Canceling USAirways MasterCard
Mar 18, 2013, 6:43 pm
#62
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: AA Plat/2MM, DL Silver, UA Silver (via Marr), Marr LTT, HH Gold (via cc), Hyatt Disc
Posts: 1,039
Called to cancel my card over the weekend before the $89 annual fee kicks in. For reference, I don't put too much on this card (probably averaged only $250 per month) and I pay off my balance in full. I fly US Air infrequently (maybe 8 segments a year).
Retention offer was pretty lame; 2,500 bonus miles. I replied that 2,500 miles wasn't worth the $89 dollars (hint, hint what else you got?
). They then came back to say that the card was the only way to keep my US Air miles alive besides flying US Air (ok, we know that isn't true). I indicated that I felt comfortable that the upcoming merger with AA would solve that as I have the AA card.
Here's the best part, the retention specialist then tried to convince me that the FF programs would be kept separate after the merger and I really needed to keep the US card to keep my US miles from expiring. Don't know if he really believed it or just though I was gullible. I actually laughed a bit on the phone and told him I was comfortable closing the card out.
Retention offer was pretty lame; 2,500 bonus miles. I replied that 2,500 miles wasn't worth the $89 dollars (hint, hint what else you got?
). They then came back to say that the card was the only way to keep my US Air miles alive besides flying US Air (ok, we know that isn't true). I indicated that I felt comfortable that the upcoming merger with AA would solve that as I have the AA card.Here's the best part, the retention specialist then tried to convince me that the FF programs would be kept separate after the merger and I really needed to keep the US card to keep my US miles from expiring. Don't know if he really believed it or just though I was gullible. I actually laughed a bit on the phone and told him I was comfortable closing the card out.
Mar 19, 2013, 12:05 am
#63
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP,2MM, DL Gold,Starwood PLT
Posts: 3,876
Your issue is with Congress not USAir.
This is the law of unintended consequences for the financial reform law - the banks now feel the need to raise interest levels to the highest levels allowed under the law.
Also, if you carry a balance from 1 month to the next you are expected to pay interest on the days of the month you carried the balance, regardless of whether you pay in full or not. This is not shady business practices, this is pretty basic and common across all credit cards.
This is the law of unintended consequences for the financial reform law - the banks now feel the need to raise interest levels to the highest levels allowed under the law.
Also, if you carry a balance from 1 month to the next you are expected to pay interest on the days of the month you carried the balance, regardless of whether you pay in full or not. This is not shady business practices, this is pretty basic and common across all credit cards.
Mar 19, 2013, 12:17 am
#64
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP,2MM, DL Gold,Starwood PLT
Posts: 3,876
May 15, 2013, 12:40 pm
#65
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Tucson
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, AA, BA, US
Posts: 214
Called today to cancel before being charged the annual fee. Retention specialist was persistent but polite, and I was patient. Initial offer was permanently waived annual fee but no card benefits (priority boarding, companion certificates), which I rejected. Next was double miles on spending up to 8,000 over the next 90 days.
I may have a use for the card in the future, so I figure I can just reapply when the time comes.
I may have a use for the card in the future, so I figure I can just reapply when the time comes.
Jul 22, 2013, 10:11 pm
#66
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: Far too many
Posts: 315
Retention offer
After 11 months with minimal spending:
Downgrade to no-fee Arrival card with 6000 points, refund annual fee on cancelled US Airways card. No application process or credit pull.
I thought that was reasonable.
Downgrade to no-fee Arrival card with 6000 points, refund annual fee on cancelled US Airways card. No application process or credit pull.
I thought that was reasonable.
Aug 12, 2013, 3:16 pm
#67
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: ORD
Posts: 835
Called today to cancel, annual fee had posted. I was first offered the conversion to the no-fee Arrival card with only 2500 points. I rejected that offer - then I was offered reduction in the annual fee to $66. I took the reduced fee as the 10,000 annual mile bonus just posted.
I would have still possibly canceled and then reapplied at a later date - but all of my Barclay card apps have been rejected lately due to too many recent inquiries. Too many AOR's by me. :-)
I would have still possibly canceled and then reapplied at a later date - but all of my Barclay card apps have been rejected lately due to too many recent inquiries. Too many AOR's by me. :-)
Aug 12, 2013, 9:40 pm
#68
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 28
My retention experience:
Anniversary date was back in July. I started calling to fish for retention offers in May, specifically stating I wanted to have the AF waived, but completely struck out three separate times. At this point I was resigned to cancelling, but decided to wait until the AF actually posted. At the beginning of July, I called in one more time and asked a different question: How long after the AF posts can I cancel the card and get a full refund? I sincerely wanted to know, because I had a rough idea but wanted to confirm. To my surprise, the CSR immediately offered to waive the AF! I accepted immediately instead of looking for an additional miles bonus.
A few days later, my 10k mile bonus posted as well. At the end of July, my AF posted. A few days after that, the AF refund also posted. So overall, I was very happy and fortunate to basically get 10k for free. I don't know if reframing the question about the AF was what got me the retention offer, or whether it was close enough to my anniversary date that new options opened up, or I just plain got lucky and connected with an empowered CSR. Whatever the truth is, I wanted to put this story out there to show there's hope!
If anyone's curious, I put exactly $4.50 of spend on this card the entire first year. I also got a second USAir MC in April of this year.
Anniversary date was back in July. I started calling to fish for retention offers in May, specifically stating I wanted to have the AF waived, but completely struck out three separate times. At this point I was resigned to cancelling, but decided to wait until the AF actually posted. At the beginning of July, I called in one more time and asked a different question: How long after the AF posts can I cancel the card and get a full refund? I sincerely wanted to know, because I had a rough idea but wanted to confirm. To my surprise, the CSR immediately offered to waive the AF! I accepted immediately instead of looking for an additional miles bonus.
A few days later, my 10k mile bonus posted as well. At the end of July, my AF posted. A few days after that, the AF refund also posted. So overall, I was very happy and fortunate to basically get 10k for free. I don't know if reframing the question about the AF was what got me the retention offer, or whether it was close enough to my anniversary date that new options opened up, or I just plain got lucky and connected with an empowered CSR. Whatever the truth is, I wanted to put this story out there to show there's hope!
If anyone's curious, I put exactly $4.50 of spend on this card the entire first year. I also got a second USAir MC in April of this year.
Aug 13, 2013, 8:26 pm
#69
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: US Chairman, Marriott Platinum, Starwood Gold
Posts: 95
My retention experience:
Anniversary date was back in July. I started calling to fish for retention offers in May, specifically stating I wanted to have the AF waived, but completely struck out three separate times. At this point I was resigned to cancelling, but decided to wait until the AF actually posted. At the beginning of July, I called in one more time and asked a different question: How long after the AF posts can I cancel the card and get a full refund? I sincerely wanted to know, because I had a rough idea but wanted to confirm. To my surprise, the CSR immediately offered to waive the AF! I accepted immediately instead of looking for an additional miles bonus.
A few days later, my 10k mile bonus posted as well. At the end of July, my AF posted. A few days after that, the AF refund also posted. So overall, I was very happy and fortunate to basically get 10k for free. I don't know if reframing the question about the AF was what got me the retention offer, or whether it was close enough to my anniversary date that new options opened up, or I just plain got lucky and connected with an empowered CSR. Whatever the truth is, I wanted to put this story out there to show there's hope!
If anyone's curious, I put exactly $4.50 of spend on this card the entire first year. I also got a second USAir MC in April of this year.
Anniversary date was back in July. I started calling to fish for retention offers in May, specifically stating I wanted to have the AF waived, but completely struck out three separate times. At this point I was resigned to cancelling, but decided to wait until the AF actually posted. At the beginning of July, I called in one more time and asked a different question: How long after the AF posts can I cancel the card and get a full refund? I sincerely wanted to know, because I had a rough idea but wanted to confirm. To my surprise, the CSR immediately offered to waive the AF! I accepted immediately instead of looking for an additional miles bonus.
A few days later, my 10k mile bonus posted as well. At the end of July, my AF posted. A few days after that, the AF refund also posted. So overall, I was very happy and fortunate to basically get 10k for free. I don't know if reframing the question about the AF was what got me the retention offer, or whether it was close enough to my anniversary date that new options opened up, or I just plain got lucky and connected with an empowered CSR. Whatever the truth is, I wanted to put this story out there to show there's hope!
If anyone's curious, I put exactly $4.50 of spend on this card the entire first year. I also got a second USAir MC in April of this year.
Sep 9, 2013, 4:54 pm
#71
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: Hyatt Platinum, IHG Platinum, Aadvantage Platinum
Posts: 180
Thanks for that tip. I got my fee waived by request but not sure if the miles will remain..
Sep 9, 2013, 5:18 pm
#72
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 194
my annual fee has been posted and charged already. Can I still call to cancel and ask them to prorately refund the fee? thx
Sep 9, 2013, 5:53 pm
#73
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 212
About three months before annual fee due I asked about a retention offer. Was given 2500 bonus miles for $500 in spend within 90 days. Not thrilling but I took it.
Sep 10, 2013, 5:38 am
#74
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
If the charge just posted recently on your account and you haven't paid it, just call and cancel. (You might want to read carefully the post a few up regarding retention offer after annual fee had posted.)
If you already paid the annual fee, which suggests that this is more than 30 days ago, I really doubt Barclays is anything like American Express, which is to say that I doubt any pro rata credit or refund.
Sep 10, 2013, 11:02 pm
#75
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LAX
Posts: 556
what if i use the miles to book the trip( saver award) then cancel my card, can I still get my benefits at the airport? they wont cancel my reservation right?