Question
Printed below is a letter I'm sending to Chase Bank about their Marriott Rewards card. Please critique the letter and make suggestions before I send it. Thanks, FlyerTalkers!
TO: Chase Bank - Marriott Reward Program Administrator
CC: Marriott Rewards Headquarters
FROM: Captain Mike
RE: Chase Marriott Visa # XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX
I am writing to explain why the Chase Visa Marriott Rewards card has lost its competitive edge, and why I use the card so little. Quite simply, other programs offer reward schedules that are far more generous. For example, the American Express card that I use earns threeHilton points for each dollar I spend at typical merchants, and five Hilton points for each dollar spent at supermarkets, gas stations, drugstores, the post office, wireless phone service, and restaurants, as well as at Hilton properties (see attached listing). Why would I earn just one Marriott point rather than three (or five) Hilton points for the same one dollar in purchases? As a result, I have consolidated my spending on the American Express Hilton card, using Visa or MasterCard only for those few merchants who do not accept American Express. As you can see from the attached summary, my $3,500 in charges last month earned me 12,720 Hilton points. I would need to be a very foolish consumer to place those same charges on the Chase Marriott card and earn only 3,500 Marriott points. To add insult to injury, the American Express Hilton card has no annual fee! I only use the Chase Marriott Visa card at Marriott properties, which is seldom, as you can see from my spending pattern.
Please do not tell me that Marriott points are "more valuable" than Hilton or Hyatt or Starwood points. Each program has its own strengths and weaknesses that tend to "even out" in the big picture.
What Chase needs to do is improve the Marriott program to match the American Express arrangement that I have described. That way, cardholders would earn more Marriott points, which in turn would make them more likely to stay at Marriott properties (rather than Hilton or Hyatt) and charge even more to the Chase card.
I do not pretend to understand the complicated financial arrangement between Chase and Marriott, but from a consumer's point of view, the Chase/Marriott program is simply not competitive in today's market. I will likely close my account very soon rather than pay another annual fee for a card that I use so little.
I would be glad to discuss this with you further if you wish. My cell phone number is (XXX) XXX-XXXX. You have my mailing address on file if you would rather write.
Answer
Printed below is a letter I'm sending to Chase Bank about their Marriott Rewards card. Please critique the letter and make suggestions before I send it. Thanks, FlyerTalkers!
Hi Mike! I really like your letter. I too have the Hhonors Amex and I really like it. In fact, Amex has been trying to get me to upgrade to Platinum but I am getting so much good stuff with the free card I don't see the point! Tee hee hee. I looked into getting the Marriott card, but the Hhonors Amex blows it out of the water. Plus, with the Hhonors you get Silver status free as long as you hold the card - I believe that with the Chase card, you don't get "special" status - although I could be wrong. Tanya
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It would be nice to see a change to the program. You probably should get the Citi HHonors Visa Signature Card once you close your Chase account. That way you can use your American Express HHonors Card, and Citi HHonors Visa Signature card where Amex is not accepted. That way you could maximize your point accumulation with Hilton.
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Thanks for the responses. I'm sending off the letter today. I'll post here if I get a reply.
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Hi Mike! I really like your letter. I too have the Hhonors Amex and I really like it. In fact, Amex has been trying to get me to upgrade to Platinum but I am getting so much good stuff with the free card I don't see the point! Tee hee hee. I looked into getting the Marriott card, but the Hhonors Amex blows it out of the water. Plus, with the Hhonors you get Silver status free as long as you hold the card - I believe that with the Chase card, you don't get "special" status - although I could be wrong. TanyaI think that the Marriott Visa card gives you Silver status with Marriott without you having to get 10 nights every year. The silver status gives you a 20% bonus on your Marriott base points.
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Thanks for the responses. I'm sending off the letter today. I'll post here if I get a reply.
have you heard back??
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No reply. Nothing from Chase and nothing from Marriott. I'm just waiting for a few Marriott charges to post (timeshare maintenance fees). I'll scoop up the 3 points per dollar and then cancel the card. I plan to re-apply in 6 months or so to get 15,000 bonus points and a free night at Marriott. That's worth 30 bucks. If the card is not re-issued with bonuses, screw 'em. There are tons of choices out there for miles, points, or cash back, and most are way better than the Chase/Marriott plan!
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Received letter from Chase today crediting 3,000 bonus points to my Marriott account. Looks like they value the points at one cent each, with 3,000 covering the $30.00 annual fee. Letter was a form, and didn't really address the issues I'd raised. I can only hope the items I listed were passed on to someone in authority.
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Received letter from Chase today crediting 3,000 bonus points to my Marriott account. Looks like they value the points at one cent each, with 3,000 covering the $30.00 annual fee.
This is the same as purchasing points from Marriott, which is $10 per 1,000 in 1,000 increments. Essentially, the annual fee was waived, as they just used it to purchase you the 3,000 points. I think I'll try the same type of letter when my annual fee comes up.