[OFFER DEAD, MR accounts frozen, some bonuses clawed back] 100k Amex Plat (USA)
Aug 16, 2016, 5:14 pm
#647
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Tokyo
Programs: DL Diamond, ANA Platinum
Posts: 1,532
My account was frozen as of June 20 this year. Of course, I made an inquiry and was told I would be contacted within a week. I ended up using my 125K points on a statement credit and then refunded the AF by cancelling the Plat shortly after getting a call on 6/30 from an Amex rep who seriously quoted me a resolution timeframe of "sometime in August." 
I also coincidentally earned another 25K points on a targeted PRG offer (no AF first year) that came in the mail shortly after I got the Plat card.
All in all, between the Plat and PRG, I got $300 in airfare credit, ~$750 in statement credits and $100 off Global Entry for a family member. Not bad, even if I could have used another 100K SQ or DL miles.
This quote sums up my feelings about why I cancelled my Plat, am keeping my Citi Prestige and hopefully can get on the CSPR bandwagon soon. They made the mistake of offering 100K, they approved my application, and I paid everything off on time. Being given a vague 6-8 week runaround left a bad taste in my mouth and I was all too happy to be unprofitable to Amex this time.
I kept the PRG because the first year is free; but I'm going to cancel it in January after getting another DL credit.
I also coincidentally earned another 25K points on a targeted PRG offer (no AF first year) that came in the mail shortly after I got the Plat card.
All in all, between the Plat and PRG, I got $300 in airfare credit, ~$750 in statement credits and $100 off Global Entry for a family member. Not bad, even if I could have used another 100K SQ or DL miles.
Amex could have easily been straightforward in their approach to this issue by letting members know their MR accounts were frozen and the specific timeline of when it would be unfrozen.
Instead, they chose to play this game where they award points and make them available, giving the impression they could be used, only for users to find out their requests have failed once they've made travel plans.
It's just a backhanded way of dealing with an issue head on and I'm sure their own CSRs would have appreciated this as well, instead of having their lines boggled down by frustrated members who can't get a straight answer as to what exactly is going on. Would have saved them many CFPB complaints as well.
They're only making a bad situation (unintended leak of 100k offer) worse and frustrating everyone, including their own employees, in the process.
Instead, they chose to play this game where they award points and make them available, giving the impression they could be used, only for users to find out their requests have failed once they've made travel plans.
It's just a backhanded way of dealing with an issue head on and I'm sure their own CSRs would have appreciated this as well, instead of having their lines boggled down by frustrated members who can't get a straight answer as to what exactly is going on. Would have saved them many CFPB complaints as well.
They're only making a bad situation (unintended leak of 100k offer) worse and frustrating everyone, including their own employees, in the process.
I kept the PRG because the first year is free; but I'm going to cancel it in January after getting another DL credit.
Aug 17, 2016, 1:22 pm
#648
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 483
I opened the Plat card in May and just got approved for the MB and completed the spending. I moved my Plat points to Delta and then called to cancel that card a few days later. Now my MB points posted, but according to AMEX they are on hold for review until Sept. Since the annual fees will no longer be prorated after Sept, I was thinking of converting the card to the Green card. Is that a good option? I tried to apply for the everyday card but I have too many cards now, I guess.
Aug 17, 2016, 1:34 pm
#649
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,967
Aug 17, 2016, 6:33 pm
#650
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: LHR
Programs: AA
Posts: 773
I was offered to convert my Ameriprise Plat to a Green card when I called to cancel it to get in on this offer. I ended up not doing it because I would never use the card and didn't want to deal with the AF.
Aug 17, 2016, 9:19 pm
#651
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,738
Not to mention that would disqualify you for the occasional 25k SUB for Green.
Aug 18, 2016, 6:13 am
#652
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 483
Aug 18, 2016, 8:31 am
#653
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: RDU
Posts: 735
So annoyed that I didn't know about this until now. Tried to transfer some points out yesterday only to learn that they were frozen pending review. Nothing strange whatsoever with spending - no MS, etc. In a bit of a pickle because I was actually planning on using these for an Aeroplan redemption in a couple of weeks. Now I'm scrambling to figure out a way to get home. 
Aug 18, 2016, 8:39 am
#654
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,967
Aug 18, 2016, 9:44 am
#655
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: Enough
Posts: 961
My partner got this got, made the minimum spend, redeemed most points before freeze, and then cancelled and got refund of annual fee. AMEX has now deducted 100,000 MR points, putting the account at a -90,000 balance.
Regardless of your personal ethics on the matter, there's nothing in the T&C that would allow the deduction.
Regardless of your personal ethics on the matter, there's nothing in the T&C that would allow the deduction.
Aug 18, 2016, 10:15 am
#656
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 43
My points were released today. I've been checking daily for a while. They were awarded on 5/16. I called in last month to inquire when they were frozen and was told by August 1 they would be available. I haven't called or done anything else. I just checked daily. I sent 500 points to Plenti. just to test.
Aug 18, 2016, 10:27 am
#659
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,967
-OR- these small tests aren't using the portion of the account that is frozen. Let's suppose that American Express has modified their software so that they can hold the new account bonus points (100,000) while allowing the base points, and points earned with other cards, to be redeemed. If you had, say, 103,000 points in your account a 1,000 point test redemption would not reveal that the 100,000 bonus points are still frozen.