I have had the SPG Amex for 15+ years. I think the main purposes are:

1 - use at Costco
2 - points are worth more than other hotel cards
3 - 5 nights of elite credit to make Gold

My personal expenses are not high as I am on the road a lot - probably less than 10K charged every year to SPG.

Now, with Costco leaving AMEX and me reaching Lifetime Gold (and no plan to aim for Platinum/Lifetime Platinum), I am thinking about cancelling it. I think I have a decent amount of SPG points that will last for a while. I just got the AMEX Everyday Card.

So, it makes sense to cancel, right? Should I cancel now or wait until renewal time in June?

Thanks.

Why cancel a card when no fee is due?

Is your SPG total at some increment of 20K? Since you get an extra 5K miles when transferring amounts in 20K increments, if you are fairly close to the next 20k level, I'd use it enough to reach that level before canceling. Say, if your total currently ends in 15K, by spending an additional 5K, you are effectively getting 2 points per $. But if you total ends in 300, then nevermind.

This doesn't happen for another year. I wouldn't give it much weight in this year's decision.

Thanks...

Some additional points, no pun intended:

1 - I originally got this card because I loved the 5K bonus when transferring to airlines. Now I have a lot of airline miles so I probably won't transfer them. So, that feature is not so attractive anymore

2 - I wonder if it is less trouble to claim warranty with AMEX if I still own the card. So, the thinking is to start using the Everyday Card now - especially I need to charge $1000 in the next 3 months - which is actually pretty hard to do for someone who is on the road all the time and no time to play/shop

3 - I wonder if I cancel my SPG Amex now, they might refund the fee fully - I am fine if they don't but I wonder if they will automatically refund the full fee

There are mixed reports, but official policy is that the extended warranty benefit ends if you close the account.

American Express (USA) will automatically refund the unearned portion of the annual fee when you cancel. No need to ask, their system just makes the pro-rated calculation.

I'm not sure where to post this question.

Have others noticed that customer service on the Starwood American Express has declined in the past year or so? Sometimes I can't even get them to understand me and recently they misfiled a dispute. That's my point of view, and I've start to wonder if I should replace what is my primary card.

I don't call Starwood much. But lately when I call AMEX CS, I always get this message: "Due to high call volume wait times are very long right now. If your question isn't urgent you might want to call back tomorrow." Basically, go away, leave us alone. :rolleyes:

Then when you stay on the line, it gets answered in around 30 seconds. What's that all about? :confused:

I received the SPG card last year for the 15,000 points sign on. I haven't used it since meeting minimum spend. When I called AmEx customer service last week I tried to move the entire $15,000 credit line to my AmEx Everyday card. Later, I received a rejection letter in the mail stating that my Everyday card account was opened too recently. My only other card is the Platinum. Are my only options closing the account and losing the credit line, and paying the annual fee and keeping the card?

My monthly spend points typically post around the 25th-28th of the month. Last month they didn't post so I called AmEx. I was told everything was ok on their end and they show having placed ~5k points for me (spend+bonus). They recommended I call SPG. So, I called SPG. Twice. No help. Also sent an email to the platinum desk. No help there either. Any suggestions out there? Lurkers?

Why not send the Lurkers your details so they can follow up?

Hi dtwdoc,

Could you please email us more details and your SPG membership number for us to check with the relevant department?

[email protected]

Chua Chie Ling | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd

I was about to refer my fiancee to this card since she's looking for a daily spend card, but all of a sudden the "refer a friend" link in my amex.com account site is dead. It leads to a page saying "We're sorry. This campaign has expired."

Did I seriously get that unlucky? Did this program JUST end today? I only found out about the referral offer just two hours ago. I found the page, told her I was going to send her a referral, and then when I tried to go back to the page it was gone.

Does anyone believe these rumors? http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=52173.0

If they are truly going to remove foreign transaction fees they will see increased spend from me without a doubt.

I would actually carry the card again.

I got a call from Amex about why I stopped using my Biz version much. I can't believe I forgot to mention FTFs.

I believe it...the card has fallen behind others. I'm benching it on my Europe trip next week for my SPG stays, just not willing to pay the 3% when I can get double points with other cards fee-free.