All information about the American Express Business Platinum Card has been collected independently by Miles to Memories.
Amex Card Cancellation
I enjoy staying a certain amount of busy in our points and travel hobby. I reach my optimal busy level when I can max out the fun angles while minimizing the less-than-fun parts. That clunky explanation aside, while Amex overwhelmingly brings said fun, there are chores to do. One such chore is frequent Amex card cancellation. Closing cards via Amex online chat has now become my exclusive means for doing so; I can’t remember the last time I’ve done it over the phone. But as much as I prefer using the Amex online chat service, things don’t always correctly resolve the first time. Today, I’ll talk about a recent experience and why it may matter to you.
What Happened
Last Thursday, I initiated a chat session to cancel an Amex Business Platinum card. The year-two annual fee had posted, and I had no need for this account for a second year. The chat conversation went as they usually do – the rep asked why I was closing, I answered with I no longer needed the card or its benefits, etc. I received the disclosure from the rep and requested to proceed with the Amex card cancellation. I thanked the rep, we each said goodbye, and the rep left. Like many of you, I learned years ago to always ensure the chat conversation completely ends so that Amex doesn’t leave the card open.
On Friday (over 24 hours later), I hadn’t received the usual Amex email confirming the card cancellation was processed. The card also didn’t reflect as cancelled in my online account, either. I hopped on chat again, and another rep confirmed the request to cancel the card was submitted, and it could take up to 48 hours to process. Needing to wait longer, I thanked the rep and left the chat.
Saturday night (over 48 hours later), I noticed the card still showed active in my online account, and I still hadn’t received email confirmation of the cancellation. Again, I entered a chat to request resolution. I explained the situation, and the third rep resubmitted the cancellation request. As the agent instructed, I logged out and back in. Finally, my online account reflected the card was cancelled. I thanked the rep and asked about potential causes for the delay. The agent didn’t offer much, only saying that there could have been a technical issue when the first rep submitted the original request. We then wrapped up the chat.
Why This Matters
This Amex card cancellation experience reminded me to always double-check. While inconvenient, it’s better to be safe than sorry. But for hobbyists particularly busy with Amex, there’s more to consider.
Many Amex cards come with a variety of benefits to maximize on varying schedules. Naturally, attentive hobbyists like to obtain as much possible benefit on one annual fee. Often, this means leaving cards open longer and closing later rather than sooner, all while avoiding the second year annual fee. Any oversight, whether by the cardmember, Amex, or their systems, can come with negative consequences. And, given the speed of our hobby and the large number of cards many hold, busy enthusiasts may lose focus on double-checking.
Amex Card Cancellation – Conclusion
Long story short, check, then check again. Take corrective actions, if needed. While frustrating, I avoid displaying such in chats. I politely stick to the facts, and things generally resolve more efficiently. Many of us like to keep things moving with Amex, and avoiding cancellation speedbumps as much as possible is key. And, bigger picture, I must remember that 99% of all my Amex chat sessions turn out as I expect. Okay, maybe I’m being a bit generous there, but on a whole, things turn out the way they should. But always double-check.
Have you ever experienced something similar?
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Never hit this but great to know. Thanks.