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

[ceri]

I am not sure if I can find a link but I was told this when I was in the process of cancelling my charge card ; its a different story that I ended up retaining the card.

Thanks, they quoted 30 days for me on the phone.

Spoke to the Australian team and cancelled my platinum edge (about $1k spend/month). I was only offered a no fee card (no points offer), so proceeded with the cancellation.

 

[Pablo]

Just called to cancel my Amex Qantas Business Rewards - they offered me 60,000 points to keep it. I had tried to cancel it a month ago and they talked me into keeping it for another month until the fee was due (which is today) so I have ended up taking the points and will cancel in the coming months - the fee will mean I keep some of my bookings open but I have swapped to the Amex Platinum Card because of the flexibility of transferring points to other airlines (and also because the QBR card doesn't help me retain Qantas Points Plus status).

 

[Kangol]

Just called to cancel my Amex Qantas Business Rewards - they offered me 60,000 points to keep it. I had tried to cancel it a month ago and they talked me into keeping it for another month until the fee was due (which is today) so I have ended up taking the points and will cancel in the coming months - the fee will mean I keep some of my bookings open but I have swapped to the Amex Platinum Card because of the flexibility of transferring points to other airlines (and also because the QBR card doesn't help me retain Qantas Points Plus status).

You can transfer up to 20k from QBR for PC/PCP. This is a recent (enough) change.

 

[Pablo]

You can transfer up to 20k from QBR for PC/PCP. This is a recent (enough) change.

Thanks for that - I hadn't picked up on that change.

 

[DC3]

When I queried if it could be reinstated at a later date they said no. Is this usual? I understood there was 30 days to reinstate

30 days, as far as I know

 

[knagelli]

Cancelled without any retention bonus offered.

That is strange as I was offered bonus points to retain my card and I have been member for 5 yrs only and average spend around 5k with occasional spikes of spend.

 

[Poojou]

That is strange as I was offered bonus points to retain my card and I have been member for 5 yrs only and average spend around 5k with occasional spikes of spend.

The one thing we've learned definitively is that there's no consistency with how their systems work haha

 

[wsthong]

Just called to ask for retention bonus on the AMEX Plat Charge. The consultant was telling there is no such thing as retention bonus. I asked him are you sure or am I speaking to the wrong person and dept. I told him there is retention bonus but it really depends on the consultant that you speak with on the day, I asked him how about the cancellation team, was told cancellation team don offer retention bonus. Sigh

 

[Poojou]

Great

Just called to ask for retention bonus on the AMEX Plat Charge. The consultant was telling there is no such thing as retention bonus. I asked him are you sure or am I speaking to the wrong person and dept. I told him there is retention bonus but it really depends on the consultant that you speak with on the day, I asked him how about the cancellation team, was told cancellation team don offer retention bonus. Sigh

Great data point wsthong - I think there's always a bit of a finesse with regards to calling up - generally for me I start with AW MAN I FEEL A BIT DISAPPOINTED and then chit chat about how the product has changed - it's useful if you can pinpoint one or two things that impact you directly. Then you sort of sadly ask them if they can do anything, if not you want to cancel.... then they'll either ta-da something, or send you to cancellations, and they'll ta-da something.

I think asking outright may put them on the spot in terms of "they're not allowed to just give you free stuff"

 

[DC3]

The consultant was telling there is no such thing as retention bonus

HUACA

 

[Poojou]

HUACA

Also this

 

[wsthong]

Great

Great data point wsthong - I think there's always a bit of a finesse with regards to calling up - generally for me I start with AW MAN I FEEL A BIT DISAPPOINTED and then chit chat about how the product has changed - it's useful if you can pinpoint one or two things that impact you directly. Then you sort of sadly ask them if they can do anything, if not you want to cancel.... then they'll either ta-da something, or send you to cancellations, and they'll ta-da something.

I think asking outright may put them on the spot in terms of "they're not allowed to just give you free stuff"

Thanks. Speak with someone from the cancellation team or general enquiries?

 

[Poojou]

Thanks. Speak with someone from the cancellation team or general enquiries?

I would say, and people like DC3 will have opinions also - but go via 'complaints' rather than general queries

 

[fantastikforce]

Thanks. Speak with someone from the cancellation team or general enquiries?

There are some people in the Amex Australia Facebook group that have called recently and have been told that the Retention Team don't exist anymore. Whoever picked up their call seemed to be happy to cancel the card for them without any offers.

 

[wsthong]

There are some people in the Amex Australia Facebook group that have called recently and have been told that the Retention Team don't exist anymore. Whoever picked up their call seemed to be happy to cancel the card for them without any offers.

Just tried to cancel the card and not good at all. Offered me to downgrade the card and I brought up my unpleasant experience with my most recent trip. Same reason from them, due to financial regulation and being part of a corporate responsibility especially cost of living is going up, therefore do not offer retention bonus, These are recent changes and no more retention team.
Looks like I have to earn points the hard way.

 

[Petec]

Sad development if the retention team has been disbanded...

 

[DC3]

Just tried to cancel the card and not good at all. .

Which card was that?

 

[wsthong]

Which card was that?

Platinum Charge

 

[Poojou]

Just tried to cancel the card and not good at all. Offered me to downgrade the card and I brought up my unpleasant experience with my most recent trip. Same reason from them, due to financial regulation and being part of a corporate responsibility especially cost of living is going up, therefore do not offer retention bonus, These are recent changes and no more retention team.
Looks like I have to earn points the hard way.

Very interesting... can I ask how long you've been a member with Amex for? I think potentially 'asking for a retention bonus' somehow automatically declines you from getting a retention bonus.

And it appears that the AU desks are a bit more straight forward about denying them (now that I think about it, I often get the offshore desks when I call up... - something to do with my location perhaps?)

The mystery deepens!

 

[wsthong]

Very interesting... can I ask how long you've been a member with Amex for? I think potentially 'asking for a retention bonus' somehow automatically declines you from getting a retention bonus.

And it appears that the AU desks are a bit more straight forward about denying them (now that I think about it, I often get the offshore desks when I call up... - something to do with my location perhaps?)

The mystery deepens!

Since 2005 with them but 4 years as platinum charge