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[DISCONTINUED] Chase Marriott – Discontinuation Confirmed

I wrote a post earlier today about the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Visa possibly discontinued. According to my contacts at Marriott International Canada, effective September 5th, 2017, no new customer applications are being accepted into the credit card program, but existing card members will continue to be serviced. Note that this only applies to applications in Canada and does not impact the US program.

If you applied before September 5, 2017 and your application is still pending, your application will still be considered for approval. If you have any questions about your existing account you can call the customer service numbers below

  • Marriott Rewards Visa – (English) – Phone: 1-866-705-6755 – Mon-Sat: 8 a.m. – 12 a.m. ET and Sun: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET
  • Marriott Rewards Visa – (French) – Phone: 1-866-705-6777 – Mon-Sat: 8 a.m. – 12 a.m. ET and Sun: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET

Below were the highlights of the Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Visa:

  • $120 annual fee (first year fee waived)
  • No annual fee for supplementary cardholders
  • Earn 50,000 sign up bonus points after your first purchase the first 3 months)
  • Earn 5 points for every $1 spent at participating Marriott Rewards and SPG hotels
  • Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on airline tickets, car rental agencies and restaurants
  • Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Receive 15 nights credit towards Elite qualifying status every year
  • Receive 1 anniversary bonus free night stay at a Category 1-5 hotel every year (after the first year)
  • No foreign transaction fees

This was an amazing credit card. I am still in denial that it has been discontinued. For the time being, instead of being sad about this, I am going to take a positive approach and hope for the best. I suspect that Marriott may have found another suitable partner (crossing my fingers it is American Express)!

How do you feel about this turn of events?

28 Comments

  1. Well, I’m happy I decided against cancelling this card this summer so I could reapply at a later date. I wonder how long existing customers will continue to be serviced.

    1. Happy I canceled it in the early spring and was able to reapply 2 months later. I may consider keeping this card now… $120 fee is covered by the annual cat. 5 hotel IMHO.

  2. I am surprised that this card took the fall before the Amex SPG Card!! Looks like I missed out on the sign up bonus LOL.

  3. I don’t understand why people are upset about this. I don’t see the perks of this card being anywhere close to the SPG AMEX. In its simplest form, if you spend $10,000 on the Marriott card you will get 10,000 Marriott points, enough only for one single night at a low end category 2 hotel. Spend $10,000 on the SPG AMEX and you get 30,000 Marriott points. Can either get a much higher level hotel of 3 nights in the same Marriott category 2 hotel. SPG AMEX offering 25,000 points (I think after $1000 spent), which is 75,000 Marriott points. I don’t know why people have their blinders on about this Marriott card, other than they are being enticed with a first year free.

    1. A few benefits : no foreign currency fees on purchases outside Canada ; free night certificate after the first year for $120 fee;no fee for the free points (unlike SPG Amex for $120/$150.). Definitely better to use the Amex for regular spend, I completely agree.

        1. I typically spend over 40K on my AMEX card so I get the free night with SPG anyway, so that extra from Marriott isn’t really an added benefit for me. And now that SPG are giving 2X points on all SPG/Marriott stays, you actually get 6X Marriott points after taking in the 3:1 ratio. So it’s actually better than Marriott’s 5X points.

          I’ve actually had SEVERAL glitches with Marriott and their card. One instance: only 2X points showed up on my statement for Marriott stays. I called and they said it’s a glitch that routinely happens. They ultimately gave me the extra 3X points, but had to wait about 30 days for it to be corrected on the next statement.

          But for basic usage of the card, it’s an absolute no brainer that the SPG card gives more value than the Marriott card. It’s not even close. Why spend 10K with Marriott to get their lowest free night, when that could get you up to 3 free nights with SPG.

      1. Yes exactly… We already get stiffed in Canada since we have no card for Hilton, Choice, or IHG (which the US have). Now we lose Marriott and are left with only SPG and Best Western. I really hope that Marriott comes back, or combines with the SPG Amex. The Marriott card was great for the free night and the no FX fee but it was lacking in insurance. A new Marriott-SPG Amex with the current benefits of the SPG and adding the no FX (which the American SPG card already has) would be great.

  4. Thanks for the update! It would be fantastic if Amex wins the new exclusive contract. That could mean the Amex Platinum would provide Marriott Gold Elite status with no spend requirement once the new combined program is complete (as opposed to having to spend $10K on the Ritz Carlton card). It could also mean that Membership Rewards points would become a 1:1 transfer option to the Marriott Rewards program, along with seeing a new Amex-Marriott cobranded card with a new signup bonus and no 5/24 restriction 😀 Time will tell…the wait and anticipation continues!

  5. I liked this card also. It is/was one of very few that at least gave you something back at renewal time (which is why I kept the card). An Amex/SPG/Marriott merger card could be cool. Wait and see!

  6. Hi Matt,
    Do you know exactly what it means that Scotia bank is taking over chase cards in Canada?
    Did your contacts say if Scotia bank will continue the Marriott card or is it done.?
    Thanks

  7. So Scotia Bank/Chase has done the same thing they did when they took over the Sears credit card program, but taking it one step further. They are not just taking away the “no conversion fee” feature after a short run, they are completely discontinuing the Marriott credit card program and closing all the Canadian accounts. I’m a snowbirder and while the Marriott points weren’t a huge attractionn (don’t stay in hotels often), the no conversion fee was.

    Notice of this cancellation is no doubt sitting in my mail at home. I only discovered it when I went on line to check my account and the notice was posted on my transaction page. Fortunately, later last year I got wind of, and applied for, another credit card that offers the no conversion fee feature, and offers cash back to your account. This is more practical for me than the reward points, so at least I haven’t been left in the lurch of not having a no-conversion-fee card for part of my trip.

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