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

[SOPOOR]

so I got a little positive news,
fee paid 1st feb
have called maybe 4 times since december, got told no retention bonus, no cannot reinstate

todays lovely philippino lady for a change, I told them I knew that some people were getting bonus after cancellation and getting reinstated,
she was shocked that I knew so much,
they said they could still refund the fee even though its been 1.5 months,
she even said she will resintate the card if I cancel,
so I cancelled, no retention bonus, but oh wait a minute, I got a message saying that I can give you 5,000 points,

not the number I was looking for, but I took it , am happy

edit: points credited and show up while I was online on the call to them too!

 

[DC3]

... but oh wait a minute, I got a message saying that I can give you 5,000 points,

not the number I was looking for, but I took it , am happy ...

Well at least you received an offer, however meagre.

Although the way that it was done seems like another inconsistency.

I off-loaded the Edge yesterday, after no points offer. Will be keeping the Charge and the Reserve (no offer) and re-assess early next year.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Well at least you received an offer, however meagre.

Although the way that it was done seems like another inconsistency.

I off-loaded the Edge yesterday, after no points offer. Will be keeping the Charge and the Reserve (no offer) and re-assess early next year.

I ditched my Reserve online so no chance of a retention offer.

Up next will be the Edge and Charge. I might try calling to see if there is anything on offer but, honestly, I'm not that bothered.

 

[SOPOOR]

for the record, I tried doing the whole cancel and reinstate thing with my second card, and got no retention bonus
as I wasnt sure if the reps could see activity on the other card unless I asked them to look

 

[Daver6]

I just had some luck with this. Just received my statement in the mail for the Plat Charge card and was reminded the annual fee fell due. I also remembered I have already used the travel credit so wasn't in the strongest of bargaining positions.

My approach was this. Said I noticed my annual fee was due. Fee is up, benefits down and is there anything that can be done to lesson the blow. She launched into how my points are protected as they will be doubled etc. Said I'm aware of all that, is there anything that can be done. She said to be honest, nothing can be done about the fee. I then said I'm aware I can cancel, check for bonus and re-instate, shall we do that dance? She said she wanted to put me on hold to see if there are any specials on offer. Two minutes later, 25k points offered and gladly accepted. Perfect timing before the devaluation occurs.

So at no time did I say I actually want to cancel the card. I made it pretty clear I was just looking for something to offset the increase annual fee/benefit devaluation.

I should add, I'm not a big spender on this card but my spending on it is very discretionary. Ie, restaurants and travel with the odd spend to make use of a cash back offer.

 

[Quattro]

I just had some luck with this. Just received my statement in the mail for the Plat Charge card and was reminded the annual fee fell due. I also remembered I have already used the travel credit so wasn't in the strongest of bargaining positions.

My approach was this. Said I noticed my annual fee was due. Fee is up, benefits down and is there anything that can be done to lesson the blow. She launched into how my points are protected as they will be doubled etc. Said I'm aware of all that, is there anything that can be done. She said to be honest, nothing can be done about the fee. I then said I'm aware I can cancel, check for bonus and re-instate, shall we do that dance? She said she wanted to put me on hold to see if there are any specials on offer. Two minutes later, 25k points offered and gladly accepted. Perfect timing before the devaluation occurs.

So at no time did I say I actually want to cancel the card. I made it pretty clear I was just looking for something to offset the increase annual fee/benefit devaluation.

I should add, I'm not a big spender on this card but my spending on it is very discretionary. Ie, restaurants and travel with the odd spend to make use of a cash back offer.

Did you call the number on the back of your card?

 

[DC3]

I just had some luck ....
Two minutes later, 25k points offered and gladly accepted ...So at no time did I say I actually want to cancel the card. I made it pretty clear I was just looking for something to offset the increase annual fee/benefit devaluation..

This is consistent with my recent experience. With the Charge (unlike credit cards I was told), they can see if you have an offer available without cancelling. No actual dance required, fortunately.

 

[Daver6]

Did you call the number on the back of your card?

Yes

 

[Quattro]

Yes

But of an update, called through today to Aus call centre by number on the back of card.

Nothing offered.
Advised he didn't need to cancel the card to see if points were available, as it's a charge card not a credit card.
Didn't want to speak to Manager or escalate etc.

 

[boomy]

Was offered 70k Altitude points to keep Westpac AMEX.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Was offered 70k Altitude points to keep Westpac AMEX.

WOW; I was offered nothing, zilch... First I heard of someone being offered a bonus to keep a Westpac Amex in recent times.

 

[boomy]

WOW; I was offered nothing, zilch... First I heard of someone being offered a bonus to keep a Westpac Amex in recent times.

It’s my first annual fee (had it for free the first year).
AMEX usually offer points to retain their cards after the first year. I got similar bonuses to keep Qantas, Explorer and Plat Charge. Can’t remember if Velocity offered anything, it was a while ago since I canceled that card.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Was offered 70k Altitude points to keep Westpac AMEX.

Interesting as I have 2 and the wife has 1.

I had mainly been keeping them to milk the cahkback offers when they come up.

 

[yzstyle]

Plat Charge Card

Called customer service using number on back of card regarding separate matter, annual fee ($1450) charged in Jan, asked whether there were anything to offset upcoming devaluation and higher annual fee. On hold and came back with 10k in MR points. Accepted and point landed in account before COB same day.

Better than nothing =)

 

[Demonoid]

I called to cancel my AMEX Explorer, and was not even asked why I wanted to cancel. Just so happened that my anniversary date coincided with the points devaluation date so she promptly refunded my annual fee. Right at the end, before she finalised the cancellation, she asked me if I wanted to accept her "offer" of converting to the coughpy no annual fee card, and save myself the application. I said thanks but no thanks. Was not expecting any points or annual fee waiver offer to be honest. So goodbye AMEX...well for at least 18 months

 

[kelvedon]

Was offered 70k Altitude points to keep Westpac AMEX.

That’s impressive. Were you putting much through it to make you so valuable to them ?

 

[boomy]

That’s impressive. Were you putting much through it to make you so valuable to them ?

Not at all. Got this card with 40k Altitude points offer plus no annual fee for the first year and didn’t use it much.
Luckily the Amex system calculate retaining points offer based on combined spend across all cards.

 

[jakxon]

Plat Charge Card

Called customer service using number on back of card regarding separate matter, annual fee ($1450) charged in Jan, asked whether there were anything to offset upcoming devaluation and higher annual fee. On hold and came back with 10k in MR points. Accepted and point landed in account before COB same day.

Better than nothing =)

I called up... trying to get the same offer.

Unfortunately I was not offered 10k MR points. This is what I was offered: keep the points you have on April 15th 2019 in your AmEx account, and they will match those points by June 15 2019. For example, if you had 10k points on April 15th, you will have 20k points all up by June 15.

 

[ms1]

Was reading through this thread and decided to have a crack. I contacted them through the online chat and mentioned I am thinking about cancelling as the annual fee is has increased, redemption rates are changing and benefits have reduced. Asked if they can do anything or else I will cancel. Came back a minute later and said I do not have any offer available. I literally would've been happy with 5k. I was quite shocked and peeved that nothing was offered so I told him to cancel. He told me I'm a valued platinum customer and I should ring a 1800 number for dedicated platinum members and maybe they could do something and that he would leave notes on the account about the conversation.

I rang the number and spoke to someone in Australia and told them about the conversation and went with the same angle that the annual fee has gone up, benefits are reducing and redemptions are changing. She acknowledged that the redemptions are worse off than current rates. She was giving me a list of benefits which should offset the annual fee increase but I responded that none of the benefits were new and the only real benefit was the increased travel credit which I didn't even use last year. She insisted that the annual fee cannot be reduced as it wouldn't be fair to other cardholders blah blah blah so I directly asked her what she can do for me right now, annual fee aside to stop me from cancelling.


"We can offer you 70k bonus points for your loyalty"
Wtf "Did you say 7k?"
"No sir, I said 70k"
*Trying not to show too much excitement* "ok I accept and I will reassess the annual fee in another years time". Checked the account 5mins after the call and points had already appeared.

LOL. Anyway, good win for me. Very unexpected. As I said I would've been happy with 5k.

 

[blacksultan]

Was reading through this thread and decided to have a crack. I contacted them through the online chat and mentioned I am thinking about cancelling as the annual fee is has increased, redemption rates are changing and benefits have reduced. Asked if they can do anything or else I will cancel. Came back a minute later and said I do not have any offer available. I literally would've been happy with 5k. I was quite shocked and peeved that nothing was offered so I told him to cancel. He told me I'm a valued platinum customer and I should ring a 1800 number for dedicated platinum members and maybe they could do something and that he would leave notes on the account about the conversation.

I rang the number and spoke to someone in Australia and told them about the conversation and went with the same angle that the annual fee has gone up, benefits are reducing and redemptions are changing. She acknowledged that the redemptions are worse off than current rates. She was giving me a list of benefits which should offset the annual fee increase but I responded that none of the benefits were new and the only real benefit was the increased travel credit which I didn't even use last year. She insisted that the annual fee cannot be reduced as it wouldn't be fair to other cardholders blah blah blah so I directly asked her what she can do for me right now, annual fee aside to stop me from cancelling.


"We can offer you 70k bonus points for your loyalty"
Wtf "Did you say 7k?"
"No sir, I said 70k"
*Trying not to show too much excitement* "ok I accept and I will reassess the annual fee in another years time". Checked the account 5mins after the call and points had already appeared.

LOL. Anyway, good win for me. Very unexpected. As I said I would've been happy with 5k.

Will this possibly be available for explorer/platinum edge?