Earth Platinum Card - annual fee waived?

[anders]

what number should you call? ive had no such luck this morning

I called 1300 360 766 (the number that comes up on the application pages) and not 1300 550 496, which is the ordinary Earth sales desk.

 

[djfuzz]

Sorry mate, they were lying. It really is up to the individual consultant you get on the phone.

I got the whole fee waived for the next year about 3 weeks ago. My spend is well under $40k (probably around $25k, haven't really looked) but I do pay my bill in full every month.

First offer was half-price, I said "Thanks, but I still don't think it's worth it to me, I'll just speak to cancellations." Then a "Senior card supervisor" took the call and offered to waive it. The trick is to just be really nice, and tell them you really like the card, but just can't justify the annual fee (which in my case was true).

Cheers,
- Febs.

Didn't really want to hang on to our Earth Platinum card (but having the MC didn't hurt), so we gave this method a go Febs - we must have got a totally useless consultant, because although we'd been previously offered $125, no attempt was made to keep us (>$50k spend, usually paid on time but they did catch us off guard a little one month so they collected a small amount of interest). Even dropped a few pointed (but nice and undemanding) hints, but they just went straight through the process and cancelled it.

In any case, there do appear to be other better offers around, so we have moved on and won't really miss it.

 

[YQY]

I got the annual charge on my card waived on Tuesday. I rang the 1300 number at the back of the card and was put through to retentions. They looked up my spending over the last year (approx $100K) and waived my annual charge - I was on the phone for less than 10 mins.

 

[WA flyer]

I got the annual charge on my card waived on Tuesday. I rang the 1300 number at the back of the card and was put through to retentions. They looked up my spending over the last year (approx $100K) and waived my annual charge - I was on the phone for less than 10 mins.

I did the same on the anniversary of mine in November. I initially only got 50% of over the phone but had the balance reduced after speaking to my "business manager" at Westpac.

I've not really used the card since as I prefer the flexibility of the Amex Plat. For a Qantas Amex the Ultimate is probably a better option if you can get the fee reduced or free as you can get a free annual flight.

 

[greenfrog86]

I just called up to get my Plat card annual fee waived and it was particularly easy...When asked why I was cancelling I said that I didn't think the $250 annual fee was meeting my needs.Operator asked if we could have a chat about it before cancelling and I said yes if she thought she might be able to do something for me - we discussed how I was happy with the service and concierge and that it was really just the fee that made me want to cancel.It is due in September this year and she said she would push it back until next year giving me 14 months or so before it was up again - even mentioned that they could review it again at that point...I'm ok with paying fees where I receive a good service as I understand the concept (working for a bank myself) however in this case I get an almost free plat card from my bank and mostly use a MR Amex Plat card so this is really just a back up card...Give it a go if you think you're card isn't representing good value...

 

[bdl]

rang up to cancel and was offered half price for life... I said that wasn't good enough and managed to get one year free then half price for the life of the card after that...

bdl

 

[Lawlass]

I just rang up about an offer I received to upgrade to Earth Platinum from Earth Gold. The offer is 1.5 QFF points per $1 spend and half price fee in the first year.

I was told that if you do an $18K spend per annum, the fee on Plat is automatically waived. (I do far in excess of that)

I pointed out that the offer stated the first year half fee would be charged as soon as my balance was transferred from the Gold card and the representative told me he would put a note on my file that the fee was not to be charged, or reversed if it was automatcially charged. Thereafter, he said, the fee would be waived annually provided I make a minimum $18K spend.

Given the .5 extra points per dollar and the concierge service, it seems like a no-brainer to me

 

[rory breaker]

Has anyone managed to get the annual fee waived for the Earth Platinum card? I have managed to get it wavied for the Amex Rewards Maximiser card, however given the Earth brand is via westpac, are the banks as generous?

Got ours waived today.

Called about 4 weeks ago and asked for standard card fee to be waived - answer was no even though I'd spent >50K in 8 months with them.

So, I applied and got a Wollies card, called today and asked for the fee to be waived because I was canceling the card and using the wollies one - hey presto they waived the fee, and I asked for an upgrade to Platinum - too easy - yes thanks. My spend is now over 70K for the last 9 months.

 

[WA flyer]

I canned mine last week as I don't use it.
I did get it for free, but haven't used it since receiving a free Ultimate card from Amex.

 

[kdser]

No luck for me, my card therefore has been cancelled.

 

[paul d]

Rang today and got put through to card specialist and had the annual fee credited back to my account . She said i can take it on a year by year basis ... fine by me !!

 

[1022]

I just rang and said I was interested in upgrading from Earth Gold to Platinum IF they can ofer a sweetener of some sort. (Asked much more nicely than that of course!!!). Was put through to "new applications", then put on hold while the operator spoke to her supervisor. She came back to say "because you're a valled customer yadda yadda" we'll waive the fee for the 1st year. (c$40k p/a spend on Earth Gold). Upgrade to Platinum was done on the phone and all sorted in minutes.

Have made a note in my diary to call them in 11 months to say i'm contemplating cancelling my card

 

[Lawlass]

I just rang up about an offer I received to upgrade to Earth Platinum from Earth Gold. The offer is 1.5 QFF points per $1 spend and half price fee in the first year.

I was told that if you do an $18K spend per annum, the fee on Plat is automatically waived. (I do far in excess of that)

I pointed out that the offer stated the first year half fee would be charged as soon as my balance was transferred from the Gold card and the representative told me he would put a note on my file that the fee was not to be charged, or reversed if it was automatcially charged. Thereafter, he said, the fee would be waived annually provided I make a minimum $18K spend.

Given the .5 extra points per dollar and the concierge service, it seems like a no-brainer to me

Update on this...

I got charged the fee, called to say what had been said and was told the operator had made a mistake about both the initial and the annual waiving of the fee. They said they could do the first year half price, then back to normal. I had a little tanty, then they said "you're right, that's what was promised, we'll refund the fee and waive it going forward". They did refund the entire first year fee, but I later got a letter saying it would be 'back to normal' for future years.

I couldn't be bothered ringing and going another round, so I too have it diarised to call and cancel in 11 months.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I couldn't be bothered ringing and going another round, so I too have it diarised to call and cancel in 11 months.

While you're at it, can you call and 'cancel' my card in 10 months, too? Seems some have a knack for getting their way with banks

 

[dgoody2]

Rang them last month after the annual fee for the Plat card was charged. Got put through to retentions and offered 50% rebate for life. Plat card for price of gold. This was after having it waived totally last year.

 

[theintelligent1]

To keep with the theme, I have just got a full refund for this years fee and then 50% rebate on an ongoing basis.....

 

[sr81]

Ditto - full refund then 50% next year.

 

[brha01]

For those receiving a full refund + 50% off for following years...

Can I ask how you go about it? Do you call up to cancel the card and hope that they offer you a carrot to stay?

 

[paul d]

Exactly , you ring up and say a better deal has arisen elsewhere and what can you do for me ....... I got the full refund one year at a time ... ph again next year to do it again rather than lock me into a 50% discount ... stand your ground and good luck !

 

[brha01]

Tried it and failed. They werent willing to offer a cent off the annual fee, even after reciting some of the other offers that are out there at the moment. Time to find myself a new card rather than messing around with Westpac.