U.S. Bank closed my Altitude Reserve card without prior notice and I lost my points

Man, it’s that time of year for account closures. Anyway:

  1. It’s technically possible, but from my experience over the years, I’ve never seen a closed account reopened after being flagged by a bank. Sure, some accounts may get reopened after inactivity, but if you hit that risk tipping point, it’s tough.

  2. Probably not to get your points back, and definitely not without another points-earning card from them. They won’t just offer you cash.

  3. Getting a refund on the annual fee might be the most likely of the three, especially since you just paid it. Some banks give you a hard time about that depending on how your account was closed, but it’s worth a shot.

@Jalen
I’d suggest filing a complaint with the CFPB. They recently put out a notice about unfair practices, and you’re likely to get the annual fee back. Recovering points may be a tougher road, though.

@Jalen
Thanks for the advice.

Yes, the annual fee was charged on 11/25, and I paid it on 12/01. My statement due date is still 12/22.

Brook said:
@Jalen
Thanks for the advice.

Yes, the annual fee was charged on 11/25, and I paid it on 12/01. My statement due date is still 12/22.

You generally have about 30 days for annual fees to be refunded. You should be able to get your money back. They’ll probably send it as a check.

U.S. Bank has always been cautious with gift cards on the Altitude Reserve. You really highlighted the issue by purchasing from GiftCards.com. Low-volume purchases tend to go unnoticed if done at regular stores.

@Thane
They actually have offers from GiftCards.com that you can enable through their offer section.

@Thane
Yeah, who buys gift cards during the holiday season? /s

But honestly, not allowing points earning just makes no sense. Why take such drastic actions?

I recommend making a complaint with the CFPB. You seem to have done nothing wrong and they’ve recently been scrutinizing companies that are abusing customers regarding points.

Kerr said:
I recommend making a complaint with the CFPB. You seem to have done nothing wrong and they’ve recently been scrutinizing companies that are abusing customers regarding points.

Not to mention, U.S. Bank faced a lot of backlash in our recent discussion about this.

Kerr said:
I recommend making a complaint with the CFPB. You seem to have done nothing wrong and they’ve recently been scrutinizing companies that are abusing customers regarding points.

That’s definitely the right approach for this situation.

This is precisely why I’ve chosen not to get any card with an annual fee.

Gift cards can even get you banned at American Express. It’s crucial for people to understand this. Using credit cards to buy gift cards is risky.

Reid said:
Gift cards can even get you banned at American Express. It’s crucial for people to understand this. Using credit cards to buy gift cards is risky.

Oddly enough, I can verify that /u/forstuffs91 is correct. U.S. Bank is currently offering a promotion with GiftCards.com.

@Zyan
I also used it with Rakuten, and if they close my account, I’ll update this thread.

Reid said:
Gift cards can even get you banned at American Express. It’s crucial for people to understand this. Using credit cards to buy gift cards is risky.

Chase tends to be more tolerant, but you’re right that it’s vital to know a bank’s policies.

Reid said:
Gift cards can even get you banned at American Express. It’s crucial for people to understand this. Using credit cards to buy gift cards is risky.

This is definitely about U.S. Bank.

Wasn’t there a recent government action regarding the devaluation of points for credit cards? While this is a different issue, I wouldn’t be surprised if it falls under their scrutiny. Get the feds involved ASAP. It’s time to hold these banks accountable. I have an old U.S. Bank account that I keep because it’s free with my insurance agency, and I can attest to their poor service.

@Dustin
True, but that government action could be overturned quickly, especially with a change in administration, so don’t wait too long.