There have been several data points in various groups and blogs over the past few days indicating that Amex has offered some Platinum card holders (personal / consumer version) a $15 statement credit in lieu of the $15 monthly Uber credit when chatting with Amex support via the website or calling to speak to a representative. If you have the card and are unable to use the credit, it may be worth chatting or calling. Note that this has not been consistent — not all cardholders are getting the credit when asking for it, so it may be worth trying more than once if you are intent on trying to get a credit.
Personally, I don’t have an Amex Platinum card. However, if I did, I’m not sure that I would go after this $15 statement credit.
First of all, the $15 monthly Uber credit also works on UberEATs. I haven’t been ordering take out and don’t have UberEATs in my home area, but I know that many people will be able to use it that way. We’ve also received reports from readers that the credit works when buying Uber cash. Essentially, most people should be able to put the credit to use.
Beyond that, I expect that as travel bans and stay-at-home orders persist, credit card issuers will need to offer generous retention offers to keep customers holding travel credit cards. I expect that your inability to use the Uber credit and airline incidental credits would add to your argument for canceling. I don’t know whether receiving this $15 statement credit will have any influence on whether you receive a retention offer or how much of an offer you get, but I’d hate to find that I got a reduced retention offer because my account reflects having already received a $15 credit. Truthfully, the problem with the Platinum card at the moment is that none of the key benefits are useful: most flights are canceled and states are under stay-at-home orders, so using the airline incidentals as intended is difficult, hotel and car rental elite status is useless at the moment, and lounge access won’t even help those who need to travel right now since most lounges are closed. Without a clear end to those issues in sight, I think the value proposition of a $550 card is more than $15 questionable. I have to think that they will be offering more generous retention offers in the near future; I’d probably eat the $15 this month and wait it out for a better offer unless I really needed the $15.
On the other hand, I don’t know that accepting a $15 statement credit this month will have any adverse effect. You may be able to have your cake and eat it, too. Just keep in mind that some reps have been turning people down, so you may need to give it more than one go to get the credit.
H/T: Miles Man
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I just called AmEx today to cancel my vanilla Platinum card, and no retention offers were available for me. My reason stated was that I wouldn’t be able to use travel credits in the current situation. But, before the rep started the cancellation text, he said that “just this morning” a message was sent “from the CEO” to representatives letting them know that “in early May” AmEx would be announcing a program specifically to allow use of premium travel credits “in other ways”.
All the quotes I’m using are just verbatim what the rep said, and he wouldn’t give more. He could have just been trying to make me delay closing, but seems unlikely. I decided to wait out a few weeks anyway since I’ll get another Uber credit on May 1.
Last Two who delivered Food to my house got a $20 tip and 10 alcohol wipes . Crazy are they and I have 5 Ubers 5 mins away .
CHEERs
Turned down via in app chat….
Canceled via chat. Super easy and no argument.
Canceled the card?
Did this yesterday through chat. Fast and easy to get a $15 credit. HOWEVER, I was told that this was a one time thing. I then told the person that I would see what happens (as I have NO use for Uber credit where I am right now locked down) next month the chat person said I understand.
I think me and the card is done come AF time.
I was able to do the entire thing through a secure chat. Super easy. I got $15 statement credit! I told them that we are under lock down and we don’t have Uber eats. (all true)
The amount of time it takes to call the representative is worth more than $15 to me and I feel like this is probably true for most AmEx Plat card members.
Was offered a $15 statement credit or 1200 Membership Rewards points…took the points.
Yeah, except that UberEats refuses to apply my $15 credit to any of my orders! I’ve been fighting with them about it all month. I can see the $15 credit in my account, but when I try to pay for an order, it shows $0. UberEats says this is a known issue, but never fixes it. Between this and the other lost benefits, I’m about done with my Platinum Amex.