AmEx Platinum Fee Increase

[FNR32]

I can't justify keeping the Amex Plat and the CSR. The CSR is my daily use card. Over the past year, I've used the Amex less and less. My wife now just uses it as a letter opener lol.

[infinitekidM2C]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

I still find the Amex blue cash preferred the best all around. Low annual fee and 6% groceries and 3% gas cash back is huge.

That's what we eventually realized so went from platinum to gold to blue.

[rebekahb]

I just got a letter from CSR and their fee is going up to $550. It sucks but I won't cancel as of now. We use that card for travel and dining the most. The travel credit always gets used and we went to the Priority lounge Thur evening before our flight. We also use Lyft quite a bit so I always get a discount which makes it cheaper than Uber. I pay it off every month so never carry a balance.

[IllSic_Design]

Originally Posted by rebekahb

I just got a letter from CSR and their fee is going up to $550. It sucks but I won't cancel as of now. We use that card for travel and dining the most. The travel credit always gets used and we went to the Priority lounge Thur evening before our flight. We also use Lyft quite a bit so I always get a discount which makes it cheaper than Uber. I pay it off every month so never carry a balance.

I'm pretty sure it went up to $550 last February/March(or sometime in 2020), as I got an email from them stating so, but luckily my yearly renewal date was before the price increase date so I got to keep the $450 for another year

[masterzapper]

Originally Posted by rebekahb

I just got a letter from CSR and their fee is going up to $550. It sucks but I won't cancel as of now. We use that card for travel and dining the most. The travel credit always gets used and we went to the Priority lounge Thur evening before our flight. We also use Lyft quite a bit so I always get a discount which makes it cheaper than Uber. I pay it off every month so never carry a balance.

I got the same letter. I think it still pays for itself even with the price hike, though. To date it's paid for two European vacations with just the points, not to mention the priority pass use and the annual travel credit.

[rebekahb]

Originally Posted by IllSic_Design

I'm pretty sure it went up to $550 last February/March(or sometime in 2020), as I got an email from them stating so, but luckily my yearly renewal date was before the price increase date so I got to keep the $450 for another year

Maybe it did but I just got the letter the other day so who knows

Originally Posted by masterzapper

I got the same letter. I think it still pays for itself even with the price hike, though. To date it's paid for two European vacations with just the points, not to mention the priority pass use and the annual travel credit.

I agree with you which is why I'm keeping it. I've amassed quite a bit of points and need to start using them. We are thinking about going to Italy between Christmas and New Years so will use some of them then. I might have to use grub hub to take advantage of that option.

[VAcurler]

So assuming forum members are not going to renew, what are you going to spend your points on? All the travel website posts are about transferring for maximum value on 1st class trips to Europe or Asia. I don't really want to travel internationally any time soon and would rather have 2 regular seats for free than a single 1st class seat for free.

[The J-Man]

Originally Posted by VAcurler

So assuming forum members are not going to renew, what are you going to spend your points on? All the travel website posts are about transferring for maximum value on 1st class trips to Europe or Asia. I don't really want to travel internationally any time soon and would rather have 2 regular seats for free than a single 1st class seat for free.

I will save my points for international travel. They don't have much value for anything else.

[Manny01]

I'm all in on the Sapphire Reserve. Our family dines and travels a lot, so we're crushing the 3X categories. We also have the old Ink cards and manufacture spend like it's no one's business.

That being said, the AMEX Platinum has never tickled my fancy since I can't extract as much value from it. Current signing bonus is compelling, but outside of that there's no interest.

[Tyga11]

The card still pays for itself. You now get a $200 credit on hotels. You get the $180 CLEAR credit.

The best part of AMEX is no doubt their customer service. I bought a macbook Pro 6 months ago from Amazon and someone stole the package. Amazon claimed it was delivered (it was, the delivery driver took a photo) and wouldn't credit me. I disputed with AMEX and immediately received my money back, no questions asked.

[The J-Man]

Originally Posted by Manny01

We also have the old Ink cards and manufacture spend like it's no one's business..

Office supply gift cards, or something else? The 5X points at office supply stores is nice, but I also have the Blue Preferred which gives 6% cashback at grocery stores up to $6K, so I usually max that out first with gift cards before going the office supply route.

[The J-Man]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

The card still pays for itself. You now get a $200 credit on hotels. You get the $180 CLEAR credit.

The best part of AMEX is no doubt their customer service. I bought a macbook Pro 6 months ago from Amazon and someone stole the package. Amazon claimed it was delivered (it was, the delivery driver took a photo) and wouldn't credit me. I disputed with AMEX and immediately received my money back, no questions asked.

That's interesting. Was a police report required, or anything else? I would think they would run you through paperwork hell with a claim of that size. I had a price match claim once with Discover that took 6 months to resolve, but I've never filed any Amex claims.

[Tyga11]

Originally Posted by The J-Man

That's interesting. Was a police report required, or anything else? I would think they would run you through paperwork hell with a claim of that size. I had a price match claim once with Discover that took 6 months to resolve, but I've never filed any Amex claims.

The laptop was $2,500. No police report or anything was required.

Amazon initially threatened to suspend my account but I escalated to a manager and it was resolved with them / AMEX.

[TiMSport]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

The laptop was $2,500. No police report or anything was required.

Amazon initially threatened to suspend my account but I escalated to a manager and it was resolved with them / AMEX.

Wow, that's impressive customer service from AMEX. Interesting that Amazon threatened to suspend your account because of this though. I can honestly see their side of this matter as well to be honest. I assume you didn't require a signature hence it was left in front of your door (I presume) without requiring anyone to take delivery. I mean if you think about it, it's not Amazon's fault it was stolen. Kudos to AMEX!

[barryc365]

I used to use Amex platinum all the time, loved the lounge access for business travel but with Covid it made no sense. They actually offered me $350 cash to stay with them which I declined…you can negotiate their fees easily if your spending over $100k a year on the card. Call them to cancel the card and I bet they waive the fee increase

I've just been using an Amazon Credit Card since canceling and it's been great