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Just received an email from amex that following an internal review, we have decided to give two months notice of cancellation to the card account. Tried to call them, but as expected, no further details can be given. Been with amex since 2016, currently have a gold card and BAPP. I actually tried to close gold card a couple of months ago when applied for BAPP, but amex offered 20,000 points to keep the account open and I agreed.
The only reason I can see they might cancel, is that I almost triggered a 2-4-1 voucher in just under two months, but I always had quite big spending on amex so not sure why they close for that reason.
Any ideas?I think people have previously appealed against these decisions or persuaded Amex to have them back in the long term. But yikes, I hope this isn’t the new Creationgate!
Alex V this is really interesting. Sad for you of course?
Can you help us? Were you actually doing anything that could have been considered abnormal or naughty? Do you think you could be a relatively unprofitable customer for them, for any reason? Is there anything in your profile that could have triggered this?
The only unusual transaction I can think of was a work related expense for ~$5,000 in December.
But it went to a reputable business and amex got quite good FX fee.Actually I just checked, and they did block my cards. It was just £100 until I’d received my voucher which I now won’t get.
Another potential red flag I can think of is I used an FT offer on each card (Spend £30 or more, get £25 back). I had it on each card and on each supplement card (my wife is a supplement card holder). Not sure if it counts as abusing the offers?
Amex wouldn’t put offers on multiple cards (especially on supps and main cards) if it didn’t mind you using them more than once.
Have you been doing anything re referring yourself for cards or referring your wife?
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
For a long time I was an amex gold user and my wife had a free BA card (actually just checked with her, her card also been cancelled today).
In November my wife referred me for a BAPP, given it was more than 2 years since I had any BA card. As I spend ~£20k a year on amex card, I triggered 40k avios bonus quite quickly. And I almost triggered the voucher, just £100 left to spend, which I suspect is the reason amex cancelled my card.Have you been doing anything re referring yourself for cards or referring your wife?
Why would referring a spouse be a problem?
For a long time I was an amex gold user and my wife had a free BA card (actually just checked with her, her card also been cancelled today).
In November my wife referred me for a BAPP, given it was more than 2 years since I had any BA card. As I spend ~£20k a year on amex card, I triggered 40k avios bonus quite quickly. And I almost triggered the voucher, just £100 left to spend, which I suspect is the reason amex cancelled my card.None of these things sound shady to me.
Didn’t a regular (though not seen him for a bit) on here get shut down for excessive use of Shop Small?
Amex wouldn’t put offers on multiple cards (especially on supps and main cards) if it didn’t mind you using them more than once.
Have you been doing anything re referring yourself for cards or referring your wife?
Why would referring your wife (or husband) be a problem Rob?
@NorthernLass, Genghis did, but eventually got his cards back after an appeal.
He did post on the Creation thread this week, but also said somewhere that the forum format did not appeal to him.
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
Other than FT I haven’t used promotions extensively. This year I didn’t manage to make a single shop small transaction.
Would be interesting to read how an appeal process works.@NorthernLass, Genghis did, but eventually got his cards back after an appeal.
He did post on the Creation thread this week, but also said somewhere that the forum format did not appeal to him.
Is that an actual breach of terms? Guessing not given he was successful on appeal but seems an incredibly harsh position for AMEX to take if it was just that.
Yes it is. @JDB (on the Creation thread) even pointed out today a case that reached the FOS exactly because of that. And the customer lost: https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/files/267479/DRN5311667.pdf
Did they close your accounts immediately? May think to move my large amount of points out just in case anything happens.
They blocked both cards and set them to be cancelled in two months period.
I called and asked my gold card to be cancelled immediately. The only reason I kept it open is that amex persuaded me by giving 20,000 points when I called to cancel. And I felt bad to cancel after that gesture, but now see no reason to pay for extra two months when I can’t even use it. Residual points on the card were moved to Nectar during the close. The only downturn is that I would have extra 10k points in summer when it’s time to renew the card, as I already hit annual spending target.
With BAPP it’s much trickier, given I counted on the voucher, so not sure if I should complain to FOS. As per a similar case referenced in #306129, FOS does consider such cases, and as I haven’t abused the rules (at least I believe so), I should have better chances?How are you paying off the monthly bills? Via direct debit?
I pay by a debit card, in full each month.
Is there a chance that you made an error when you stated your income on the BAPP application so it was significantly lower than the prior number that Amex had? It’s possible that this would have been fine to get the BAPP but they then took a view that they didn’t like the fluctuation or your household credit was now higher than could (in their view) be supported by such income. It does seem weird as you sound like the sort of customer Amex should like having.
I don’t think I made an error, my income is (unfortunately) quite stable year-on-year. The credit limit on both cards was unreasonably large, but from my understanding amex always set quite generous limits. The combined credit limit on both cards was half of my net annual income. I did spend big sums from time to time, but mainly related to work expenses (one oversee trip could be north of £6k easily), but always paid on time and never went into arrears.
I pay by a debit card, in full each month.
Were you by any chance using Curve?
Given the comments to date, this sounds odd. And is of concern. I hold a BAPP and a Gold (which I’m tempted to downgrade, if I can upgrade it again in future). I hit the CV target and the huge SUPP from late last year very quickly earlier this year and also pay off in full by debit card. None of this makes sense to me – concerning, though.
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
I pay by a debit card, in full each month.
Were you by any chance using Curve?
Nope, never paid by curve. I always pay by HSBC debit card. The only reason I don’t use direct debit is that I prefer paying on the last day, and direct debit is normally takes money a week or two earlier.
Is your employer (if employed) a recognised company in UK? Or is it a foreign employer / entity?
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