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

[Arrow29]

I called to cancel my velocity platinum (was going to apply for the explorer for the improved points earn), but was informed that my annual fee was only paid in June so that I might as well keep the card open for a bit longer. Was also offered 25k velocity points which were posted in my account within 5 minutes. Pretty happy with that.

 

[prozerran]

No luck here.

I have been with Amex since 2008 and I am on a reduced fee Association Platinum Edge card. Spend about $50K pa. My anniversary date was on 6/9/17 - but 1st operator said as long as I cancel prior to card statement date 24/09/17 no charge.

I called twice within 3 days, asked for card to be cancelled. Asked for waiver of fee OR additional points alterantive and they say they will check the card, and both times they say no available bonus points. So I think there must be something on the card which either lets them offer bonus points or does not allow them to offer bonus points. They just suggested downgrade of card

Both times they said I have a lot of MR points and to spend it prior to closing account.
----------------

 

[foggy]

No luck here.

I have been with Amex since 2008 and I am on a reduced fee Association Platinum Edge card. Spend about $50K pa. My anniversary date was on 6/9/17 - but 1st operator said as long as I cancel prior to card statement date 24/09/17 no charge.

I called twice within 3 days, asked for card to be cancelled. Asked for waiver of fee OR additional points alterantive and they say they will check the card, and both times they say no available bonus points. So I think there must be something on the card which either lets them offer bonus points or does not allow them to offer bonus points. They just suggested downgrade of card

Both times they said I have a lot of MR points and to spend it prior to closing account.
----------------

This is quite concerning to hear. What reason did you give to say that you wanted to cancel?

 

[prozerran]

This is quite concerning to hear. What reason did you give to say that you wanted to cancel?

I said that the free flight has been changed to travel credit and that I have another card which I also use for reward points earning.

I didn't ask for waiver/points straight up; but only did so after they said they would process my request but reminded me of the MR points I still had - then I asked for alternative solution such as fee wavier/bonus points; and for both operators to says I have to check your information and straight up no bonus points available for this card means that there must be instructions or eligibility criteria for this to occur. Maybe has to do with the fact that I am on a reduced fee card?

 

[randombob]

No luck here.

I have been with Amex since 2008 and I am on a reduced fee Association Platinum Edge card. Spend about $50K pa. My anniversary date was on 6/9/17 - but 1st operator said as long as I cancel prior to card statement date 24/09/17 no charge.

I called twice within 3 days, asked for card to be cancelled. Asked for waiver of fee OR additional points alterantive and they say they will check the card, and both times they say no available bonus points. So I think there must be something on the card which either lets them offer bonus points or does not allow them to offer bonus points. They just suggested downgrade of card

Both times they said I have a lot of MR points and to spend it prior to closing account.
----------------

Same situation...been with Amex since 2008 on an association card and got offered nothing.

 

[potm]

I'm on a professional association platinum edge as well and was offered points to retain the card.

 

[prozerran]

I'm on a professional association platinum edge as well and was offered points to retain the card.

How many points were you offered?
How did you go about getting them to offer you points - what did you say.
What time frame are we looking at - was card payment due? how recent.
thanks

 

[lang_13]

called to cancel explorer as annual fee due this month. spent about 30k on it this year. offered to convert it to basic qantas card - no points offered

 

[Gold Member]

called to cancel explorer as annual fee due this month. spent about 30k on it this year. offered to convert it to basic qantas card - no points offered

I think they've changed their system in the last 2-4 weeks, for the worse. Four weeks ago I threatened to cancel my Explorer and was offered 23k. I held off as I had another month before renewal. Yesterday, I called up and was not offered anything. They commented that the computer now automatically determines whether an offer is present or can be made. In the end and insisted they honour the previous 23k offer and voila.

 

[albyd]

I was hoping with the we'll publicized retention bonus on the business Explorer (I understand that's in lieu of travel credit), there's also be easy retention bonus offers on the personal Explorer.

My annual fee isn't due for another few months. I'll report back on my experience then. Assuming they've cottoned onto the fact many of us aren't serious about following through with a cancellation. It does help to ease the feeling of differential treatment for 'new' members with generous sign ups especially since now it's nearly impossible to get a sign up as an existing member.

I've read that the DJS cards will still pay a sign up to an 'existing' member. Do they still endorse the 2 CC limit?

 

[brazen00]

My experience: Explorer card anniversary in 14 days. Called to "cancel". Only offers I was presented with were downgrades to other cards. I specifically asked for a points offer but the consultant could only offer what the system provided her. She suggested calling back the day before the anniversary to see if there were points offers available then.

 

[RAM]

Perhaps they are now reading this thread?

 

[samopp]

called Monday, and was offered 35k.

 

[fortunately]

called them to cancel my card yesterday and was offered only 15k points, accehaven'tut havent got points yet

 

[GSP]

Quite low, but do report back.

Did the deed today and got the spiel about many months left on my 1st year fee and 3pts at Supermarkets et al.

Explained was a good card but better points elsewhere but (eventually pulled this line) could be persuaded by some bonus points (was really scraping the barrel as he saw I had 3 transactions totaling $160).

A slight chuckle from him and what gave some insight was the computer said that due to low expenditure and length of time held with the card the system put me into the "no extra points" category.

Now not sure if he was being polite to say that or truth but if the latter gives credence to the suspicions raised in earlier posts about eligibility of additional bonus points.

 

[mini2]

Last year I was told don't bother chasing up points unless you've already gone past your anniversary but still within the 28 days where they will still allow a full refund of the annual fee. They also commented *some specific words* will need to be used (something along the lines of I would like to cancel my card immediately - something in no uncertain terms with your intention) before they can justify asking the computer how much points are you worth. Having a large points unmoved hasn't been an issue as my balance have always hover between 3/4-1 mil points in the last 3 years that I've managed to grab some points off them.

However the only variable I haven't been able to work out/confirm is if the computer takes into account on the number of member referrals that you've generated not just on the quality/type of your spend.

 

[Blackswan]

Just called asking if I was eligible for a retention bonus for my Amex Explorer, as the annual fee has just been charged. I was told they weren't able to offer me anything - except to downgrade my card to a no annual fee option.

Maybe the computer does take into account the referrals. I've had four in the past year.

 

[cbourl]

Just called asking if I was eligible for a retention bonus for my Amex Explorer, as the annual fee has just been charged. I was told they weren't able to offer me anything - except to downgrade my card to a no annual fee option.

Maybe the computer does take into account the referrals. I've had four in the past year.

After a fraud on my account (Amex Plat Charge Card Personal) which was totally mishandled by Amex - read my post on flyertalk.com - after being an Amex customer since 1998 with various Amex cards, I said I was probably going to close my account after my 25900 points fraudulently used were returned so I could redeem them along with my current 78000 pts - Didn't even asked but the Austrlaian Amex epmloyyes said he could offer me 100K Points if I agreed all resolved and stayed an Amex customer - I agreed and the points posted in less than 24 hours

 

[foggy]

After a fraud on my account (Amex Plat Charge Card Personal) which was totally mishandled by Amex - read my post on flyertalk.com - after being an Amex customer since 1998 with various Amex cards, I said I was probably going to close my account after my 25900 points fraudulently used were returned so I could redeem them along with my current 78000 pts - Didn't even asked but the Austrlaian Amex epmloyyes said he could offer me 100K Points if I agreed all resolved and stayed an Amex customer - I agreed and the points posted in less than 24 hours

damnn 100k nice. So you asked to close all your cards? how many different card types do you have? This probably means you can still threaten to cancel you cards individually when the annual fees come up.

 

[RAM]

Given the sign-on bonus' of 100K available, referral bonus offers etc - then on an 18 month cycle (cancel 2 Amex & take out non-Amex 90K-100K sign-on elsewhere) - unless you're getting an amount like mentioned above (100k) - getting the points does not really seem to stack up UNLESS you are maxing out your 'sign-up ability' elsewhere (=marginal credit score).

Or am I missing something obvious?