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American Express offering 20,000 point retention bonuses to Platinum cardholders – but not to me

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American Express Platinum has begun offering 20,000 Membership Rewards points to some people who ring up and threaten to cancel their card.

I say ‘some’ because when I called up myself I didn’t receive any offer.  It is definitely happening though.

American Express Platinum retention offers – Case 1

Reader 1 called up on Wednesday to ask if there was anything better to stop him cancelling than the ‘double points on spending’ offer.

The agent looked into his system and found an offer which he told the caller he thought had just been added.  He then read out from his screen, to paraphrase:

“To thank you for your loyalty and to acknowledge the loss of benefits in the current situation, we would like to offer you 20,000 points which will be added to your account immediately. With the current promotion, this has a value of £180 which in turn is 1/3 of your annual fee. “

The next day, the points were there as you can see from the screenshot above.

American Express Platinum retention offers – Case 2

Reader 2 called up on Thursday.  With no flights now booked, and with no immediate use for the card benefits except for the travel insurance (now not needed) he called to cancel.

The reader was also offered 20,000 Membership Rewards points.  However, he would not receive these until a week after the annual fee was paid, which is due in two months.  The agent kindly reminded him that nothing stops him cancelling immediately after the points appear for a pro-rata fee refund.

It is worth noting that Reader 1 has a card which renews in August, which may be why he was offered the points immediately.

American Express Platinum retention offers – Case 3

Reader 3 is me.  Emboldened by these cases, I thought I’d call up.

I thought I was on solid ground, to be honest.

I have held Amex cards for 20 years, with my Platinum for probably 17-18 years

I very rarely spend on the card, holding it primarily for the travel benefits and because I get my British Airways Premium Plus American Express for free (this is a grandfathered benefit for anyone who held a Platinum card on the day the BA Amex cards launched).

And yet ….. nothing.

The only option I was given was to downgrade to the Gold card and to have the annual fee waived for the first year.  This is the usual response judging from other readers who have cancelled recently.  I pushed harder and was put on hold for a couple of minutes, but the agent came back to say that there was no other option.  I could cancel or I could downgrade to Gold and get a free year.  I made my excuses and left.

I’m not sure what we should conclude from this.  On Monday there will be some interesting news which has a bearing on this case, as they say.  If you have nothing better to do for 10 minutes over the next few weeks (do NOT all ring today because you can be pretty sure you’ll be marked out as a HfP reader) you might want to give it a go.  There’s nothing to lose, except a little bit of your dignity.

UPDATE, Saturday lunchtime:  It appears that UK Amex call centre agents are all working from home at the moment.  The 20,000 point offer IS, I am told, “in the system” but not all agents know it exists or how to apply it.  There is a online discussion group for the call centre agents which includes an explanation of how to find it and apply it.

My own failure to get the bonus appears to be down to the fact that I called at 6pm and so was diverted to a US call centre (the woman I spoke with did have a US accent) who did know about offers for UK cardholders.

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Category

American Express Platinum card

Comments (287)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • James says:
    9 May9 May 10:21

    I was only given the gold downgrade free too, but like many only had platinum for the benefits, putting most spend through BA PP. That said, have now switched to the Gold for 10k points spend as already have this year’s 2for1.

  • Harry T says:
    9 May9 May 10:26

    Meanwhile, a few weeks back when I called to cancel before my renewal in May, the agent didn’t even offer me a free year of Gold, despite me specifically asking about it. Hard not to feel a little peeved. Mind you, £575 is worth more than 20k MR, and I can’t see anyone accessing an airport lounge anytime soon or staying at a five star hotel with the usual benefits available.

    • Rob says:
      9 May9 May 10:39

      But you can take the 20k and then cancel ….

      • Harry T says:
        9 May9 May 10:40

        Rob, I cancelled at the time of that call in April to avoid paying the annual fee this month. Would have had no qualms about taking points and cancelling, that’s for sure.

        • Secret Squirrel says:
          9 May9 May 10:44

          It would of been pro-rata so worst case scenario less than £50 for 20k MR.
          I would of taken the bonus, transferre out then cancelled.

          • Harry T says:
            9 May9 May 11:03

            Yeah, the issue is I didn’t think they would be offering anything more substantial to retain customers, so I didn’t hold out.

            Fair point, Genghis 😉

        • Genghis says:
          9 May9 May 10:46

          In which case Amex’s model worked and they were right to not offer a bonus to you! 🙂

  • Andrew says:
    9 May9 May 10:32

    I currently have a gold card and looking to downgrade, is the green card with the small fee the only option ?

    • Rob says:
      9 May9 May 10:37

      What do you mean by downgrade? If you mean ‘don’t want a credit check’ then yes. If you mean ‘protect my points’ then no, Amex Rewards Credit Card does that for free.

      Note if you have Gold Credit (not the old Gold Charge) then you can’t ‘downgrade’ as such. Any switch is a new application.

      • Andrew says:
        9 May9 May 10:49

        Ok, it is the credit version, I will give them a ring. Don’t need it to protect points. If need a new application then will cancel and wait the 2 years .. Thanks.

        • Genghis says:
          9 May9 May 10:55

          Amex reserve the right to credit check you. Do you have an option to refer a partner?

      • Rum says:
        9 May9 May 11:16

        I guess by “downgrade” the fellow HFP reader means something he can later use to upgrade back up to Gold or even Plat?

        • Rum says:
          9 May9 May 11:17

          BTW on the subject of credit checks, the upgrade link to Plat asks you to tick a box before agreeing to the T&Cs that you agree to a credit check. I’m guessing this is a new thing? I thought Amex didn’t do a full hard search for each card you take out with them?

          • TGLoyalty says:
            9 May9 May 14:24

            Haven’t had a credit check for years but they reserve the right to check

  • Gary_Dexter says:
    9 May9 May 10:41

    What’s happening Monday?
    And has anyone has any luck as a Gold CC
    holder getting any kind of retentions?
    I took out an ARCC just in-case there’s nothing on offer and I’ll cancel my Gold Card.

    • Secret Squirrel says:
      9 May9 May 10:46

      Monday?
      If you mean about Virgin Money then it’s been cancelled.

  • Marc says:
    9 May9 May 10:54

    Doesn’t this breach TCF rules?

    • Genghis says:
      9 May9 May 10:58

      How? TCF does not mean all customers need to be treated the same.
      Same as Equality Act. Pensioners can still get their discounted fish and chips.

  • Ilou says:
    9 May9 May 10:57

    You said Rob, you’re already getting 195£ for your free BA premium plus.. I guess, they know that you’re not gonna leave so why offer you any incentive

  • Federico says:
    9 May9 May 11:05

    Just called up for my amex gold and given 20,000 points if spent £4k in the next 3 months so I have accepted and I will cancel if I don’t meet the target

    • Gary_Dexter says:
      9 May9 May 11:15

      Though you’ll receive less of the fee refunded

      • Federico says:
        9 May9 May 13:16

        how can that be less? Annual fee is £140, points are valued at 1p per point so I would receive £200 worth of points

  • RK says:
    9 May9 May 11:06

    Quick Question – Amex self referral is a no-no, however if one referred oneself to a business Plat/Gold would that be deemed self referral? Thoughts appreciated.

    • Genghis says:
      9 May9 May 11:11

      I don’t see the difference. When you’re applying for a biz card, you’re still referring yourself as the biz card is in the name of the sole trader (ie you) or joint between a ltd Co and you.

      • RK says:
        9 May9 May 11:19

        Thanks Genghis – that is where I had some confusion and wanted other people’s thoughts.

      • Mr(s) Entitled says:
        9 May9 May 12:16

        Surely the Ltd is a separate legal entity. It is fundamentally different to refering yourself when self employed.

        • Genghis says:
          9 May9 May 12:42

          “ Where your business is a limited company or a limited liability partnership, you are signing once in two capacities (i) as director of the limited company binding the limited company or as member of the limited liability partnership binding the limited liability partnership (as the case may be); and (ii) on your own behalf.”

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