Topic Wiki

I'm trying to summarize success stories mentioned in this thread.
From @TC610
It never hurts to ask - retention is a big YMMV.  If you don't like the offer given to you when you call for retention, ask for a better one.  Scan through the thread (use the search bar - reading through 130+ pages of posts can be time consuming) to see what others have been offered. Please post what you've got if its better then whats in the WIKI

Citi:
AA
Retention: $95 Statement credit after 5 transactions (no minimum...) in the next 3 months
09/17/2014 $95 refunded no need to make any transactions + 1000 Bonus Points per month for 16 months if made purchases of $1000+
05/12/16 AA Executive: $50 credit every month spend $1500 or 15K Miles for $5K in 5 Months
08/14/17 AA Exec $250 credit for spending $3,000/m * 3m OR 15K Miles for $5K in 3m.

Chase: - Call 800-945-2006.
  • IB/IP
     Retention: 10k UR after 5k spend
  •  IC
     Retention: $50 SC
  • UA (Club)
     Retention: $150 account credit
     Retention: 10k Miles for spending $2000 in 3 months.
  • UA (Presidential)
     Retention: $100 account credit
  • BA
     Retention: 9k Avios for spending $1500 in 3 months
  • Freedom (5x catagories)
     Retention: 2,500 UR

Barclay's:
M&M
Retention: Waived by SMing

Arrival
Retention: 5K miles, for keeping the card open randomly.
AF waived, HUCA

US air:
AF waived

American Express

Seems to be clearly spend related while also no rhyme or reason to who gets offers

 • Business gold:5k-15k/$100 statement credit no spend required.
 • Delta Gold Skymiles - 12.5k Delta miles for paying the annual fee (no extra spending required) or $100 Credit on the account
 • SPG personal: 7k for 1k spend in 3 months.
 • SPG business: 10k no spend.
 • Personal Platinum - 20,000 MR for $3,000 spend in 3 months. (Actually gave me 5,000MR immediately, then 15,000 when I spend the $3k)/up to 50k/$150 SC for 1k spend.
 • Personal Platinum (another data point [zow]) - 30,000 MR for $4,000 spend in 3 months.
 • Business Platinum: 10k no spend/20k for 10k spend/30k no spend +50k for 40k spend

Retention contact numbers:
Citi: 800-444-2568
Chase: 800-945-2006
Amex: 800-452-3945
Barclays: 18664084064 (credit dept)
US Bank:

Click on link to get backdoor numbers for most banks:
http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Backdoor-Numbers/td-p/408066
« Last edited by zow on May 19, 2019, 06:47:52 PM »

Author Topic: Credit Card Retention Bonuses  (Read 1820071 times)

Offline TimT

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4700 on: March 21, 2016, 11:06:34 PM »
Is it true that in order to get a full (not prorated) refund of the AF on an amex card within 60 days, you have to downgrade it and not close it?
No. If you close it you also get refunded.

Offline etech0

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4701 on: March 21, 2016, 11:10:58 PM »
No. If you close it you also get refunded.
Oops. I meant the other way around. I just chatted to downgrade my card and they told me that to get the full AF back I need to actually close it.
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline David Smith

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4702 on: March 21, 2016, 11:11:29 PM »
Is it true that in order to get a full (not prorated) refund of the AF on an amex card within 60 days, you have to downgrade it and not close it?
Just the opposite. If you close it, you'll get a full refund. If you downgrade, it'll be prorated.
Who do you think you are fooling? You think you are going to pull a quick one on your Creator? Good luck with that.
JTZ

Offline etech0

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4703 on: March 21, 2016, 11:40:11 PM »
Just the opposite. If you close it, you'll get a full refund. If you downgrade, it'll be prorated.
So if you want to downgrade it and not pay the AF, you need to do so before the fee posts?
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4704 on: March 22, 2016, 07:53:15 AM »

So if you want to downgrade it and not pay the AF, you need to do so before the fee posts?

If you downgrade within 60 days you are still getting the AF fully refunded. You will however also get charged the AF for the product you downgraded to.
Work hard, Play harder!

Offline etech0

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4705 on: March 22, 2016, 08:43:26 AM »
If you downgrade within 60 days you are still getting the AF fully refunded. You will however also get charged the AF for the product you downgraded to.
So they chat rep was clueless. (Downgrading to BCE which has no fee, she told me that I'll be refunded $60 of the $75 I paid)
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline TimT

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4706 on: March 22, 2016, 08:44:06 AM »
So they chat rep was clueless.
Wouldn't be the first time

Offline etech0

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4707 on: March 22, 2016, 08:46:19 AM »
Wouldn't be the first time
:)
Q is if it's better to downgrade with a chat rep who says I'll be refunded? Or if the system handles the refunds and it doesn't matter?
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4708 on: March 22, 2016, 08:46:49 AM »
So they chat rep was clueless. (Downgrading to BCE which has no fee, she told me that I'll be refunded $60 of the $75 I paid)

Are you within 60? Then you will get the full.

:)
Q is if it's better to downgrade with a chat rep who says I'll be refunded? Or if the system handles the refunds and it doesn't matter?

System handles this.
Work hard, Play harder!

Offline etech0

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4709 on: March 22, 2016, 08:57:49 AM »
Are you within 60? Then you will get the full.

System handles this.
Yes - TY
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Online Mr. CC

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4710 on: March 23, 2016, 10:38:28 AM »

Offline David Smith

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4711 on: March 23, 2016, 10:47:28 AM »
If you downgrade within 60 days you are still getting the AF fully refunded. You will however also get charged the AF for the product you downgraded to.
Personal experience?
-1 in mine and others experience.
Who do you think you are fooling? You think you are going to pull a quick one on your Creator? Good luck with that.
JTZ

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4712 on: March 23, 2016, 10:54:29 AM »
Personal experience?
-1 in mine and others experience.

I downgraded within 60 after paying AF on Plat and MB Plat before statement closes to a PRG. I then had the statement close. I received the AF back but was charged for the PRG AF. I then eventually closed that. I then went on to receive the PRG AF back as well.

Work hard, Play harder!

Offline David Smith

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4713 on: March 23, 2016, 11:01:03 AM »
I downgraded within 60 after paying AF on Plat and MB Plat before statement closes to a PRG. I then had the statement close. I received the AF back but was charged for the PRG AF. I then eventually closed that. I then went on to receive the PRG AF back as well.
You were refunded $450 and $475?
Who do you think you are fooling? You think you are going to pull a quick one on your Creator? Good luck with that.
JTZ

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4714 on: March 23, 2016, 11:02:26 AM »
You were refunded $450 and $475?

That is exactly right.
Work hard, Play harder!

Online Mr. CC

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4715 on: March 23, 2016, 11:02:51 AM »
I downgraded within 60 after paying AF on Plat and MB Plat before statement closes to a PRG. I then had the statement close. I received the AF back but was charged for the PRG AF. I then eventually closed that. I then went on to receive the PRG AF back as well.
100% refund on your plat.? interesting what's your trick?

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4716 on: March 23, 2016, 11:04:36 AM »
Work hard, Play harder!

Offline David Smith

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4717 on: March 23, 2016, 11:43:51 AM »
It showed up the next day.

I would not see it as worthwhile and wise to risk anything and reach out via chat or phone for - in this case - a few dollars.
Didn't think you would. It was obviously a manual adjustment, though, being as you were refunded more than you were charged (charged $39.49, and refunded $40). How many times did this happen?
Who do you think you are fooling? You think you are going to pull a quick one on your Creator? Good luck with that.
JTZ

Offline benjie1305

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4718 on: March 23, 2016, 11:59:04 AM »
Didn't think you would. It was obviously a manual adjustment, though, being as you were refunded more than you were charged (charged $39.49, and refunded $40). How many times did this happen?

I cant remember if it was just once or twice. The other times I canceled before the AF of the downgraded product hi and got full refund on the original product.
Work hard, Play harder!

Offline myi

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Re: Credit Card Retention Bonuses
« Reply #4719 on: March 25, 2016, 12:21:51 AM »
Pgr, statement closed after 1yr with a 175$ af ,they offered 50$ refund 6-8wks and additional 50$ after spending 500$(60day to spend) wasnt able to get the af waived.
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