American Express Eliminating Pro-rated Annual Fee Refunds

[DaveInLA]

I have the BCP from 2012, and it has 5 AU on it. My AF $75 posted on 7/21. I hardly use this card and am thinking about downgrading. It's been about 40 days since AF posted. But if I call today, I should still be able to get full AF refund and downgrade to BCE, correct?

[emjee]

I have the BCP from 2012, and it has 5 AU on it. My AF $75 posted on 7/21. I hardly use this card and am thinking about downgrading. It's been about 40 days since AF posted. But if I call today, I should still be able to get full AF refund and downgrade to BCE, correct?

Correct

[sedge]

I have the BCP from 2012, and it has 5 AU on it. My AF $75 posted on 7/21. I hardly use this card and am thinking about downgrading. It's been about 40 days since AF posted. But if I call today, I should still be able to get full AF refund and downgrade to BCE, correct?

I was in the same situation. The day the $75 annual fee posted, I downgraded to the everyday card. They stated I would get a full refund. When the refund posted, it was $6.25 short of the $75, hence prorated. I had to get on chat to get the 6:25 back.

[Boruch999]

Has anyone figured out why MA is exempt?

[compddd]

If my friends AF was charged before Sept 1st, does he have more than 30 days to cancel and get it refunded?

[doctorofcredit]

Has anyone figured out why MA is exempt?

No, their three state specific laws are:

• MGL c.93, s.48-70
  
• MGL c.140D
  
  • MGL c.171, s.8 et seq. (as added by St.2014, c.466)

Regulations are:

• 201 CMR 16
  
• 209 CMR

[/li]
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Basically only MGL c.140D deals with credit cards and specifically cost disclosures, but I couldn't find anything about credit annual fees that would be specific to this exemption. If anybody works it out, let me know. I can't really be bothered reading the whole thing at the moment.

[JTZ]

I can't really be bothered reading the whole thing at the moment.

Please take the whole day and report back. 

[compddd]

How long does someone have to cancel and get AF back if they signed up for the card before 9/1/2016?

[YOSSI170]

If I downgrade it's still pro-rated, right?

[Shauly101]

How long does someone have to cancel and get AF back if they signed up for the card before 9/1/2016?

30days when a/f is on statement

[rileywiles23]

If I downgrade it's still pro-rated, right?

Yes

[talkitup90]

Yes

So let's say my Plat Personal AF was charged Sept 2nd. What if I downgrade it today (I may or may not have gotten a retention bonus - MR points) to a PRG and then cancel the PRG tomorrow? Will I get the full $450 back or how much? Reckon Amex will claw back the MR / may the downgrade indirection cause them to not claw back the MR?

[shulem92]

Reckon Amex will claw back the MR / may the downgrade indirection cause them to not claw back the MR?

If anything that's pointing them in the right direction! Downgrading is not a misdirection, but rather just another reason why they'll claw back

[talkitup90]

If anything that's pointing them in the right direction! Downgrading is not a misdirection, but rather just another reason why they'll claw back

I mean, what if there's an automated system that checks to see if you cancel your card and then claws backs points, but there isn't a system that checks for downgrades and cancelling the downgraded card doesn't trigger the claw back?

[LoLo]

I mean, what if there's an automated system that checks to see if you cancel your card and then claws backs points, but there isn't a system that checks for downgrades and cancelling the downgraded card doesn't trigger the claw back?

Many reports of clawbacks even after downgrading. myself included.

[dpk4588]

I received the $75 AF on my Hilton Surpass on 9/18 and I chatted today to downgrade and the rep told me that they wouldn't be giving me the full refund, they'd be pro-rating since I downgraded within 49 days.  I dont know where this 49 days came from. At first I thought maybe she meant it was 49 days from the actual anniversary date, but I got the card 8/24/15 so that can't be it. Either way, she said they were prorating it and said that she couldn't tell me the exact amount of the refund but she calculated ~$68. At first I had no idea how she got that number but now that I look at and do some math, it looks like they do it by month and that would be the whole AF less 1 month.

I figure if they don't refund the full amount at first, I can fight with them once I actually get the refund, but does anyone have any idea of what could be going on here?

The way I understood it, you have 30 days to cancel or downgrade. If you cancel or downgrade within 30 days you get a full refund, if you downgrade after 30 days you get a pro-rated refund. Am I missing something?

[Freddie]

Reviving an old thread. So what's the deal with downgrading? I have an AF that posted 2/9 on a BRG. That's just over 60 days ago. Anything I can do?

[Dan]

Reviving an old thread. So what's the deal with downgrading? I have an AF that posted 2/9 on a BRG. That's just over 60 days ago. Anything I can do?

Should work.

[dpk4588]

Reviving an old thread. So what's the deal with downgrading? I have an AF that posted 2/9 on a BRG. That's just over 60 days ago. Anything I can do?

Assuming you'd downgrade to the green (which I believe is the cheapest business option), but you'll probably receive a refund of ~$66.67.

BGR $175/12 months=$14.58 per month x2 months=$29.17
Business Green $95/12 months=$7.92 per month x10 months=$79.17
Less the $175 you already paid leaves you with a refund of $66.67.

They might say since its past 4/9 that you get 3 months at the BGR rate.

[mendy613]

Make sure to wait for the statement to close and the partial fee to come back..
It used to (a few months ago) come back no matter what, now you need to wait for the next statement to close.