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Credit card statement surprises usually aren’t the “fun” or “nice” or “good” kind of surprises. But reader “Stuart” received one this week!
The annual fee just posted for his personal/consumer Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
Instead of the new, higher $550 annual fee, he was charged only $450.
Delta and Amex announced last year several changes to their co-branded cards, including annual fee increases to all but the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card card.
Stuart told me he’s been a Delta Reserve cardholder since May 2016. So that ruled out any sort of mysterious, unwritten clause that would somehow grandfather the old annual fee a new cardholder who signed up last year.
He also confirmed he’s never received an offer for a lower annual fee on his Reserve card.
Two Explanations?
Both Stuart and a fellow blogger suggested that, perhaps, this is Amex’s response to Chase giving Sapphire Reserve cardholders a $100 statement credit.
Being a pessimist, I sort of doubt that. I think Amex wants to bring in as much money as possible — especially now. Proactively issuing annual fee credits without retention calls doesn’t seem very Amex-like.
But I would love, love, love for them to prove me wrong here.
The other possible explanation is that this simply was a glitch. (Oh, that all of our cards could receive that glitch, right? 🙂 )
So keep an eye on those upcoming annual fees, folks!
Can You Figure Out Why He Received a Lower Annual Fee?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Or if you’ve seen information elsewhere about this development, please send me a link!
Have You Received This Fun Surprise?
Have you enjoyed a “discount” lately on any of your cards — Amex or otherwise? Let us know in the comments section!
— Chris
Featured image: ©iStock.com/ceazars
Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
If not a glitch, most likely explanation is waiting a year to increase the fee due to the COVID situation – one of the primary benefits of the card (Skyclub and now Centurion access) is now vastly reduced. Probably not a good time to give people sticker shock at renewal for something they aren’t currently using.
Well, mine renewed 20 March for $550. I have been with them since 2004. I would really be interested in what triggered the discount.
I’ve also been with Amex since 2004, and I was hit with the full $550 on Valentine’s day (no flowers from amex though).
I’d be very curious as well to know what was behind this discount. I have both the Reserve and the Amex Platinum. I’m paying for the privilege of longingly walking past the closed Centurion lounge at Philadelphia and wondering if it’s all worth it.
That was still while we were in the midst of locking things down and people weren’t sure if this would be for 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years, etc.
My guess is Amex and/or Delta discussed it at some point in late March/early April and decided to reduce the annual fee $100 automatically going forward until we get to a point where travel starts to come back.
I just checked and mine renewed on April 12th at $450.
Apr 12
RENEWAL MEMBERSHIP FEE
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$450.00
$550 fee for Business Reserve on 2/11/20 and $175 fee for affiliated Employee card on 3/13/20. I’ve had at least one AmEx card for 20 years. Business Reserve for three years and the Employee card for a little over one year.
If I’d just been hit with a $550 renewal in the last month or so, I’d be on the phone with Amex to ask for a rebate. If anyone calls them, let us know the results,
My delta amex platinum had a reduced renewal fee, just posted yesterday.
How can anybody rationalize $550 or $450 for this card given they have lost 2 months and will likely lose another 4 to 6 months of club room access (key benefit for me). I’m cancelling on renewall next month unless they make me an offer for more than 30,000 miles. I’ll let you know what they offer.
The first class companion ticket works for me.
I received an e-mail in January saying that my next renewal be $550. Elsewhere I saw that my “renewal after July 2nd” would be $550. I need to check if that means they have relented on the increase of if it simply means that’s when my renewal date is. I agree with everyone that $550 (or $450) for a card whose main benefit can’t be used right now is rather pointless and outrageous.
$450 fee, along with a $100 loyalty credit! Amex holder of some variety since 2001.
$450 with $100 credit in addition. That is, $350.