AMEX Gold Credit Card with 2% Cash Back - It was the best CC while it lasted

[nogoro]

No attempt to retain my business or offer of gift card even for a customer who spent 37k with them last year, pays monthly in full and is never late on the payments.

That's what I am afraid of; based on the posts in this thread it looks like maybe 1 out of 10 calls do not result in GC offer. The advice from what I've read seems to be that when you complain about the annual fee you ask about the GC that others have been getting. If they aren't willing to give it out then make some excuse and call again another time. Not sure what they will write in your file if that happens...

I've been spending enough on my card that the 99 isn't a big deal, and since I don't have an option to apply for this card again I don't have the courage to contact the cancellation dept...

[dragonflower77]

Yup, when he asked the reason for the cancellation, I never used the line " my friend was offered a gift card, and I want one too...". I guess I was hoping they would offer it on their end, without me having to whine or put up a big stink about it. The previous CSR said she would put a note in my file that I was weighing my options of cancelling the card, so maybe they just figured I was dead set.

Based on my spending, the $99 would be negligible, but it was more the principle of it. If people who spend less then me are offered a gift card, why aren't I? Oh well, it's done now and I'll just line the pockets of CAPITAL ONE Mastercard instead, and try to get 2% on the travel redemptions.

That's what I am afraid of; based on the posts in this thread it looks like maybe 1 out of 10 calls do not result in GC offer. The advice from what I've read seems to be that when you complain about the annual fee you ask about the GC that others have been getting. If they aren't willing to give it out then make some excuse and call again another time. Not sure what they will write in your file if that happens...

I've been spending enough on my card that the 99 isn't a big deal, and since I don't have an option to apply for this card again I don't have the courage to contact the cancellation dept...

[yoinky]

Thanks for the tip to request a gift card. The first time I called the retentions department was close and so the CSR I got said she'd never heard of the gift card rebate, that it had never been done and there was no way she could offer a rebate, but counselled me that I would have to be serious about closing the account to get any type of offer.

I called back today, got a nice fellow named Frini in retentions, when I complained about the fee he immediately offered me $50 because my previous year's spending was pretty low, only $3-4k

But I gently pushed back asking for the full $100. Saying I had the card for 6 years, and had previously spent over $20k/year on it. He checked the system again and was now able to offer $75 but said the limits were set that he couldn't go higher. I asked what the minimum spending was for a $100 gift card and he said in the $18-20k range.

I insisted I would be using my Amex as my primary card again and so I would spend that much this year, so then he finally consented and offered the full $100. He also suggested 2 separate $50 cards which I like since the selection is pretty limited.

Interestingly he also said that as long as I make this spending minimum I would continue to get "help" with the annual fee, which is in contradiction to what some other's have been told, that this isn't a one-time offer.

Frini gave me his extension (x39079), so if you're having trouble getting someone who is willing to offer the gift card rebate call him up and ask him directly.

Good luck

[int]

Called in to cancel recently, had around $360 in the annual rebate and I was offered a $100 GC. The cards offered that I recall: Holt Renfrew, Banana Rep, Gap, Old Navy, Roots, Home Depot, Swiss Chalet & Harveys.