"Enhancements" to MR earn on Platinum Card, Reserve & Centurian

[burmans]

I have already received a $500 discount on my annual fee in April as a result of the travel insurance changes and high spend. If AMEX are going to erode value on this card, I am not going to sit here and take it. Would like to maintain the card for FF flexibility.

I will be giving my relationship manager some grief after recommending 5 colleagues who signed up in the last few months through my referral. Will let you all know of the outcome.

While not Plat Charge I've tried negotiating all annual fees for about last 6 years now and probably have had a 95% success rate in getting either free or 50% off. This includes Amex, it does help to be able to readily refer to what others are offering and why this is better, they are of course aware but need to be reminded that we are aware too.

 

[cove]

Let me tell you the ATO will make it quite personal if you fail to pay any one of their bills. I have no account manager at Citi and on our 2 cards we have 115k limits. We do the business creditors run on these cards so I BPay funds into the accounts at a rate of $100k a day. There have been no issues and I favour that super generous 1.33 points per dollar non Qantas points card and I now have a zillion points warehoused to avoid expiry.
The road into Citi may test you but read the thread "Never Give Up...." before you start.......
Redeeming points on SQ has been wonderful but I only do 5 overseas full trips a year but when we add in all our nominees it could become a dozen full trips in a year.
I have a lovely young account manager at Amex where she moved my due date to 19th to pretty much coincide with my taxes that fall due either on 21st and 28th.

 

[Mitch_W]

Not happy also re Amex changes. I actually have a Platinum Credit Card which has recently been renamed Plat Reserve. I pay an annual fee of $192 (rather than $395) but get no annual flight as I was upgraded to Plat a few years ago when Amex dropped the Gold Maximiser Card and promised the same fee. Have recently scoured the Amex website and found what I think is a good alternative to the de-enhanced Plat cards.
The Amex Gold Accelerator Business credit card offers 2 points per $ for all purchases (except for ATO/ Utilities/Insurance/Telco etc which is 0.5)
No Insurance on this card but a good point earner and now can be tied to MR Ascent after the dumping of the "Choices" reward option by Amex recently.
Details below:
Rewards Program Membership rewards Ascent[SUP]2[/SUP]

Annual Card Fee $160 p.a.

Points earn rate $1 spent = 2 points (up to $100,000 p.a.) Excluding spend on utilities, insurance providers (with the exception of American Express) and government where you will earn 0.5 points for every $1 spent.[SUP]2[/SUP]

Worth a look me thinks

 

[R36snowbound]

My relationship manager also recommended adding a Qantas / Velocity card, in addition to my Centurion card.

I said no as a matter of principal. Why should I pay top dollar for the top card available, supposedly offering superior service, superior benefits, etc, etc (read the glossy brochure) and then take a second Amex card as the points earning structure is superior (and simpler) to the top of the line Centurion card? Frankly, I find it insulting.

It does not make sense. Paying for the best is meant to give you the best, period.

So, if I decide to cancel my Centurion card, then good bye Amex, your marketing and customer retention policies are lost on me.

Citibank select is laughing all the way thanks to AMEX's actions.

I still don't get it, why upset your best customers? If AMEX are losing money on people paying big bucks to the ATO on their cards, simply stop awarding points for ATO transactions.

 

[k3nnis]

Some people just have the Black card so that they can show it to others I know a few of these people

 

[Deleted member]

Some people just have the Black card so that they can show it to others I know a few of these people

That would be the only reason I would have one.
I can't see any other reason to have one other than the DYKWIA value

 

[Ricardo]

While not Plat Charge I've tried negotiating all annual fees for about last 6 years now and probably have had a 95% success rate in getting either free or 50% off. This includes Amex, it does help to be able to readily refer to what others are offering and why this is better, they are of course aware but need to be reminded that we are aware too.

I have also had some success in getting a reduced fee over the past couple of years, but this year I'm not sure if I will continue as an amex cardmember, some of the changes break the camels back so to speak.

 

[Sojourner]

I have been an Amex cardholder for over seven continuous years. After the recent changes I called to explain that I was cancelling due to the recent devaluation of the insurance and and changes points earning rate. No offer of a fee waiver or reduction to compensate for the devaluation of the card. The phone operator was more interested in trying to shove the Discovery card into my face, rather than trying to listen to what my issues were, and what I needed. The CSM did 90%+ of the talking and cut me off mid-sentence at least twice.

 

[Pukka]

I've just filled in an online application for a Citibank signature select. The new Amex rewards scheme is hopeless for me so I'm going elsewhere, I think Amex might take more of a hit from their higher spending customers than they anticipate

 

[simonsyd]

Like many I will move most of my spending to citi. May keep an edge card for supermarket and petrol spend and to allow me to to keep MR account open. I whilst not a huge spender with Amex like some, have come close to the points cap spend and taken advantage of numerous bonus point offers. I suspect that moving to a points based cap will hurt those people who spent close to the limit plus worked the bonus points system.The question for me is select vs citi business gold ( for flexibility to transfer to QF). Most of my intrnational redemptions are with SQ or TG (hence why I want to stay in MR for ability to transfer to TG) so select is very tempting plus the points for overseas spend are great.

 

[anat0l]

Got my letter about the changes to my co-brand Platinum Reserve Card.

It's a downgrade for me unless I can see my travel budget going up (and I probably don't spend enough on Amex at restaurants of enough repute that would qualify me for the extra points; that is if said restaurants even accept Amex in the first place!). I may consider a downgrade back to either the Edge if there is a good annual fee, otherwise Gold, which is pretty much benignly like the Platinum Credit Card now except no free flight nor travel insurance; on the other hand, the co-branded Gold card has no annual fee.

Unlike some others here, I am in no position to switch to the Citi card on account of that I earn no where near $120k per year required to apply for it. So there's almost no satisfactory alternative for me.

 

[asterix]

Anybody know what will have to the 5x rewards for GIO and AAMI will we get 5 x 0.5 points?

 

[Pukka]

Anybody know what will have to the 5x rewards for GIO and AAMI will we get 5 x 0.5 points?

I reckon it will stay I have a deal with a company called Dentsply where I get 6 points per dollar & apparently that stays

 

[Bunty]

Anybody know what will have to the 5x rewards for GIO and AAMI will we get 5 x 0.5 points?

The GIO/AAMI/Suncorp/APIA Bonus offer expires 30 Sept 2012, so the disenhancment has no impact as it is effective the following day.

 

[CWM]

Howdy folks, I've been reading through some of these AMEX related threads but, well there are lots of posts!

I have an AMEX Platinum Credit Card and transfer all my points to AA via SPG. Can anyone please save me some reading time and suggest alternative cards that have reasonable reward points that can be transferred to AA? Don't really need features like free annual flight or insurances so much. Thanks!

 

[Moopere]

Howdy folks, I've been reading through some of these AMEX related threads but, well there are lots of posts!

I have an AMEX Platinum Credit Card and transfer all my points to AA via SPG. Can anyone please save me some reading time and suggest alternative cards that have reasonable reward points that can be transferred to AA? Don't really need features like free annual flight or insurances so much. Thanks!

I'd start a new thread onthis subject rather than fork this one out.

 

[CWM]

OK, thanks.

 

[Bunty]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Just got letter from Amex for my Platinum Charge card. Usual devaluation points earning that we have talked about.

Just to confirm about hotel status for Plat Charge card holders:

- Priority Club Gold (basic and first supplementary card holder)
- Starwood Gold (basic and first supplementary card holder)
- Club Carlson Gold Elite (basic and supplementary card holder)
- Le Club Accorhotels Platinum (basic and supplementary card holder)

Car Hire:
- Hertz #1 Club Gold
- Avis Preferred

Valet Parking discount on Westfield Bondi Junction and Doncaster.

The Plat Card can also access the following lounges:

- Virgin Australia Lounges
- American Express Lounges
- AA Admirals Club
- US Airways Club
- Delta Sky Club

+ Priority Pass lounges (with Priority Pass card)

I believe the Valet Parking discount expired months ago on 31st March 12 (though it is still promoted on the Amex website).

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Short version:
Rang to cancel the card a few days ago and was offered
NOTHING

Longer version:
Rang to cancel the card a few days ago and was offered
NOTHING

Spend, as confirmed by the rep was $175k over the past year on Plat charge and credit card

They were/are happy to credit back the full $900 if I cancel, but won't do anything if I keep the card..... :evil:

Every other year I have had 1/2 the fee waived or 40-100,000 points offered, this has been for the past 7 or so years from memory. The rep said again and again that this year the rules have changed and he simply can't give me any points/fee reduction.

I said I'd call tomorrow with my final decision, as I need to check any direct debits.

This was the cancellation department that I was transferred to, total time spent/wasted on the phone was 40 minutes.

The rep was nice and understood that many many people were unhappy with the changes, but did not want to save a customer.. and said they simply can't give out points/credits anymore.....

At 1.5% merchant fee, they are losing $2625 from me personally plus the $450 annual fee, I would have been happy enough if they halved it.....

BYE AMEX, well I need to ring tomorrow so let's see if they offer anything when I actually say CANCEL

Sad times really

 

[Flashback]

Re: "Enhancements" to Membership Rewards scheme for Platinum Card / Platinum Reserve

Short version:
Rang to cancel the card a few days ago and was offered
NOTHING

Longer version:
Rang to cancel the card a few days ago and was offered
NOTHING

Spend, as confirmed by the rep was $175k over the past year on Plat charge and credit card

They were/are happy to credit back the full $900 if I cancel, but won't do anything if I keep the card..... :evil:

Every other year I have had 1/2 the fee waived or 40-100,000 points offered, this has been for the past 7 or so years from memory. The rep said again and again that this year the rules have changed and he simply can't give me any points/fee reduction.

I said I'd call tomorrow with my final decision, as I need to check any direct debits.

This was the cancellation department that I was transferred to, total time spent/wasted on the phone was 40 minutes.

The rep was nice and understood that many many people were unhappy with the changes, but did not want to save a customer.. and said they simply can't give out points/credits anymore.....

At 1.5% merchant fee, they are losing $2625 from me personally plus the $450 annual fee, I would have been happy enough if they halved it.....

BYE AMEX, well I need to ring tomorrow so let's see if they offer anything when I actually say CANCEL

Sad times really

From experience here in the UK, you're not going to get anything when you ring back tomorrow except a "sorry to see you go ... don't let the door hit your cough on the way out":!: :shock: