Questions and Answers

Not sure how to go about this but can one try asking Amex for retention points/bonus points for keeping the card, if I’ve been using my Amex Platinum (pretty exclusively) at Costco & they are ending that relationship soon?

Costco was about the only times I put any spend on the Plat card as I didn’t have any other Amex product up until a couple months ago when I signed up for the SPG card.

And would such retention bonus be only awarded once in the lifetime of this card?

Thanks!

You can certainly call and try though I’m not sure they’d give too much of a bonus. Not sure about it being once per lifetime

Retention bonuses aren’t offered once per lifetime but I’m sure banks grow less interested in offering them if they don’t see value in you as a customer. Certainly couldn’t hurt to call and ask.

I’ve had the Plat for 3 years. This is the 4th year.
I got retention offers the 2nd year and 4th year.
25K points on year # 2
10K + 100$ statement on year # 4
No luck the 3rd year.

I have seen similar retention structure for friends of mine alternating. This is no hard cycle to follow.
YMMV in these situations but never hurts to ask.

Good luck!

[USER=522]@PhatMiles[/USER]
How do you go about asking for that year after year? Or should I wait for them to offer it to me when I call them?

And do you put a lot of spend on that card? I can’t say that I do.

Thanks!

[USER=1977]@MMM[/USER] just call the number on the back of the card and say something like the annual fee just posted and you’re trying to figure out if it’s worth it to you to keep the card. Ask if there is any way to cancel the fee or of there are any offers to offset the fees. If the front line rep doesn’t have anything ask to cancel the card. This will usually trigger a transfer to a retention department which may have better options. If you Google American Express retention phone calls you should be able to get more examples.

[QUOTE=”MMM, post: 17635, member: 1977″][USER=522]@PhatMiles[/USER]
How do you go about asking for that year after year? Or should I wait for them to offer it to me when I call them?

And do you put a lot of spend on that card? I can’t say that I do.

Thanks![/QUOTE]
I call them. They never come and offer you.
I usually cash out my $200 airline credit and then initial the call.
My usual pitch is on these lines:
“I have been a good standing customer for X years. Based on my next year’s travel needs and spending patterns I am not able to justify the steep annual fee on the card. I am looking for options to either lessen the burden or cancel the card.”

Usually they offer to downgrade the product to a lesser fee or no fee card, but I usually cave for those since Amex cards are once in a lifetime bonus.

I do not spend a lot on the Plat. Hardly 2-3K a year.