Amex "I'm going to cancel my card" - bonus points given thread.

[albyd]

I keep getting conflicting information. I'm going to give it a try in the next few days then report back. I'm hoping that my spend history (if that's what they use as a driver for retention payments) from April won't be too far in the past for the algorithm to give me a bonus.

 

[DC3]

... Was told that I wouldn't be able to reinstate it for "change of mind". Is that the case? Thought if we changed our mind on the same call, it would be reinstated ...

I've always been told by AMEX in the past that I had 30 days or thereabouts if I change my mind the card could be reinstated.

Agree. 30 days from what they told me (this was 12 months ago). May be getting a bit lazy in Manila.

 

[Bell21]

Well, that's about done - cancelled Business Explorer, which gets me down to only one real AMEX (Plat + I guess Plat Reserve) - gone are the days of having 5 AMEX cards!! (no bonus points offered during any of the cancellation processes)

 

[albyd]

Just called up re my Explorer. Was advised they could cancel it to see if there were any offers then could reinstate it on the same call. I could see it was showing up as "cancelled" while on the call and was showing up as active when I logged in towards the end of the call. Up until April Deval day, was spending heavily on it (up to $140K/month). Surprised no offer made after cancelled the card. I'm putting all of my spend through Charge now. Assuming they can see that and the drop off in my Explorer spend isn't concerning the offer algorithm.

He did confirm that Charge cards are a different story and they can make retention offers for them.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Wonder if they've got some recent legal advice to say that this practice might be against the law. Or too close to it.

Either way, I'm pulling out of this thread - first time Amex-less in 10 years.

 

[daft009]

Just called up re my Explorer. Was advised they could cancel it to see if there were any offers then could reinstate it on the same call. I could see it was showing up as "cancelled" while on the call and was showing up as active when I logged in towards the end of the call. Up until April Deval day, was spending heavily on it (up to $140K/month). Surprised no offer made after cancelled the card. I'm putting all of my spend through Charge now. Assuming they can see that and the drop off in my Explorer spend isn't concerning the offer algorithm.

He did confirm that Charge cards are a different story and they can make retention offers for them.

I'm still spending the same.. then saddened that when I transfer it will half :'(

 

[albyd]

I'm not surprised, sounded like a good workaround to the rules - though sailing a bit close to the wind. Amex does have some strange rules.

 

[mini2]

Finally got some clarity around reinstating cards after talking to the executive customer relations team. Credit cards cannot be re-instated due to credit laws but charge cards aren't affected. They've thrown the Manila person under the bus for misleading info provided.

 

[SOPOOR]

Finally got some clarity around reinstating cards after talking to the executive customer relations team. Credit cards cannot be re-instated due to credit laws but charge cards aren't affected. They've thrown the Manila person under the bus for misleading info provided.

Couldnt care less about manilla staff , they will lie at any opportunity anyway, i dont trust a word they say

 

[mini2]

I don't trust Amex full stop so I've requested a transcript of my recent calls with them before going further. I've made my intentions clear but Manila is so convenient for them to use as their scapegoats.

 

[one9]

I notice that I have recently received the $400 travel credit on my Explorer card and the annual fee is due to be charged next week. If I happened to spend the travel credit straight away and then called up to cancel the card before the annual fee had been charged, would this work?

 

[Dr Ralph]

I notice that I have recently received the $400 travel credit on my Explorer card and the annual fee is due to be charged next week. If I happened to spend the travel credit straight away and then called up to cancel the card before the annual fee had been charged, would this work?

Yes. This is a well known 'gap' in the system. Reported on AFF many times as working.

 

[ramamba]

I notice that I have recently received the $400 travel credit on my Explorer card and the annual fee is due to be charged next week. If I happened to spend the travel credit straight away and then called up to cancel the card before the annual fee had been charged, would this work?

Wife tried similar thing this year:
Applied for a new card, hit the spend in a week (ok i did it for her before she got her hands on the card). 100k bonus points post next week. Promptly transferred to SQ as the deval was coming up. Paid the balance on the card and called to cancel, but was told that the statement would still be issued with annual fee billed and would need to be paid. Travel credit wasnt used at that time, only the bonus points. HUACA and online chat came back with same results. Ended up using the travel credit and cancelling couple of months later.

She tried 3 different reps, maybe should have pushed harder, YMMV.

 

[SeaWolf]

Called up about my Platinum Edge card since the annual fee is coming up in a few weeks. No offer made to waive the fee but happy to switch it over to the no fee Essential card, which I did. No need for an additional credit check or a fresh application, just a straight up downgrade.

 

[albyd]

I recently converted my Explorer to Essential card to warehouse it as the annual fee fell due. No retention offer made. Pleasant surprise (unless it changes) I could still see my Explorer statements online - in the past, they all disappear once you've closed your card

 

[SOPOOR]

Called up about my Platinum Edge card since the annual fee is coming up in a few weeks. No offer made to waive the fee but happy to switch it over to the no fee Essential card, which I did. No need for an additional credit check or a fresh application, just a straight up downgrade.

American Express

just confriming its 1.25 pts per $ normal spend so halve that for airline miles,
if thats the case, cant see it worth keeping it, even if its free,

 

[SeaWolf]

American Express

just confriming its 1.25 pts per $ normal spend so halve that for airline miles,
if thats the case, cant see it worth keeping it, even if its free,

I'm only keeping it for the extra statement credits really. I've sometimes been getting targeted offers to that card that don't show up on the others for some reason. Perhaps if I cancelled it those might get targeted elsewhere but I might also just not get them.

 

[Quattro]

I'm only keeping it for the extra statement credits really. I've sometimes been getting targeted offers to that card that don't show up on the others for some reason. Perhaps if I cancelled it those might get targeted elsewhere but I might also just not get them.

I’d say you’re better off cancelling and waiting out with 18 month exclusion.

 

[one9]

Yes. This is a well known 'gap' in the system. Reported on AFF many times as working.

Thanks, mate. I confirmed this worked. Now I have 18 months to wait before reapplying.

 

[mini2]

Thanks, mate. I confirmed this worked. Now I have 18 months to wait before reapplying.

So the credit was loaded, you've used it then proceed with closing the card before the annual fee was due? Nice!