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Old May 31, 2013, 3:32 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: mia
For discussion of retention bonuses on Starwood Amex cards, see Annual fee retention bonus for Starwood Amex card.

Retention's department:
(800) 452-3945

Everyday Preferred
10/13/15
2.5K points not to cancel, and 5k points for 1K spend within three months, Total 7.5K points, or in the alternate, a $75 statement credit or gift card.
1/15/16 - 16k spend - first renewal - offered $50, no MR offer - accepted
3/14/16 - 98k spend - first renewal - offered $100 or 15k MR - took the 15k.
11/18/16 -50k spend - first renewal - offered $100 or 15k MR - took the 15k.

Platinum OPEN/Business
6/11/15 - 8.5k spend - 2nd renewal - offered $100 or 10k MR - deferred on offer (see post #314)
8/18/2015 - 90k spend - 2nd renewal - first two times I called, no offer. Final time I asked explicitly to cancel, was offered $350 statement credit.
12/18/2015 - 10k spend, first renewal. Offered 10k MR, cancelled.
1/6/2016 - 10K spend, about 8 weeks after account opening - offered $50 credit or 7.5K MRs, took MRs.
4/29/2016 - 15k spend, 3 months after opening. No offer other than downgrade to BGR.
6/16/2016 - 15k spend to get signup bonus (in Jan 2016). Minimal spend after. Took a lot of nudging - including explicit request to cancel card -- but was offered 10k MR to keep open. No spend requirement.
9/29/2016 - offered $100, didn't catch whether there was a spend requirement, i canceled as I have a personal Platinum card and the go-go passes weren't worth having two.

Business Gold Rewards
10/10/15 - Offered 10K MR. declined and closed
12/26/15 - Offered 10K MR or $100 Credit, counter offered $150 or 15K MR. They offered me 15K MR..accepted.
1/26/16 - Offered 15k MR, counter offered $150 and 15k MR, offered either but not both. Accepted 15k MR. $20k annual spend. Opened account 1/2015.
2/2/16 Offered 15k MR. Accepted 15k MR. $40k annual spend. Opened account 3/2015.
2/4/16 Offered 15K MR. Accepted 15K. About a $15K annual spend.
3/5/16 Offered 15K MR or $100 credit. Took the 15K MR. Minimal spend.
5/23/16 Offered $50, then $100, then 15k MR. Accepted 15k MR. Also let me change the 3x category in the middle of the year.
6/9/16 7500 MR offer, even pushed for 10k or 15k. Minimal spend. AF just posted. Left as-is, going to wait till closer to 60 day mark.
6/11/16 7500 MR offer, about 30k spend. AF due in two weeks. Took it.
6/20/16 No offer. ~$10k spend. Wanted to close the card anyway so did it.
9/30/16 Offered $50 statement credit. (<$5K spend) That was all. Didn't take it and cancelled card
10/04/16 Offered $50 statement credit or 7,500 points or pay the annual fee of $175 with 17,000 points instead of 25000 points. (<$9K spend) Didn't take it any of them and cancelled card

Personal Platinum
1/11/16 - 5K points immediately, 15K points for 3K spend within three months. $22K spend in 2015.
1/17/16 - 5K points immediately, 10K points for 2K spend within two months. $560 spend in 2015.
1/26/16 - $200 "loyalty credit" without requirements. $18k spend in 2015 (~50k total Amex spend in 2015). Cardholder for 3 years.
1/27/16 - 5K points immediately + 10K points for 2K spend within 60 days, or $100 credit. Took the points.
1/29/16 - 5K points immediately + 10K points for 2K spend within 60 days, or $100 credit. Took the points. Cardholder 3 years; $17k spend last year.
2/3/16 - 5K points now and 10K points after $2K spend in 60 days. Rep had to "dig deep" into my account to find this "unique and very special" offer (Yeah, right). Accepted.
3/31/16 - Only offer was $100 statement credit. $15k spend last year.
04/19/16 - $200 statement credit for being loyal to amex (cardholder for 2 years $65k spend).
4/29/16 Initial offer $200. HUCA 5k MR immediately, 15k MR after 3k spend in 60 days.
8/12/16 - 40K MR immediately. Card holder for 7 year, $55K spend in 2015 (Post #1015)
8/19/16 - 5K points immediately, 15K points for 3K spend within three months or 200$ statement credit. Card holder only for 1 year but amex customer for 8 years
8/19/16 - called before AF hit, offered $200 credit, accepted, not a ton of spend after hitting minimum spend for signup bonus, Amex customer since 2013 with 3 other cards but generally don't spend that much on Amex (maybe $10k/year)
8/25/16 - $200 Statement credit or 20k points for 3k spend within 3 months. Amex for 6 years, plat for 1 year. 40k spend across all amex.
9/9/16 - $200 Statement credit, $20k spent on this last year
9/9/16 - $200 Statement credit. ~$14K spend this year.
9/10/16 - 25k MR (no spend req). $11k in spend last yr. Tough sell from AX.
9/12/16 - 15k points after $2k spend in 3 months. ~$7k in spend
9/21/16 - 25k points or $200, no spend req. ~5k spend
9/29/16 - 25k points, no spend req. ~$20k in spend during past year
10/6/16 - 40k points, no spend req. ~$35k in spend during past year
10/7/16 - 25k points, no spend req. ~$22k T12 spend
10/8/16 - 25k points or $200, no spend req. ~$10k spend during past year
10/17/16 - 25k points or $200, no spend req. ~$5k spend during past year. took the points.
10/29/16 - 25k points or $200, no spend req. ~$11k spend during past year. took the points.
11/14/16 - 25k points or $200, no spend req. ~$15k spend during past year. took the points.
11/19/16 40k points or $400, no spend req. ~$45k spend during past year.

Platinum Mercedes Benz
9/30/15 - 5K points immediately, in addition to 15K points for 3K spend within three months. 20K points Total to retain card.

Platinum Ameriprise
7/21/16 Offered $200 or 20k MR. Accepted $200 statement credit to offset the $450 AF for all 4 cards in the account. 35K spent

SPG Personal
12/4/15 - $25 loyalty statement credit
2/3/16 - $25 loyalty statement credit but did allude to a potential bonus when the SPG card goes away; referenced the $200-300 bonus offered to Costco Amex holders being asked to convert to Sams Club Amex products
3/1/16 - $25 loyalty statement credit
6/14/2016 - $25 plus 3,000 SPG points - Had to ask Supv for the addl. 3,000 pts.
7/6/2016 - $25 or 1500 points after $1000 spend. Canceled card. $25k spend last year.
7/15/2016 - $25 loyalty statement credit. HUCA, HUCA, declined, cancelled card. $10K spend last year, less recently.
8/10/2016 - Paltry $25 or 500 points + additional 1000 points after $1000 spend (total of 1500) in 3 months. I have another ~60 days for af to lock in, so will call again in ~30 days. $35k spend last year, but less than $1000 / month this year.
8/16/16 - Offered $50 or 7,000 SPG points, $48K spend, took the points.
8/24/16 - Offered $50 or 7,000 SPG points, $13K spend YTD, took the points.
8/25/16 - $25 loyalty statement credit, $5K YTD spend. HUACA resulted in the same offer (even with a symethic agent that noted my 15 years of membership).
9/13/16 $95 credit with +- $40K spend. Fast & easy
9/17/16 $25 or 1500 SPG points after $1K spend. Cancelled the card
9/17/16 Called after renewal fee posted. Offered 5,000 SPG points - $40K spent on this card.
9/18/16 $50 or 7k. ~$80k spend.
10/1/16 $25 offer ~$15k spend. Cancelled card.
10/7/16 $50 or 7k. ~$76k T12 spend.
10/27/16 ($7K spend in last 12 months, first renewal) $25 statement credit OR 500 Starpoints + 1,000 Starpoints for $1,000 spend in next 3 months
11/11/16 ($4k spend this year) We respect your decision. Goodbye.
12/16/16 Member since 1995, spent $25k in 12 months, was offered 7k points. Love SPG points so didn't enquire about any of the other credits.

SPG OPEN/Business
8/3/15 - called with intent to cancel, $18k spend last year, offered $100 one-time statement credit - accepted.
8/12/15 - called with intent to cancel, $15k spend last year, offered only $50 one-time statement credit - accepted
12/14/15 - called with intent to cancel, $15k spend last year, AF hit 90 days ago with $0 spend since then. Offered $100 one-time statement credit.
1/14/16 - called with intent to cancel or product change to no fee Simply Cash card, $10-12k spend last year, $65 AF hit 30 days ago with $0 spend since then. Offered $100 one-time credit to keep card.
8/29/16 - called to cancel & they didn't offer any retention bonus so we canceled it. Only had min. spend last year.
10/1/16 - retention offered 5K SPG pts.
10/19/16 - offered $25 credit. Spend last year ~$15k.

DL Skymiles Platinum OPEN/Business
5/28/15 - called with intent to cancel, card opened 9 months, initial min spend (1.3k) only - offered simply cash open, declined, closed.
03/10/15- the date is date of miles post, do not remember original request date, no offers until reaching the retention department, 15k miles offered with 50k spend
11/4/15 - called to see what retention offer would be $60K spend offered nothing. sm
12/10/15 - Called again to actually cancel, got 25K skymiles. Kept card open. sm
04/26/16 - Called again, 3k bonus as good will to keep open. Will HUCA for 3rd time.
10/23/16 - called to cancel told me they have nothing to offer as I took advantage of the 25K miles last year. Said also they will remove the companion travel cert in my account if I cancel. I have until mid Nov and will call again

Premier Rewards Gold
6/12/15 - 1st renewal. Called 5 days after fee posted stating not happy about losing 15k bonus. Offered 10k MR now and 10k after $3k spend in 60 days. Accepted. $40k spent last year.
11/2/15 - Offered 20K MR. $130K spend in previous year.
1/14/16 - Offered $50 statement credit + $50 credit if meet $500 spend in 60 days. ~$8k spend previous year.
1/21/16 - Offered 5k MR + 15k MR with $3k spend in 60 days or $75 credit + $75 credit if $1k spend in 60 days. ~$25k in spend last year
2/11/16 - Offered 2.5k MR + 5k MR with $1k spend in 60 days or $50 credit + $50 credit if $500 spend in 60 days. ~$25k in spend last year
2/23/16 - Offered 5k MR + 15k MR with $3k spend in 60 days . ~$33k in spend in my first year
4/12/16 - Offered $50 statement credit + $50 credit if meet $500 spend in 60 days. ~$10k spend previous year.
4/22/16 - 1st offer - $50 statement + $50 credit after $500 spend in 60 days. 2nd offer - 2.5k MR + 5k MR with $1k spend in 60 days (took 2nd offer) ~10k spend previous year.
6/9/16 No offers. Minimal spend. AF just posted. Left as-is, going to wait till closer to 60 day mark.
6/26/16 - Offered $175 or 25k MR. $135k spend.
6/20/2016 Phoned and requested transfer to retention dept. After a brief explanation of benefits, I was offered $50 statement credit and $50 additional statement credit after $500 spend in 60 days. Took the offer.
7/25/2015 1st anniversary, 25k spend. Offered upgrade to platinum with 10k + 50k MR. Lengthy talk with Retention who finally offered only 7.5k MR for $1k spend in 92 days. Very disappointed. Declined. HUCA. 2nd call on the 60th day: offered and took the 50+50 offer.
8/19/2016: Presented with 2 offers: (1) $50 statement credit now and $50 statement credit after spending $500 within 60 days (2) 2,500 MR points now, and 5,000 MR points after spending $1,000 within 90 days.
11/2/2016: $100 credit no spend needed

DL Skymiles Gold
6/2015 - Have had card since 1991 and have never asked for a retention offer. $30k spend annually except for the last year with $1k spend. Flat out denied hard for any retention. Paid AF b/c my oldest card.
1/2016 - Have had card for ten years+, usually around $10,000/year spend. Never asked for retention bonus before. Given two choices: 1) 1000 miles immediately and 2000 more miles for $1000 spend in 60 days or 2) $75 statement credit. Took the $75.
5/2016 - Had card for 3 years, never asked for a retention. Spend is probably only around $2K/year. Was not offered any miles or credit.
6/15/2016 - 15k offer. Have had card since 1995. <1k spend last year. Took 15k

DL Skymiles Gold Business
9/24 - under $1k spend in last 12 months, no offer. They said they don't have a retention department.
4/18/2016 - Had card for 1 year with 2K spend. Asked for the nature of my small business, what expenses and travel requirements I have for my business. Given two choices: 1) 7,500 miles immediately to offset $95 AF or 2) switch to a generic no fee Amex. Took the 7,500 miles.


Hilton HHonors Surpass
1/2016 - spend > $40k, 2nd year had card, offered $50 statement credit or 5000 points
4/2016 - Offered $75 statement credit or 10k points. Took the credit.
6/2016 - Offered 500 HH points now and another 1K after spending 1K or $25. Took the $25.
9/2016 - spend > $40k, 2nd year had card, offered $50 statement credit or 5000 points. Took the credit.
11/2016 - Spend $5k on this card, $55k in last year across all Amex accounts. 1st anniversary, offered $25 statement credit or 1,000 points. Cancelled.
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American Express retention offers [2008 - 2016]

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Old Aug 21, 2012, 2:56 pm
  #361  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 203
my delta amex plat annual fee posted and stiill trying to get retension bonus.. no luck yet and they willing to downgrade my card but no bonus offer
samineni3 is offline  
Old Aug 22, 2012, 5:09 pm
  #362  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SFO, OAK, SIN
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 88
I cancelled my Delta gold card yesterday and was charged a 2-month prorated annual fee. They were willing to downgrade my card but offered no other bonuses. I've not used any of my $99 companion certificates since I got the card so even the double miles for Delta purchases was not worth it for me anymore. Plus very few merchants accept Amex where I am at now.

I just applied for the Citibank Thank You Premier MC; hope it'll work out better for me.
AZWildcat97 is offline  
Old Aug 23, 2012, 2:38 pm
  #363  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 203
Same with me

I called again today and CS offered me $20 for delta plat.. said no...and downgraded my card Amex blue.. I want to keep most of my amex cards due their Twitter Sync offers and small business saturday... amex has very good promotions.. I hope they will this year too.
Originally Posted by AZWildcat97
I cancelled my Delta gold card yesterday and was charged a 2-month prorated annual fee. They were willing to downgrade my card but offered no other bonuses. I've not used any of my $99 companion certificates since I got the card so even the double miles for Delta purchases was not worth it for me anymore. Plus very few merchants accept Amex where I am at now.

I just applied for the Citibank Thank You Premier MC; hope it'll work out better for me.

Last edited by samineni3; Aug 23, 2012 at 2:39 pm Reason: correct spelling
samineni3 is offline  
Old Aug 27, 2012, 10:03 am
  #364  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,050
"You have taken advantage of the first year free and other benefits." This was what I got when I called in and told the agent that I was considering whether to keep the prg in my wallet after the $175 posted to my statement. I'll probably call another time.
Nelumbo is offline  
Old Aug 30, 2012, 9:51 am
  #365  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: AA ExPLT, Bonvoy Titanium, Amex PLT, Hertz GLD, National EX
Posts: 332
SPG Amex

The annual fee of $65 on my Starwood American Express card hit on August 24. I have had the card for one year and have spent over $30,000.

I called the number on the back of my card, punched in my card number, said "cancel card" and was transferred to an agent. I said the annual fee hit and I was thinking of cancelling because its the only card in my wallet that charges an annual fee. She looked up my account, mentioned my over $30k spend and offered me a $40 credit. I asked if there was a points option. She said "yes, 4,000 points". I took the points, she read her script, and I was done in less than 5 minutes ^
cyncyn129 is offline  
Old Aug 30, 2012, 9:57 am
  #366  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 299
PRG Retention Offer

Annual spend 20K(as per transaction history)

Called up 5 times...

first 4 attempts spoke to regular reps who barely looked into my account. Said no offers, had to cancel, "NO RETENTION OFFERS".

the last rep said she will transfer me to an account specialist.

Account specialist started off with Thank you for being with us since 2007 blah blah blah. All sweet talk. I assume account specialist = retention rep.

Offer was $130 cash now + $75 after 3K spend in 60days
Or...20K points now + 7.5K after 3K spend in 60days

Looks like points offer equals exactly to last year's total spend(confirmed the number with a friend who got the same equivalent.

Took the points offer. Prob will transfer to BA(40% bonus) or wait for Delta Bonus offer.
ddavid1101 is offline  
Old Aug 30, 2012, 11:13 am
  #367  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: many
Posts: 1,437
Originally Posted by ddavid1101
Annual spend 20K(as per transaction history)
Looks like points offer equals exactly to last year's total spend(confirmed the number with a friend who got the same equivalent.
Curious what your friend's spend was, was it 20K as well or higher?
pcharles is offline  
Old Aug 30, 2012, 12:54 pm
  #368  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: MSP
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, UA Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 913
Originally Posted by ddavid1101
Offer was $130 cash now + $75 after 3K spend in 60days
Or...20K points now + 7.5K after 3K spend in 60days
Thats a pretty sweet offer. I got a very similar cash offer ($130 credit now + $75 after a 2K spend in 2 months) but I would have definitely taken the points, especially since my annual spend was ~28K.... heck I'd have taken your exact offer in points too!
crazyhorse is offline  
Old Aug 30, 2012, 2:02 pm
  #369  
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 44
Originally Posted by crazyhorse
Thats a pretty sweet offer. I got a very similar cash offer ($130 credit now + $75 after a 2K spend in 2 months) but I would have definitely taken the points, especially since my annual spend was ~28K.... heck I'd have taken your exact offer in points too!
I would ask if there is a points offer as well. They did not mention it initially for me, but I asked if there was a points option and it was actually better than the cash offer.

For reference:

PRG, ~$8k in 12 months. They reminded me of the 75k MR, waived fee last year, benefits of the card, etc. I listened politely to it all, told them Sapphire points are more valuable to me now and after a couple minutes got to the offers.
1)Offered $50 initial credit + $50 after spending $500 in 60 days
2)Offered 7,500 MR initial + 5,000 after spending $500 in 60 days

Not amazing, but decent for not using this card very often.
djschex is offline  
Old Aug 30, 2012, 2:33 pm
  #370  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Mem
Programs: Delta GM, Amex Reserve, Amex Plat, JP Morgan Palladium
Posts: 987
Just got 17,500 on my PRG and 15,000 on my business Platinum.
Valveking is offline  
Old Aug 30, 2012, 3:11 pm
  #371  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bellingham, WA
Programs: AMEX Platinum, Delta Gold, Alaska Air MVP Gold
Posts: 449
Makes my 50,000 points for 7 figure spend seem puny. I'll be in the very low 8 figure spend by the time my annual fee comes due again. I'll see what they offer then.
jandersinc is offline  
Old Aug 31, 2012, 10:07 am
  #372  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Spg Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,578
Originally Posted by jandersinc
Makes my 50,000 points for 7 figure spend seem puny. I'll be in the very low 8 figure spend by the time my annual fee comes due again. I'll see what they offer then.
Called a few days ago to cancel my PRG . Didnt spend hardly anything after necessary spend for bonus was met .

Now Gold Biz came due and I want to cancel via SM . What option in the list do you guys use to cancel

Have 5 total Amex cards including platinum so dont think it will affect my credit as a customer over 35 years .

Can anyone see mistakes in my thinking
PETERPNYC is offline  
Old Aug 31, 2012, 10:55 am
  #373  
mia
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Signatures.
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,982
Originally Posted by PETERPNYC
. What option in the list do you guys use to cancel
Ask a Question > Choose correct card account > Account management & statements > All other questions. "Please close this account"
mia is offline  
Old Aug 31, 2012, 12:08 pm
  #374  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 25
Spent 5-10K annually. Called to cancel and was offered the same another poster above:

$50 now +$50 after 500 spend in 60 days
7500MR now +5K MR points after 500 spend in 60 days

I took the 2nd option, paid the annual fees. Will call in a few months to see if they do another retention else its not worth with $175 fees.
boundless_maverick is offline  
Old Aug 31, 2012, 12:54 pm
  #375  
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 391
Originally Posted by boundless_maverick
Spent 5-10K annually. Called to cancel and was offered the same another poster above:

$50 now +$50 after 500 spend in 60 days
7500MR now +5K MR points after 500 spend in 60 days

I took the 2nd option, paid the annual fees. Will call in a few months to see if they do another retention else its not worth with $175 fees.
I took this same option.

Am I now bound to keep the renewed card for the year?
katstarr is offline  


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