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

[daft009]

thank god im not paying $1450 AF, that would keep me up at night

But we've had free groceries & 4.5% cashback mid last year. Easier to justify the charge card than the explorer IMO

 

[foggy]

Anyone know if I can keep the points and still cancel the explorer card? I remember reading it somewhere in this thread but I cant find it now

 

[andye]

But we've had free groceries & 4.5% cashback mid last year. Easier to justify the charge card than the explorer IMO

Agree, I've easily recouped the Charge annual fee over the last 12 months (even before a smartphone screen claim)

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Anyone know if I can keep the points and still cancel the explorer card? I remember reading it somewhere in this thread but I cant find it now

What you can do is ask for a downgrade to the "Essential" card instead. The card looks like Explorer, but white, but has no annual fee and uses Membership Rewards, so you can keep all your MR points there.
If you're already on MR Gateway with Explorer, there'd be no change to what you can spend your points on or how many you'd need.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Agree, I've easily recouped the Charge annual fee over the last 12 months (even before a smartphone screen claim)

Ditto. I've got the Professionals version which is $1200 p.a. (was $950 before the most recent hike), and the annual fee has been covered with the $450 Plat travel credit + $400 Reserve credit + $400 grocery credit.

 

[Dave G]

Yep - maybe why I wasnt given any retention -
Have absolutely cleaned up on Amex this year. Used 2x travel credits + 2x $400 groceries. Cashed in 1M+ points during double double time
Let alone the rest....

 

[albyd]

Same. I didn’t even ask as I felt like Amex have done their best to help give us value for the AF while we can’t travel. Never hurts to ask but didn’t feel comfortable in doing so. Though last year got a token 10k MR points better than nothing but I think they know they have me as a customer. Max # of products allowed, been with them nearly 30 years (I feel old now) and had a big hoard of MR points.

would be interested in what triggers some of the amazing offers that have been posted in this thread. I’m assuming completely opposite Amex profiles to me might do it.

 

[SOPOOR]

Same. I didn’t even ask as I felt like Amex have done their best to help give us value for the AF while we can’t travel. Never hurts to ask but didn’t feel comfortable in doing so. Though last year got a token 10k MR points better than nothing but I think they know they have me as a customer. Max # of products allowed, been with them nearly 30 years (I feel old now) and had a big hoard of MR points.

would be interested in what triggers some of the amazing offers that have been posted in this thread. I’m assuming completely opposite Amex profiles to me might do it.

Like targeted marketing in general its never made sense to me

Some companies seem to target new users , some low users

I saw that with some Amex targeted offers where they made offers to one of my non used cards while at times they gave me 2 of the same in a few months

I received a retention offer a few years ago for annual fee but have been unsuccessful recent years, and one card had increased spend while the other had decreased

 

[albyd]

Likewise I've increased spend though only spend on my Charge card now. The other cards are dormant but apart from the odd Amex offer, nothing comes through on the inactive cards. Most have low or no AF so I don't have much reason to ask for a fee waiver. Last bonus I got was for my Reserve card which only has a $2K limit and I have it as the "Free" companion to my Charge. The operator i the offshore call centre just came out and offered the bonus without me asking - who was I to refuse?

 

[foggy]

What you can do is ask for a downgrade to the "Essential" card instead. The card looks like Explorer, but white, but has no annual fee and uses Membership Rewards, so you can keep all your MR points there.
If you're already on MR Gateway with Explorer, there'd be no change to what you can spend your points on or how many you'd need.

I went to online chat and he taught me a way to cancel myself online. For anyone else who wishes to know how to cancel the card after getting a retention offer, go to "Account Management" -> "Card Management" -> "Cancel Card Account"

 

[Mr_Orange]

I went to online chat and he taught me a way to cancel myself online. For anyone else who wishes to know how to cancel the card after getting a retention offer, go to "Account Management" -> "Card Management" -> "Cancel Card Account"

That only works for credit cards, I think, not charge cards.

 

[Poojou]

Likewise I've increased spend though only spend on my Charge card now. The other cards are dormant but apart from the odd Amex offer, nothing comes through on the inactive cards. Most have low or no AF so I don't have much reason to ask for a fee waiver. Last bonus I got was for my Reserve card which only has a $2K limit and I have it as the "Free" companion to my Charge. The operator i the offshore call centre just came out and offered the bonus without me asking - who was I to refuse?

I am about 75% hit rate with the non-aussie folk - I swear they're either more lenient or ... Just nicer about the offers etc? Do agree that obviously it's very computer says "give things" but hey, we can't know for sure!

 

[foggy]

That only works for credit cards, I think, not charge cards.

Yes, I don't see that option on my plat charge. Now to see if they will claw the retention bonus points back..

 

[Sapz]

Got 10K to keep my card PTC

 

[chowda85]

Question for those who have gone through the cancel and reactivate scenario, do you know how that may have impacted your companion card (eg. Platinum reserve) - does the reactivation mean you no longer get the travel credit given they don't offer it anymore to new holders?

 

[Sapz]

does the reactivation mean you no longer get the travel credit given they don't offer it anymore to new holders?

No, nothing is going to change. At least that's what I have been told

 

[Poojou]

Question for those who have gone through the cancel and reactivate scenario, do you know how that may have impacted your companion card (eg. Platinum reserve) - does the reactivation mean you no longer get the travel credit given they don't offer it anymore to new holders?

As Sapz said above, amex advised me that the cancellation is kind of "inside the machine" so nothing actually gets cancelled... Perse... - nothing happened to mine !!

 

[chowda85]

As Sapz said above, amex advised me that the cancellation is kind of "inside the machine" so nothing actually gets cancelled... Perse... - nothing happened to mine !!

Thank you both!

 

[DC3]

As Sapz said above, amex advised me that the cancellation is kind of "inside the machine" so nothing actually gets cancelled... Perse... - nothing happened to mine !!

So, some sort of magic box thingy at Manila?

 

[Poojou]

So, some sort of magic box thingy at Manila?

Perhaps haha! Or the postman doesn't have a chance to leave the building