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

[WeeWillyWonka]

Called last month for my Qantas Amex and offered 30,000 points to keep the card - until recently average monthly spend was $500 (often less).

Called today for my Platinum Edge and offered a rounded-up 30,000 MR points. I was advised that I could be offered 29,000 to cover the annual fee of $195 (due in a few weeks) - average monthly spend is $2000.

 

[blueythecat]

Called last month for my Qantas Amex and offered 30,000 points to keep the card - until recently average monthly spend was $500 (often less).

Called today for my Platinum Edge and offered a rounded-up 30,000 MR points. I was advised that I could be offered 29,000 to cover the annual fee of $195 (due in a few weeks) - average monthly spend is $2000.

How close (or past) your annual fee due date were you?

 

[WeeWillyWonka]

within 2 weeks of it renewing for both cards.

 

[blueythecat]

within 2 weeks of it renewing for both cards.

Thanks. I might try and give them a call shortly then.

 

[Kimster]

Called in for our Personal Explorer card and got offered 40,000 points. Not a bad effort for 4 minutes on the phone.

 

[albyd]

How much do you spend on it? I’m coming up to my anniversary and hopin for a retention bonus

 

[Kimster]

How much do you spend on it? I’m coming up to my anniversary and hopin for a retention bonus

Not as much as I hoped. Have switched most of my spend from Prestige since devaluation and had around 150K spend on Amex

 

[albyd]

I must be getting bad at this or they’ve figured out I’m not going to cancel. I called this afternoon about my Platinum Charge. They said there weren’t any offers for it and I was welcome to cancel it. Wasn’t surprised as since Explorer has come on the scene, I only use my Platinum Charge for dining so spend not great. Didn’t even try to convince me of all the great benefits.

I asked about the Explorer since it’s coming up for renewal soon and I concentrate most of my non supermarket spend through it. Said no offers on any of my cards.

They reckoned that the 36000 I got offered earlier in the year to retain my Platinum Reserve (was offered out of the blue as I’m not going to threaten to close a free card) might have knocked me out of contention for other retention bonuses.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I must be getting bad at this or they’ve figured out I’m not going to cancel..

Things go in cycles.

From my experience, and from I have read of late, Amex have moved into a cycle on not be as generous in offering retention bonuses.

So I doubt you are getting bad at it, it is just that the goal posts have moved.

 

[Kimster]

Thats a shame albyd. The landscape around points seems to have certainly moved from Amex to Visa/Mastercard. Tough times for all us points collectors

 

[Robbo3]

Put $36k though the Explorer and was offered nothing....
Less put through Plat Edge and again nothing.

 

[scullkr]

My partner just called to cancel her Explorer after one year which had minimal spend on it (maybe $15k). We transferred out her points too and were pretty serious about cancelling as she is a supplementary on mine and I didn't believe there would be any bonus offered.

She declined downgrading to another card and when she specifically asked about a points bonus (just as the operator was in the process of cancelling the card) was offered 8,000. Better than nothing I suppose.

 

[Eh520]

Seems like it's a hit and miss on getting retention bonus. I've tried twice so far and none has been offered. Maybe I'll give it another try when I'm actually considering closing my amex explorer card...

 

[RAM]

Can someone remind me/correct me...

If you are only a supp on another card holder's account then you are eligible for the sign-up bonus once you've served your 18 months no Main account holder/card period?

 

[scullkr]

Can someone remind me/correct me...

If you are only a supp on another card holder's account then you are eligible for the sign-up bonus once you've served your 18 months no Main account holder/card period?

Yes that is my understanding- supplementary card holders are fine for the bonus

 

[Dr Ralph]

Can someone remind me/correct me...

If you are only a supp on another card holder's account then you are eligible for the sign-up bonus once you've served your 18 months no Main account holder/card period?

Definitely correct.

 

[Irishbazz]

Other half cancelled her explorer and edge yesterday minimal spend on both offered nada!

I called today to suss out cancelling my explorer and disappointed with the ease in which they were happy to assist me in cancelling!

$85k put through in eleven months, will call again once the annual fee posts at the end of the month and see if that makes a difference.

Both cards linked has anyone with linked accounts been offered a retention bonus or are they attempting to clear that glitch?

 

[go-getter.au]

I think they have read the forum.
PLAT EDGE since 2014. Called to cancel and got offer nothing.

 

[jbman]

I called, was offered a downgrade to a free AMEX. It was suggested to call back closer to the renew date which is end of month

 

[go-getter.au]

I called, was offered a downgrade to a free AMEX. It was suggested to call back closer to the renew date which is end of month

I called the same day when I saw annual fee posted.
They offered to downgrade to a zero annual fee card too