Reduction in Amex lounge benefits

[HMcM]

Was this also the case last year? I seem to recall the dining credits were supposed to end in December 2025 before being extended into 2026.

By ~September that definitely wasn't the case. I can't talk to if it was before then.

 

[blacksultan]

Was this also the case last year? I seem to recall the dining credits were supposed to end in December 2025 before being extended into 2026.

Yes

 

[Doctore1003]

The dining credits were extended in early September last year

 

[fly7689]

Is it correct that if you cancel your card mid-year you will get a pro-rata refund of the membership fee?

has anyone tried to cancel halfway through their year after these benefit reductions and managed to get any refund of the annual fee? or maybe a discount on the fee for the upcoming year?

not sure whether i should keep my card for the remainder of the year or just cancel now and get to churn it faster in 18 months. but then again amex is very strict with churning and not sure my chances of getting approved next time...

 

[Cynicor]

has anyone tried to cancel halfway through their year after these benefit reductions and managed to get any refund of the annual fee? or maybe a discount on the fee for the upcoming year?

not sure whether i should keep my card for the remainder of the year or just cancel now and get to churn it faster in 18 months. but then again amex is very strict with churning and not sure my chances of getting approved next time...

I haven't tried but it's a massive material change, they would certainly give you something back

 

[Daver6]

I haven't tried but it's a massive material change, they would certainly give you something back

Not without a fight. My annual fee was charged a few weeks prior to the change announcement. I enquired about a pro-rata annual fee should I cancel later in the year. They said no. I think you'd have a very strong case with AFCA on this one if they refused though.

 

[Cynicor]

Yeah. I'm sure their first-line people say no but mention AFCA and I think they'll change their tune. The annual fee is high because of the benefits, they can't argue anything else.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not without a fight. My annual fee was charged a few weeks prior to the change announcement. I enquired about a pro-rata annual fee should I cancel later in the year. They said no. I think you'd have a very strong case with AFCA on this one if they refused though.

You are entitled to a pro-rata refund if you cancel you card when the changes are announced.

This is covered by clauses 23 and 27 of the platinum terms and conditions: https://www.americanexpress.com/content/dam/amex/au/benefits/Platinum/CMagreement.pdf

Can you keep using the card now and cancel down the track? Dunno. I think that would be a little more in the grey area.