Points Clawed Back - Upgraded for bonus, downgraded in less than 12 months.
Aug 8, 2022, 11:58 am
#47
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: MSP
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, UA Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 913
Aug 8, 2022, 11:45 pm
#48
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 540
Aug 10, 2022, 7:39 am
#49
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: MSP
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, UA Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 913
Interestingly, it showed up as I was browsing for cards (I think it had a "Special Offer" tag on it) I clicked it and sat on the application for a bit and then backed out. A few days later it showed up in the "Offers" section. That's when I started feeling more confident that I was finally out of jail.
Aug 17, 2022, 2:58 pm
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
Any way to make up for my stupid, 140K Membership Rewards point mistake?
Early this year, I received and utilized an Amex offer to upgrade my Business Gold card to Business Platinum, receiving 140K MR points for spending $10,000 within something like three or four months.
About a month ago, I received a notice informing me of my annual fee for the card. Stupidly, I forgot about the requirement that if I canceled the card within about a year of the bonus, I'd forfeit the points. So to avoid the annual fee, I canceled the card. I soon received an email from Amex, informing me that the 140K points were deducted.
I called Amex quickly and got the card reinstated with the hope that the points would be reinstated as well. The very helpful agent sent the request to whichever office is appropriate, and even followed up with a phone call (which I missed) to try to inform me of the decision. When I called back and spoke to another agent, I was informed that the points would not be returned to my account and that there was nothing the supervisors could do about this.
It's my own fault. But still, I'm wondering whether there is anything else I should try before giving up on those points. FWIW, I've been an Amex cc customer for 37 years and have an excellent credit score, but realize that probably doesn't make any difference.
Thanks for any advice.
About a month ago, I received a notice informing me of my annual fee for the card. Stupidly, I forgot about the requirement that if I canceled the card within about a year of the bonus, I'd forfeit the points. So to avoid the annual fee, I canceled the card. I soon received an email from Amex, informing me that the 140K points were deducted.
I called Amex quickly and got the card reinstated with the hope that the points would be reinstated as well. The very helpful agent sent the request to whichever office is appropriate, and even followed up with a phone call (which I missed) to try to inform me of the decision. When I called back and spoke to another agent, I was informed that the points would not be returned to my account and that there was nothing the supervisors could do about this.
It's my own fault. But still, I'm wondering whether there is anything else I should try before giving up on those points. FWIW, I've been an Amex cc customer for 37 years and have an excellent credit score, but realize that probably doesn't make any difference.
Thanks for any advice.
Aug 17, 2022, 3:44 pm
#53
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Aug 17, 2022, 3:53 pm
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
Aug 17, 2022, 7:04 pm
#56
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EUG
Programs: AS MVP, AA MM, HH Diamond, MR Gold
Posts: 8,220
Question about having a FNC clawed back.
I'm not sure I want to keep the Aspire card. No plans for a resort stay next year, I always find it difficult to use the airline credit. The FNC is nice, Diamond means nothing these days. Really on the fence.
My AF is due at the end of the year, when I will also get the next FNC shortly after that.
I know Amex prorates the AF if you cancel.
What if I cancel 1 month...or 3 months...or 6 months...after I pay the AF. Will they claw back the FNC? What if I've already made a reservation with it?
I'm not sure I want to keep the Aspire card. No plans for a resort stay next year, I always find it difficult to use the airline credit. The FNC is nice, Diamond means nothing these days. Really on the fence.
My AF is due at the end of the year, when I will also get the next FNC shortly after that.
I know Amex prorates the AF if you cancel.
What if I cancel 1 month...or 3 months...or 6 months...after I pay the AF. Will they claw back the FNC? What if I've already made a reservation with it?
Aug 17, 2022, 11:09 pm
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
May 9, 2023, 8:36 am
#58
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,511
Point Clawback because I am an idiot
Just wanted to share my stupidity with everyone.
I have received so many SUBS from AMEX since Covid with 6 cards.
Upgraded my EveryDay card to a Preferred for 40k MRs last year. The annual fee hit last month so I had figured it had been a year since I had upgraded because why would an annual fee hit at any time BEFORE the one year mark?
Well....I didn't check my spreadsheet.....downgraded back to the free card after what I thought was 12.5 months......and lo and behold I get the email telling me they have clawed back the 40k MRs.
Checked my spreadsheet..,...yep.....upgraded 8-6-2022 so it hasn't even been a year. UGHHHHHH!!!!!
Can't believe this rookie mistake I made!!!!
Go ahead....point your fingers and laugh!!!!
Interestingly enough, ANOTHER offer to re-upgrade that card for 15k MRs appeared in my offers a week after down grading....haha
I have received so many SUBS from AMEX since Covid with 6 cards.
Upgraded my EveryDay card to a Preferred for 40k MRs last year. The annual fee hit last month so I had figured it had been a year since I had upgraded because why would an annual fee hit at any time BEFORE the one year mark?
Well....I didn't check my spreadsheet.....downgraded back to the free card after what I thought was 12.5 months......and lo and behold I get the email telling me they have clawed back the 40k MRs.
Checked my spreadsheet..,...yep.....upgraded 8-6-2022 so it hasn't even been a year. UGHHHHHH!!!!!
Can't believe this rookie mistake I made!!!!
Go ahead....point your fingers and laugh!!!!
Interestingly enough, ANOTHER offer to re-upgrade that card for 15k MRs appeared in my offers a week after down grading....haha
Last edited by 355F1; May 9, 2023 at 9:22 am
May 9, 2023, 10:41 am
#59
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold (BIS), AA LT Plat (CC SUBs & BD), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 3,295
Don’t beat yourself up too much, mistakes happen (to many of us), including myself just 9 months ago when I closed a card 4 months early and lost annual elite qualifying nights and a free night award.
Not entirely a “rookie mistake” (as I also referred to my mistake). It’s a little like accident rates for pilots, which generally decrease with increasing experience except for a small transient increase for pilots with a medium amount of experience. So, 0 to few thousand hours accident rate decreases with increasing hours, few thousand to few thousand more hours accident rate increases slightly, even more hours accident rate decreases again. I don't recall the identified reason for that blip.
Might be complacency which is a cause factor for some accidents. For me it’s more likely age
. I try to not repeat the same mistake, at least make a different mistake 
!
Not entirely a “rookie mistake” (as I also referred to my mistake). It’s a little like accident rates for pilots, which generally decrease with increasing experience except for a small transient increase for pilots with a medium amount of experience. So, 0 to few thousand hours accident rate decreases with increasing hours, few thousand to few thousand more hours accident rate increases slightly, even more hours accident rate decreases again. I don't recall the identified reason for that blip.
Might be complacency which is a cause factor for some accidents. For me it’s more likely age
. I try to not repeat the same mistake, at least make a different mistake !