Canadian SPG American Express
Oct 7, 2011, 8:51 am
#1186
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Canadia
Programs: A loyal Amerisuites customer... oh wait
Posts: 2,033
However, do not use the automated menu to cancel your card. The automated voice said "To cancel your card, press ____". And I did. I figured it would send me to a membership retention specialist. Instead, it immediately said "your card is now cancelled". Doesn't leave you a lot of room for negotiation after that.
Nov 2, 2011, 5:11 pm
#1187
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The Front Cabin.
Programs: AA EXP; DL Gold; PC Plat; SPG Gold; HHonors Gold
Posts: 318
I only had 12k in annual spend on this card, and I gave AMEX a call to cancel today since my renewal date is approaching.
Received no retention offer (but I wasn't really expecting one). But applied for the Gold MR card, with the first-year fee ($150) waived and 15,000 signup MR points. (This is just a general "special" offer though, currently available through the AMEX website and their phone reps).
Received no retention offer (but I wasn't really expecting one). But applied for the Gold MR card, with the first-year fee ($150) waived and 15,000 signup MR points. (This is just a general "special" offer though, currently available through the AMEX website and their phone reps).
Nov 2, 2011, 6:04 pm
#1188
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: AC*SE MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 4,604
I've had good success with terminals that say 'TD', but not the Moneris terminals.
Nov 4, 2011, 1:15 pm
#1190
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: All Accor Plat, 1865 Voyager, AE E35K, HH Gold,Hyatt, Hrtz Gold, Marriott Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 1,670
Nov 4, 2011, 1:37 pm
#1191
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: FTFOE
Programs: TalkBoard: We discuss / ad nauseum things that mean / so very little
Posts: 10,225
All these stories about how the chip-"enabled" AMEX cards don't work make me grateful that I got one from before they started having chips. Mine also doesn't expire for another couple of years, so I hope by then they will have this problem solved.
Nov 4, 2011, 1:53 pm
#1192
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: SPG Plat, AC*E, PC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 223
Just came back from a two week trip from the UK and mainland Europe. I was amazed whereby almost a 100% acceptance of AMEX with chip. Racked up in over $10K in business reimbursable expenses. Hopefully, the adoption rate in Canada will improve...
Nov 4, 2011, 9:37 pm
#1193
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: NB, Canada
Programs: Fairmont, Amex MR, Marriott
Posts: 2,531
Mine has been working more than not lately, but it didn't work the other day -but the exercise was so fast you never would have known it didn't work. I did notice the Moneris label on the terminal. The waitress took my AMEX card, saw the chip and inserted it, withdrew it and swiped it all in virtually one motion! Usually they give them back to you to discover the chip doesn't work. I think she has the drill down for AMEX chip cards!
Nov 4, 2011, 9:39 pm
#1194
Join Date: May 2007
Location: YYZ, but my heart is in Asia
Programs: AC-SE, CX-DM, DL-G, Hyatt-DM, Hilton-DM, Fairmont-Plt, Marriott-S, Accor-Plt, SPG-G, IHG-Plt
Posts: 4,396
Nov 6, 2011, 1:08 pm
#1195
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Programs: SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, Alaska.
Posts: 36
Nov 6, 2011, 2:52 pm
#1196
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: NB, Canada
Programs: Fairmont, Amex MR, Marriott
Posts: 2,531
Nov 6, 2011, 7:21 pm
#1197
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hilton Honours Gold, Air Canada Elite
Posts: 8
Any discussions of an SPG Platinum card? I would definitely pay more for a card that allowed me to collect SPG Points along with lounge access etc.....
Nov 11, 2011, 4:39 pm
#1199
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,305
Got the card about 3 weeks ago - first statement came out yesterday - showing 20000 bonus ^ (I spent $1300 on the card)
Nov 12, 2011, 6:09 pm
#1200
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 208
Tried to cancel card
My first year (free) with this card was almost over, and I recently got a Gold Rewards instead (better travel ins coverage). I called to cancel and was asked why I want to cancel. I started off by saying I didn't think it was worth the $120 fee and I was aware the same card in the US is only a $65 fee!
He immediately offered a $50 gift card to offset the difference. I really didn't feel I needed a gift card as the retailers were not ones I usually use, so I declined. I asked if they had any points bonuses they could offer instead and he offered 4000 spg points. I said no thank you and said I would still cancel the card. He asked me to hold and came back offering me $100 gift card, which I still didn't think I would use, so I asked for 10000 spg's instead. He offered me 7500 and I accepted. I'm looking at this as a $.016 per point purchase which isn't too bad. Still wondering if I shouldn't have just cancelled though. I was surprised at how much they didn't want me to cancel.
FWIW I had an annual spend of about $15000 on this card.
He immediately offered a $50 gift card to offset the difference. I really didn't feel I needed a gift card as the retailers were not ones I usually use, so I declined. I asked if they had any points bonuses they could offer instead and he offered 4000 spg points. I said no thank you and said I would still cancel the card. He asked me to hold and came back offering me $100 gift card, which I still didn't think I would use, so I asked for 10000 spg's instead. He offered me 7500 and I accepted. I'm looking at this as a $.016 per point purchase which isn't too bad. Still wondering if I shouldn't have just cancelled though. I was surprised at how much they didn't want me to cancel.
FWIW I had an annual spend of about $15000 on this card.