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

[Quattro]

Is that policy or case by case?
I would assume ypu lose travel credit

Policy. Was advised when I called up asking to cancel.

 

[potm]

You won’t get the fee refunded if you’ve used the travel credit for the new year.

 

[Quattro]

You won’t get the fee refunded if you’ve used the travel credit for the new year.

Sorry, yes. Goes without saying though.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Is this the new retention policy?

+1 cancelled her Amex Ultimate card in October with the intention of sitting out the 18 month exclusion period. During the phone call, she advised the agent that she was cancelling because the fee was too high (well she could hardly tell them the real reason) so the agent suggested that she switch to an Amex Discovery card that has no fee. This took her a little by surprise and as we were heading overseas a few days later she accepted but the card didn't arrive before we departed.

On our return, she decided to activate the card anyway while we considered the new transfer rate changes.

Today, a letter has arrived offering her to upgrade to, wait for it.................

a Qantas American Express Ultimate Card! Yep, the same one that she cancelled in October and if she spends $3,000 in the next three months, she will receive 50,000 bonus points!!

Has anyone else received this offer? I can't see any mention of an exclusion period relating to her previous card(s) and there is only a simple form with no financial information required; so looks like a goer at this stage.

 

[tlam]

a Qantas American Express Ultimate Card! Yep, the same one that she cancelled in October and if she spends $3,000 in the next three months, she will receive 50,000 bonus points!!

In the letter, does it mention about the annual fee? Is it no annual fee or $395 for the new card?

 

[Jacques Vert]

In the letter, does it mention about the annual fee? Is it no annual fee or $395 for the new card?

As it's the Ultimate card it's $450 annual fee but comes with the $450 travel credit.

 

[lang_13]

Called up today to cancel Explorer. Went through and was then offered 30k points to reinstate. Was surprised as was never previously offered a retention bonus, and trust me I tried! Accepted as fee not due until September. Not huge spend - approx $2k pm.

 

[Quattro]

Called up today to cancel Explorer. Went through and was then offered 30k points to reinstate. Was surprised as was never previously offered a retention bonus, and trust me I tried! Accepted as fee not due until September. Not huge spend - approx $2k pm.

Hi Lang,
Thanks for the update.
What number did you ring and how did you start off the conversation?
Did you say you want to cancel the card? As above, apparently when you say cancel it's a no questions asked, they'll start the process to cancel it over the phone on the spot .

 

[lang_13]

Hi Lang,
Thanks for the update.
What number did you ring and how did you start off the conversation?
Did you say you want to cancel the card? As above, apparently when you say cancel it's a no questions asked, they'll start the process to cancel it over the phone on the spot .

Hi.

Called the number on back of card ... went to Australian call centre. Chose option to cancel card from menu. No questions asked ... went straight ahead and cancelled (was removed from apple pay etc) Only asked reason when done (said devaluation) and then got the “as you’ve been a customer for 4 years ....”

 

[Quattro]

Hi.

Called the number on back of card ... went to Australian call centre. Chose option to cancel card from menu. No questions asked ... went straight ahead and cancelled (was removed from apple pay etc) Only asked reason when done (said devaluation) and then got the “as you’ve been a customer for 4 years ....”

Thanks for that. Almost like they were testing you. I think maybe mentioning devaluation triggers something, as cancellation definitely doesn't.

I'll report back after I've called. I've got the PC.

 

[iishin]

Called up over AMEX Explorer

No offer of a retention bonus, no bonus points. But they talked about additional cardholders and the bonuses with that.

Made a point about the devaluation (which they label simply as changes, I mean, call a spade a spade jeez). No budging.

Hinted at the fact by asking when the next annual fee would be due, said quite blatantly that I will plan on cancelling before the due date which just so happens to be in April, since I honestly don't have a use case for the travel credit right now. Still nothing.

May actually call up to cancel next month. Here's to hoping.

 

[Quattro]

Called up over AMEX Explorer

No offer of a retention bonus, no bonus points. But they talked about additional cardholders and the bonuses with that.

Made a point about the devaluation (which they label simply as changes, I mean, call a spade a spade jeez). No budging.

Hinted at the fact by asking when the next annual fee would be due, said quite blatantly that I will plan on cancelling before the due date which just so happens to be in April, since I honestly don't have a use case for the travel credit right now. Still nothing.

May actually call up to cancel next month. Here's to hoping.

Hmm. How long have you been a cardholder?

 

[DC3]

Hi.

Called the number on back of card ... went to Australian call centre ...

Not sure how you were lucky enough to get the Oz Call Centre.

In past years my calls were always answered in Oz with good results (bonuses). However, this year it is always the Philippines. Never had any luck there.

 

[lang_13]

Not sure how you were lucky enough to get the Oz Call Centre.

In past years my calls were always answered in Oz with good results (bonuses). However, this year it is always the Philippines. Never had any luck there.

I get the impression from other ppl’s experiences in this thread that bonuses are system generated and the rep does not have any discretion regardless of location. Who knows? I can’t fathom the logic behind them ....

 

[DC3]

I get the impression from other ppl’s experiences in this thread that bonuses are system generated and the rep does not have any discretion regardless of location. Who knows? I can’t fathom the logic behind them ....

Unfortunately, I have been receiving conflicting information from the Philippines Call Centre. In the past, when Oz answered, I felt that the information provided was much more reliable.

 

[iishin]

Hmm. How long have you been a cardholder?

Just 11 months, so that might factor in. Or it could really be true that they can't offer any incentives at all anymore.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Called up over AMEX Explorer

No offer of a retention bonus, no bonus points. But they talked about additional cardholders and the bonuses with that.

Made a point about the devaluation (which they label simply as changes, I mean, call a spade a spade jeez). No budging.

Hinted at the fact by asking when the next annual fee would be due, said quite blatantly that I will plan on cancelling before the due date which just so happens to be in April, since I honestly don't have a use case for the travel credit right now. Still nothing.

May actually call up to cancel next month. Here's to hoping.

IME, Amex don't like giving the fee back once it's been charged. Again from experience, if you ring to cancel within a month of the fee being charged, they will refund the fee (when you cancel) provided you haven't used the travel credit. It may pay you to wait until the fee has been charged and then ring to say you are not happy with being charged the same fee when the value of your points is being halved. That's what I plan to do; of course no guarantees

I'll then go through and cancel and see if I get anything to reinstate; if not I'll use +1's card until the 18 months are up or look for a bank issued card I'll be doing this over the next month as my fee is due soon as well; I'll let you know how I go.

 

[theblank]

My annual fee is due in a few days on Plat Edge, been with them about 4 years, spend average $1400pm, and i never pulled the "im gunna cancel unless you give me free stuff" con, and I got nothing upon cancelling - thats life


Told them straight up I wasnt happy with the fact that they devalued the points AND moreso that they did not double mine like they have done with many others.

Then I told them I was happy to keep the card if they would accept my generous offer of waiving the Annual fee, and I would let them keep the travel credit. He laughed, saw straight through me as if I was a pane of glass. (i knew they cant accept that 'offer')

The guy - filipino was actually very good, I didnt carry on like a wanker, and he didnt give me any bullshizer either. He did try to convince me that Amex was the last one to devalue and still paid higher points than everyone else, and I agreed that he is right. But I calculated that cancelling this card is going to cost me in the vicinity of 6000 VF/KF points per annum - or in my money about $60. I'm fine with this, now I have more leverage to apply for new cards and get signup bonuses and come back to Amex in 18months. In the long run I am better off with a sabbatical from AMEX

 

[kooky]

I get the impression from other ppl’s experiences in this thread that bonuses are system generated and the rep does not have any discretion regardless of location. Who knows? I can’t fathom the logic behind them ....

From my own experience, the bonus amount appears system generated on the rep's screen after you cancel, at which point you can immediately reinstate. Put another way, if you ask the rep what bonus is on offer before cancelling, the answer given has been that the rep won't know until you cancel. Popular rumour has it that the bonus will be higher if cancelling within 30 days after the annual fee has been billed (i.e. where the ability exists to reverse the fee still).

 

[kooky]

My annual fee is due in a few days on Plat Edge, been with them about 4 years, spend average $1400pm, and i never pulled the "im gunna cancel unless you give me free stuff" con, and I got nothing upon cancelling - thats life

Told them straight up I wasnt happy with the fact that they devalued the points AND moreso that they did not double mine like they have done with many others.

Ask them to confirm for your own peace of mind that;
1. you get 30 days after the fee is charged to cancel, and, still get the fee refunded (provided the travel credit is not spent).
2. you can reinstate the card on the spot after cancelling

If Yes+Yes, you have a free go cancelling