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

[Plutonus]

Put through ~$70k on Platinum Reserve, called to cancel. Offered nothing.

Meanwhile on the Velocity Platinum they have a cancellation option on the menu, probably spend $10k on that and was offered 25k points to keep.

Is there a retention team for all cards? Are the regular CSRs just not able to offer anything?

Also FYI regarding the annual fee I was told there's a 30 day 'cooling off period' after you pay the fee to have it refunded in full (if you haven't used the travel credit).

 

[Kimster]

One data point that is doing circles amongst people that I know is the fact to ring AMEX during weekends. The overseas staff of one nationality seem to be amenable to offering some bonus points.

 

[jbman]

I called on the weekend and was offered the downgrade as stated above

 

[Irishbazz]

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

Yup, they sure do!

I have come to terms with cancelling both cards at the end of the month and concentrating on Virgins offer at the minute.

 

[tinkybelle]

I have the plat charge and the plat business so 2700 in fees. i called to ask about a free plat as I am paying 1500 for biz they said no and no points so i will cancel the biz card in december.

 

[SoftDraw]

I called up today to cancel my Qantas Amex and was offered 70k - put about 40k a year on it.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I called up today to cancel my Qantas Amex and was offered 70k - put about 40k a year on it.

Anything special you said to them?

 

[Irishbazz]

Had to report a lost plat edge on Sunday and tried the overseas team for the retention bonus for the explorer and again nothing offered outside of downgrade to a low fee card.

 

[SoftDraw]

Anything special you said to them?

I wasn’t expecting to be offered a bonus so just said “I’m calling to cancel my card today”. I think they have become aware of people fishing for points saying things like “I’m thinking of cancelling” or “what can you offer me”.

Mrs SoftDraw called to cancel our explorer and wasn’t offered anything so hung up. She’s going to try again tomorow. Will report back.

 

[prozerran]

When I called, the call centre worker said he will check the computer system to see if there was any offers - and the answer was no there was no offers. So it is not a random number but a predetermined number. Unless the person has authority to approve bonus amounts

 

[flaketron]

My $195 annual fee for my Platinum Edge posted yesterday(thought it wasn't due until Feb!).

Rang AMEX and asked if there were any retention incentives for me to not cancel and was offered 15,000 points - said they couldn't waive the annual fee unless I cancelled the card.

I have only used the card recently for the Shop Small and in recent AMEX offers so yearly spend has been very low.

Will call them back today to accept that offer.

 

[Plutonus]

Called back today to take up Velocity Platinum retention offer, speaking to Australian based consultant, and without prompting words were to the effect of computer is saying no retention offer is available to you. After five minutes on hold came back and said they would have to manually post the points because no offer is showing.

Maybe there really is different offers available to consultants in different locations...

 

[Lawrage]

Called up to cancel both the Explorer and the Charge and was offered 20k points each so 40k in total to keep both cards.

Pretty happy with that.

Wife called to cancel her Explorer (no spend on it at all in the last 12 months) and nothing offered. Card cancelled.

 

[Simsy85]

Well I can't complain - I called them up with every intent of moving to the QF 75k offer - they asked me if another 100,000 points would help? I said yes.

The bloke on the phone said he'd never seen that many points generate as a loyalty offer before and that he was amazed. I'll post a pic when it converts/appears.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Well I can't complain - I called them up with every intent of moving to the QF 75k offer - they asked me if another 100,000 points would help? I said yes.

The bloke on the phone said he'd never seen that many points generate as a loyalty offer before and that he was amazed. I'll post a pic when it converts/appears.

Did you ring before the fee was due or after it had been charged to your account?

 

[Cynicor]

Well I can't complain - I called them up with every intent of moving to the QF 75k offer - they asked me if another 100,000 points would help? I said yes.

The bloke on the phone said he'd never seen that many points generate as a loyalty offer before and that he was amazed. I'll post a pic when it converts/appears.

I have heard of this once recently form a friend in a forum, who spends very little on the card. Weird.

 

[Plutonus]

FYI Amex now appears to allow maximum of four credit card products.

I called to change card products from Velocity to Explorer after online chat said it could be done, and they told me I need to apply again. I said won't it reject because that would place me over maximum. She put me on hold and checked with sales team who said the maximum is now four credit products.

As an aside I still don't know why they make it so difficult to change products.

 

[wxxnxs]

FYI Amex now appears to allow maximum of four credit card products.

I called to change card products from Velocity to Explorer after online chat said it could be done, and they told me I need to apply again. I said won't it reject because that would place me over maximum. She put me on hold and checked with sales team who said the maximum is now four credit products.

As an aside I still don't know why they make it so difficult to change products.

I won't trust online chat answers, as all of online chat are based in Philippines, they have no clue about the financial rules in here. I used to get told there's no limit of AMEX products I can have at the same time, then later on got told maximum 3, and once I got OZ call centre, was told clearly and firmly, max 2 different products at the same time.

 

[tlam]

I won't trust online chat answers, as all of online chat are based in Philippines, they have no clue about the financial rules in here. I used to get told there's no limit of AMEX products I can have at the same time, then later on got told maximum 3, and once I got OZ call centre, was told clearly and firmly, max 2 different products at the same time.

You are right, do not trust the chat team. I have 2 Amex cards ( Explorer and Edge) and wanted to apply thr DJ card when it has 50k promotion. The chat team told me that there is no problem as the DJ card is a completely different product, I can apply it and it won’t count the 2 cards policy. I applied and got a call next day by an agent in Sydney asked me to cancel one of the cards if I want to apply the DJ card.

 

[Jacques Vert]

I'm looking for advice from those members of the brain's trust with experience canceling a DJ Amex card.

My annual fee becomes due around 28/12 and I'm intending to cancel the card (and use +1's card while I wait out the 18 month exclusion period).

From reading this thread, it seems that the best chance of being offered some bonus points to keep the card is to wait until after the fee posts to my account before I ring to cancel. If I do this, and they don't offer me anything worthwhile, and I then cancel the card, will they refund the fee? Either the whole fee of pro-rata?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

JV