Retention Bonuses

kampung

Level 2 Member
Is it no longer possible to downgrade the Chase Sapphire Preferred to Chase Freedom?

Called 3 times in the last 5 days and got shot down every time. Was told can only switch to Chase Sapphire and i need to apply for the C Freedom if i want one.
Anyone else managed to switch to Freedom recently from CSP?
 

Matt S NYC

Level 2 Member
Is it no longer possible to downgrade the Chase Sapphire Preferred to Chase Freedom?

Called 3 times in the last 5 days and got shot down every time. Was told can only switch to Chase Sapphire and i need to apply for the C Freedom if i want one.
Anyone else managed to switch to Freedom recently from CSP?
Same thing happened to my SO - was told can only downgrade to CS.

In other news, I tried getting retention bonuses on both Chase MPE and Citi AA and struck out on both. Not sure if I just got crappy agents, but not willing to waste any more time on it so closed both accounts. Countdown begins on applying again in a year or so.
 

Jivepicnic

Level 2 Member
Here's a data point for the Citi Hilton Reserve Visa. My AF posted yesterday, so I called this morning and was offered two options:
  1. 5000 Hilton points after spending $2,000 total in the next three months
  2. 1000 Hilton points each month after spending $500 in each of the next three months
I had no intention of cancelling the card, so I took the first offer even though both were pretty lackluster. I'm in the middle of spending my $40k this year for Diamond status, so I'll meet the spend without a problem.
 

Jivepicnic

Level 2 Member
Is it no longer possible to downgrade the Chase Sapphire Preferred to Chase Freedom?

Called 3 times in the last 5 days and got shot down every time. Was told can only switch to Chase Sapphire and i need to apply for the C Freedom if i want one.
Anyone else managed to switch to Freedom recently from CSP?
I downgraded my CSP to a Freedom (my second) about a month ago. They didn't give me any problems. My CSP had been open since 2012 if that makes a difference.
 

SherryFD

Level 2 Member
On the Citi AA card, I called and before I could finish thinking the word "cancel" I was offered the $95 fee waived and one of the 16 month offers.
For the next 16 months, any month I spend 1k; they would give me a bonus 1k miles.
I just got the same basic offer on my Citi AA Platinum card. 16 month bonus miles up to 1K/month and a $95 statement credit if I spend $95 within 2 months.
 

Madelyn

Level 2 Member
Paid yearly fee on my Barclays US Airways card a few weeks ago. I call today to see if they would credit it back to me, and they did happily. I explained that having this card after the merger was a bit redundant for me.
 

Belisarius

Level 2 Member
Citi AAdvantage - 1K miles for 1K spend, next 16 months. Called 3 months after opening.
Chase Bold - 10K UR for 5K spend. Called 5 months after opening.
Chase Ink Plus - 10K UR for 5K spend. Called 7 months after opening.
AMEX SPGs encouraged me to call closer to annual fee date.
**
Takeaway? Doesn't hurt to call a few months in to seek retention bonuses, then call again around annual fee timing for a double dip.
 

Malvina

Level 2 Member
Downgraded CSP to Freedom in the end of January.
Will try to downgrade SO's CSP to Freedom.
MileagePlus Explorer - no offer. Called 1 month before AF. Closed.
 

nickelfish1

Level 2 Member
Today hubs got a $95 statement credit after spending $95 on his AA Citi Amex. (I think the fee is actually $85 though)
US Air waived the fee without any mileage offers. Which is fine since he has the spend $501 for three months and get 15,000 pts going now anyway. BUT he was offered zero interest rate on all new purchases starting tomorrow thru Dec 31st. We never carry a balance, but I thought that was pretty generous.
Three weeks ago US Air waived my fee and then offered me...?....I can't remember. I think it was spend 1,000 a month and get 1.5 miles per dollar? I have no idea! LOL
Need to call Marriott tomorrow to get that waived...I just let two free rooms expire. I'll try and get those back but I they had already extended them twice.
Then, it's off to cancel my AA Exec.
 

InstinctX

Level 2 Member
My Chase United Explorer AF hits at the beginning of next month. I called in tonight to raise my Cash Limit (currently set to $0) for Serve loads.

I inquired if they could waive the AF. The agent offered a statement credit of $60... I may call back when the AF posts. Is this a "good" offer?
 

Annie H.

Egalatarian
My Chase United Explorer AF hits at the beginning of next month. I called in tonight to raise my Cash Limit (currently set to $0) for Serve loads.

I inquired if they could waive the AF. The agent offered a statement credit of $60... I may call back when the AF posts. Is this a "good" offer?
Don't take this to the bank but I recall UA being pretty stingy recently w/regard to AF waivers. We struck out x 2 and closed the cards.
 

InstinctX

Level 2 Member
My BA+ AF hits next month as well... From reports, people are also unsuccessful with getting Barclay to waive the AF.
 

raenye

Lever 2 Membel
I just got the same basic offer on my Citi AA Platinum card. 16 month bonus miles up to 1K/month and a $95 statement credit if I spend $95 within 2 months.
Citi AAdvantage - 1K miles for 1K spend, next 16 months. Called 3 months after opening.
Did you two ask to be transferred to the retention department? threatened to cancel? asked whether there's a spend bonus?
 

SherryFD

Level 2 Member
Did you two ask to be transferred to the retention department? threatened to cancel? asked whether there's a spend bonus?
I called and said I was evaluating my Citibank AA portfolio (currently have 3 cards) and wanted to know if they were able to waive the AF. The rep told me what he was able to offer and when I said that wasn't enough to keep the card he asked if I was considering cancelling. I told him I was considering it and he transferred me to the retention department.

I told the retention specialist that I was trying to decide whether or not to keep the card and he put the $95 credit + bonus miles offer on the table.
 

raenye

Lever 2 Membel
I called and said I was evaluating my Citibank AA portfolio (currently have 3 cards) and wanted to know if they were able to waive the AF. The rep told me what he was able to offer and when I said that wasn't enough to keep the card he asked if I was considering cancelling. I told him I was considering it and he transferred me to the retention department.

I told the retention specialist that I was trying to decide whether or not to keep the card and he put the $95 credit + bonus miles offer on the table.
Thanks. How close were you to the card anniversary?
 

VDebs

Level 2 Member
My Chase United Explorer AF hits at the beginning of next month. I called in tonight to raise my Cash Limit (currently set to $0) for Serve loads.

I inquired if they could waive the AF. The agent offered a statement credit of $60... I may call back when the AF posts. Is this a "good" offer?
I'd say so. I had to cancel mine last year, even after speaking with retention.
 

Dealsformelanie

Level 2 Member
I have a USAirways card. I called to see about retention bonuses and had none. I asked to cancel my card so I could try to sign up again for the same card. I got denied for the same card (reconsideration said they would only give out the bonus 1 time in a lifetime???). So, I called back up, and they reinstated my card. In the meantime, they had refunded my annual fee. I don't know if canceling the card, then asking to get it reinstated (they said no hard pull) is a good strategy for avoiding the annual fee?
 

smittytabb

Moderator
Staff member
My Chase United Explorer AF hits at the beginning of next month. I called in tonight to raise my Cash Limit (currently set to $0) for Serve loads.

I inquired if they could waive the AF. The agent offered a statement credit of $60... I may call back when the AF posts. Is this a "good" offer?
Yes. Last year I got no waiver but 4K miles to keep it. Pretty much regretted taking the offer a whole year, but I kept it for some benefits I now have on other cards. This year, called and got no offers and cancelled .
 

druiddation

Level 2 Member
Called about cancelling or downgrading Citi AA Exec card. Was offered 1k points after $1k spend. Wasn't able to downgrade until a day after 12-month statement date. They advised to call back then and that they'd refund the annual fee up to 37 days after.
 

milesaway733

Level 2 Member
My Chase United Explorer AF hits at the beginning of next month. I called in tonight to raise my Cash Limit (currently set to $0) for Serve loads.

I inquired if they could waive the AF. The agent offered a statement credit of $60... I may call back when the AF posts. Is this a "good" offer?
I called pre and post AF (3/1). As of yesterday no retention offer. I received 10k miles last year for paying the AF. I've spent $25-27k each year for the 10k bonus. I've had 2 reps say I have up to 180 days from AF posting to get a full refund.
 

PVM

Level 2 Member
AF just hit for my AMEX EDP. Called retention line and was said no offers are available. Offered to downgrade to the AMEX ED or pay with 9500 MR points at 1c value. Spent about $40K on it last year. Didn't want to downgrade it, like the 50% bonus on it too much.
 

nickelfish1

Level 2 Member
Marriott fee just hit. No go on waiving annual fee so I asked about a free room since two of my rooms just expired and they wouldn't reinstate them. If I spend 1k in 90 days they'll give me a 1-4 cat room. I took it and paid the fee.
 

JJAviator

Level 2 Member
$95 fee hit, so called Delta SkyMiles Gold AMEX. Explained that the Priority Boarding perk with the card had not worked the past 2 trips (LGA), and I couldn't see keeping a card where the benefits that were part of the $95 fee don't necessarily work. The guy couldn't have been more in a hurry to cancel the card for me ASAP. I really didn't mind, since I can always transfer SPG points to DL, but will miss the 1st bag free and the PB when it works.
 
Last edited:

nickelfish1

Level 2 Member
Hubs just closed his 1st AA Exec an hour ago. Offered him 15k for 3k in spend within three months. He declined since we're still in the hook for the $450 fee. I asked him to move his credit line (25k) to his two other cards and he waved me off while shaking his head violently. Pick your battles I guess.
 

PNW-MSSER

Level 2 Member
$95 fee hit, so called Delta SkyMiles Gold AMEX. Explained that the Priority Boarding perk with the card had not worked the past 2 trips (LGA), and I couldn't see keeping a card where the benefits that were part of the $95 fee don't necessarily work. The guy couldn't have been more in a hurry to cancel the card for me ASAP. I really didn't mind, since I can always transfer SPG points to DL, but will miss the 1st bag free and the PB when it works.
Why did PB not work, all over the world Delta makes such a big deal about priority boarding , they are always announced 1st
 

Sang Kancil Guru

Travelling the world in search of fruits
I just had a few Chase cards come due:
...
Ink Bold- Received a $95 statement credit (Love this card!)
...
Did your annual fee for the Ink Bold already posted when you called in? What did you say to convince them to offer you a statement credit for the next annual fee? My Ink Bold is coming due for its 2nd year soon.
 

konorth

Level 2 Member
It took separate calls and my Bold was an after thought at I had already paid it and kept forgetting to call. I really love that card and use it for its intended purpose plus a little ms thrown in. I simply told the CSR that, well I didn't mention the ms, and that i paid the fee last month but it was bothering me and I was wondering if there was anything she could do. She said "let me check to see if here is a retention offer attached to your account" then said there was only one- $95 statement credit. I was quite happy especially as it was after the fact. I usually don't call late and didn't know what to expect.
 

Kenme111

Level 2 Member
Have gotten SPG to give me 7k points twice within 5months (Aug when AF due & Jan). Put over $100k spend (mostly MS). Never hurts to call in half way through your year to see about addtional offers. Same went for Citi AA Plat, currently getting 2k points for $1k spend (stacked 1k point offers).
 

Matt S NYC

Level 2 Member
Have gotten SPG to give me 7k points twice within 5months (Aug when AF due & Jan). Put over $100k spend (mostly MS). Never hurts to call in half way through your year to see about addtional offers. Same went for Citi AA Plat, currently getting 2k points for $1k spend (stacked 1k point offers).
What do you say to the rep when you aren't near the AF but you Want to extract an offer?
 
Top