Hilton Business Card annual fee --> $195

[SouthJamaica]

Unbeknownst to me, the annual fee on my Amex Hilton Business card was hiked from $95 to $195. Since I don't do much business travel, and since the Hilton points have so little value to me these days, the card wasn't even worth the $95 annual fee, but at $195 it's absurd for me to keep it around.

The fee went up a few months ago, but I only noticed it now after reviewing the bookkeeper's report. Shame on me for not noticing it sooner.

So I cancelled the card, 2 months after the annual fee hit.  I hope I'll get some kind of refund.

[CreditCuriosity]

This is the trend with every Amex card.  Increasing AF fairly heavily(imo too much for benefits added) over the years or multiple increases depending on the card.  I choose not to carry any Amex AF cards anymore as the only real value is sign-up bonus for many of them other than a few with reward nights included.  Although everyone values AF differently as pay over 1k in AF's on cards but just not with Amex with those AF's get a 85k Marriott room each year and a IHG room each year and other things etc..  Gotta get something back from those AF's. 

[cashorcharge]

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@CreditCuriosity wrote:

This is the trend with every Amex card.  Increasing AF fairly heavily(imo too much for benefits added) over the years or multiple increases depending on the card.  I choose not to carry any Amex AF cards anymore as the only real value is sign-up bonus for many of them other than a few with reward nights included.  Although everyone values AF differently as pay over 1k in AF's on cards but just not with Amex with those AF's get a 85k Marriott room each year and a IHG room each year and other things etc..  Gotta get something back from those AF's. 

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I wish I was in that position.  I have entirely too many AF cards...but I retain them all for specific reasons like you mentioned.  The Marriott cards and the Delta cards not only help with status...as I travel extensively....the points rack up very quickly when aligning spend to their specific card.

AMEX does continue to raise them...while at the same time...it appears they have made it easier to get these cards (as long as you haven't burned them) and that is quite apparent when I walk into a Delta SkyClub or Centurion Lounge....they're all overcrowded and now with their new rules to control overcrowding, it's a catch 22.  I think many people thought that as the AF's get raised....some would cancel and then help control overcrowding...though I have YET to see that happen.

[Aim_High]

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@SouthJamaica wrote:

Unbeknownst to me, the annual fee on my Amex Hilton Business card was hiked from $95 to $195. Since I don't do much business travel, and since the Hilton points have so little value to me these days, the card wasn't even worth the $95 annual fee, but at $195 it's absurd for me to keep it around.

The fee went up a few months ago, but I only noticed it now after reviewing the bookkeeper's report. Shame on me for not noticing it sooner.

So I cancelled the card, 2 months after the annual fee hit.  I hope I'll get some kind of refund.

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Yes, I agree with @CreditCuriosity and @cashorcharge  that this is unfortunately right out of the AMEX playbook.  I'm also tiring of the fee increases and games.   Still, even if you don't business travel often, you might have been premature in cancelling the card @SouthJamaica.  Here's why.

• Like with the increase in the Hilton Surpass fee about the same time this one was raised, AMEX instituted a quarterly credit on hotel spend.  It's $50 per quarter on Surpass and $60 per quarter on the Business.  And one of our members posted that you could redeem a quarterly credit with a gift card purchase, less a nominal shipping and handling fee.  The $195 could be completely offset with $240 (60x4) in gift cards, which could be used for travel at your discretion. 
• In addition, the Business card earns 12x points at Hilton but it also earns 5x bonus points on general spend, up to $100K in purchases.  If you value Hilton points at 4/10, 5/10, or 6/10 cpp, that works out to at least 2% back if not 2.5% to 3% back on uncategorized spend redeemed at Hilton. 
• And then, of course, the card gives you Gold elite status and benefits. That means 80% more points on stays and also a daily food and beverage credit.  I usually receive a $15 credit on my Hilton stays with the Gold status from my Surpass card.  

All-in-all, unless you don't ever travel, it's possible to get more value back than you'd pay for the AF.  AMEX just makes you jump through some hoops to get it, especially if you won't be staying at least once per quarter at a Hilton property. 

[SouthJamaica]

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@Aim_High wrote:

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@SouthJamaica wrote:

Unbeknownst to me, the annual fee on my Amex Hilton Business card was hiked from $95 to $195. Since I don't do much business travel, and since the Hilton points have so little value to me these days, the card wasn't even worth the $95 annual fee, but at $195 it's absurd for me to keep it around.

The fee went up a few months ago, but I only noticed it now after reviewing the bookkeeper's report. Shame on me for not noticing it sooner.

So I cancelled the card, 2 months after the annual fee hit.  I hope I'll get some kind of refund.

---

Yes, I agree with @CreditCuriosity and @cashorcharge  that this is unfortunately right out of the AMEX playbook.  I'm also tiring of the fee increases and games.   Still, even if you don't business travel often, you might have been premature in cancelling the card @SouthJamaica.  Here's why.

• Like with the increase in the Hilton Surpass fee about the same time this one was raised, AMEX instituted a quarterly credit on hotel spend.  It's $50 per quarter on Surpass and $60 per quarter on the Business.  And one of our members posted that you could redeem a quarterly credit with a gift card purchase, less a nominal shipping and handling fee.  The $195 could be completely offset with $240 (60x4) in gift cards, which could be used for travel at your discretion. 
• In addition, the Business card earns 12x points at Hilton but it also earns 5x bonus points on general spend, up to $100K in purchases.  If you value Hilton points at 4/10, 5/10, or 6/10 cpp, that works out to at least 2% back if not 2.5% to 3% back on uncategorized spend redeemed at Hilton. 
• And then, of course, the card gives you Gold elite status and benefits. That means 80% more points on stays and also a daily food and beverage credit.  I usually receive a $15 credit on my Hilton stays with the Gold status from my Surpass card.  

All-in-all, unless you don't ever travel, it's possible to get more value back than you'd pay for the AF.  AMEX just makes you jump through some hoops to get it, especially if you won't be staying at least once per quarter at a Hilton property. 

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As I mentioned above, folks who travel a lot have a better time (a) getting value from the card, and (b) explaining how to get value from the card.

You are one of those folks.

I do very little business travel. The card is not worth much to me. Certainly not $195 per year. 

[TMDSCT]

I didn't know about the increase in AF either, until the new fee hit my account in August.  I didn't use the card to justify the fee, so I transferred the max credit line I could to another AMEX and closed the card.  AMEX credit the AF when I closed since it was within 30 days.  IMO AMEX is getting out of hand with these AF's.  I use the Marriot card almost daily and it's AF is still only $125, but I suspect an increase is coming on that card too.