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IMPORTANT: American Express suspends the scrapping of pro-rata card fee refunds

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American Express informed us on Wednesday morning that it has suspended its plans to stop pro-rata fee refunds on its UK credit cards from 2nd October.

We don’t have any further information at this point. This is very much a last minute change of heart, given that the original announcement was made (in a HfP exclusive story) back in mid June.

This means that there is no longer a requirement to cancel any cards this week if you didn’t want to find yourself locked in for the rest of your membership year.

American Express suspends end of pro rata fee refunds

We believe that Amex does not intend to inform cardholders of this change, but the call centre agents have been told and can confirm this to you. You may want to call to get your own confirmation since there is no public statement that we can show you as verification.

We don’t know what the position is if you have cancelled a card this week and would now like it back.

The plan to stop pro-rata fee refunds is not dead, just resting, but we understand that there will be no changes until at least 2024.

I suggest keeping a regular eye on HfP over the next 2-3 weeks for more news ….

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Comments (324)

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

  • can2 says:
    27 Sep27 September 13:00

    How petty, on the other hand…

  • HH says:
    27 Sep27 September 13:01

    I’d guess this had more to do with the new rule putting off potential customers who’d see it as a riskier proposition to lose the entire fee if they don’t like the card, than anything to do with them wanting to stop an efflux of churners.

  • Vit says:
    27 Sep27 September 13:10

    Not much change to my game-plan but would love to hear your thoughts on this, Rob. Does this reflect amex backdown or something else down the road?

  • ecugkq30 says:
    27 Sep27 September 13:14

    Pushed through some spend by topping up my Octopus account to trigger the 241 before the deadline. Will probably still downgrade to the Blue card in any case but can now do it at some point next week at least!

    • SteveCroydon says:
      27 Sep27 September 13:31

      Me too. Just triggered the 2-4-1 BAPP voucher which is now safely in my BAEC account. Upgraded from Blue BA to BAPP in August for a big ticket item. I’ll still downgrade the BAPP and get £210 pro-rata refund. Regardless of refund or not, it won’t offer me anything for the next ten months; no second voucher and only 1.5 Avios per £1. My BC gives 1.5 and my PLAX stores MR points that aren’t stuck in Avios. Also thinking of dropping the PLAX to ARCC due to the piss poor AX customer service and missing offer credits (more bad IT systems).
      Perhaps BA and AX should merge, after all they have similar appalling CS and IT systems.

    • Katy says:
      28 Sep28 September 08:01

      Oh, I hadn’t realised you could use on octopus? Can you pay the bill with that or just add funds as a top up?

      • john says:
        28 Sep28 September 10:08

        funds as top up. used this to pay 5k of a family members energy bill!

      • Mark says:
        28 Sep28 September 11:34

        You can top up your account, and then drop your direct debit down to a few £ per month. Works particularly well going into winter given you are more likely to burn through the balance quicker given more heating, lighting use etc.

  • points_worrier says:
    27 Sep27 September 13:25

    We will be left in a ‘zombie’ state of Amex officially being allowed to not refund pro-rata, but in practice still doing it.
    Because of the notices/changes in T&Cs, they will be able to change back with no notice.
    You will not know what the state will be when taking out a card.

  • David says:
    27 Sep27 September 13:28

    A few comments stating pro rata refunds will be still be available for another year, so 02 Oct 2024.

    Might help Amex see they need to up their game. Barclays and Virgin this week have been rubbing their hands with glee.

  • Benilyn says:
    27 Sep27 September 13:29

    Shall we appeal to FOS for those of who cancelled last week?

    • CarpalTravel says:
      27 Sep27 September 13:37

      On what possible basis?!! Come on, don’t be that person.

    • points_worrier says:
      27 Sep27 September 13:38

      You can’t just appeal to the FOS.
      You need to put a complaint in to Amex, explain how/why you think you’ve been wronged, state what is needed to return you to the position you were in previously, and await their response. If you disagree with what Amex say despite hearing their arguments, you can then consider whether it is worth the effort of appealing to the FOS.
      It is all a lot of work – consider carefully whether you have been put in a worse position by their actions, and if you have, the likelihood of you being able to convince Amex and/or the FOS of that situation. Then finally whether it is worth it.

    • Carlos says:
      27 Sep27 September 14:10

      Unbelievable

    • Coo says:
      27 Sep27 September 15:52

      I’m up for a class action.

  • Andrew J says:
    27 Sep27 September 13:36

    How funny! All that fuss about nothing.

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

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