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

[knagelli]

Do you still have points before the 'closure'? Can you update if it can remain in there/no need to redeem points before this 'closure'?

As per my last discussion with Amex , if you were to cancel your card then you will need to either redeem them before closure or use them for outstanding charges on your account.

 

[DC3]

I did not experience account closure on my past points-offer acceptances, and the points remained in the account.

The points from my accepted offer posted in 24-48 hours, when processed properly. Also, whenever Manila phoned me, it showed as 02 prefix.

Posted just for information.

 

[blacksultan]

Called up to cancel Amex Edge account where Annual Fee was just posted. Was offered 200,000 points to keep the card open for another year.

Thank you very much, I shall accept.

For data point, I also have Amex Premium Credit Card (that I've had for last 3 years (bad churner!) which I have been using quite heavily, the Amex Edge I haven't been using much at all, and have only had for a year.

A lot of points don’t waste by converting in oz . Apply for a US Amex MR cars and then transfer there to get additional 50 % or 50 k points !

 

[QF_Flyer]

I only had less than a 500 points. The ability to redeem points is forfeited once your account is closed.

Don’t you get a period of time (30d I think) to do it after closure? I think you have to call, but they don’t die instantly, iirc.

 

[DC3]

Don’t you get a period of time (30d I think) to do it after closure? I think you have to call, but they don’t die instantly, iirc.

Yes, it’s 30 days for re-activation. However, some are being misled (by Manila). This is nothing new by the way. It’s been happening for at least the past two years.

 

[wxxnxs]

Called AMEX yesterday regarding DJ card to see if there's any initiation of deduction annual fee or incentive points due to Covid-19. Nope, nothing is on the table, only offered either keep the card or cancel. BTW, you can't do the product transfer for DJ AMEX card.

 

[benjy]

200k points posted on 16th. To my surprise, another 200k posted yesterday

wonder if they’ll be clawed back over the next few days

 

[Dr Ralph]

200k points posted on 16th. To my surprise, another 200k posted yesterday

wonder if they’ll be clawed back over the next few days

View attachment 230858

Cash out now!

 

[RAM]

200k points posted on 16th. To my surprise, another 200k posted yesterday

wonder if they’ll be clawed back over the next few days

View attachment 230858

Now exactly (including pauses) what did you say on the phone? And what day/time did you call?

 

[DC3]

200k points posted on 16th. To my surprise, another 200k posted yesterday ...

Now exactly (including pauses) what did you say on the phone? And what day/time did you call?

Put it down to incompetence at Manila.

Edit: Also, keep it quiet in case word gets back

 

[tinkybelle]

I just got annual fee debit any recent offers whats good time to call now Dont want to get Manila

 

[DC3]

I just got annual fee debit any recent offers whats good time to call now Dont want to get Manila

I sometimes got Sydney, at about 9.00am on weekdays. Maybe luck of the draw. HUACA?

 

[blacksultan]

200k points posted on 16th. To my surprise, another 200k posted yesterday

wonder if they’ll be clawed back over the next few days

View attachment 230858

Which card ?

 

[benjy]

Which card ?

Called up to cancel Amex Edge account where Annual Fee was just posted. Was offered 200,000 points to keep the card open for another year.

Thank you very much, I shall accept.

For data point, I also have Amex Premium Credit Card (that I've had for last 3 years (bad churner!) which I have been using quite heavily, the Amex Edge I haven't been using much at all, and have only had for a year.

 

[tinkybelle]

Last time i called they sent me to cancellations and cancelled it
is that what they are still doing i had outstanding flights insurance so had to keep it no offer given

 

[knagelli]

Last time i called they sent me to cancellations and cancelled it
is that what they are still doing i had outstanding flights insurance so had to keep it no offer given

Yes , that is what happened to me. I had to retain the card as I had some insurances and also have some planned trips in 2021 for which having the Amex Platinum Charge card will be a bonus.

I was not offered any retention bonus and was just asked to confirm if I wanted to be put through to someone in cancellations to process my request.

 

[M@rcoPolo]

Yes , that is what happened to me. I had to retain the card as I had some insurances and also have some planned trips in 2021 for which having the Amex Platinum Charge card will be a bonus.

I was not offered any retention bonus and was just asked to confirm if I wanted to be put through to someone in cancellations to process my request.

What a joke - at the end of the day some of the benefits of the Platinum Charge card are simply gone (eg access to VA lounges) others are borderline useless (eg Priority Pass) and others are much harder to redeem thanks to travel restrictions (eg travel credit, Accor Plus, etc). Big fail from Amex - it wouldn't take much to add other perks in lieu to ensure customer satisfaction doesn't go down the drain...

 

[andye]

I'd much rather Amex saved up their retention offerings (e.g the double points/double redemption and the supermarket credit) rather than hand out points to people threatening/pretending to cancel (realise this is against the ethos of this thread)

 

[DC3]

What a joke .... Big fail from Amex - it wouldn't take much to add other perks in lieu to ensure customer satisfaction doesn't go down the drain...

Like many big companies, Amex relies on apathetic/lazy customers to just leave things as they are. Probably the majority.

 

[Poojou]

In my past attempts at Amex Platinum Charge retention offers, some being successful and others not, my calls were picked-up in Manilla. It seemed to me that the information being provided was already indicated on their computer as the response was instantaneous. I got the impression that the Call Centre people were not decision makers, but just provided a robotic response, reading from the screen. They seemed to have no authority to make offers. However, others may have a different view on this.

I once asked "Did the computer say 'No' ", and it was confirmed as "Yes" (the computer said 'No'). After that, I ended up cancelling the card anyway, as I could see no real benefit in continuing to hold it. This was about 12 months after the devaluation.

There is a report or two about escalation with a good result, but whether that was due to incompetence/mis-understanding during the initial response, who knows?

Edited (to provide additional information)

So another interesting experience I had - I decided to call Amex via the number on the back of my card. Got put through to Manila.

Had a chat to the agent about my annual fee that just got posted, and whether she coudl waive any of the fees. She went away, then came back a few mins later and said she couldn't. She also said there were no additional offers on my card.

Sensning I was getting no where, I said "oh that's ok, maybe I'll call back to retention"

She then said to me, oh are you thinking of taking your business elsewhere?

I then spoke a a bit about me not being in Aus atm blah blah blah (I'm living in SEA atm) - and she then again asked "so does that mean you're thinking of cancelling"

To which I then replied - yeah I guess so.This set her off to put me on hold again to "check" if they could do anything - and sure enough she came back and said "If you keep your card for another 12m, we'll give you 200k points, how about that sir?" (she also said they'd be posted in ~3 biz days so will let you guys know)

To which I replied casually "sure, why not, thanks"

Seems that it's massively luck of the draw / agent's mood / how nice you are / mercury is in retrograde?

I have had Amex's for some years - i think my charge, reserve and plat edge are all "5 years old" almost - that may have been a part of this?

Happy hunting!