American Express Membership Rewards - perks for threatening to cancel the card

Hello, I have the starwood optima, and signed up for one for another family member. I decided we didn't need the second one, and asked to cancel. They transferred me to another department and started offering all sorts of things to keep me from cancelling. I cancelled anyways as I didn't need it, but I was wondering if anyone can share the best they have been offered to keep the card.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum69/HTML/000182.html

UpgradeME,

That may all be well and good, but MileageMan has the No Fee Starwood Optima which does not accrue MR points.

I am really interested in what they offered you MileageMan, as I have the no fee Hilton Optima.

So, what was it, please tell!!

[This message has been edited by DOC 2 BE (edited 02-13-2001).]

I called to cancel the Platinum card, they said, "stick around, we'll give you 10,000 points." I did. They never said there was a catch. I called to cancel again 2 months later, after having used the points, and they debited my account the 10,000. I had switched to a Gold and now I am paying them back with a deficit of those points. My advice: cancel outright or prepare to keep them for a FULL year afterwards, keeping your retention points.

Hello FTers,

I have gotten the various other AMEX card offers when I call in annually to cancel my Delta Gold AMEX after the first year.

After I tell the rep. that I have the no annual fee Sheraton (now Starwood) AMEX card. They give up fairly quickly.

Cheers

It's been long enough that I can't remember what it was. Maybe I should just call up now and see what happens http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

VaSquireflyer,

Do you have to pay an annual fee to link your Starwood AMEX to the membership rewards program. If you do no thave to pay, then I want this Starwood AMEX card.

MSP2000: The Starwood Optima, which has no annual fee, does not link to Membership Rewards (fortunately). Instead, it links to Starwood Preferred Guest, which is much, much better. Lots of FT'ers consider it the best credit card deal going.

Originally posted by GregW:
I called to cancel the Platinum card, they said, "stick around, we'll give you 10,000 points." I did. They never said there was a catch. I called to cancel again 2 months later, after having used the points, and they debited my account the 10,000. I had switched to a Gold and now I am paying them back with a deficit of those points. My advice: cancel outright or prepare to keep them for a FULL year afterwards, keeping your retention points.

They offered me the same thing, but it they clearly said I had to stick around for a year. BTW, I only said I wanted to downgrade from Platinum to Rewards Plus, and they offered that, it wasn't even an outright cancellation.

They didn't offer me anything when I cancelled my Canadian AMEX Platinum card.

smith:

That is just their consistent approach to Canadian Platinum holders .... there is just not sufficient business in Canada for them to care. I do approximately $10,000 per month and the only people in American Express who care are in the Personalized Travel Service - and they should care as they are a profit-unit.

I have my canadian AMEX platinum since 94, but I will give it up in Sept when it expire. I don't see any reason to keep it and pay them C$399 plus supplementary C$150 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif