Beat Annual Credit Card Fees

One of my pet hates is annual credit card fees and credit card rewards program fees! Don't you just hate them, they appear when you least need it and can slug you for anywhere from $50 a year to $300 a year!

Well, in previous years I have called my credit card company and asked for the fees to be waived. My main credit card is an ANZ Platinum VISA attached to a Frequent Flyer rewards program.

Up until now, I have been able to get the annual fee waived by phoning in and simply asking! This year it failed, my credit card company ANZ declining to waive the fees - despite my high spending habits and regular good payment history.

I spend anywhere from 2 to 3k per month on my card (including a supplementary card for my wife), I have rarely if ever used any of the major features; such as concierge assistance or global travel / medical insurance.

I also have 3 other credit cards with other companies; so I have decided it is consolidation time! I am ringing my main card issuer ANZ tomorrow and asking for the card account to be closed and I eagerly await their response. Hopefully they may elect to waive the fee and continue to keep me as a customer or it might be time to go our separate ways!

Stay tuned tomorrow ... I reveal the results of the phone call.

What fee's are you paying in your location? And what features do you get with your cards?