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

[QF029]

I threatened to cancel today based on the end of the AFR subscription. Was hoping for 30k points and was offered 150k!

Average spend about $5k a month.

 

[DC3]

I threatened to cancel today based on the end of the AFR subscription. Was hoping for 30k points and was offered 150k!

Average spend about $5k a month.

Ah. Computer said ‘Yes’.

 

[kkl]

When is the annual fee charged ?

im 3 weeks past my anniversary date.

 

[momad]

When is the annual fee charged ?

im 3 weeks past my anniversary date.

Should be your next billing cycle

 

[nightelves]

I threatened to cancel today based on the end of the AFR subscription. Was hoping for 30k points and was offered 150k!

Average spend about $5k a month.

Wow that is monster!

 

[zig]

I phoned today to discuss the 'value' of the card given the erosion of benefits and the impact of travel restrictions on being able to use some of the existing benefits.
The operator acknowledged that points I raised and that the card was primarily a 'travel' card. She also said that there would be no additional benefits being added to the card. She tried to promote the lifestyle benefits such AFR subscription - removed I told her!
The only 'offers' made were - downgrade my card or add additional supplementary card holders for 5000 points. Very disappointing.
Not sure if I just got a 'dud' operator, and should HUCA, or just go straight to cancelling.

I have a couple of questions I know have been answered before, but I can't find the answers.

If I cancel, can the card be reinstated within 30 days if I have a change of mind? This used to be the case.
If I use the travel credit before I cancel will they try to get it back?

 

[glasszon]

I phoned today to discuss the 'value' of the card given the erosion of benefits and the impact of travel restrictions on being able to use some of the existing benefits.
The operator acknowledged that points I raised and that the card was primarily a 'travel' card. She also said that there would be no additional benefits being added to the card. She tried to promote the lifestyle benefits such AFR subscription - removed I told her!
The only 'offers' made were - downgrade my card or add additional supplementary card holders for 5000 points. Very disappointing.
Not sure if I just got a 'dud' operator, and should HUCA, or just go straight to cancelling.

I have a couple of questions I know have been answered before, but I can't find the answers.

If I cancel, can the card be reinstated within 30 days if I have a change of mind? This used to be the case.
If I use the travel credit before I cancel will they try to get it back?

Can't answer the question about reinstatement, but they will not claw back the travel credit, it just means they will not refund your annual fee.

 

[Bell21]

I actually find the whole 'computer says no / computer says yes' dynamic quite funny in some respects and I was on the losing end of it last year - will see how I go this year!

Definitely think you should HUCA @zig.

 

[QF029]

Wow that is monster!

I was asked why I took out the card and I said primarily for the bonus points (80k) but I didn't realise I wasn't eligible due to having a previous Amex less than 18 months before. Coincidentally the 150k is the current sign up bonus so maybe that was applied?

 

[nickfromeastryde]

Thinking about ringing up and cancelling but risk for me is that I am retired now so may not be able to successfully apply for new cards even with income well above 100K tax free. I like my Ultimate and put through 8-10K a month but a bit piss**d about how well new customers are being treated.

Fee should go through this charging period, any suggestions on how I should approach the conversation?

 

[jonboixxx]

Thinking about ringing up and cancelling but risk for me is that I am retired now so may not be able to successfully apply for new cards even with income well above 100K tax free. I like my Ultimate and put through 8-10K a month but a bit piss**d about how well new customers are being treated.

Fee should go through this charging period, any suggestions on how I should approach the conversation?

As mentioned above, discuss that your renewal is coming up and the benefits have declined. You're not sure about whether you want to continue, are there any changes coming to the card, is there a better card etc.
I have renewed my Reserve card the last 2 years at 200k points each year, despite spending very little on it (I also have 2x Business Charge). The retention points seem to vary depending on which card, what spend, who you get on the phone, what time of year.
They offered me 20k to keep my Explorer and I cancelled it.

 

[TravellingSquid]

Called up to cancel my explorer today. After reading the terms and conditions, they only offered to downgrade me to an Essential with $0 annual fee.

She said a points offer didn't trigger because I had already received some within the last 12 months. So it looks like I rang up a few months too early. Should've waited until the annual fee renewed. (This could be why some of you here don't receive anything so keep that in mind).

Will be keeping the card for a bit longer and try again. Worst case I waste my time

 

[kkl]

Called to cancel plat charge. Been a customer for 1 year.

$1mil+ spend for the year. 0 points offered

 

[Daver6]

Called to cancel plat charge. Been a customer for 1 year.

$1mil+ spend for the year. 0 points offered

Did you go through with the cancellation? To be fair, where else are you going to go that has uncapped earning?

 

[kkl]

didn’t go through with it. Got 3 more weeks to decide.

Did you go through with the cancellation? To be fair, where else are you going to go that has uncapped earning?

 

[benjy]

didn’t go through with it. Got 3 more weeks to decide.

You're not going to receive a points offer until you actually commit to cancel. Once you cancel, the computer will say yay or nay. If the computer says nay, you can always reinstate within 30 days

 

[jonboixxx]

didn’t go through with it. Got 3 more weeks to decide.

Yes I've used HUACA to good effect for Amex retentions.

 

[Daver6]

You're not going to receive a points offer until you actually commit to cancel. Once you cancel, the computer will say yay or nay. If the computer says nay, you can always reinstate within 30 days

That's only the case with credit cards. This was a charge card where they can and do offer points prior to committing to cancel.

 

[Skiddy_au]

Rang this morning to cancel a Qantas Ultimate. When asked said that reason was the annual fee didn't offer good value. Was offered 70,000 points, or a wavier of the annual fee, or a downgrade. Took the points.

Low spend, less than $10, 000 in the last year, but I have been carrying a balance, and therefore paying interest, which is why they may have wanted to keep me.

 

[momad]

Update on my previous call where I was offered the 400 credit or 10k points.

I was going to take the 400 credit but have now been told that credit only applies to new card applicants and I only have the 10k offer shown on the system.

very disappointed and will try calling again at a different time next week.

I’m wondering if the computer considers how many points you currently have. I have over 1m and it’s calculation might include this. Monthly spend around 5k but higher when we can actually travel.