When are renewal fees charged?

[uio]

Hi everyone! I signed up for an Earth Plus card around June 2008. Did not get the 10,000 free FF points even though I remember seeing the ad. Anyway, not willing to muck around with them just to get the points so I plan on not renewing the card but using it until the end.

I don't want to cancel the card early as I've already paid the membership fee for 12 months and want to use it up. Is there a way to let them know not to charge the annual renewal fee (I assume it is charged automatically?)

Also does anyone know when the renewal fee is charged? I'm assuming it should be June 2009, one year from the initial sign up?

If I allow the card to lapse, and sign up again at a later date when the 10,000 point promotion crops up again (it seems to come up every few months?) will I be eligible for the points given I would not be a current user at that point?

Thanks
UIO

 

[oz_mark]

Your options are basically to get a waiver on the annual fee (if you can), or to cancel it. Credit Cards don't lapse as such. The annual fee is basically charged at anniversary, so in your case around June.

Also, to get the bonus points in the future you would need to apply for a new card.

 

[medhead]

the only way to let them know not to renew is by cancelling the card. If it was me I'd do this about a fortnight before the June statement is due to issue.

 

[borsa]

I have an Earth+ card and managed to get it renewed fee-free on the basis that this was to be a one-off fee- free for one year only. When the latest offer for an Earth Platinum came through with 20,000 points and 50% off the annual fee of $250 for the first year, I applied for and received the new card, in addition to the old one which I will now cancel. I have the benefit of 3 points per dollar until 31 March. I will probably not renew it (unless it is fee-free) and will then downgrade to the cheaper Earth card.

If a new offer comes along, you would have to make a new application, because if you upgrade from your existing card to a new one you would not receive the offer points.