Chase Sapphire Reserve $150-250 Retention Offer/Statement Credit [YMMV]

Hi all,

After reading around doctorofcredit blog site and churning subreddit, I saw several datapoints out there that Chase is offering retention or statement credit offers of $150-$250 for whose annual fee was recently posted September, October or November or soon to be posted coming months (note: newer DPs show those who had fees in August or fees to come in Dec/Jan 2021 also getting this). Chase started offering credits either today (11/17) or very recently in the last day or so. But there are some who aren't offered anything so this is YMMV.

Most people seem to get the $150 credit, there are few that was fortunate enough to be offered $250. Not sure how Chase determines this. And this wasn't thru a special retention team rep but a regular Chase Sapphire customer service rep over the phone sees the offer in the system. Possibly in some cases, you do need to reach out to the retention team if the regular customer service rep don't offer anything. Still YMMV.

My story/Datapoint: I called (800) 436-7970 and told that my $450 annual fee was recently posted on my Sapphire Reserve (Nov 1), asked if there were any Retention or Statement Credits available on my card. Rep immediately offered $250 to keep my card and would post as a statement credit in 1-2 billing cycles. Didn't even ask the rep to cancel the card to begin with, although I was ready to if necessary. Easiest 5 minutes call of my life.

Keep in mind, this is on top of all other offers Sapphire Reserve has right now (like $300 annual travel credit, $60 doordash credit, etc). Also this is the first time I ever heard of that Chase is offering any type of retention or statement credit offers to keep your Reserve card. Even if I don't use any benefit except $300 annual travel credit, I literally got a free $100 out of this (-$450 annual fee +$300 travel credit +$250 retention statement credit = +$100 win!).

Reference: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/re...e-reserve/

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Update: Here's additional info of my account that may/may not help your case:

1) $150 or $250 credit: $250 Statement Credit in 1-2 billing cycles
2) When you opened the CSR: Late October 2018
3) When your annual fee is due: Nov 1, 2020 had $450 annual fee posted
4) How many other Chase credit cards / accounts you have: Currently have the following open accounts with Chase - CSR, CF, CFF, CIU, Checking
5) Do you currently have any balance on CSR? Yes, got like ~$1k balance, regularly spend between $0 to $1k monthly. PIF each month

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Update #2 - Common FAQs:

1. Number to call: 1-800-436-7970 (This is also the same number in back of your Sapphire Reserve card. This is Chase Sapphire hotline.)
2. Retention = Statement Credit, they're the same, just different wording. But for those who get something, it'll be in a form of $150 or $250 statement credit in 1-2 billing cycles.
3. Chase criteria for either $150 OR $250 statement credit seems to be completely random after reading all the DPs and posts. Still no clue but doesn't seem to be dependent on account age, monthly/annual spend, annual due date, current card balance, etc.
4. Chase seems to ALSO offer retention statement credits for other Chase fee cards such as Sapphire Preferred ($60 or $65?), Southwest, and hotel cards (IHG, Hyatt, etc). Ask your reps.
5. If you didn't get any offer first time, hang up and call again later. Several DPs of success after trying again later with different rep. But be ready to say the word "I'm intending to cancel my Sapphire Reserve card but seeking to see if there are any retention or statement credits available to keep my card." That seemed to help few people after calls and ultimately getting the credit. But at the end of day, it's possible this is account specific so YMMV.
6. For those who do get the credit easily in one shot, that's because the retention/statement credits is already in the computer system that any customer service rep can look up, but wouldn't give this to you unless the rep is actively trying to look at your account on their computer. So try to be friendly!
7. Be nice/patient with customer service reps. Any hostility will never benefit you or anyone here. For all we know, Chase can just revert all retention policy because of one bad apple.
8. If you do intend to cancel (whether after you receive the statement credit or got no offer), be sure to do the following:
a. Transfer all your UR to another Chase UR card (Freedom Flex, Freedom Unlimited, etc), because if there are any UR points left in Reserve card and you cancel, all those UR points will be lost.
b. Make sure to spend all your $300 travel/grocery/gas credit as well as your $60 doordash annual credit.
c. If you downgrade/cancel within 31 days of when annual fee posted, you'll get full refund of annual fee (98% certain about this, someone else can double confirm). And that full refund is given even after you spend that $300 travel/grocery/gas credit so be sure to use that all up first before cancel/downgrade.
9. According to some DPs (I haven't asked the question myself), there doesn't seem to be a specific time period of keeping the card in exchange of accepting this statement credit. But as a safe side, would recommend holding onto the card for at least 1-2 months after receiving the statement credit.

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Update #3 - Statement Credits Posted 7 Days After Offer!!!:
Hey everyone!

For those who got a retention credit over the phone, just wanted to update everyone that I got my $250 credit posted already on my account (on 11/24). It shows up as "Statement Credit Offer" in Description and "Fees & adjustments" in Category.

Chase offered $250 statement credit on 11/17 (originally said it'll be posted 1-2 billing cycles), but 7 days later got posted already. Christmas came early!

So for those who are waiting for their statement credits after Chase promised them, be sure to check around 7 days after to see if the credits got posted on your account! Cheers!