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

[Ktan89]

I had no offers when i cancelled my Velocity Plat card earlier this year. Now it's time to evaluate the missus Velocity Platinum next week and want some pointers. She is happy to pay the annual fee since we already have plans to use the free flight straight away but I would like to get some bonus points out of it.

What has other Velocity plat cards holders received recently and what has worked when you called up?
Reading through some previous posts, i've gathered she needs to call during AUS business hours, speak to an onshore CSA and do not mention the work "cancelation".. anything else?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

and do not mention the work "cancelation".. anything else?

Well you will have to cancel to get the offer. Trick is to discuss with the agent first that to KEEP the card that you need a good offer like a points bonus etc.

They will then advise that under the new rules that they cannot offer you anything to keep the card.

You then mention the cancel word, and straight after cancelling if you are eligible as the agent knows that you are keen on an offer they will then offer you something to re-open the card (if you are eligible. I just dd this twice within a fortnight, though on another type of Amex to yours.

 

[albyd]

What happens if there is no offer and you otherwise didn’t intend to cancel that card? Will they let you reinstate it for ‘change of mind’?

Spoke to an Amex rep in Australia last week who said they could be reinstated within a certain period (I think it’s greatly reduced to what previously applied).the reps from offshore call centers say the same thing as the bank reps now say which is once it’s cancelled, you’ll have to re-apply.

 

[Dr Ralph]

What happens if there is no offer and you otherwise didn’t intend to cancel that card? Will they let you reinstate it for ‘change of mind’?

You have been permitted to reinstate the cancelled card.

 

[Poojou]

HUACA until you get the Oz Call Centre (daytime only), in my opinion. Overseas = often useless. Polite, but useless.

I tend to disagree here, I've tried to cancel my Westpac black amex twice now, first time they threw 100k points at me to not cancel it, the second time after me saying "well I guess there are no offers" the cusrep said she'd give me 50k points to keep it.

Quite a nice little racket haha, and all done through the 'useless' overseas cc.

Mirroring mikedesign's experience, I do however hold a plat charge, edge and reserve so that may have helped?

 

[DC3]

... Quite a nice little racket haha, and all done through the 'useless' overseas cc.

Mirroring mikedesign's experience, I do however hold a plat charge, edge and reserve so that may have helped?

We all base our comments on personal experience, don’t we, as I have done, and you likewise? There are always winners and losers with these things. I have experienced some woeful Customer Service Officers and others that are quite good and actually engage, rather than only being able to interact using a script.

We can read plenty about some of the very ordinary Call Centre staff in various posts.

And welcome to AFF and hope that you stay around.

 

[Poojou]

We all base our comments on personal experience, don’t we, as I have done, and you likewise? There are always winners and losers with these things. I have experienced some woeful Customer Service Officers and others that are quite good and actually engage, rather than only being able to interact using a script.

We can read plenty about some of the very ordinary Call Centre staff in various posts.

And welcome to AFF and hope that you stay around.

Thanks for the welcome DC3!!

Very well put! I wholeheartedly agree. Just thought the thread has tended to I think overemphasise the importance of speaking to the Australian call centre

My other tip is, I'd call the highest or most prestigious card number you currently hold (ie call the platinum line if you hold one) - every little but helps.

Good Hunting everyone!

 

[WeeWillyWonka]

Spoke to an Amex rep in Australia

How do I get through to a AUD call centre? I've called before 4pm (AEDT) but have been connected to The Philippines or somewhere similar.

 

[DC3]

How do I get through to a AUD call centre? I've called before 4pm (AEDT) but have been connected to The Philippines or somewhere similar.

No guarantees with where you'll end up. I've read where AMEX Oz starts by about 9.00am (until 5-ish, M-F)(AEDT). Manila seem to be awake most of the time. A bit of luck involved with this. If you have no time constraints HUACA.

Edit: Rewritten (for content)

 

[maia200]

I cancelled two of my credit cards this week - one of them being the Amex Qantas Ultimate and never received an incentive not to cancel my card. My $450 renewal had already been charged and this was reversed without a problem as it was within the 30days required. I still have two Qantas point earning credit cards and will sit out the wait period so I can apply in 18months or so.

 

[shift6]

My experience. One call only.
- AMEX Platinum Edge held for ~5years
- Called up in the month the annual fee is due
- Called during a weekend evening. Suspect I was routed to an offshore call centre
- Requested to cancel and asked if any incentives/offers available. Checked and said no.
- Gave reason for cancelling was due to an uncompetitive points program
- Immediately after cancelling, offered 40,000 MR to reinstate when the rep checked available offers

 

[albyd]

Sorry if I've missed it, I'm coming up to my Explorer AF. My intention is to put it on ice and convert it to Essentials if they'll let me. I was using it heavily in the lead up to the April Deval but have since been using my Charge. Given I received no Shop Small offers on it, I was thinking of doing the conversion now. Would my chances of getting a retention bonus be better now (less months since significant spend which ceased in April) or after the AF statement is issued next month. I don't want to cancel it, just put it on ice. If They cancel it and there is no retention offer, will I be able to reinstate it or will I need to reapply if I want it back?

 

[Ewing]

Offered 100,000 MR points to keep my Platinum card this week.

Told them if it was still at the old 1:1 conversion to Qantas I'd accept, but not at the new rate. Card cancelled.

 

[DeKa]

I had Platinum Edge and Explorer.
I cancelled Platinum Edge earlier in the year (after the devaluation in April).

I kept the Explorer until today .. the annual fee is due next week. I tried the “I’m consolidating credit cards” talk track seeking an offer. Nothing was forthcoming as expected, so I talked about how important points earn was for me. The agent said they couldn’t advise if there was any offer until after I cancelled the card.

I then said I wasn’t going to retain the card, so we may as well process the cancellation.
There was no offer, so that’s it. I gave feedback that I cancelled due to the devaluation in April this year.

 

[zig]

Offered 100,000 MR points to keep my Platinum card this week.

Told them if it was still at the old 1:1 conversion to Qantas I'd accept, but not at the new rate. Card cancelled.

Was the offer made before, or after you cancelled?

 

[Ewing]

Was the offer made before, or after you cancelled?

Before

 

[DC3]

Was the offer made before, or after you cancelled?

zig, with the Charge card you do not need to cancel first, and then ask about an offer. They can tell you if there's an offer, upfront. It's not a credit card.

 

[zig]

zig, with the Charge card you do not need to cancel first, and then ask about an offer. They can tell you if there's an offer, upfront. It's not a credit card.

When I last tried to wrangle some bonus points on the Charge card I was told that I would need to go through to cancellation. Thanks for confirming that this isn't the case. I'll be better prepare when I try again.

 

[DC3]

When I last tried to wrangle some bonus points on the Charge card I was told that I would need to go through to cancellation. Thanks for confirming that this isn't the case. I'll be better prepare when I try again.

Manilla? HUACA

Edit: Content

 

[zig]

Manilla? HUACA

Edit: Content

Will definitely do that next time, although I'm pretty sure I got the Australian call centre.