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

jules. said:
Do you have to go through the whole 'I want to cancel' rigmarole, or will the outcome be the same if you straight up ask for a retention offer?
My travel credit has been extended for 12 months so actually cancelling my card isn't an option for me unfortunately.
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I was actually intending to cancel, so I said "I'd like to cancel unless there's a retention offer". He then proceeded to do the cancellation, and as soon as it was cancelled told me that he could see the 30k points offer in the system.

Not sure what will happen if you ask for a retention offer only, but I'm guessing you'll be told to go through the rigmarole too. Reactivation after closure is immediate and doesn't involve a change of card.
 
Hi - I've just been charged the $1450 renewal fee for my Platinum Charge Card and judging by the responses on here AMEX doesn't seem interested in reducing the fee.
I wonder if members on here think this is a matter worth pursuing through fair trading (or other regulators for the finance industry?). AMEX are essentially advertising and charging for a product they are not delivering in terms of the travel benefits...
 
ole nimeton said:
I wonder if members on here think this is a matter worth pursuing through fair trading (or other regulators for the finance industry?).

AMEX are essentially advertising and charging for a product they are not delivering in terms of the travel benefits...
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Based on? The card is still there, you can still book all the hotels, in fact, the hotels would love you to book. You can still use your card to pay for gas electricity, water, still pays you points into whatever airline you want. Still had all the insurance on your shopping, say if you buy a bread maker.

What part of the contract is AE not honouring?
 
Chicken said:
Based on? The card is still there, you can still book all the hotels, in fact, the hotels would love you to book. You can still use your card to pay for gas electricity, water, still pays you points into whatever airline you want. Still had all the insurance on your shopping, say if you buy a bread maker.

What part of the contract is AE not honouring?
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AMEX specifically market this as a travel card, reflected in the fee, and they are not providing the travel related benefits.

While travel bans are in place, and perhaps beyond:
Virgin Lounge Access… totally useless.
Priority Pass… totally useless.
Hotel memberships, totally useless.
Travel insurance… totally useless.

Other uses of the card such as earning points and, well, paying bills. Any credit card can offer for much less than $1450. Most other businesses - If they can no longer provide the product or service advertised - they would either offer a suitable alternative or offer a refund under consumer law.

And, yes, perhaps I should just cancel the card. Don’t like my chances of getting the fee back, therefore AMEX has taken my money on the premise of advertising services they can not provide.
 
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Chicken said:
Based on? The card is still there, you can still book all the hotels, in fact, the hotels would love you to book. You can still use your card to pay for gas electricity, water, still pays you points into whatever airline you want. Still had all the insurance on your shopping, say if you buy a bread maker.

What part of the contract is AE not honouring?
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Book a hotel? Great, how do you go and stay in it?

Lounge membership - ermmm, can't travel.

You aren't paying the annual fee to buy ordinary goods and pay bills because you can do that with a fee free credit/charge card. The annual fee covers all the perks which are not currently useable.
 
ole nimeton said:
Hi - I've just been charged the $1450 renewal fee for my Platinum Charge Card and judging by the responses on here AMEX doesn't seem interested in reducing the fee.
I wonder if members on here think this is a matter worth pursuing through fair trading (or other regulators for the finance industry?). AMEX are essentially advertising and charging for a product they are not delivering in terms of the travel benefits...
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See my previous posts on this topic. It might be worth holding out to see what Amex come up with.

Keep in mind you have a 30 day grace period where you can cancel and get the fee refunded. I'd call up and note your unhappiness. Finally, no one is forcing you to keep the card. Cancel it and re-apply when things return to normal.
 
So I note today that Accor Plus are extending membership for 6 months due to Covid-19. Now given this is one of the Platinum Charge benefits that has a tangible value (Accor Plus member costs $395/year), one could argue that at a minimum the annual fee should be reduced for this period by at least $197.50.
 
I got no retention offer and only an offer to switch to a lesser card when I cancelled the Velocity Plat cards in our house. First time in more than a decade I haven't held an Amex.

I feel naked but oddly liberated :-) I'll feel lonely here in purgatory-ville too come shop small or the next decent cash credit offer (whenever that may be).
 
Slightly tangential, but it's always worth a question isn't it - I rang another provider the other day re my annual fee, and they told me no reduction quite firmly, but when I politely persisted, they reduced my fee in half - only a bit less than $200 saving, but still nice - can depend on the operator I guess as well other account details
 
Bell21 said:
.... I rang another provider the other day re my annual fee, and they told me no reduction quite firmly, but when I politely persisted, they reduced my fee in half ....
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Another provider? Sounds very mysterious, but happy for you.
 

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