We're upgrading your Gold credit card to Platinum!

[Moopere]

Re: Reduced Amex MR rates for more cards

I called card services today and they said the .5 pts per $1 will apply to all cards even though it's not on the website yet.

Thanks for the heads up. Was going to apply for a different Amex this week to get around this problem ... but if the changes are being rolled out across their mid range cards then I won't bother.

 

[Dr Bob]

Re: Reduced Amex MR rates for more cards

Just phoned platinum customer services re MR Ascent Premium changes & yes it applies across the board for ALL MR plans from the 15th June. So will have to change to a visa at at least 1 for 1 & redeem for asia or krisflyer miles. Qantas market share reduces!

 

[wafliron]

Re: Reduced Amex MR rates for more cards

Just phoned platinum customer services re MR Ascent Premium changes & yes it applies across the board for ALL MR plans from the 15th June. So will have to change to a visa at at least 1 for 1 & redeem for asia or krisflyer miles. Qantas market share reduces!

This got me concerned enough to ring Platinum CS myself and ask the same question. The answers I received were:

- yes, some cards are having utilities / insurance / government charges earn rate reduced to 0.5MR point per $1 spent (without being specific about which cards this affects)
- whilst "American Express regularly review these sorts of things and I can't make promises about the future", the staff have not been told of any changes affecting either the Platinum Charge Card or Platinum Reserve Credit Card. I specifically clarified if they'd been told it was coming but it wasn't yet "announced", and had it re-confirmed that they weren't aware of any pending changes for these cards.

Conflicting info. Great

At the end of the call I asked the CS rep to pass it up the line that if a similar change was made to the Platinum Charge Card or Platinum Reserve Credit Card I'd be closing my account. I'd suggest maybe anyone holding these cards should ring up and express the same? I'm probably hoping in vain, but possibly it may have an influence on any pending decisions about these cards.

 

[kamchatsky]

Re: Reduced Amex MR rates for more cards

Got the dreaded letter as well now. Now I have to think whether I should credit them to my Citibank Platinum Visa instead.

However I noticed in that letter they did talk about 33% more for transferring points to CX, MH, TG so maybe that change of points transfer is permanent which is a good thing.

 

[Plutonus]

Re: Reduced Amex MR rates for more cards

I called for the purpose of clarifying because I was looking at adding the Platinum Reserve to my collection to avoid the .5 issue. CS representative stated it would apply to all cards but unsure of date, but it would be July. CS rep also said in her opinion no point getting the Reserve.

Is there an email or similar we can use to get confirmation in writing?

 

[Masonic Phantom]

If this is the case maybe Diners Club will be alive and well!

You have to be JOKING!!!!!.......Diners Club!!

 

[Dr Bob]

You have to be JOKING!!!!!.......Diners Club

My professional association is linked to Diners Club. I don't know what the uptake has been but for me I don't think so.

 

[Moopere]

Just got my Edge statement .. no notification of anything for me.

 

[DrAndyC]

The Qantas ultimate T&Cs, state, ....... "90 days prior notice..." for change in point earn rates is required to be given to customers. So we will see soon if qantas flyer cards are going to be affected by the July 1 changes. Ie - they had better tell us soon!

 

[k3nnis]

I got a letter for my edge card and it's 0.5 for utilities and 33% more for enrich and asiamiles and rop. Looks like I may switch from vs to cx for hkg flights and mh for kul. Not sure how the cx a330 compares to a vs a346.

 

[wafliron]

The Qantas ultimate T&Cs, state, ....... "90 days prior notice..." for change in point earn rates is required to be given to customers. So we will see soon if qantas flyer cards are going to be affected by the July 1 changes. Ie - they had better tell us soon!

Looks like us charge card holders aren't so lucky (if said change comes through). Charge Cardholder Agreement says:

24. Changes
In addition to our right to change fees and charges, and to introduce new fees and charges, set out in the “Fees” section of this agreement we may:
...
• change benefits and services associated with the account;
...

We will inform you in accordance with the “Communicating With You” section of this agreement and in accordance with applicable law. We will give you at least 20 days advance written notice for any other changes to this agreement, except where the change reduces what you have to pay (or is otherwise in your favour) or the change happens automatically under the contract.

If you are dissatisfied with any change to this agreement, you may cancel your agreement as set out under the “You May Close Your Account” section of this agreement. We will give you a pro-rated refund of any annual fee if you cancel this agreement as a result of a
change that we have made to your detriment and such cancellation is communicated to us within 30 days of our notifying you of that change.

At least it's clear about the right to a pro-rata annual fee refund :-/

 

[Moopere]

Just got my Edge statement .. no notification of anything for me.

My mistake - got a separate letter today, one day later than the statement, giving me the bad news

 

[JohnK]

I see Amex has charged the Gold card $80 fee for membership rewards! This one I had better not forget and ask for a pro-rata refund when the card gets upgraded in July!

And I know 1 person who has a Classic Gold card and has not received a letter to upgrade so I am assuming they will keep it. Anyone else with a Classic Gold card and not receive the upgrade letter?

 

[Mal]

And I know 1 person who has a Classic Gold card and has not received a letter to upgrade so I am assuming they will keep it. Anyone else with a Classic Gold card and not receive the upgrade letter?

Was that me? I never got a notification. But they've caught up:

Dear xx_xx,

In March we notified you that we would be retiring the Gold Credit Card and would be upgrading your account, effective 12 June 2012. Well, the time has come. We're thrilled to welcome you to your brand new American Express® Platinum Rewards Credit Card, where the spotlight is on giving you the freedom to get the rewards you really want and enjoying everyday protection.

Points have more power
Whether you top up the tank or jet off abroad, the Platinum Rewards Credit Card offers the ability to earn up to 2x points for every dollar spent at major supermarkets and petrol stations1. With your complimentary Membership Rewards Ascent1 enrolment, redeem points with 8 airline partners, online with Webjet or choose from your favourite brands and retailers2.

Now, I have a American Express ® Platinum Rewards Credit Card and a American Express® Platinum Credit Card... Way too much overlap. Still don't know if they are going to charge for the "new" card or not, but I do have paperwork somewhere that says "Gold ... Fee Free for life". (My life, or the life of the "card"? )

 

[Moopere]

Still don't know if they are going to charge for the "new" card or not, but I do have paperwork somewhere that says "Gold ... Fee Free for life". (My life, or the life of the "card"? )

Ha!! Good question. I suspect, like most things that have a 'lifetime warranty' they don't mean your life ... they mean some mixed up marketing speak on the perceived life of the tool. You never know though, perhaps it will slip through.

 

[JohnK]

Was that me?

Yes that was you. Judging by the lack of responses in this thread I would suspect most Gold cards are gone by now.

Interesting though that the $80 Membership Rewards was charged in early May but nothing has been charged for this new Platinum Rewards credit card. I hope they line up the membership periods and not try and double dip.

 

[dajop]

Interesting though that the $80 Membership Rewards was charged in early May but nothing has been charged for this new Platinum Rewards credit card. I hope they line up the membership periods and not try and double dip.

They do.My $80 MR fee always gets charged in October. The new Platinum Rewards "Membership Fee" was charged in August. For me they seem to double dipping for 2 months. It hardly seems worth chasing up (2 months double dipping = $13), but I will on principle!

 

[JohnK]

Hmmm. That is sneaky and I would not let them get away with it either.

Received a call yesterday wanting to know feedback on the new card and why it hasn't been activated. What new card? So another new card has been ordered.

By the way my feedback on the changes was not too good and he did not know how to respond.

- Tried to offer me the Qantas Discovery card with automatic transfer to Qantas when I already have the Qantas Premium card.
- Then offered to help me cancel my account
- I asked for assistance on another matter that has been outstanding ~1 month and got back to me the same day but could not resolve and I have to call another number. If I had not raised the matter it was going to be left alone without contacting me

 

[mick]

Received a call yesterday wanting to know feedback on the new card and why it hasn't been activated. What new card? So another new card has been ordered.

I haven't received a new card, either - and their Internet Banking website still refers to my card as American Express Gold Credit Card, with the Gold CC picture. The card hasn't been used in years and I have it "free for life", also.

 

[JohnK]

I have received the Platinum Rewards credit card but have not activated yet.

Still undecided on the chip and pin feature.