Venting about American Express

[calgarychris]

Ugh, this is frustrating...

Mrs. and I have 6 Amex's as follows:

Me
Plat Charge
Plat Reserve
Plat Edge

Mrs. CC
Plat Charge
Plat Reserve
Explorer

The request was to cancel her Plat charge and transfer the points to her Plat Reserve. We were originally told the Reserve was on the Ascent Premium program (I should have known better, but there's no online info to check). The cancellation was done incorrectly, the points (400K) disappeared and a subsequent phone call was made. The plan was then to gift 50K to me, and transfer the balance to her reserve. This didn't happen. A third call was made however during the call I realised that the entire balance was transferred to my Ascent Premium, which we're obviously happy about but was unexpected. However, the Reserve and Explorer cards are now not linked to any programs and neither are earning points. And the travel credits on all cards as a result have disappeared. Now another phone call and I'm told they can re-link her cards to the Ascent program (both of them), but there's no guarantee we'll get all the travel credits back (she had 2x Explorer credits and 1x Reserve)...

I'm happy the points were consolidated, I'd be pleased that the Explorer is again linked under Ascent, but this is getting a little ridiculous. I'm thinking I'll cancel her lot of cards after I use the travel credits (however much I get).

Does anyone know of a "good time" to call for agents at Amex? I've been having a couple of disappointing experiences lately between card services and online travel...

 

[pauly7]

I thought Explorer was linked to Ascent Gateway, not proper Ascent?

 

[Saltywings]

I thought Explorer was linked to Ascent Gateway, not proper Ascent?

If you have a CC under the Ascent program, subsequently applying for the Explorer will in most cases (anecdotally, in mine and in many others') automatically funnel points earn to Ascent (with no 'Gateway' earn to speak of). This is a semi-secret that most non-AFFers wouldn't know about, which substantially increases the value of Explorer earn (unless you're a SPG junkie).

The linking doesn't always happen automatically (again, based on anecdotal evidence), but a request to Amex generally sets things straight.

 

[daft009]

Try calling amex during business hours EST.

 

[SOPOOR]

Call during aus business hours and wait until you get a person who speaks Aussie English. Not Philipino English

I find that every time I get an aussie. Things just get done

 

[Saltywings]

Call during aus business hours and wait until you get a person who speaks Aussie English. Not Philipino English

I find that every time I get an aussie. Things just get done

I really missed the days when live chat was actually available 24x7. Never an issue resolving issues via that channel. These days it would be lucky if the button appeared once in a blue moon...