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

[Philosiphier]

Just called to cancel my QANTAS Premium card - I've had this card 10+ years and every year have been offered bonus QFF points in lieu of having the $195 annual fee reversed.
This year - nothing at all.
Was offered a lower card or reduced interest rate but these are of no use to me.
Very disappointed, but went through with the cancellation.

 

[subichow]

My two amex cards line up with annual fees in the same month (next month). Called up to enquire about cancelling Velocity Plat card (and asked some other questions about picking up an Explorer in place of it i.e. no bonus). Phone agent offered 70k points to renew the Velocity Plat. Way more than I was expecting and I'll probably take it.

Last year I was offered 20k at renewal (choice of which card to put it on to as well), plus 36k Velocity points when they changed the earn rates as I preferred the old 1/2/3 points/$ tiers.

 

[ErTang]

Called to cancel my plat edge over the weekend - given 30k points but still have to pay annual fee.

 

[albyd]

That’s pretty good outcome. Just asked about my platinum Charge card. Offered nothing. Told I could downgrade to gold or green Charge cards.

Apparently retention offers are based on your spend (platinum Charge only been getting dining spend since I got Explorer.

Told they do look at aggregate spend and if you’ve received a retention bonus in the last 12 months.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Apparently retention offers are based on your spend

I don't believe that this is the only factor.

 

[a1ring23]

I've had my velocity platinum card for almost 4yrs, always offered a retention bonus - usually 23-36k in points every year since sign up, this year nothing at all. Going to cancel it then...

 

[tizey]

Plat charge and plat reserve both cancelled tonight... Nothing offeoff other than gold and green charge cards.

Our house feels so empty with only 1 active amex account. Big responsibilities there little explorer.

 

[daft009]

Plat charge and plat reserve both cancelled tonight... Nothing offeoff other than gold and green charge cards.

Our house feels so empty with only 1 active amex account. Big responsibilities there little explorer.

get the plantinum edge and get the awards linked with explorer. unbeatable combo! 2ppd for everything & 3ppd at supermarkets with the edge

 

[momad]

Wife was charged her second explorer annual fee so called yesterday to cancel her Explorer. Initially offered 2k points and 6 months interest free. 6 months interest free is useless as we fully pay off our bill each month. She asked for more points and the helpful guy said hang on and came back that he got approval to award 10k points. 10k for 395 annual fee and 400 credit sounds decent enough than waiting another 18 months for 100k. So she took up the offer.

 

[hillsdweller]

Spoke to AU customer service last week about cancelling a Platinum Charge card, annual fee had been charged but no retention bonus was offered. Tried again this week with the same result so card has been cancelled. I was allowed to combine the accumulated rewards points into the Ascent program, happy with that rather than having to transfer them to KrisFlyer.

 

[citrusb]

Just rang to cancel Amex Qantas card (payment due 5/3) and was offered 100k Qantas points to stay.....
said thank you very much and made on-line payment for the annual fees....
now just need to use the travel credit and it's turned out to be another good Amex year......

 

[Cynicor]

Nothing offered on my explorer

 

[foggy]

Nothing offered on my explorer

is yours also linked to the ascent program?

 

[Cynicor]

Yep

 

[daft009]

So people with linked rewards = no retention bonus?

 

[Dr Ralph]

So people with linked rewards = no retention bonus?

That's not correct I believe. At least not absolutely correct.

 

[foggy]

So people with linked rewards = no retention bonus?

I have a slight suspicion that is the case, but the sample size is not big enough to make that conclusion.
My Edge is coming up for renewal and will see if I get offered anything, although it is also linked to the ascent premium from the charge card.

 

[jbman]

Wife had single AMEX explorer not connected to any other MR program with zero offer made on cancel

 

[EestiTiger]

Hi team - doesn't appear there is too much luck these days with retention 'extra' points, but I am curious as to if they place any conditions on these 'extra' points? Do they require you to not close your card for a set period, or can you just ring up once the points have posted and cancel?

 

[edman]

Picked up 50k retention on my discounted $950 annual fee charge card last week. Happy to retain seeing as there is $700 travel credit.

Was happy to cancel seeing as PP is duplicated for me, and Virgin lounge access too. $250 for 50k points seems reasonable.