Feb 7, 2022, 8:50 pm
Last edit by: rrgg
Retention department:
800.452.3945 (After entering your card number you may hear a "no longer in service" type of message -- if this happens, HUCA)
-OR-
855.857.7657
Hours: 08:00 - 23:00 Eastern Standard Time
or chat with a Membership Consulting Services Monday to Friday, 9:00AM to 5:30PM ET (7/19 - quoted 8:30 AM to 3:45 PM ET for Amex Business account)
To access chat:
Login to the Amex App, then press the chat icon at top right.
Via the web:
Log into http://americanexpress.com
Select "Help" at top right
Select the blue "Live Chat" button.
800.452.3945 (After entering your card number you may hear a "no longer in service" type of message -- if this happens, HUCA)
-OR-
855.857.7657
Hours: 08:00 - 23:00 Eastern Standard Time
or chat with a Membership Consulting Services Monday to Friday, 9:00AM to 5:30PM ET (7/19 - quoted 8:30 AM to 3:45 PM ET for Amex Business account)
To access chat:
Login to the Amex App, then press the chat icon at top right.
Via the web:
Log into http://americanexpress.com
Select "Help" at top right
Select the blue "Live Chat" button.
- If you product change your Amex, they will prorate the annual fee refund.
- If you cancel your account completely, you will be refunded the annual fee if within 30 days of the print date of the statement showing the fee. After that, there's no refund.
American Express retention offers (2022)
Oct 4, 2022, 7:12 am
#976
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Dreamland
Posts: 928
I will call/chat back and see if any improvement - I really was hoping for an Aspire upgrade offer that hasn't come... so perhaps renew with some retention offer of 10k+ and cross my fingers and toes.
Oct 4, 2022, 8:04 am
#977
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,215
I will call/chat back and see if any improvement - I really was hoping for an Aspire upgrade offer that hasn't come... so perhaps renew with some retention offer of 10k+ and cross my fingers and toes.
Oct 4, 2022, 8:23 am
#978
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAS, ZQN
Programs: UA PP (2MM), BA gold
Posts: 2,202
AMEX Platinum- $300 or 30K for $4k spend.
accepted- 30K
accepted- 30K
Last edited by zebranz; Oct 4, 2022 at 11:36 am
Oct 4, 2022, 8:34 am
#979
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan, TD.
Posts: 467
I tried and was denied any offers as my AF is due Oct 24th of this month on my Platinum card via phone call.
Oct 4, 2022, 8:39 am
#980
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,959
Oct 4, 2022, 8:49 am
#981
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, AS MVP Gold, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 269
Business Platinum
AF due in few days, business retention offer has to chat via webpage using PC but not Amex mobile app. Got offer entire AF back last year.
Offered 35k MR points after 5k spend in 92 days. Accepted.
Offered 35k MR points after 5k spend in 92 days. Accepted.
Oct 4, 2022, 9:55 am
#983
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,859
Oct 4, 2022, 11:12 am
#984
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: 3,299
(9/24/22) Good thinking, wish I had been that smart 10 months ago when (I thought I was so smart and) I accepted a relatively small offer on a 2 month old Biz Plat card during a conversation in which several card offers (or lack thereof) were discussed. Now I’m in the situation of a large AF being billed and no offer due to accepted offer 10 months ago and decision of paying a large AF (for a card of which I have 2 or 3 others with little use beyond minimum spend) or cancelling the card 11 months after receiving a relatively small retention offer. Not sure which is more palatable, paying the fee or accepting the risk.
Teaching point: only discuss and accept retention offers at the approximate time of AF billing. …
Teaching point: only discuss and accept retention offers at the approximate time of AF billing. …
) still wear our hair IAW military grooming standards. I explained the situation and she offered (what I see as) better options.I’m loath to pay the “grandfathered” AF of $595 for a card I have no use for and have several other identical cards. I’m almost as loath to close the account 11 months after accepting a retention offer, don’t want to bring additional attention to my account(s). The agent did say that AmEx in general has become a little more strict about the 1 year from retention offer and has been taking back retention offers more frequently in an effort to reduce gaming.
The agent suggested waiting until exactly 1 year from accepted retention offer and then downgrading to a Biz Gold or closing the Biz Plat and opening a Blue Biz Plus or Cash. Either way I would receive a prorated (~5/6, ~$495) refund of the Biz Plat annual fee vice cancellation without downgrade or new account which would not include any AF refund. She did say that changing to biz Gold would not involve a new application and would keep the same account number and include a prorated Biz Gold AF (~5/6 of $295). Changing to Blue Biz Plus or Cash (no AF) would involve applying for (on the phone with her department) a new account and (presumably) upon approval of the new account closing the Biz Plat and receiving the same prorated refund. Both options carry no obligation to keep the new account open for any length of time.
Best I can determine, Biz Gold route would cost ~$100 + ~$250, still not chump change but better than $595, and either Blue Biz route would cost only ~$100.
Any datapoints with downgrading a Biz Plat to Biz Gold or Blue Biz? Given the situation and the Biz Gold route, could I close the Biz Gold within 30 days and get a refund of the Biz Gold AF and if so, would that be as risky as other options?
Teaching point quoted above remains, even more so now.
Oct 4, 2022, 11:37 am
#985
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 2,263
I’ve been agonizing about this for a couple of months. Called again today, fortunately got a terrific agent with whom I was able to bond a little based on my retired Navy status and her husband’s Marine Corps service and how we both (almost for me ) still wear our hair IAW military grooming standards. I explained the situation and she offered (what I see as) better options.
I’m loath to pay the “grandfathered” AF of $595 for a card I have no use for and have several other identical cards. I’m almost as loath to close the account 11 months after accepting a retention offer, don’t want to bring additional attention to my account(s). The agent did say that AmEx in general has become a little more strict about the 1 year from retention offer and has been taking back retention offers more frequently in an effort to reduce gaming.
The agent suggested waiting until exactly 1 year from accepted retention offer and then downgrading to a Biz Gold or closing the Biz Plat and opening a Blue Biz Plus or Cash. Either way I would receive a prorated (~5/6, ~$495) refund of the Biz Plat annual fee vice cancellation without downgrade or new account which would not include any AF refund. She did say that changing to biz Gold would not involve a new application and would keep the same account number and include a prorated Biz Gold AF (~5/6 of $295). Changing to Blue Biz Plus or Cash (no AF) would involve applying for (on the phone with her department) a new account and (presumably) upon approval of the new account closing the Biz Plat and receiving the same prorated refund. Both options carry no obligation to keep the new account open for any length of time.
Best I can determine, Biz Gold route would cost ~$100 + ~$250, still not chump change but better than $595, and either Blue Biz route would cost only ~$100.
Any datapoints with downgrading a Biz Plat to Biz Gold or Blue Biz? Given the situation and the Biz Gold route, could I close the Biz Gold within 30 days and get a refund of the Biz Gold AF and if so, would that be as risky as other options?
Teaching point quoted above remains, even more so now.
) still wear our hair IAW military grooming standards. I explained the situation and she offered (what I see as) better options.I’m loath to pay the “grandfathered” AF of $595 for a card I have no use for and have several other identical cards. I’m almost as loath to close the account 11 months after accepting a retention offer, don’t want to bring additional attention to my account(s). The agent did say that AmEx in general has become a little more strict about the 1 year from retention offer and has been taking back retention offers more frequently in an effort to reduce gaming.
The agent suggested waiting until exactly 1 year from accepted retention offer and then downgrading to a Biz Gold or closing the Biz Plat and opening a Blue Biz Plus or Cash. Either way I would receive a prorated (~5/6, ~$495) refund of the Biz Plat annual fee vice cancellation without downgrade or new account which would not include any AF refund. She did say that changing to biz Gold would not involve a new application and would keep the same account number and include a prorated Biz Gold AF (~5/6 of $295). Changing to Blue Biz Plus or Cash (no AF) would involve applying for (on the phone with her department) a new account and (presumably) upon approval of the new account closing the Biz Plat and receiving the same prorated refund. Both options carry no obligation to keep the new account open for any length of time.
Best I can determine, Biz Gold route would cost ~$100 + ~$250, still not chump change but better than $595, and either Blue Biz route would cost only ~$100.
Any datapoints with downgrading a Biz Plat to Biz Gold or Blue Biz? Given the situation and the Biz Gold route, could I close the Biz Gold within 30 days and get a refund of the Biz Gold AF and if so, would that be as risky as other options?
Teaching point quoted above remains, even more so now.
Unless the retention off was less than 10,000 points it sounds worth it to just pay the annual fee and get it refunded. Not worth getting flagged by the RAT team and have your account reviewed
Oct 4, 2022, 11:56 am
#987
Join Date: Dec 2021
Programs: AA Gold, Alaska MVP, United Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 18
I had the Surpass and Honors cards but never received online/mail offers for an upgrade to an Aspire. I was away from home for a month when my Surpass annual fee posted last year so I called AmEx to check for upgrade offers and explained not being near my mail. They then gave me an upgrade offer to the Aspire (same as standard welcome offer IIRC). I still think the CSR was being generous rather than me being targeted.
Oct 4, 2022, 12:05 pm
#988
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: 3,299
If you can cancel and get a prorate refund why switch to gold or blue? Do you need one of them? Unless the retention off was less than 10,000 points it sounds worth it to just pay the annual fee and get it refunded. Not worth getting flagged by the RAT team and have your account reviewed
Oct 4, 2022, 12:24 pm
#989
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,959
Oct 5, 2022, 10:14 am
#990
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
Interesting ... P2 just got offered (today) 30K for $3K spend. No $300 offer.
True that 30K points > $300, but a lot of what aches about this card is the cash out of pocket and the need to chase it through monthly credits. With a decent current stake of MR points (and more as far as the eye can see thanks to Amex Business with NLL), the money is almost more tempting.
Also, damn you, Amex -- 30K/$300 is way too close to the indifference point.
Pondering.
True that 30K points > $300, but a lot of what aches about this card is the cash out of pocket and the need to chase it through monthly credits. With a decent current stake of MR points (and more as far as the eye can see thanks to Amex Business with NLL), the money is almost more tempting.
Also, damn you, Amex -- 30K/$300 is way too close to the indifference point.
Pondering.