Last week was a crazy week in the points and miles world. First, Wyndham came out with a surprise from nowhere, and then Club Carlson did the same (except one was a pleasant surprise and the other… not so much).
If you’ve missed it, a major benefit of the Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa Signature® Card is going away by June 1. Luckily, Club Carlson is helping to “lessen the blow” by offering card members a chance to earn an additional 30,000 points on their next stay before August 31.
My Sweet Call To US Bank
This type of commotion always makes people stir-crazy.
Some people have reported that by voicing their opinions directly with a US Bank phone agent, they’ve been able to get some points added to their Club Carlson accounts as a retention offer (I’ve heard reports ranging between 2,500 and 7,500 points). I decided to make the call myself with expectations of receiving 2,500 points, at most (that seems to be the standard offer).
However, I was surprised that the agent offered me a full refund of my $75 annual fee that I had paid not too long ago. Of course I took the $75 offer immediately instead of mentioning the 2,500 points. The entire call took less than 3-minutes, so if you’re in the same boat, it doesn’t hurt to call.
My Club Carlson Strategy
Aside from the 30,000-point offer, they’ve also announced another triple points promotion that is stackable with the mobile-app booking bonus (now 1,000 points) and the Mega Points rate (available at select hotels for an additional 10,000 points per night – promo code is MEGAPTS), making the thought of a final “mattress run” enticing to many.
I completed a mattress run of my own just days before the big devaluation announcement was made… and believe it or not, I already completed my “30,000-point” stay too (hey, I’m making moves).
Here’s how many points I’ve earned from my recent one-night Radisson stay with a room rate of $137 (I had an actual need for the hotel night):
- Club Carlson Visa Promotional Points For Next Stay: 30,000 (not yet posted)
- Room Points: 2,736
- Promotional Points – Club Carlson App Booking Bonus: 5,000
- Room Points – Gold 35% Bonus: 958
- Club Carlson Visa 10x on Room Rate: 1,370 (not yet posted)
Total Points: 40,064
My strategy is to earn as many points as possible and book my awards before June 1 to maximize the bonus-award night benefit before it becomes extinct.
So far, I’ve made 2-night bookings at the following properties:
- Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago (50,000 points for 2 nights)
- Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa (50,000 points for 2 nights)
- The May Fair (70,000 points for 2 nights)
I’ll probably make a few more bookings before June 1 as well. The good thing about booking speculative awards is that I could always cancel up until the day of arrival without penalty.
What’s you’re Club Carlson strategy? Has anyone else received a retention offer of an annual fee refund, statement credit, or bonus points? Feel free to share and discuss your strategies!
Nicole says
I’m thinking of getting my husband a card to at least get the 85k pts. Then I’ll call to complain about the room deval after I book the free rooms. Just haven’t pulled the trigger yet.
Angelina Aucello says
A lot of people are doing that. My father in law just got the card about a month before the changes were announced (ouch). Luckily he made min spend already … I’m going to have him call to see if he can get a fee refund and I’ll help him make bookings before June 1.
If you can meet min spend requirement and book rooms, It’s still a great card to consider…
TonyM says
I just got one of those and finished the spend. I will be calling to cancel it because there is just no need to have it now. I won’t be traveling to use this card anytime in the next 3 months. Fingers crossed they’ll refund my $75.
Jane says
Any idea how far out we can book our award rate rooms?
rnp says
I can book a room up to August 2016 in Paris, Athens
Scott says
Been told by 2 agents they are not removing the Annual Fee.
Angelina Aucello says
I guess it’s YMMV
Laura says
Same here. I got nothing. Nada. No points. No annual fee. It’s totally random. The two agents I got were super adamant that they would give me nothing. I get a feeling they’ve been inundated with calls. They sounded miffed I dared ask. I’m definitely cancelling the card, but first I’m going to MS the heck out of it, book nights for this and next year before the June deadline, and then next year when the fee hits, cancel it or try to get the AF comped at that point.
Ang says
I’m a little confused, so they refunded your AF, but is the card still active? Or is it no longer active? Don’t you need to be a gold member to be able to book the free night awards? And don’t you need to pay with the Club Carlson cc to get the 30k bonus?
Angelina Aucello says
I didn’t cancel the card. The free night award is only for card members, yes. I paid for my room with my Club Carlson card, so I am entitled to earn the 30,000 points.
rnp says
Do you have to have the VISA in order to get 2nd night free? What happens if you cancel the card?
Angelina Aucello says
Yes. If you cancel the card, you won’t get the 2nd night (though I am not entirely sure what happens to pre-existing bookings).
John says
I book my October Eastern Europe trip with bonus nights in Krakow, Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn and Helsinki. Warsaw and Livl Ukraine I went a diifence way…
Scott says
I filed 3 complaints with the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, 1 for my personal 1 for my business and 1 for my roommates personal.. They are adamant that they do not need to refund the annual fee and that the annual fee does not include any benefits that they cannot change at anytime. Next step is 3 complaints with the States Attorney General’s offices.
When I called the second time, I was told that well you already accepted the 7500 points.. Told them to read the notes, I was specific that I would accept the points as a gesture of goodwill for my time, but as for my dispute of the annual fee, I would not accept points for that and did not consider that resolved.
john says
I was given 2500 points for each card. My annual fee was paid months ago. I will cancel the cards and then get them again. How long once you cancel and you can apply again? Is it 24 months like Chase?
Dave Golden says
A little clarification. I have been a PERSONAL cardholder for about 8 months. I recently applied for the BUSINESS version (about 3 weeks ago) and called both lines.
When calling US Bank Business credit cards, the representative said Carlson contacted them and notified them of the removal of this benefit. I would automatically receive an annual fee credit if I had applied in March, April, or May. They are also crediting my account with 2,500 additional points. Finally (and least importantly) they are adding a free night upon spending $10,000.
Happy. I then called the PERSONAL US Bank line and they were not as excited. They told me in June my annual fee of $50.00 would be billed and it cannot be reimbursed. I told her I will probably cancel at that point and she recommended I call in May to do this as it is non-refundable.
Quite a contrast. Good luck to all. Squeeze them.
Giddy for Points says
3 calls later and finally found an agent that would do something. I only got 2,500 points but better than nothing.
ToddC says
I called. The rep at US Bank had no idea what I was talking about. I guess I’ll just have to call back again and try my luck with another agent.
ToddC says
On my first 3 calls. the rep had no idea what I was talking about. On the 4th call, I spoke to a supervisor, and they offered me 7,500 points. I took it.
Sam says
Called few times, first 2 reps were clueless, telling me to call CC instead. FInally spoke with a rep who was not willing to refund AF..I insisted for her to speak with a supervisor..she came back saying no AF but she can offer 2500 points. I said I want more than that. SUpervisor authorized 7500 few min later. Sux, but I will take it