 4th call and got told no by the Manila team (not cancellation team)

 

[SOPOOR]

awesome, tried the earlier above cancellation script,

philipino lady didnt seem to understand what I wanted, then I outright asked if I could reinstate it, and she replied "yes you can" a little disappointedly, no offer pre cancel, after cancel, got 80k on plat edge,

then did it on the explorer card on the same call, and got 80k as well,


ecstatic, first retention in about 3 years, its a good night

 

[Ktan89]

What happens to travel credits if you ask them to cancel the card and then reinstate it? Will the travel credit still be there?

 

[Kangol]

awesome, tried the earlier above cancellation script,

philipino lady didnt seem to understand what I wanted, then I outright asked if I could reinstate it, and she replied "yes you can" a little disappointedly, no offer pre cancel, after cancel, got 80k on plat edge,

then did it on the explorer card on the same call, and got 80k as well,


ecstatic, first retention in about 3 years, its a good night

Was the 80k offer before or after asking if you could reinstate it?
eg, was it: cancel, then 80k offer (to entice you to reinstate it)?

 

[fkn_ace]

i called in today as annual fee due later this week and chose cancel card as the option. I was discussing cancelling and she reminded me of some of the benefits then said amex can offer 20k points to keep it. I said yes. I didn't have to actually cancel and reinstate. Thats on a platinum charge card with less than 4k/month spend.

 

[bits]

My Platinum charge annual fee applied today. Had previously called about fortnight ago with no bonus offered. Called to do the bonus points dance. Customer service said no offers showing on screen, but if I "cancel" then he can see what offer computer would spit out - offered 50k to reinstate - accepted.
I confirmed with the customer service agent "cancelling" would have no effect on my unused travel credits, nor impact on my grandfathered Platinum Reserve card - and he confirmed this.

 

[sudoer]

Plat card avg $7k per month, AF due in a few weeks, no luck

Got handballed the call centre 3 times until I was eventually connected to an onshore cancellations agents who confirmed no offer showing on the account. Took 100k retention bonus on this card last year. Suspect these offers are largely drying up, much like the recent Amex sign up bonuses. I guess they are not hurting for customers!

Called again now the AF has posted, the staff member was very curious about reasons and seemed to be sussing me out. She also made a fairly unprofessional comment about people who churn cards

Got offered 70k in the end without going through with the cancellation, but she said to ignore a cancellation email if I receive one... So I guess she cancelled and reinstated on my behalf...

 

[dylarr]

Called again now the AF has posted, the staff member was very curious about reasons and seemed to be sussing me out. She also made a fairly unprofessional comment about people who churn cards

Got offered 70k in the end without going through with the cancellation, but she said to ignore a cancellation email if I receive one... So I guess she cancelled and reinstated on my behalf...

The AF for my Platinum Charge will post over the next couple of weeks. I called just then and spoke to somebody who offered 30k to keep the card. I told them I'd think about it and call back. I'll wait for the AF to post and try again.