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Old Sep 2, 2020 | 11:36 am
  #5031  
Smiley90
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Originally Posted by JJonahJ
Correct. NONE. In Canada, there has never been a no-fee MR card to hold, combine and keep your MR points alive. The only options, as you've alluded to, would be to open another card in the MR product family, so that you could consolidate your points before closing the older card.

That said, currently, the only effectively 'free' Amex MR card that you can open to keep points from another MR card (Biz Gold, Biz Plat, Personal Plat) alive is the Personal Gold, if you open it using the CPA RSVP code. If you or a family member have a CPA online membership account, you can get the RSVP to apply for the Personal Gold, and the offer is 25,000 points and a $150 rebate to offset the $150 annual fee, provided that you spend $1500 within the first 90 days after approval.

The RSVP code for the CPA offer is generic and not tied to an actual membershp ID, like the RSVP code of the similar Perkopolis offer for the Personal Gold (however, Perkopolis no longer has the $150 rebate). So if you're not a CPA but are willing to apply using their RSVP code regardless, you can get the offer to make the Personal Gold MR card effectively FREE for one year.

If you are not within a CPA circle, there are other ways of obtaining the RSVP code, but that type of discussion doesn't belong in this forum. Ask your friends, and include Mr. Google, if you want to find the RSVP code to pursue this option.

One more note, and this probably should be in the Amex Canada discussion thread. Due to COVID, Amex Canada has expedited their measures to close down all cards for cardmembers who they deem are not profitable. If you haven't seen discussions of these shutdowns, bear in mind that this had started shortly after the pandemic began, and has been ongoing. So if you are at risk, you may want to consider redeeming / converting your MR points, to mitigate the potential losses due to forced (and prompt) cancellations.
huh, that last part is interesting. Since I'm moving I'll likely be using my Gold much less but I wanted to keep my points alive in a flexible account instead of commiting to, say, AP or Bonvoy. And conversion to US MR just about makes every value worse due to currency conversion.

... Dangit.

Originally Posted by jerry305
Although Amex signup offers are not what they used to be, you could sign up for another card (Gold Business, Gold Personal, etc.), pay the first year annual fee, and collect a decent signup reward.
Then, ask Amex to link the two accounts and consolidate the points. And eventually cancel the original account.
It's not free, but it's a good way to keep your points active.
Hasn't Amex gotten wiser to churning? I know I didn't get a repeat bonus for my Bonvoy even though I only had the SPG card before that...
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