Amex USA terms now penalize:abuse,misuse,gaming;1st yr downgrade/close;leaked offers.
Oct 21, 2017, 11:23 am
#76
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Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
This isn't only a legal move, it's a marketing strategy. By publishing more explicit rules, prohibiting specific practices, they are trying to drive less profitable and higher risk customers to other issuers. American Express is now more focused on margin than raw market share.
Jan 11, 2018, 7:24 am
#78
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 503
i have a business gold card that I got last spring with no annual fee for the first year and some bonus (50k points?).
I was intending to use it for business purchases if the SPG cards went away after the Starwood-Marriott merger, but that hasn't happened so I haven't used it.
Am I likely to have trouble with Amex if I don't renew it when the annual fee hits?
I was intending to use it for business purchases if the SPG cards went away after the Starwood-Marriott merger, but that hasn't happened so I haven't used it.
Am I likely to have trouble with Amex if I don't renew it when the annual fee hits?
Jan 11, 2018, 7:30 am
#79
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Jan 14, 2018, 1:26 pm
#81
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: GIG - YYC - SVO
Programs: Lost it all and don't care
Posts: 945
Originally Posted by mia
This isn't only a legal move, it's a marketing strategy. By publishing more explicit rules, prohibiting specific practices, they are trying to drive less profitable and higher risk customers to other issuers. American Express is now more focused on margin than raw market share.
At the IAH Centurion club last month I mentioned to the concierge that I was happy they are making moves to restrict club access and he said that he's heard that from a lot of cardholders. They need to get back to their roots.......dealing with the profitable 1/10 of the 1% and not the mass market.
Jan 25, 2018, 1:49 pm
#82
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,940
My question isn't exactly about lifetime language. I'm worried about this: "if you cancel or downgrade your account within 12 months after acquiring it...we may freeze the welcome bonus credited to, or we may take away the welcome bonus from your account. We may also cancel this Card account and other Card accounts you may have with us." I don't know if that language was on the apps last January, but I'm trying to be uber careful.
I want to cancel two Plat biz. One was a new app 12.5 months ago and the second was an UPGRADE from a year old Gold Biz 11 months ago.
I should be fine, right? I have 500k points and don't want them grabbed. Paranoid.
I want to cancel two Plat biz. One was a new app 12.5 months ago and the second was an UPGRADE from a year old Gold Biz 11 months ago.
I should be fine, right? I have 500k points and don't want them grabbed. Paranoid.
Jan 25, 2018, 2:13 pm
#83
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, United States
Programs: AA, BA, UA, Spirit, Delta, PC Plat, SPG Gold, HHonors Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,735
My question isn't exactly about lifetime language. I'm worried about this: "if you cancel or downgrade your account within 12 months after acquiring it...we may freeze the welcome bonus credited to, or we may take away the welcome bonus from your account. We may also cancel this Card account and other Card accounts you may have with us." I don't know if that language was on the apps last January, but I'm trying to be uber careful.
I want to cancel two Plat biz. One was a new app 12.5 months ago and the second was an UPGRADE from a year old Gold Biz 11 months ago.
I should be fine, right? I have 500k points and don't want them grabbed. Paranoid.
I want to cancel two Plat biz. One was a new app 12.5 months ago and the second was an UPGRADE from a year old Gold Biz 11 months ago.
I should be fine, right? I have 500k points and don't want them grabbed. Paranoid.
Jan 25, 2018, 2:15 pm
#84
Moderator
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
Annual fees post on the (approximate) anniversary of the first statement which means there is no reason to close an account within "12 months" of the opening date.
Jan 25, 2018, 3:16 pm
#85
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,940
Anyone else have an opinion? Alternatively, downgrade options?
Jan 25, 2018, 4:53 pm
#87
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,940
Well I'm not transferring them to an airline b/c I have no use for them now and like to transfer to many different airlines when the need arises. Otherwise to avoid the risk (if it's an actual risk) then I have to fork out $900 in AF.
Anyone else have an opinion? Alternatively, downgrade options?
Anyone else have an opinion? Alternatively, downgrade options?
I trust you MIA! ; ) I am thinking the same thing. All the updates to terms has made me paranoid. But I think I will wait till Feb 1 and cancel.
Jan 25, 2018, 6:59 pm
#88
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
Amex tends to bill the second year annual fee about 13 months after you opened the card. So waiting until you see the second year annual fee means it's more than 12 months already since the opening date of the card, plus after you see it you still have weeks more before you actually have to pay it. So if you just wait until the second year annual fee is almost due before you cancel, you'll be absolutely fine relative to this "12 months" language.
Jan 25, 2018, 8:42 pm
#89
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,940
In case someone missed doing the math on what you said, here it is:
Amex tends to bill the second year annual fee about 13 months after you opened the card. So waiting until you see the second year annual fee means it's more than 12 months already since the opening date of the card, plus after you see it you still have weeks more before you actually have to pay it. So if you just wait until the second year annual fee is almost due before you cancel, you'll be absolutely fine relative to this "12 months" language.
Amex tends to bill the second year annual fee about 13 months after you opened the card. So waiting until you see the second year annual fee means it's more than 12 months already since the opening date of the card, plus after you see it you still have weeks more before you actually have to pay it. So if you just wait until the second year annual fee is almost due before you cancel, you'll be absolutely fine relative to this "12 months" language.
Jan 26, 2018, 8:39 am
#90
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790
Contracts that that allow someone to do whatever they want for whatever reason they want are most of the time unenforceable, except in a few states that allow powerful entities to screw over consumers under the premise of "free-enterprise"