Annual Fees Getting Old
Feb 22, 2011 | 12:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 8
Annual Fees Getting Old
Hello,
I have 3 or 4 cards now that has AF's that I used at one time to meet the requirements to get the perks like X amount of miles, now I get no advantage and the only card that I use is my southwest card...
I have other cards like
British Airways
SPG
Citibank AA
Every year these fees add up upwards of $200+ and I don't even use the cards now, while I don't want to close them and lose the CL and UTI on my credit reports... I'm curious if Chase, Amex and Citibank allows coverting to non fee card but retaining original credit limit.
I have 3 or 4 cards now that has AF's that I used at one time to meet the requirements to get the perks like X amount of miles, now I get no advantage and the only card that I use is my southwest card...
I have other cards like
British Airways
SPG
Citibank AA
Every year these fees add up upwards of $200+ and I don't even use the cards now, while I don't want to close them and lose the CL and UTI on my credit reports... I'm curious if Chase, Amex and Citibank allows coverting to non fee card but retaining original credit limit.
Feb 22, 2011 | 12:13 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CLT
Programs: UA
Posts: 132
From my experience, Chase is pretty flexible and lenient when it comes to credit allocation. Just give them a call, tell them what you want, and they usually get it done on the spot. I'm not too knowledgeable about Amex and Citi, however.
Feb 22, 2011 | 12:31 pm
#3
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: AA PLT 2MM
Posts: 2,026
Didn't think anyone actually paid an annual fee on a Citicard any more. Call citi to cancel with the exact reason being you don't want to pay the annual fee. Very likely you'll get a statement credit for the annual fee value, and perhaps even some bonus miles to go with it.
Feb 22, 2011 | 1:14 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 37
Feb 22, 2011 | 4:41 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: Hilton-Diamond Lifetime Platinum AA UA, WN-CP, SPG Gold.
Posts: 7,385
The only reason to have several cards is the perks, the only reason to keep them and pay an anual fee is, being too lazy to cancel them.
Even 2 for 1 is bad, wait for a new round of perks and go get them....
Profit and Points is not a dirty word...
Even 2 for 1 is bad, wait for a new round of perks and go get them....
Profit and Points is not a dirty word...
Feb 22, 2011 | 8:00 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA 1MM Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,551
Didn't think anyone actually paid an annual fee on a Citicard any more. Call citi to cancel with the exact reason being you don't want to pay the annual fee. Very likely you'll get a statement credit for the annual fee value, and perhaps even some bonus miles to go with it.
Feb 23, 2011 | 7:55 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Cary, NC, USA - AA Plt 3mm/DL Dia 2mm, Hil/Dia Life, Bonvoy/Titanium Life, Spire
Posts: 3,261
I also canceled Chase BA and one of my AMEX Skymiles in the last few months.
However I opened AMEX Hilton Surpass and the Chase Priority Club Visa for another click on the suitcase. I had and cancelled the PC Visa once before.
FICO score to me is like my cholesterol level. Why worry about it when so many factors can make it change?
YMMV
-outoftown
Last edited by outoftown; Feb 23, 2011 at 8:05 pm
Feb 23, 2011 | 9:52 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: Lotz
Posts: 1,542
Beware the no-fee cards as I've recently found that under the new laws they cannot be converted back to fee cards. Once you're locked in an anti-churn policy (like Citi) with a $2 per mile card potential mile earnings get harder. If you want to take advantage of creative mile-earning methods, the no-fee cards are often bad vehicles and it may be hard to get out of the no-fee ghetto.
Feb 23, 2011 | 11:51 pm
#11
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,020
No fee ghetto, indeed! 
I haven't paid a fee on any of my over a hundred cards for many years (Amex Starwood is the only exception).
Still the points keep rolling in.
Love you tassojunior, but your post just doesn't make sense.
I haven't paid a fee on any of my over a hundred cards for many years (Amex Starwood is the only exception).
Still the points keep rolling in.
Love you tassojunior, but your post just doesn't make sense.
Feb 24, 2011 | 5:55 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA LT Gold; BA Silver; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,103
I pay an annual fee on our Marriott and Hilton cards but they're worth it for the Elite status. As soon as the annual fees kick in on our new AA cards, they're gone. It's a but crazy anyway juggling 5 credit cards, including 2 where we haven't met minimum spends for bonus points or status.
I don't worry about my credit rating. It seems that if you have a mortgage and pay that and your credit cards on time, you're good, even when you never run a balance.
I don't worry about my credit rating. It seems that if you have a mortgage and pay that and your credit cards on time, you're good, even when you never run a balance.
Feb 24, 2011 | 7:21 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: Hilton-Diamond Lifetime Platinum AA UA, WN-CP, SPG Gold.
Posts: 7,385
When you cancel a CC it frees up your libe of Credit, for another Perks CC.
Why carry a 1/2 price card
As for FICO I have canceled many cards, and never had a problem getting a new one.
Face it we all have a credit line,
Why carry a 1/2 price card
As for FICO I have canceled many cards, and never had a problem getting a new one.
Face it we all have a credit line,
Feb 24, 2011 | 7:53 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Central Texas
Programs: Starwood Gold , HH Gold, Hyatt Gold, Aadvantage, Rapid Rewards CP
Posts: 1,586
As far as getting the annual fee waived, my experience is that if it is a card that I use a good bit and I call to cancel it the rep will transfer my call to the retention folks and they will either give miles or reimburse the annual fee amount. If it is a card that I have not utilized, then it will be bye bye without further ado.
Feb 24, 2011 | 3:26 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: Lotz
Posts: 1,542
I don't know the effect from anti-churn rules with other companies.