I’ve had my Amex Gold card since February of this year, thinking I’d get more use out of it, but I’ve been focusing on my health lately and don’t eat out much. Because of that, I’m not really taking advantage of my dining and Uber credits. Plus, I’m not traveling at all right now, so I can’t maximize my points. I’d honestly prefer cash back over points.
With the recent annual fee increase, I’m considering cancelling. I plan to ask for a retention offer next year to help me decide if I’ll keep it. But I’m curious—what are the ramifications of closing this card?
Here’s a bit more about my current situation: I have the Capital One Platinum (my first card), the Amex Gold (my second), and the Amex Blue Cash Preferred (my third). I’m thinking of swapping my Amex Gold for a Citi Custom Cash to cover my spending category that isn’t covered by my BCP. Does that sound like a good move? I like that the Citi card offers 5% back with no annual fee, especially since I probably won’t hit the $500 spend requirement very often.
I’m also planning to buy a house in the next 2-3 years. Will closing this account impact that? I know there’s a common myth that closing accounts has a huge negative effect, but will this hurt my chances of getting a mortgage?
Just keep in mind that once you ditch the Gold card, you won’t have a way to hold onto those MR points. You might wanna think about switching to the no annual fee Everyday card to keep them around. That way, your account can keep aging.
Honestly, your best bet might be to grab a business Platinum sub, then cash out everything at 1 cent per point if you’re not planning to transfer them. That way, there’s no hard pull and no new account on your personal credit.
You should also check out the Chase Freedom Flex—it’s got a 10% back on groceries for the first year bonus! Plus, it usually gives about 4% on dining over the year if restaurants fall under the rotating categories, otherwise it’s 3%.
You’re probably already in that pop-up jail if you haven’t been spending much on the card. I got the Gold last September and spent a decent amount the first 3-4 months to hit the SUB. After that, I kept it to around $100-$200 a month. I used the Shake Shack credit and the $10 Uber credit about half the year.
I tried to apply for the Platinum last month, but I got hit with the pop-up saying I could get the card, but not the bonus (such a bummer because that 175K bonus would’ve been perfect for me). My credit score is solid, I haven’t opened any new cards recently, and I didn’t do anything to raise any flags.
I read on this forum that you can get flagged for being a churner—like spending a lot at first, then barely using the card. I’m planning to cancel my Gold once the annual fee hits. I already spent my points last week…
I’ve been racking up about $1-3K a month on this card, and I had a $3,500 bill last month. Lately, I’ve been spending a bit less. I’m not canceling because I got my SUB and don’t need it anymore; I’m just ditching it because it doesn’t fit my needs anymore.
Closing the card won’t change anything—the inquiry and new line of credit will still be there. Like I mentioned, hang onto it for a year and see what they offer you for retention. If you do accept their offer, just remember you gotta keep it for a year from when you say yes. But keep in mind that the deadline to cancel without the annual fee is 30 days from your card anniversary.
You should definitely reach out and ask for an offer before making your decision. And yeah, if you cancel early, you’ll definitely be on their bad side. Plus, why would you want to? You’ve already paid for the card for a year. You don’t have to worry about the next annual fee; just wait until it hits your bill before you cancel.