Timing downgrade from Amex Delta Gold to Blue

[Curious_George2]

I have an Amex Delta Gold that I don't use much. I have been planning for a while to downgrade it to Blue, to eliminate the AF. I put that plan on hold in 2021, when Amex instituted $10/mo credits for any restaurant purchases on the Gold. Those have now ended, so I'm trying to decide when to pull the trigger on the PC.

My AF posts in March (or maybe it's April?). I'm thinking if I wait until after it posts, I can call in to PC and have at least a small chance of getting a retention offer to keep the Gold. But if I'm wrong and they don't give retention offers on this card, then I would be slightly better off doing the PC now and getting a few months of prorated AF refunded. 

The dollars at stake are not huge, but I'm curious if anyone has advice on when I should do the PC. Any suggestions are welcome!

[Brian_Earl_Spilner]

I downgraded my platinum to blue yesterday. My anniversary is this month. Already updated later that day.

[wasCB14]

Are retention offers common when a customer asks to PC to a lower/no AF card? I thought they were mainly for contemplated closures.

The times I've asked for a retention offer, I've never mentioned PCing.

The times I've asked to downgrade, I've never been offered retention.

[Curious_George2]

@Brian_Earl_Spilner: Did they offer you any retention bonus?

[Curious_George2]

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@wasCB14 wrote:

Are retention offers common when a customer asks to PC to a lower/no AF card? I thought they were mainly for contemplated closures.

The times I've asked for a retention offer, I've never mentioned PCing.

The times I've asked to downgrade, I've never been offered retention.

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Good point. I once called to discuss the recently posted AF on my Gold charge card. I didn't say anything about closing or PC'ing. I simply asked if they could do anything to take the sting out of the AF. They offered MR or cash. I hadn't thought of the distinction you raise, but perhaps the person I spoke to in that instance interpreted it as a potential closure. 

[NRB525]

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@Curious_George2 wrote:

I have an Amex Delta Gold that I don't use much. I have been planning for a while to downgrade it to Blue, to eliminate the AF. I put that plan on hold in 2021, when Amex instituted $10/mo credits for any restaurant purchases on the Gold. Those have now ended, so I'm trying to decide when to pull the trigger on the PC.

My AF posts in March (or maybe it's April?). I'm thinking if I wait until after it posts, I can call in to PC and have at least a small chance of getting a retention offer to keep the Gold. But if I'm wrong and they don't give retention offers on this card, then I would be slightly better off doing the PC now and getting a few months of prorated AF refunded. 

The dollars at stake are not huge, but I'm curious if anyone has advice on when I should do the PC. Any suggestions are welcome!

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You won't get any Annual Fee munies back if you downgrade now. You only get AF refund if you downgrade during the 30 day clock that starts from when the AF posts. After that, you are in for the full year Annual Fee.

Best to wait till you see it post, then see what AMEX offers. That also allows some time if any creative credits are offered in 2022 on AMEX cards to possibly change your mind again.

And just to bring it up, you aren't ever going to fly Delta in 2022? Because the free checked bag is the easist cash back comparitive on this card.

[Brian_Earl_Spilner]

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@Curious_George2 wrote:

@Brian_Earl_Spilner: Did they offer you any retention bonus?

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No, they didn't offer anything

[Curious_George2]

Update: My AF is due to post early next month. I don't want this card to report a balance. If I knew I was going to keep the card, I could pre-pay the $99 before the AF posts, so it reports with $0 balance. But I don't love the idea of pre-paying the AF and then asking for a refund of it. So instead I hopped on Chat today and asked if there was an retention offer available to keep my Delta Gold. They offered 7,500 miles for $1k spend. I declined and proceeded with the PC to Delta Blue.

FWIW, the boilerplate message that appeared in the Chat window said I would receive a prorated refund of the unused portion of the Delta Gold's AF. That would be less than $10, so I'm not overly concerned about it, but if it happens, this would contradict one of the statements upthread. I always thought the rule was: Cancel after 30 days = no refund of AF. But PC down after 30 days = AF gets refunded on a prorated basis. We'll see.

[Curious_George2]

Amex just refunded me $6.23, which is exactly the prorated amount of the Delta Gold AF I didn't use. 

In other words, they do give prorated refunds of the AF in the case of a PC downgrade after the first 30 days.