American Express Membership Rewards - Horrible Experience with Amex MR

I recently called to cancel a Corporate Platinum card and Personal Blue card as I have started using the Starwood Card. I told the phone agent that I had a MR account that I wanted to keep active and she suggested that I apply for a Blue for Business as the was no annual fee and it would keep my MR account active. I subsequently applied for the Blue for Business and was approved however the card was never linked to the MR account and *poof* 80,000 MR points down the tube.... within a week of cancelling the other cards.

I called MR and the agent was an unhelpful jerk who kept telling me I had no MR points. I tried to explain what happened and the only recourse he could provide me was a PO Box to write to to ask for my points to be reinstated.

I use AMEX because in general I found they have always had excellent customer service for the most part but I think they really dropped the ball in my case. Why wouldn't they afford me the courtesy of a phone call or email before wiping out my account? Even if I wanted to wipe my account, don't you think there should be some grace period to redeem/transfer the points? Needless to say I am livid.

Anyone ever had a similar experience? What are my chances of having the points reinstated?

I recently called to cancel a Corporate Platinum card and Personal Blue card as I have started using the Starwood Card. I told the phone agent that I had a MR account that I wanted to keep active and she suggested that I apply for a Blue for Business as the was no annual fee and it would keep my MR account active. I subsequently applied for the Blue for Business and was approved however the card was never linked to the MR account and *poof* 80,000 MR points down the tube.... within a week of cancelling the other cards.

I called MR and the agent was an unhelpful jerk who kept telling me I had no MR points. I tried to explain what happened and the only recourse he could provide me was a PO Box to write to to ask for my points to be reinstated.

I use AMEX because in general I found they have always had excellent customer service for the most part but I think they really dropped the ball in my case. Why wouldn't they afford me the courtesy of a phone call or email before wiping out my account? Even if I wanted to wipe my account, don't you think there should be some grace period to redeem/transfer the points? Needless to say I am livid.

Anyone ever had a similar experience? What are my chances of having the points reinstated?

That's horrible! Here's what I found under the MR T&C:

3. If you voluntarily cancel enrollment in the Program or cancel all Linked Accounts enrolled in the Program, but keep at least one AMEX Card, you will have up to 30 days from date of cancellation to redeem the points accrued in the Program account.

I assume you already had the Starwood Amex at the time you cancelled the 2 other cards. Sounds like you should have been given a 30 day grace period even without opening another account.

Good luck!

Edited to add: BTW I don't think Blue for Business is eligible for MR, at least not on its own.