Quick Answer
As of 14 September 2026. Notice period, refunds, points and bonus rules come from American Express’s cancellation FAQ, the membership terms and the Membership Rewards participation terms (sources below). This is not legal advice.
Canceling Amex in 5 steps
The cancellation itself takes one phone call. The work happens before that: points, subscriptions and timing decide whether you leave money on the table.
- Check the card’s age. If the card is younger than 12 months, you lose the welcome bonus retroactively. Wait if the anniversary is close.
- Transfer or redeem points. Move Membership Rewards points to an airline or hotel program, or redeem them, while the account is still active.
- Move subscriptions and direct debits. Streaming, mobile, insurance, Apple Pay and Google Pay will otherwise fail.
- Cancel. Call 069 9797-1000 or write to the address above. Get the cancellation date confirmed.
- Pay the final statement and destroy the card. Outstanding amounts remain due; cut the card through the chip and magnetic stripe.
What happens on cancellation: the overview
| Topic | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Notice period | 1 month, anytime, no minimum term | Membership terms |
| Ways to cancel | by phone (069 9797-1000) or in writing; Corporate Cards writing only | Cancellation FAQ |
| Card fee | fees paid in advance are refunded pro rata | Cancellation FAQ, membership terms |
| Membership Rewards points | still redeemable for 12 months from when the points account closes | MR participation terms, section 5.2 |
| Welcome bonus | lapses retroactively on cancellation or a card switch within the first 12 months | Platinum product page |
| Upgrade bonus | lapses on cancellation or a product switch within the first 10 months | Upgrade page |
| Supplementary cards | end automatically with the primary card | Membership terms |
| Cancellation by Amex | with 2 months’ notice | Membership terms |
| Withdrawal | 14 days, no reason needed, also online | Withdrawal notice |
Two terms that keep coming up in the terms:
- The primary card is the card the contract runs on. Supplementary cards hang off it and have no contract of their own.
- The points account is your Membership Rewards account. It ends with the card contract, but the points in it aren’t deleted immediately.
Notice period and refund: what the terms say
The membership terms are clear: the contract runs for an indefinite period and can be canceled by the customer “at any time subject to one month’s notice.” American Express itself needs two months.
Fees paid in advance are refunded pro rata for the period after the cancellation takes effect. That mattered more under the old annual fees. Amex now bills the Platinum (€60 a month) and Gold (€20 a month) monthly, so at most one month’s fee is at stake.
Outstanding spend doesn’t disappear on cancellation. Amex still collects every amount up to the final statement by direct debit as usual.
Saving Membership Rewards points before you cancel
Points aren’t lost immediately on an ordinary cancellation. Per section 5.2 of the participation terms, you can still redeem them for twelve months from when the points account closes.
Three catches still make waiting risky:
- Payment default blocks redemption. If the final statement is unpaid, you can’t get at the points.
- Misuse costs all your points. The terms allow closing the points account, with forfeiture, for violations.
- Bonus clawback. Cancel in the first year and Amex deducts the bonus points before you can use them.
You get the most out of transferring before the call. Redeeming against card spend, a point is worth 0.4 cents per the Amex points calculator, 0.5 cents for vouchers and Amex Travel credit, and often more via airline transfers. Which partners exist and what a point is worth there is in the Membership Rewards guide.
Welcome bonus: the 12-month trap
This is the one place a cancellation genuinely costs money. The Platinum product page states: “If you cancel or switch cards within the first 12 months after the card was issued, your entitlement to the welcome bonus lapses retroactively.”
In euros and points, that means (as of 14 September 2026):
| Card | Direct Amex bonus | Bonus via friend referral | Clawback if canceled before |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platinum | up to €340 welcome credit | up to 85,000 points | 12 months |
| Gold | up to €200 welcome credit | up to 50,000 points | 12 months |
| American Express Card | €40 welcome credit | no referral offer | 12 months |
| Blue Card | €25 welcome credit | no referral offer | 12 months |
| Upgrade to Platinum | up to 95,000 points | not applicable | 10 months |
Important: a card switch also counts. Anyone who downgrades from the Platinum to a cheaper card within the first year loses the bonus, just as with a cancellation.
The honest advice: if your anniversary is three months away, pay the three monthly fees. On the Platinum that’s €180 against up to €340 in welcome credit. On the Gold, €60 against up to €200.
Withdrawal: 14 days, no reason needed
Just applied and already having second thoughts? Then you don’t need a cancellation. Per the withdrawal notice, you can withdraw your contract declaration “within 14 days without giving reasons.”
That can be done in writing or online via the withdrawal form, which Amex links at go.amex/vertragswiderruf; every product page has a “withdraw from contract” link in the footer. A withdrawal still counts as an ended contract for that product under the 18-month rule.
Switch instead of cancel: is it worth it?
American Express only describes the path upward online. Anyone who’s held a Blue Card, American Express Card or Gold Card for at least ten months can upgrade to the Platinum, keep their card number and PIN, and get up to 95,000 extra points per the upgrade page.
Amex doesn’t describe an official path downward (say, Platinum to American Express Card). Ask specifically about a product switch on the cancellation call. But keep the 12-month rule above in mind: a switch can cost the bonus too.
Often cheaper than a downgrade is a new application for a different product:
- Want to keep the points with no fee? The PAYBACK American Express costs €0 and is its own product.
- Want to keep earning points and transfers? The American Express Card costs €60 a year and is waived the following year at €9,000 in annual spend.
- Only the Platinum too expensive for you? Check first in the credit card comparison Germany whether the Gold at €240 is enough.
Sample letter: canceling Amex in writing
Anyone who wants to cancel in writing can use this text. Send it by registered mail or fax to 069 9797-1500.
To: American Express Europe S.A. (Germany branch), Güterplatz 1, 60327 Frankfurt am Main
Subject: Cancellation of my card contract, card number ending XXXXX
Dear Sir or Madam,
I hereby cancel my card contract for the [card name], including all supplementary cards, effective at the earliest possible date. Please confirm the cancellation and the date it takes effect in writing. Please refund any fees paid in advance, on a pro-rata basis, to my reference account.
Yours sincerely, [First name, last name, address, date, signature]
Never write your full card number in a letter. The last five digits, name and address are enough to identify the account.
Checklist: what most people forget
- Card older than 12 months, or 10 months for upgrades
- Membership Rewards points transferred or redeemed
- Open credits used (travel, restaurant, SIXT ride, LODENFREY on the Platinum)
- Subscriptions, direct debits and wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal) moved to a new card
- Hotel and rental car status from the Platinum noted (it ends with the card)
- Supplementary cardholders informed
- Cancellation confirmation and final statement kept
4 costly mistakes when canceling Amex
- Canceling in month 11. The bonus is then clawed back retroactively. Waiting one more month costs €60 on the Platinum.
- Redeeming points “later.” The 12-month window is running, and the account is locked if the final statement is unpaid.
- Meaning to cancel only the supplementary card but canceling the primary card. All supplementary cards end with the primary card.
- Reapplying right away to get the bonus again. The 18-month lock applies to the same product.
Sources
All figures checked on 14 September 2026:
- American Express: cancellation FAQ (notice period, phone, pro-rata refund)
- American Express: Platinum Card information, PDF (membership terms, Membership Rewards participation terms 5.2, withdrawal notice, address)
- American Express: Platinum Card (welcome bonus, 12- and 18-month rule)
- American Express: switching cards (upgrade after 10 months)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cancel my American Express card?
By phone at the service center on 069 9797-1000, or in writing to American Express Europe S.A. (Germany branch), Güterplatz 1, 60327 Frankfurt am Main. The notice period is one month, and there’s no minimum term. Only Corporate Cards must be canceled in writing. As of 14 September 2026.
How long is Amex’s notice period?
One month. Per the membership terms, the card contract runs for an indefinite period with no minimum term and can be canceled at any time with one month’s notice. American Express itself must give two months’ notice.
What happens to my Membership Rewards points after cancellation?
They don’t expire immediately. After an ordinary cancellation, you can still redeem your points, per the participation terms, for twelve months from when the points account is closed. As long as the card account is in payment default, redemption is blocked. It’s safer to transfer the points to an airline or hotel program before you cancel.
Do I have to repay the welcome bonus if I cancel Amex?
Yes, if you cancel or switch the card within the first 12 months after the card was issued. In that case, the entitlement lapses retroactively, and American Express may deduct the bonus points from your points account or charge the welcome credit to the card account. After 12 months, the bonus stays yours.
Do I get the annual fee back if I cancel?
Pro rata. American Express refunds fees paid in advance for the period after the cancellation takes effect. On the cards billed monthly today, like the Platinum (€60 a month) and the Gold (€20 a month), that amount is small, since at most one month’s fee is outstanding.
Can I apply for a new Amex after canceling?
Yes, but you’ll only get the welcome bonus for the same card again once you haven’t been the primary cardholder of that product for 18 months. For a different product, for example the free PAYBACK American Express after a Gold, that lock doesn’t apply, per the product page.
Verdict
Canceling with American Express is simple: one call, one month’s notice, no minimum term. You only lose money if you cancel in the first year or leave points on the table. If it’s just the fee that’s too high for you, check the free PAYBACK card or the American Express Card first, and check in the Amex card comparison which card fits your spend.