Amex BA Premium Plus - new fee policy or a mistake???
#136
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Scotland
Programs: # Neodymium #
Posts: 968
I received a slightly different letter.
[BAPP holder for 10 years, on a £0 annual fee, despite no longer having Platinum charge card.. assume it was a grandfathering thing.
Downgraded to blue card in February after receiving letter that fee would now be £195.]
Have phoned up today to return to BAPP with no fee - has been actioned.
[BAPP holder for 10 years, on a £0 annual fee, despite no longer having Platinum charge card.. assume it was a grandfathering thing.
Downgraded to blue card in February after receiving letter that fee would now be £195.]
Have phoned up today to return to BAPP with no fee - has been actioned.
Last edited by McCoy; Jun 26, 2017 at 5:25 am
#137
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC GGL CCR, HHonors DIA
Posts: 148
#138
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,642
FWIW, it looks like this is the same letter as that received by baggageinhall, posted to this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...olte-face.html
#140
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London and Zurich
Programs: AA, BA, Mucci: Sir Roger des Directions Routières, PCR
Posts: 13,609
Today's post brought the apology letter, dated 23 March.
I admit to being confused. Having received 2 online messages giving 100% different info, today's snailmail letter, in addition to offering sincere apologies (yeah, right) says inter alia:
So all's OK, then - my BAPP continues at £0 annual fee?
Well, no. Given that BA told me my PRG card was not a qualifying companion card, I was faced with paying £140 + £195 = £335 p.a. for the 2 cards. Not worth it for me, so I cancelled the PRG, received almost a year's fee refund and diarised cancellation of the BAPP for next February's renewal date.
I'm invited to call AmEx if I have any questions. Yes, I'd like the BAPP @ £0 p.a. and would like to renew the PRG to secure it. Do I do this now? I suppose it would be a new application. Or do I try in September (over 6 months since cancellation) and hope for a bonus?
Decisions, decisions! I'm inclined not to ask AmEx since their previous info was total bowlocks.
I admit to being confused. Having received 2 online messages giving 100% different info, today's snailmail letter, in addition to offering sincere apologies (yeah, right) says inter alia:
So all's OK, then - my BAPP continues at £0 annual fee?
Well, no. Given that BA told me my PRG card was not a qualifying companion card, I was faced with paying £140 + £195 = £335 p.a. for the 2 cards. Not worth it for me, so I cancelled the PRG, received almost a year's fee refund and diarised cancellation of the BAPP for next February's renewal date.
I'm invited to call AmEx if I have any questions. Yes, I'd like the BAPP @ £0 p.a. and would like to renew the PRG to secure it. Do I do this now? I suppose it would be a new application. Or do I try in September (over 6 months since cancellation) and hope for a bonus?
Decisions, decisions! I'm inclined not to ask AmEx since their previous info was total bowlocks.
Three or so months later, I'm still waiting for the call and don't expect it.
Based on AmEx's admittedly curious first responses, I had cancelled my PRG and now do not feel like applying for another qualifying companion card. It looks like I'll be living without the BAPP in the future. It was nice while it lasted - over 24 years, can it be? - but the card and benefits are no longer what they were.
Perhaps I'll sleep on it ...
#141
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Dorchester, Dorset UK
Programs: BA Gold, BMI, ANA, HH Blue, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,063
I received a partial refund as a gesture of goodwill for all the promised calls. The whole system is farcical and I firmly believe that anyone who downgrades, due to the fee, will get a 'please return to PP card after a short lapse.
If I change my 2-4-1 requirements, I may try the downgrade route.
If I change my 2-4-1 requirements, I may try the downgrade route.
#142
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 2,125
I've read through this thread with interest, trying to map it to my own situation
I currently pay £0 for my BAPP, having held a Plat Charge Card continuously since 2003 (I converted from the fee-free BA card to the BAPP at the same time). Having suffered the £300-->£450 fee increase for the Plat Charge Card a couple of years back coupled with scaling back the benefits (particularly insurance) I am considering downgrading to Green or Gold to keep my MR balance (>400k) alive. Obviously whether that would impact my £0 fee BAPP is a concern. I value the BAPP enough to want to keep it - doubling up on 2-for-1 vouchers most particularly.
I called Amex in the Philippines who said any change in the charge card account would result in the whole £195 fee being payable. Has anyone done this and had that experience?
If that is indeed the case i'm looking at £450 decreasing to £335 if I drop to Gold (£140+£195, though just £195 first year assuming £140 fee is waived). If I drop to Green it's £255 (£60+£195). Alternatively I've got a corporate Green via my employer I think I can pay a £30 fee to earn MRs through which might be the best option at £225.
Any advice or relevant experiences?
[EDIT: Raffles to the rescue making me aware of the [url=https://www.headforpoints.com/2017/09/25/how-to-keep-your-membership-rewards-points-when-cancelling-amex-gold-or-platinum/]Amex Rewards Credit Card]
I currently pay £0 for my BAPP, having held a Plat Charge Card continuously since 2003 (I converted from the fee-free BA card to the BAPP at the same time). Having suffered the £300-->£450 fee increase for the Plat Charge Card a couple of years back coupled with scaling back the benefits (particularly insurance) I am considering downgrading to Green or Gold to keep my MR balance (>400k) alive. Obviously whether that would impact my £0 fee BAPP is a concern. I value the BAPP enough to want to keep it - doubling up on 2-for-1 vouchers most particularly.
I called Amex in the Philippines who said any change in the charge card account would result in the whole £195 fee being payable. Has anyone done this and had that experience?
If that is indeed the case i'm looking at £450 decreasing to £335 if I drop to Gold (£140+£195, though just £195 first year assuming £140 fee is waived). If I drop to Green it's £255 (£60+£195). Alternatively I've got a corporate Green via my employer I think I can pay a £30 fee to earn MRs through which might be the best option at £225.
Any advice or relevant experiences?
[EDIT: Raffles to the rescue making me aware of the [url=https://www.headforpoints.com/2017/09/25/how-to-keep-your-membership-rewards-points-when-cancelling-amex-gold-or-platinum/]Amex Rewards Credit Card]
Last edited by BA97; Dec 15, 2017 at 8:26 am
#143
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,642
That would appear to signal the end to my complaint.
#144
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
I have noticed that the Financial Ombudsman has published a decision rejecting a complaint from someone in this position, on the basis that those who were "accidentally" (according to Amex) kept on £30 a year after 2011 simply got lucky; and that despite the 2017 decisions to abolish and then retain the £30 level for the lucky ones, Amex has no obligation to treat all of the original group consistently: http://www.ombudsman-decisions.org.u...?FileID=161412.
That would appear to signal the end to my complaint.
That would appear to signal the end to my complaint.