BearX220

One man's story:

I called DC and pointed out that between the new $95 annual fee and the redemption fee for CR points-to-FF-miles conversions, the cost of keeping the card had risen by more than 50 percent for me this year. I asked what they could do for me in terms of a retention bonus.

The rep offered me 5000 CR points (1000 X 5 months, with a minimum spend per month that I don't recall.)

I said I'd go ahead and cancel the card.

The rep said immediately than 10,000 CR points is the biggest retention bonus they ever do and asked if I'd be interested in that. I said... mmm.. yeah.

He said his manager was away at the moment but he'd call me back at my office desk within an hour.

45 minutes later he rang me and offered me 10,000 CR points (1250 X 8 months) with a minimum spend of $200 per month. Figuring I could almost cover next year's annual fee with that, I said OK.

Lessons:

** They're being responsive. Maybe people aren't just taking all these fees lying down after all.

** They used to claim cardmembers could get only one retention bonus, lifetime, but that's clearly not the case now -- I got 10,000 points (1000 x 10 months for $150 minimum spend) after my first year of membership.

** Don't take the first offer.

Hope this helps!

axel1

Nice story and for me finally a proof, that DC takes it´s relation to the customer seriuos.

I love that card. It might not be the best one in the world, but for what I have experienced in the last 16 years, they really have the best, friendliest and most efficiant customer service on the phone.

opus17

I've had Diners for well over a decade, and never asked for a retention bonus. Something about the phoney blackmail (I wouldn't really cancel the card) doesn't appeal to me.

CountinPlaces

The best I could do with my renewal bonus was 5k. In the end, I like the card so I chose to take the points and walk away happy. My spending is substantial, but apparently not enough to bring me to the next level.

BearX220

This wasn't phony blackmail. I had every intention of cancelling the card as my cost of ownership went from $80 in 2001 to $120 in 2002. (And I'm not counting the $20 I had to spend to stop payment on a check DC lost... a rare example of UNresponsive DC service.)

I didn't think 5k CR points made enough of a dent to keep me around, but 10k was. I could cover most of next year's annual fee with that, or turn it into 20k BA miles if the 2-1 promo runs again.

My only point was, renewal time is negotiation time. And I don't think DC takes its customers for granted. The river of DC new fees, price hikes and value reductions must be having an effect in there somewhere.

bp888

There's no need to justify your action. Even IF you had no intention to cancel but just wanted the points, it is still perfectly within your rights to ask for the retention bonus at the same time that it's also within the rights of DC to accept or reject your demand. I don't call that phoney, nor blackmail, much less phoney blackmail. I call that smart. Good job!

smk219

I am cancelling. Too much money (annual fee and points to miles transaction costs). Too little use on my part.

On the retention issue. It is called a retention bonus not a blackmail bonus. You are not convincing them to do anything they wouldn't do otherwise to keep your business.

opus17

Just to be clear, I was referring only to myself with the "phoney blackmail" remark -- since I have no intention of cancelling the card, I wouldn't feel right calling up and threatening to cancel it.

dgolds

BearX220, I just did the same thing. I had every intention of cancelling, because of the higher fee and the new service charge to redeem points. The hassle free car insurance - worth it even for only a few rentals a year - and retention bonus roped me in.

smk219

Well, I cancelled. They transfered me to a retention specialist and he mentioned the car insurance and then offered me 5000 points over six months.

He asked me why I was canceling and I said that it was because of the increased annual fee and the points to miles exhange tax. His only response was that there was no fee for changing to points to hotel points! What an incentive. Diners is just too expensive for me to justify the occaisioanl convenience of topping off and the rarity of a car rental.

yanxfann

Unless if I'm missing something if the BA 2-1 promo runs again your 10K Club Rewards points will only turn into 10K BA miles, not 20K (remember that the regular redemption rate is 2 CR points per airline mile and the double promo that they have run with BA the past few summers actually is 1 CR point = 1
BA mile)



[This message has been edited by yanxfann (edited 09-13-2002).]

Northern Willy

I got the 'retention specialist' today. Told him my wife wanted me to cancel and I could hold her off if he could throw me a bone. Got the rental car speech and 5k points.

E

Called for my renewal today...got 1,250 points per month for 8 months, with a $200 minimum spend.

Efrem

I have similar misgivings about saying I'd cancel if I really wouldn't, but I got a retention bonus without having to do that. I just said I'd heard of retention bonuses and hoped I was eligible for one.

BearX220

You're perfectly right. My mistake.