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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 Nov 6, 2012, 11:13 pm
  #451  
Moderator: Chase Ultimate Rewards
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 2P, MR LT Plat, IHG Plat, BW Dia, HH Au, Avis PC
Posts: 5,463
Just in case anyone happens to search, I'll mention my experience canceling a Costco AMEX.

A few months before the card was due to renew, I canceled my Costco membership and sockdrawered the card. The AMEX renewed anyway. Approaching the NEXT anniversary, I got a letter from AMEX letting me know that I wasn't allowed to keep the card anymore unless I renewed the underlying Costco membership.

Calling in, the rep told me they are NOT allowed to convert this card to any other product. Either you keep the Costco membership or you give up the card.

Called back again later and was told the same thing. Asked about comping the Costco membership - they're not allowed to do that either.

So I canceled it. Was really the only option left.
MDtR-Chicago is offline  
Old Nov 7, 2012, 2:25 pm
  #452  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Priority Club Plat
Posts: 88
15,000 MR points to keep Gold Card

I have an Amex Business Gold with a $175 annual fee that is due this month. I called the tel number on the back of the card and asked to speak with retention department because I wanted to cancel the card. Theirfirst offer was 7500 points, but I got them to raise it to 15,000 to keep the card and pay the $175 fee, which I was going to do anyway. Not bad for one phone call
NorthernAZtraveler is offline  
Old Nov 8, 2012, 12:08 pm
  #453  
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: East Coast USA/Asia
Programs: AA Plat /KE mc/OZ Diamond /Marriott gold/ SPG gold
Posts: 221
called cancel PRG with annual 15k spending.

was initially offered $150 statement, but rather got 20k points offer (have to pay annual fee though).

gladly took 20k offer of course.
sunrider101 is offline  
Old Nov 8, 2012, 2:09 pm
  #454  
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Pennsylvania
Programs: American Gold, Hilton Diamond, Wyndham Diamond, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 269
Called today about my PRG. Was offered $50 right away and $50 after spending $500 in 60 days. Asked if there was anything else, CSR said she could give me 7,500 membership reward points that would post in 1-2 weeks and another 5,000 points after $500 spend in 60 days. Took the points.
Filler03 is offline  
Old Nov 8, 2012, 3:24 pm
  #455  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: DL PM, SkyClub, HHonors Gold, Emerald Exec Elite
Posts: 66
Was offered 10k to keep Green Amex.

I have been a cardholder for a year now averaging $2.5 - $3k spend per month.

Regardless, recently acquired Delta Plat Amex, which I use almost exclusively.
GenYTraveler is offline  
Old Nov 9, 2012, 6:22 pm
  #456  
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Tampa, Florida USA
Programs: Marriott, SW, United
Posts: 193
AMX SPG
10 year cardholder
50-100k annual spend
$65 annual fee
Reached "Membership Department"
4000 point or $40 bonus
Took the points, couldn't squeeze any more points out of them
Bud Florida is offline  
Old Nov 9, 2012, 9:26 pm
  #457  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 79
Mother was a Gold for ~20 years. Called to cancel, no retention bonus offered at all. Normal? I think AU Amex is just bad
mustkill is offline  
Old Nov 10, 2012, 6:50 pm
  #458  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,396
Anyone able to get a retention bonus 2 years in a row? I'm considering what my plan will be for the next year, and whether or not to keep the PRG will likely depend on if there's any chance of getting another retention offer.
CFFrost is offline  
Old Nov 12, 2012, 10:55 am
  #459  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA plat, SPG gold
Posts: 721
Called again to cancel my plat card. After being transfered to membership department and an enjoyable 5 min convo on all my travel plans over the next year, I was offered 20k points or $100 statement credit. Took the points, I'll keep it another year.

Have 3 Amex's but all my spend goes on my gold biz card. Plat has maybe 1k spend a year.
lakers6902 is offline  
Old Nov 12, 2012, 2:59 pm
  #460  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: YYZ
Programs: CX*GO, SPG Platinum
Posts: 147
Amex PR Gold
10-20k annual spend
Prior to renewal, already paid full annual fee for an Amex plat with ~80k annual spend
Called initially to cancel the Gold but offered $150 or 15,000 points. Took the points.
stingray300 is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2012, 2:57 pm
  #461  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA plat, SPG gold
Posts: 721
Question, about how long does it take for these retention points to post?
lakers6902 is offline  
Old Nov 17, 2012, 10:06 am
  #462  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: ORD
Posts: 835
Best day/time to call?

Hi, Is it better to call on a weekday as opposed to the weekend? Thanks!
CherylD is offline  
Old Nov 17, 2012, 11:10 am
  #463  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: TPA / HAM
Programs: UA Gold / Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 277
Originally Posted by CherylD
Hi, Is it better to call on a weekday as opposed to the weekend?
That depends. You might have more time on the weekend or you might have free weekends with your phone company.

In regards to Amex ... they all follow the same instuctions.
STEPHANKOENIG is offline  
Old Nov 18, 2012, 7:35 pm
  #464  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 413
Called tonight (9:30 PM EST on Sunday so weekend is just fine to anyone who has been wondering) to cancel my Mercedes Platinum Amex. Was offered a $400 statement credit or 50,000 points to keep it a year. I choose the points - they said they will post in about 2 weeks (I think once I pay my $475 annual fee).

Had $123k spend on this card in 2012. Overall around $250k on all my Amex cards. The agent referenced my Hilton so not sure if he looked at that spend when he put me on hold to come up with an offer.
r.brown is offline  
Old Nov 19, 2012, 3:23 pm
  #465  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: ORD
Posts: 835
Just called on a Monday at 4pm Central...offered 10K to keep my Amex Bus MR Gold card...wouldn't go higher..so I took it as I have a high balance and don't want to risk not being able to transfer to DH's account.
CherylD is offline  


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