Several weeks ago, I wrote a post on my declining interest in continuing to carry the Marriott Rewards Premier Visa. While I could still use the annual category 5 certificate that it provides, the truth is that with devaluation over time, that certificate is no longer a compelling value to me. Once upon a time, I could use it for one of my favorite pre-cruise hotels, the JW Marriott Miami, but no more. While the $85 annual fee isn’t horrendous, I’ve been looking for a reason to cull my credit card inventory, and this card was at the top of the list.
Just a little while ago I called to close the account. The account was closed and the credit line reallocated to my Sapphire Preferred card in roughly 3 minutes. While I was reminded that the card provided five points per dollar spent at Marriott instead of two points per dollar using the CSP card, I simply stated that I valued those two Ultimate Rewards points more highly than five Marriott Rewards points, and we were done. I did remember to request an envelope to return the heavy metal stock Marriott card to Chase for destruction because scissors are no match for this card. (Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com)
While I would have listened to a retention offer, none was forthcoming, and I did not fish for one. I really just wanted the card gone, and I got my wish. I’ll look at the card again if Chase and Marriott spice it up with some enhanced value down the road. In the meantime, it was time to move on.
-MJ, June 18, 2015
I contacted Marriott through the webform and was told it was something they started in May, and that come October if I couldnt use it and was still using the card that they would extend it again at that point; so win win, who knows they may extend it 1 year come October, which would overlap and give me 2 nights then.
Marriott refused to extend my 6 month certificate when I contacted them 2 weeks ago, so unfortunately my certificate expired. There were no Cat. 1-5 hotels available where I traveled. I’m most likely going to cancel the card in December.
I was offered 5000 pts for 15 transactions. I called back a month later and was offered the same.
Good info, Carrie. Thanks for commenting.
@all – just called in the the service center, and they were happy to change the 6 month certificate to 1 year. In fact, he said since they’re all one-year now, the only way to make the change was for him to cancel the 4/17 reward and grant a new one effective one year from TODAY! Excellent!
Great news, Colleen! Thanks for sharing that.
Credit Card terms and conditions still state: The E-Certificate must be redeemed within 6 months from date of issue.
So not sure who to contact about getting it extended to 1 year anyway?
They may take mine back since I just closed the account, but it is showing as good for 1 year as well.
@Scott – this must be a new practice for MR, but our certificates and grant/expiration dates are clearly marked on our account activity pages.
Based on that, it seems a friendly call to MR could result in an extension, manually changing the expiration from 6 months to a year.
In fact, I’ll try it myself of the 6-monther and report back.
@colleen – The annual certs are good for a year again. I just got one and it’s good until next June.
@Chris – great catch! I assumed no change when one of us got a 4/7/15 that expires 10/7/15. Now, looking at the other account, the 5/5/15 certificate expires in a year – 5/5/16. Thanks for making me check. At one year, these become much more valuable. Wonder why they’re not getting more marketing bang for the change!?!
I was going to cancel because I hate that the annual certs are only good 6 months, but then I realized I don’t have a plan to keep my existing points alive.
I hit them up for a an extra cert every year, for a total of 2. The cert is pretty useless really.