topic Re: AX email warning regarding HH bonus on Ascend card in Credit Cards

AX email warning regarding HH bonus on Ascend card

morgacj2004 — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 05:48:00 GMT

'So I got the following email today from AX regarding my Aspire card which I recently closed after meeting spend and having 100k points deposited into my Hilton Honors account.

"We are writing to let you know that, unfortunately, you are not eligible to receive the Welcome Bonus for the Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card.

Activity on your account indicates an effort to reach the Welcome Bonus spend requirement in a manner that is not consistent with the terms of your Cardmember Agreement.

Please recall that the "How Your Reward Program Works" section of the Cardmember Agreement states:

"If you violate or abuse this reward program, you may forfeit some or all of your points."

For your convenience, you can review your Cardmember Agreement anytime by logging in at americanexpress.com, and selecting "Account Services" then "Card Management" from the menu. If you have any questions, you can chat live with a Customer Care Professional once you've logged in.

Thank you for your Card Membership.

Sincerely,

American Express Account Services"

I called and talked to a supervisor who stated the email was auto generated and it was most likely due to my closing the Ascend card prior to 12 months passing by. I told him I closed the Ascend when I was approved for the Aspire and I had transferred my available credit line to the Aspire prior to closing the Ascend. I have not done any MS and all my spend was legit. He confirmed this and said my 100k points were safe. He did warn me to be careful in following all of the terms in the cardholder agreement. Just wondering if anyone else got an email regarding this issue.

Re: AX email warning regarding HH bonus on Ascend card

AverageJoesCredit — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 12:16:53 GMT

Sorry to hear this M. Looks like you landed on their radar, warranted or not. Id imagine they are watching these cards that give out 100k MR points to see how the cardholders are using them after receiving bonus.

Re: AX email warning regarding HH bonus on Ascend card

xaximus — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 12:32:23 GMT

Many lenders look at that as churning. I understand that is not what you were attempting to do but that is what they see. Keep in mind, SUBs are meant for users to stay with a lender for an x amount of time. I would be careful when doing that. In your case, what I would have done, if the card had an AF is to PC it down to an non-AF card and then transfer the limit to your new card. Keep the other one in SD with the lowest available limit and not worry about it.

Re: AX email warning regarding HH bonus on Ascend card

UpperNwGuy — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 14:15:25 GMT

Yikes! Never close a card with a signup bonus in less than 12 months, even if you get a similar card from the same lender, especially if the second card also has a signup bonus.

Re: AX email warning regarding HH bonus on Ascend card

Felony_Phil — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 16:20:44 GMT

This is exactly why I nabbed the 100k on the no AF Hilton card. After the bonus is acquired, it's a free card. Next year I'll grab the Aspire and get them points as well. I won't have to sweat the regular Hilton card and I plan on keeping the Aspire because it's automatic Diamond status. There's also two different earn rates on those cards as well.

Re: AX email warning regarding HH bonus on Ascend card

morgacj2004 — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 04:46:32 GMT

Thanks for the helpful replies. First off I wanted to make it clear that I never lost the bonus as this letter from AX came a month after I closed the Ascend and almost 2 months after getting the bonus. I did just get the SPG business card with the 100 k bonus after 5k spend. I was going to close my personal SPG which is around 9 months old. Got that bonus 8 months ago and already transferred to AS. Is everyone saying I should wait till it is one year old before closing. Already transferred all but 1k CL to the business card.

Re: AX email warning regarding HH bonus on Ascend card

NRB525 — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 05:01:10 GMT

Yes.

Can we get your list of AX cards opened and how long you had each before closing? You keep revealing another card. Let’s get them all out so we can see what your pattern looks like.

The letter may be auto generated, and the clueless CSR may pooh-pooh it, but AMEX clearly states now that churning won’t be allowed. Don’t be surprised on your next AX app if you get the message, just prior to the last screen “ sorry, you won’t earn the bonus if you make this application “. That will be the same computer algorithm talking, not your friend the CSR.

Re: AX email warning regarding HH bonus on Ascend card

Anonymous — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 05:16:45 GMT

Yeah AXP has added that 12 month language to many cards, as mentioned in their email, just read your Cardmember Agreement.

They have also clawed back MR points from people who closed platinum/PRG cards before 1 year (no MS or other violation of agreement).

It is more difficult for them to enforce this on partner cards as AXP would have to request Hilton/Marriott to adjust your point balance and the latter may or may not comply due to various reasons (including not wanting you to call in and tie up their CS people, not wanting to loss you to other hotel chains esp. if you have lots of nights stayed with them). But remember that the whole partner card deal benefit both the hotel chain and AXP (and hotel chain probably gets more out of it) so it is not a good idea to assume that the hotel chain will never take action.