Annual fee [waived when 'threatening' to cancel?]

[akky]

Hi anyone had any luck getting full refund of the annual fee when threatening to cancel the card.

 

[GSP]

Just an update to my previous post. It turns out the waiving of the fees is not straight forward. I ended up with the $169 fee as a transaction which then landed on a statement due 1 December. I rang up and was told that the fee "has" to go through and only after payment of the fee they reverse it, so I have to pay my statement of $169 on 1 December (have no other trans as I paid the previous balance out) and then wait until 6 December for my account to be credited $169. Went around in circles for a while to no avail as the strange process also mentioning that wasn't the process explained in the original phone call. Oh well, will have to wait for the credit.

 

[significance]

I called to cancel my card on Friday, just before the annual fee was due. After running through all the benefits I’d be missing out on, I said I still wanted to cancel (unless they waived the fee), and they (sounding slightly cynical) immediately offered to halve the fee. I said “no”, I still wanted to cancel. The “solutions manager” said she needed to speak with her manager, and came back with authority to waive the fee “as a one off”. I’m sure it will be a one-off, because I have cancelled all the direct debits that made the bulk of my spend, and have transferred them to another card.

 

[ozflier]

I

I called to cancel my card on Friday, just before the annual fee was due. After running through all the benefits I’d be missing out on, I said I still wanted to cancel (unless they waived the fee), and they (sounding slightly cynical) immediately offered to halve the fee. I said “no”, I still wanted to cancel. The “solutions manager” said she needed to speak with her manager, and came back with authority to waive the fee “as a one off”. I’m sure it will be a one-off, because I have cancelled all the direct debits that made the bulk of my spend, and have transferred them to another card.

I did not get as good a deal but the annual fee has been reduced for the next 12 months.

 

[DerekG]

I
I called to cancel my card on Friday, just before the annual fee was due. After running through all the benefits I’d be missing out on, I said I still wanted to cancel (unless they waived the fee), and they (sounding slightly cynical) immediately offered to halve the fee. I said “no”

They should of thought about this before halving the points earning rate. I'm canceling mine today. I've organised another card & so will simply say "please cancel & don't waste my time further .......... I could be cleaning my teeth".

 

[DerekG]

I cancelled my card today over the phone. The lady was polite & made sure she conveyed all the positives about this card. She offered me 1000 bonus QFF points ............... but I said no thanks, the card is no longer competitive in the market place. www.pointhacks.com.au list plenty of other cards with a much better earn rate.

 

[wrcmad]

I called to cancel my card on Friday, just before the annual fee was due. After running through all the benefits I’d be missing out on, I said I still wanted to cancel (unless they waived the fee), and they (sounding slightly cynical) immediately offered to halve the fee. I said “no”, I still wanted to cancel. The “solutions manager” said she needed to speak with her manager, and came back with authority to waive the fee “as a one off”. I’m sure it will be a one-off, because I have cancelled all the direct debits that made the bulk of my spend, and have transferred them to another card.

Called to cancel this card during the week as annual fee due in one weeks time, and got a very similar run down of all the benefits.
First offer was to halve the annual fee.
Second offer was to waive annual fee.
Third offer was to waive annual fee + 2000 QFF points credited to my account.

 

[DerekG]

First offer was to halve the annual fee.
Second offer was to waive annual fee.
Third offer was to waive annual fee + 2000 QFF points credited to my account.

Sounds like more people are leaving than they believed would when they dreamed up the halving of points. Those that stay will only be doing so because they can't be bothered looking for a better card.

 

[New Chump]

Just got a fee waiver.

Didnt push for the +2000 QFF points, due to scarring from my poor negegotiating skills in the past:Woolworths Qantas Credit Card Canceled letter.

NC

 

[dmgale1960]

I requested cancellation and got the spiel including a run down of ‘what a great card it is’ and questioning why I would want to cancel given the great benefits.

When I still wanted it cancelled they offered no fee for the next 12 months. When I didn’t accept the offer they closed the account- finally. No offer of 2000 points but I’m not sure that would be enough for me to have kept it anyway.

 

[Des1801]

I called up today to cancel (finally got around to it). They offered 2,000 QF points for me to stay. Thought about taking it and then calling back in a month to cancel after the points posted but thought that might be a bit cheeky. Hence, went through with the cancellation

 

[fifo]

Called up today to ask for fee waiver as i dont use the card that much. got a 50% fee waiver. last yr was 100% and the yr bfr was ~70% I had to pay the rewards fee only of 55ish. was very polite about it all, no issues. I do however NOT use the card that much as i've been living overseas, so its kind of valid.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Mine was also due back in Jan.

I couldn't justify the fee so cancelled and went with the Qantas Premier Everyday Credit Card, $49 annual fee.

 

[fifo]

Mine was also due back in Jan.

I couldn't justify the fee so cancelled and went with the Qantas Premier Everyday Credit Card, $49 annual fee.

How many QFF points per dollar does that earn?

 

[Kangarucci]

Husband phoned yesterday and told the customer service rep. that he wanted to cancel our card, (hoping that they would offer the annual fee waived). "No problem. You will have to settle the account and then I can cancel it for you".

No offer whatsoever or pass you through to someone else. It was cut and dry.

Phoned back in 20 minutes, to spoke to another customer service rep. and said that we were thinking of closing the account but would keep it open if they would waive the annual fee. It was clearly asked to us if we wanted the fee waived. With our reply of yes, we were put through to someone else who reiterated "So you want the fee waived?". We were given all the pros of the card and it was implied that this would be our last time that the fee would be waived. (We have been doing this for at least 4 years).

On reading another thread on this site, it states that from Jan 1, they cannot suggest or entice you by offering fee waivers if you specifically request to have your credit card cancelled.

Much, much difficult than in previous years.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Much, much difficult than in previous years.

Due to the banking royal commission.

 

[New Chump]

Husband phoned yesterday and told the customer service rep. that he wanted to cancel our card, (hoping that they would offer the annual fee waived). "No problem. You will have to settle the account and then I can cancel it for you".

No offer whatsoever or pass you through to someone else. It was cut and dry.

Phoned back in 20 minutes, to spoke to another customer service rep. and said that we were thinking of closing the account but would keep it open if they would waive the annual fee. It was clearly asked to us if we wanted the fee waived. With our reply of yes, we were put through to someone else who reiterated "So you want the fee waived?". We were given all the pros of the card and it was implied that this would be our last time that the fee would be waived. (We have been doing this for at least 4 years).

On reading another thread on this site, it states that from Jan 1, they cannot suggest or entice you by offering fee waivers if you specifically request to have your credit card cancelled.

Much, much difficult than in previous years.

You had more luck than me. I called a number of times before my annual fee fell due recently, and the best I could get was 1000 bonus QF points. They would not waive the annual fee, or even part of it, which they have in previous years.

I can still get some value out this card with a big family shop @ 10% off each month (effectively 15% off paying with egift cards), but it is now so marginal that this will be last year I keep this card.

Macquarie taking over this card has not been positive for the last of the cardholders.

NC

 

[DerekG]

Yep, Macquarie Bank taking over resulted in almost doubling the annual card fee & halving the points earning.

It has (presumably) been good for Macquarie's shareholders but bad for their cardholders.

 

[EELS]

I forgot to cancel my NAB signature card which was due for renewal in June and only remembered after seeing the charges in my latest statement. I called them up asking if they would waive the fee but they said no as they had waived it the first year during the whole missing qantas points debacle. I said I'd cancel the card then as it is my fault for forgetting to cancel the card and then was told that the annual fee would be refunded while processing the cancellation. They rather I cancel the card than waive the annual fee. Good outcome for me but I thought they would've preferred to retain me as a customer.