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Annual fee retention bonus for Starwood Amex Card (Pre-May, 2019)

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Old Sep 12, 2014, 8:20 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: MDtR-Chicago
Direct Retention number is following.... 1-800-452-3945 (better success in getting a bonus points)

SPG Personal
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9/12 - 3K points offered with no spending-rubu
9/14 - 7k points $110k annual spend
10/3/14 - 7k points $40k spend
10/6 - $50 statement credit (had $27k of YTD spend)
10/8/14 - 3K points or $25 with very little spend. Took points.
10/27/14 no offer except to close.
10/28/14 - 3K points to keep open ($24k spend)
1/15 - 7k points. This in addition to the 7k points I recived in Aug, so 14k points within 5months. Just asked.
1/27/15 - 7k points or $50 statement credit (~$30k spend)
2/8/15 - 7k points or $50 statement credit
2/10/15- 1k points + 500 if I charge $1000 in next month. Canceled.
2/11/15 - 7k points (~$60k spend)
2/15/15 - 3k points ($20k spend)
2/23/15 - 1K points + 500 if I charge $1000 in next month
2/24/15 - 7k points or $50 statement credit (~$90k spend)
3/6/15 - 3k points
3/12/15 - 3k points...yawn. Might cancel
3/16/15- 7k points or $100 statement credit (over $300K spend)
4/3/15 - 1.5k points or $50 statement credit (less than $2k spent YTD)
5/1/15 - no offer
5/2/15 - $100 statement credit or 7K points. ~50K spend.
5/4/15 - 3k points (>100k spend)
5/5/15 - $50 or 100 points with 1K points w/ $1K spend... lol no thx ($65K spent last year)
5/11/15 - $50 or 500 points + 1K points w/ $1K spend (~$90k spend)
5/26/15 - $50 or 500 points + 1K points w/ $1K spend in 90 days (~$30k spend)
5/30/15 - $100 statement credit or 7K points. ~10K spend. Took $100.
6/16/15 - Nada. Was told that an offer is only given every other year. I got 7K last year. (~40k spend)
7/8/15 - $10+K spend last year, offers $25 credit or 500 points + 1K points w/ $1k spend. Will HUCA.
7/13/15 - $9K spend in 1st year; offered and took 7K points, still at $65 AF for the year ahead.
8/20/15 - Offered 10K points or $100...chose the points. 250K annual spend.
9/3/15- Offered 7K points or $50 credit, accepted credit, 30K annual spend
9/26/15 - Offered 10K points took it; 3rd year card member; ~40K spend, 3K retention offers previous years
10/17/15 - Offered 10k points or $100. Chose the points. ~30-40k spend. Have had the card for 3 yrs, first time asking for retention. 15yr amex customer.
1/10/16 - Offered 500 points for $1k spend or $25 credit. Took $25 credit. 12 year amex customer, 1st year of SPG card.
2/1/16 - Offered 10k points to keep the card open, no minimum spending requirements ^ $11000 YTD spending in 2015. Accepted 7k points for retention in Oct 2014.
2/18/16 Offered 10k points to keep the card open, no minimum spending requirements. $100k spending in 2015
3/22/16 - Offered $25. $5k spend last year. Did not accept.
4/3/16 - Offered $25 or 7K points. $25K spend last year. Took points. Same as last year as well
5/25/16 - Offered $25 without any spend, or 1.5k points after $1k spend. Took the $25. About $13k of spend in the last year, but only $900 2016 year to date.
6/14 - offered 500 points now and another 1000 after $1k spend. Took the offer. $5k spend last year.
6/14/2016 - Offered $25 or 500 SPG points. Asked for Supervisor - Increased offer to $25 plus 3,000 SPG points with no addl. spend.
6/22/16 - Offered $25 or 1500 points (500 immediate + 1000 additional after spending $1K on the card). Didn't want to deal with supervisor so just took the $25. ~$20K spend on the card in 2015
7/4/16 - Called in January and offered nothing. Called again in July offered 7,000 SPG points on $125k spend
7/7/16- Offered $100 or 10000 points on 140K spend. Took the points.
7/13/16 - Offered $50 or 7,000 SPG points, took the points.
8/3/16 - Offered $50 or 7,000 SPG points on 50K spend, took the points.
8/14/16 - nothing on first call; second call offered 2000 SPG points.
8/16/16 - Offered $50 or 7,000 SPG points, $48K spend, took the points.
8/17/2016- 15 yr customer with typical balances ranging from 20-30K, this year about 7K to date. "Nothing to offer you on yr account" Cancelled
8/25/2016 - No offer. Had card for one year, $3.5k spend.
8/29/16 - 3rd year of the card. $25 credit or 500 Starpoints now and 1000 points after $1k spend in 90 days. Took the points offer and kept the card.
9/7/16 - since 2006, $30-40K spend. $95 annual fee. Offered $100 credit. Took it.
10/17/16 - Roughly $15K annual spend for several years. $95 annual fee. Offered $50 credit or 7K SPG points. Took the points.
10/14/16 - $50k annual spend. $95 fee, offered $100 or 7K SPG points. Took the points
10/27/16 - $10K annual spend. With much difficulty, was eventually offered 1500 pts for spending $1000 in 3 mths. (Had been offered 1000 pts by the Indian call centre a few weeks ago which I was dissatisfied with.)
11/03/16 - $200k spend (MS) - $95 fee. Originally offered $50 but didn't jump on it. Offered $100. Took the money.
12/10/16 - third time calling, offered same deal of either 25 towards fee or 1500 SPG points - 500 now, 1k after spending 1k in 3 months. Took the points option. 20k spend YTD, had retention offer 2 years ago
12/23/2016: ~2.5k spend YTD (mostly AMEX Offers). Offers were $25 or 500 pts now and 1k pts after $1k spend in 3 months. The AF was charged several months ago.
1/22/17- $15K spend. Called retention and offered either $80 statement credit or 7,000 SPG points. Took 2nd option. Amex member since 2012.
4/22/17 - ~60K spend. $100 statement credit or 10K SPG points. Took the points.
4/23/2017 - 10K spend. Called the retention number and they offered 100 or 10K. I took 10K and many thx to all of u here!
5/3/2017 - 53k spend. Offered 10K points and took it
5/11/17 - $100 statement credit or 10k points. Took the points.
5/18/2017 ~30000 spend, offered 100 statement credit or 10000 points
5/18/17 - Nada, $0, zilch for an offer. ~$4k spend in past year and first anniversary.
5/22/17 - ~30k Spend. Offered $100 Statement Credit or 10k Points. Took the Points
6/08/2017 - $15k spend annually and was offered either $100 statement credit or 10k points. Took the points
6/13/2017 - Had card for 14 years. Low spend due to using Chase Reserve. No offers told me pay or cancel. No product change available. UPDATE: Called for past 2 days. Nada. Cancelled. bye bye AmEx, Hello CSR.
6/30/2017 - First anniversary, little spend on the card but a significant portfolio of Amex cards. 10k points.
7/14/17 - spent 20k, got 7k points with $1500 spend in 3 months required. Accepted. Last year got nada but had spent very little.
7/21/17 - Spouse's card; <$3,000 spend in 3rd year; she called in to cancel, they offered $100 credit (no strings); she is keeping the card
8/24/17 - Little spend, usually on Amex offers only. Most spend goes to Biz version. No offers available. Kept the card since I make up for the AF on Amex offers.
9/16/2017 - $20K per year; $50 credit or 10,000 points for $2K spend in 3 months - took latter
9/16/2017 - $6k/yr. 7 yrs holding card. $100 credit no strings. Accepted. Calendar reminder set to cancel next year.
9/18/2017 30 year Amex history, $34K spend, offered and took $95 credit
10/1/2017 13 years with this card, min annual spend for last 2 years, no offer so moved cl to DL Plat AMEX and closed SPG.
10/3/2017 12 year amex history, probably 6 with SPG card, $15-20K annual spend. Annual fee hit account back in June but forgot to call until today. Offered 7K bonus points for $1000 in spend over 90 days. Accepted
10/10/2017 Offered 10K SPG points for $3k spend over 3 months. Offer accepted!
10/13/2017 Offered 10K SPG points for $3k spend over 3 months. Original offer by SPG and Accepted. Took me less than 5 minutes.
10/26/17 Offered $100 credit for $2500 spend in next three months and declined! Fee isn't until early January so didn't have much leverage. Said if you offer me a point deal I'd commit to the spend, but no dice. Will call back when annual fee hits.
12/22/17 30-year member. $10k spend. Offered $100 credit for $2k spend in 3 months or 10k SPG points for $3k spend in 3 months.
1/17/18: Personal Card. Offered 7000 SPG points for $1,500 spend in 3 months. Took offer.
2/23/2018: 7k points for 1k spend in 90 days. 7.5k annual spend
3/27/2018: 7k points for 1k spend in 90 days. Took offer.
3/30/2018: no retention offer. Got 10k last year, minimal spend since then. Would not allow product change.
4/13/2018: 7k points for $1.5k spend in 3 months
4/20/2018: 7k points for $1k Spend in 1 month. Accepted.
4/26/2018: 7k points for $500 spend in 1 month. Accepted.
4/28/2018: 10k points for $1k spend in 1 month. Accepted.
5/1/2018: 40$ to offset annual fee. Accepted
5/6/2018: 7k points for $500 spend in 1 month. Rejected.
5/9/2018: 7K points for $500 spend in 1 month. Accepted. ($15K spend in 2017)
5/22/2018: 7k points for $500 spend in 1 month. Accepted. First renewal, ~$6k on card over first year, no activity for 4 months.
6/8/2018: 7k points for $500 spend in 1 month. Accepted.
7/25/18: $100 statement credit after $2500 spend in 3 months. Accepted.
7/30/18: $75 statement credit after $2000 spend in 3 months. Accepted.
8/24/18: Offered $100 statement credit after $2500 spend or 30k points after $3000 spend in 3 months. Took the points.
9/4/18: 20k points for $2k in 3mo offer Received and accepted.
9/6/18: $75 statement credit or 20K points after $2K spend, took the points.
9/20/18: $95 fee waived, no other offers - accepted
1/31/19: $75 statement credit or 20K points after $2K spend, took the points.
2/1/19 No offer, not even Af waiver for the first time since I've had the card.
4/3/19: No offer
4/3/19: 20K points after $2K spend. A nice deal. Card remained open after taking the points.
5/1/2019: 20K points after $2K spend. A nice deal. Card remained open after taking the points.
5/18/2019: 20k points after $2k spend in 3 months

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SPG Business
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1/19/2015 - $100 Statement credit (didn't ask if points were available) $14k spend
8/6/2015 - $9K spend in 1st year; offered and accepted $50 statement credit.
8/24/2015 - $30k annual spend. 2nd anniversary. Offered 10k points, statement credit was not an option available to me. Took the points.
9/8/2015 - $51k annual spend. 2nd anniversary. No offers at all. I did get a $50 statement credit last year though.
09/20/2015 - $50 statement credit (on $65 card)
9/22/2015- $100 Statement credit. Didn't ask about points. 6K Spend.
9/25/2015 - $5k spend in the first year. No offers. I cancelled.
10/2/2015 - $35K annual spend. 2nd anniversary. Offered $100 statement credit.
10/6/2015 - $8k spend over last 12 months, much of it at Target for Redcard reloads. Offered and accepted $100 statement credit. More details here.
11/30/2015: $15k spend in past year, offered $100 statement credit. Accepted. My AF was a couple months ago and was told there were no offers when I called initially.
12/14/2015 - $100 Statement Credit. $15k spend since 2014 AF, but $0 spend since 9/14/15 when AF hit (90 days ago). I asked how much prorated fee if I cancelled. He said "$71, or I can just give you $100".
6/10/16: No offer. Less than $2k spend in past year.
7/19/16: No offer on first call but $25 statement credit after HUCA. Only 3k in spend in last 12 months. Accepted offer.
8/14/16: no offer on 2 calls. $3000 spend in the last year.
8/28/16: Offered $25 on first call, bringing fee down to $40. Keeping card.
10/10/16: Offered $25 first call by calling # above. Accepted
10/16/16 - Offered $25 first call, same offer HUCA two weeks later. $20k spend YTD. Accepted. (Received $100 offer in 2015 for $14k spend)
10/3116: seldom use this card-was NOT offered any bonus to keep card
11/3/16 - No offer. $135k spend. I'll wait a couple of weeks and try again.
12/10/16: No offer... $60k spend. $95 annual fee was just posted. said they offered me $100 last year, nothing to offer now. will try again in the near future. called again (03/05/2017), spent 70k in 2017 so far, still no offer
1/19/17: No offer after multiple tries. Approx. $10K spend. Closed card
2/8/17 Had card replaced due to fraud January, $35K spend 2016, Fee due March, called about another matter and offered $95 credit and 6K points.
2/28/17: Called twice after $95 fee posted for SPG Biz card. $120k spend in 2016. After several years of getting offers, none were forthcoming. Card closed.
3/5/17: Called retention no in wiki after 2 unsuccessful attempts on regular no. Offered $25 credit and I took it. Had not charged anything the whole year but used Club lounge access many times with family.
4/13/17: first renewal, fee posted - 6k spend prior 12mo - retention line in wiki called - $25 credit offered, closed
4/22/17 - ~10K spend. Called 3x over a couple of weeks, no offers.
5/22/17 - ~20k Spend. Offered $25 Statement Credit. Closed account.
7/21/17 - ~$10k spend. No offers, keeping card since I have the $65 AF still.
7/21/17 - ~$150k spend. Took $50 credit.
8/23/17 - ~$30k spend. Offered $25 credit off of $65 AF. Accepted.
8/30/17: Virtually no spend. No offers. Kept card because of the lounge access benefit.
10/2/17- ~10k Spend. Offered $25 Statement Credit.
10/14/17 - $30K+ spend. No offers. Rep mentioned $25 credit in 2016 is the reason. Canceled card.
10/23/17: Second annual fee posted October 1; paid first year AF in 2016 without requesting a retention offer; ~$10K spend; received $25 statement credit offer; no points offers available
12/22/17 - ~10k Spend. Offered $25 Statement Credit. Rep mentioned no points offer avail, only the $25 statement credit.
4/13/17 - Basically no spend other than what was needed on card open. Overall AmEx member for 18 years, but this card for only one. Offered 10k points for no spend. Took it.
3/13/2018: Offered 10,000 SPG points & accepted. Pts will be posted in 8-12 weeks. Didn't ask for further offers. Card since 2013. $80k spending in 2017, annual fee was charged in September. Last yr received $95 credit.
4/12/2018: 2nd call. Offered 5K SPG points, no minimum spend. No further offers. Accepted. ~20K spend in 2017. Last year no offers, multiple calls.
4/18/2018: AF posted 4/17. 1st call no offer, ~100K spend in first year.
4/26/2018. AF just posted. Essentially no spend over last year. Offered 10K points with no spending requirement. Accepted.
4/27/2018: AF posted 4/26. $8k spend in past year. No offer on first call 4/27. Plan to call again in 2 and 4 weeks (then cancel); will update wiki with results.
4/28/2018: AF Posted 4/13. Minimal spend beyond what was needed to get new account bonus. No offer, card cancelled.
4/28/2018: AF date in Aug; ~40k annual spend (all SPG hotels); offered 5k starpoints + another 5k after 2k in spend within 30 days (Total 10K for 2k spend); accepted, will re-evaluate in Aug
4/28/20218: AF posted 4/17. just called...no offer, closed the card to free up one Amex slot for applying for other cards.
4/30/2018: 10k no requirements
4/30/2018: AF posted 4/20/18, first renewal. Spent $43K in last 12 months. No offer.
5/4/2018 First renewal, minimum spend, no offer.
8/2/2018: AF posted 7/16, ~$10k spend past year, no offer.
8/3/2018: AF posted in July, offered 20,000 starpoints for $2000 in spend in 3 months.
10/11/18: AF posted 9/16, pays today (10/11). Spent $793 YTD in 2018. No offer. Closed card. Had been open for 5 years.
10/12/18: AF in January, Offered 10k immediately with a further 20k points after spending $6,000. Kept card open.
12/18/18: AF in any day now. Called twice and each time was offered nothing.
1/11/19: AF on Dec 26, called and nothing was offered, closed the card.
5/18/2019: 5k points now plus 10k points after $1k spend in 3 months
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Annual fee retention bonus for Starwood Amex Card (Pre-May, 2019)

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Old Oct 1, 2012, 1:01 pm
  #196  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,396
Originally Posted by 8tracks
This is very similar to my experience this morning except that the agent did not offer any points until I asked for them.

On a somewhat related note: I'd recommend verifying SPG's points activity against any recent Amex statement. Mine was about 2k points light when they appeared this morning. I called Amex to see if they transferred the proper amount and was told there was a processing glitch but they could correct it. Last month my "Starwood Spend" bonus was 1,978 points and this month that was the exact difference between what my actual Amex Base spend was and what appeared in the Activity in my SPG account.
I noticed that a $42 charge for incidentals during a stay did not credit as Starwood Spend. Since it was only $42, and since it was the only Starwood activity during the period I didn't really think much of it and didn't bother to contact them about it - but I wonder if it was part of a bigger problem they had last month.
CFFrost is offline  
Old Oct 13, 2012, 5:49 pm
  #197  
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 30
I have both SPG Amex card and Hilton Amex card (no annual fee). I spend around 50-60k on SPG Amex card per year. My annual fee just posted on my statement and I really hate to pay the $65. I called Amex and asked for any retention bonus but they offered me nothing. I don't pay to stay in Starwood hotels but I use the SPG points to stay in some nice Starwood hotels. I get my SPG points mostly from merchandise shopping. I am considering cancelling my SPG Amex card and use the Hilton Amex card as my primary card. Is this a wise move??
ccheng64 is offline  
Old Oct 13, 2012, 5:58 pm
  #198  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Okinawa
Posts: 2,611
Originally Posted by ccheng64
I have both SPG Amex card and Hilton Amex card (no annual fee). I spend around 50-60k on SPG Amex card per year. My annual fee just posted on my statement and I really hate to pay the $65. I called Amex and asked for any retention bonus but they offered me nothing. I don't pay to stay in Starwood hotels but I use the SPG points to stay in some nice Starwood hotels. I get my SPG points mostly from merchandise shopping. I am considering cancelling my SPG Amex card and use the Hilton Amex card as my primary card. Is this a wise move??
Clearly not if you value SPG points more highly. I don't even earn most of my SPG points with the card directly, I earn them through referrals! For that I judge keeping the card is a pretty wise move.
The_Wrath_of_Khan is offline  
Old Oct 13, 2012, 6:01 pm
  #199  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Originally Posted by ccheng64
I have both SPG Amex card and Hilton Amex card (no annual fee). I spend around 50-60k on SPG Amex card per year. My annual fee just posted on my statement and I really hate to pay the $65. I called Amex and asked for any retention bonus but they offered me nothing. I don't pay to stay in Starwood hotels but I use the SPG points to stay in some nice Starwood hotels. I get my SPG points mostly from merchandise shopping. I am considering cancelling my SPG Amex card and use the Hilton Amex card as my primary card. Is this a wise move??
Unfortunately the first-line CSRs typically are not authorized to grant any retention compensation. I'd bet if you called and requested to cancel your card, they would put you through to someone that did have that ability.

As long as the cancellation would not have a negative or unmanageable impact on your credit rating, then go ahead and cancel and use your Hilton card. Burn your SPG points before they expire and enjoy your Hilton relationship.
RogerD408 is offline  
Old Oct 16, 2012, 6:17 pm
  #200  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,737
Just as a data point:

$30k+ spend in the past year and was offered 2k points or $10 off bill. I did receive a retention bonus last year so I thought anything this year would be just fine.

Always remember, if you do a lot of spending on your card.. you can call up if you do not have enough points in your SPG account for an award stay. They will usually drop an extra 1-3k in your account if you need it, but I'm going to guess it depends on how much activity you have on your card.
Astrophsx is offline  
Old Oct 17, 2012, 6:28 am
  #201  
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Naples, Florida
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Hyatt Platinum,Marriott Silver,Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 593
My $65.00 annual fee came up. My spending is just over $30,000.00 annually on the card for sole purpose to maintain Starwood Gold status.

That said, was thrown a real curve ball on by the rentention agent at Amex who seemed quite eager to find a way to accomodate me. He would not offer me a $65.00 statement credit on the Starwood nor any Starwood points.

HOWEVER, he said he saw one of my other Amex's (I have 5 different types) was a Business Gold and that he would offer me a $75.00 statement credit on that card instead. But I told him I was thinking of discontinuing the Business Gold due to lack of an annual incentive of extra membership reward points like that I enjoy on my regular gold card. He said let me work on this and he then called me back 24 hours later.

His revised offer was not only a $75.00 statement credit on the Business Gold, BUT a reduction of its annual fee from $175 a year to $125 a year plus an extra 25,000 Membership Reward Points if spending on that card hit $50,000 per year (which I will have no problem reaching).

So the bottom line here is that the request of waiver on fee for the Starwood card was ultimately achieved through the Bus Gold plus the terms of the Bus Gold were greatly improved for me.

Interesting how this was handled!
worldspan is offline  
Old Dec 3, 2012, 5:33 pm
  #202  
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,751
I've been making annual phone calls requesting retention fee waivers for the past 10 years for my Diners Club but today was the first time that I tried it with my SPG Amex. Was immediately offered and accepted 3K SPG pts which was fine by me, I've had the card 15+ yrs and put approx $75K/yr on it.
yanxfann is online now  
Old Dec 7, 2012, 2:13 pm
  #203  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 18
SPG poitns validation after cancellation

My annual fee was due on SPG AmEx card. I called and was offered 1000 SPG points. I am thinking of cacelling the card and would like to know what happen to the points after cancellation and how long they remain valid. Thanks
Book08 is offline  
Old Dec 7, 2012, 5:56 pm
  #204  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA LTG (EXP), Hilton Silver (Dia), Marriott LTP (PP), SPG LTG (P) > MPG LTPP
Posts: 11,329
Originally Posted by Book08
My annual fee was due on SPG AmEx card. I called and was offered 1000 SPG points. I am thinking of cacelling the card and would like to know what happen to the points after cancellation and how long they remain valid. Thanks
Once your points have posted to your SPG account, they are your's do use whenever you like. The points are offered for your spend and not your continued spend. Unless you have a large refund hit the AMEX account a month or two after closing, your points should be safe.
RogerD408 is offline  
Old Jan 8, 2013, 6:37 pm
  #205  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,310
Called up today, no dice.
Jesperss is offline  
Old Jan 9, 2013, 12:07 pm
  #206  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA 2MM, SPG Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 110
Called to cancel due to annual fee, was offered 4k points. Seemed reasonable so I took it.
alan19 is offline  
Old Jan 9, 2013, 1:31 pm
  #207  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 137
With bonus points and other charges, I probably get 55 to 60K in points per year. Somewhere in the neighborhood of a $600 to $700 (this figure could be a little low) savings when I redeem. One year, I flew my family of 4 to Orlando, round trip for 60k in points and flew with the wife, RT, to Vegas for 60K the next year. I have also redeemed for many hotel stays. I have been satisfied that I am getting a solid economic value from the card so I have never complained about the annual fee. Having reviewed this thread though, I will definitely make the call. What can I lose?
MDefl is offline  
Old Feb 4, 2013, 5:31 pm
  #208  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,050
I called today and mentioned that I saw the annual fee posted and I got an AMEX SPG Biz card a few months ago. I asked the agent for suggestion about consolidation of my spending or if there's any incentive to keep my spg personal card. He said the best he could offer was 3K points on next statement, no spending requirement. I took the offer.
Nelumbo is offline  
Old Feb 4, 2013, 7:15 pm
  #209  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,720
Originally Posted by ccheng64
I have both SPG Amex card and Hilton Amex card (no annual fee). I spend around 50-60k on SPG Amex card per year. My annual fee just posted on my statement and I really hate to pay the $65. I called Amex and asked for any retention bonus but they offered me nothing. I don't pay to stay in Starwood hotels but I use the SPG points to stay in some nice Starwood hotels. I get my SPG points mostly from merchandise shopping. I am considering cancelling my SPG Amex card and use the Hilton Amex card as my primary card. Is this a wise move??
Yes and no. IF you like Hiltons, go for tlhe Citi Reserve card where $40,000 in annual spend will get you Diamond top tier status with Hilton plus after your 2 free weekend welcome nights for a nominal spend, you will get another free weekend night if you spend at least $10,000 annually.

And, as I stated above, if you hit $40,000 on the card you get Diamond status, if not you get Gold for as long as you hold the card = free breakfasts at Hilton family properties.

Also, Visa is more accepted worldwide than AMEX and you get 3 HHonors points per $1 for your online purchases.

The fee is $95 annually, but at least you are getting something for that fee and the card is free of foreign exchange fees unlike the SPG or HHonors Amex cards.
NJUPINTHEAIR is offline  
Old Feb 4, 2013, 11:21 pm
  #210  
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Tit, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold, Carlson Gold, UA*S,
Posts: 1,363
I have the SPG Biz Amex that I dont use at all compared to my main one.

Called to cancel and protested at the $65 fee - no incentive given for me to stay whatsoever.

No points, credit, waived fees - nothing!
Johnny Rocket is offline  


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