It has been generally accepted on this bulletin board and others that the Amex Sheraton Starpoints Card is the best mileage type card (Diners Heads will argue).

Well for me, there is a major flaw that can be summed up in 2 words

GRACE PERIOD

As in the grace period for this card is only 20 days. This is a major problem if you are using it for business purposes and will be reimbursed. If you go over your 20 days, you will be socked with 20% APR interest that you probably WILL NOT be reimbursed for.

I'm used to using an AMEX gold card and I always max out my "grace period" by paying 1-2 days before the billing cycle ends, but I can't used this strategy with the Starpoints card.

To make it worse, the grace period for my Starpoints Card is set up to end on the 12th of the month (my statement close date is the 23rd) and I get reimbursed on the 15th.

Those 3 days are killing me. I asked AMEX to move my statement date and unbelieveably they said THEY CAN'T!!!!!!

I have had them do this for my AMEX Gold card, why not the Starpoints card?

I have spoken to several people there and the best they can offer me is "apply for the card again, and maybe that card will have a suitable billing cycle." MAYBE?!?!?!?

What the helll is that?!?!!?

They not only can't guarantee what billing cycle the new card will have, they can't even tell me the best way to maximize my chances for getting what I want!

So I guess I just have to keep applying umpteen times to finally get what I want. What a way to SCREW UP what would be almost the perfect card.

Mac

Try calling them again, and chances are you'll get more help from a CSR. I remember that on my SkyMiles Gold AmEx they even asked me if I would prefer to move the closing date.

Another thing to watch out for is the due date day of the week. I normally pay my bills electronically on the due date. But, if the due date is on the weekend (and it often is), Amex will assess a finance charge AND a late fee, since they don't see the payment until Monday.

So, even if the payment is "on time", it is marked as late!

I've always managed to get these charges reversed, but I haven't been able to win the arguement that there is a flaw in their system.

I wish these were the only problems with Amex!

PS - I was also told they could not move my cycle date. They told me via email that my card number determines the cycle date. I know my JCPenney card is like that but I would have expected more from AmEx geez!

Yes, same runaround. No cycle change. Very bad feature. Supervisor said they may be working on it. Inane.

JL2

Most cards other then Diners, have a short due day of around 20 days.
Is there some reason why you think it should be longer, other the interest free aspect until the due date?

Most cards have a 25-day grace period. Some issuers are trying to cut that to 20 days. Needless to say, they don't get my business!

Also, the postmark is always 4-5 days after the statement date. Then the mail takes another 4-5 days. So 20 days really becomes 10-12 days. And if you are on a 2 week vacation (using their card) you will be late before you come home!

Well, there's no perfect reward card. Choice between 20 days grace period and annual fee (usually $50 or over), I'll take first. Sorry, I NOT dropping the card because of it.

If you look at most of rewards card (if not all), they all have major draw backs like high interest rate, high cash advance fee, or/and high annual fee. Credit card issuers try to take advance of those who doesn't manage their credit card carefully.

Reward credit card can be good deals for folk who manage their accounts well. For those who don't, they are better off getting credit cards with low rate, low/no fee, and longer grace period.



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Roadrunner: The AMEX Gold that I'm currently using (and would like to get rid of if they would cooperate with the Starpoints card) ostensibly has a 20 day grace period, but as long as you pay it before the next cycle begins, you're OK. That's 30 days, more or less. I can live with that.

Also I have changed the billing cycle on my Gold card more than once with no problem, but they won't with the Starpoints card!

EPS: Yes 25 days would solve my problem. 20 days strikes me as trying to catch people with interest charges. I could even live with the 20 days if they would JUST FREAKIN' MOVE IT BACK 3 DAYS!!!!!

DH: I MAY be dropping the card because of this! If I can't get them to move it back 3 days, then I'll have to pay finance charges on my reimbursable expenses. THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! I'll cancel first.

It's not about me managing my account right, it's about AMEX managing their customers right.

Well, you know what they say....If the Starpoints looks too good to be true, that's because it's FALSE!

Mac

P.S. I'll let y'all know if I have any success on getting my statement closing date changed, I'll give it one more try. And if anybody has any BRILLIANT suggestions, please let me know!


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Via con Dios!

The obvious answer to the "vacation" problem is to carry the payment address with you and check on-line for the closing balance. Then mail it about a week before due date. I've done this without even a payment stub as long as you include your account number with the check. Even better if you've received a "no payment due" statement and you save the stub section and envelope for future emergencies.
I generally carry a stub and envelope for each of the active cards if I'm gone over the statement time+the grace period. Diners is the only one this won't work with because they don't have on-line account status, but then you do have the "pay every other month" capability with them.

Good luck on your quest!!

I agree the cycle is too short. You can not only check on line, though, but also pay electronically from your checking account. This makes it doable.

American Express and Diners have toll free numbers (within the USA) or regular numbers (outside of USA) to check balances and other customer service needs.

I have to agree with macbravery: Optima has the shortest effective grace period around. I happened to have Visa and MC with the same due dates and I receive their statements 3-4 days prior to Amex. I've been hit with the late charge too because of 2-weeks vacation w/o web access.