American Express Membership Rewards - AMEX won't cover CDW unless every cent is charged on card - no coupons!

I just got off the phone with a supervisor at the company that handles this for AMEX.

He said if my rental was $120 and I had a $10 off coupon, I would NOT have AMEX CDW protection because $10 was not paid with the card.

This is the most assinine thing I've heard in quite a while. It came up when I asked if I used a Hertz free day coupon and upgraded the car type so there was a $20 or so actual car rental charge and he said that situation would not be covered.

Accoriding to him, every last dollar of the rental must be paid for and reverved by the AMEX. A discount coupon voids coverage (he said this explicity) with the exception of a coupon that ups your car type but leaves the rate fully intact or, I should have guessed, if you are using MR points.

I'm extremely disappointed that they play dirty like this. IMHO, if I pay the total "cost" of the car rental - that is to say there is a line on the bill that says "Rental charges - $X,XX - on the card it *should* be covered as I paid MY total cost of the car.

Anyone had more pratical experience with this?

Wow.... tks a bunch for that post, will definitely remember that one.

ChuckB

First off, since you don't actually pay until you return the car, it's pretty easy to make sure you pay 100% at that time if there was an accident.

That said, the full terms do state that you have to pay in full when the car is returned - or use MR points: https://www.ufac-claims.com/amexcm/documents/Platinum.pdf

Counter agents are encouraged to sell as much insurance as they can. The company makes money off those policies. To this day when I rent a car and tell the clerk the CDW is covered by my card they seem supprised, and still try to sell me personal liability and personal effects coverage.
When I return the car, I'm always given a choice to keep the charges on the card I used when getting the car or some other way .. cash or a different card.

:eek: thanks for posting this!

I just got off the phone with a supervisor at the company that handles this for AMEX.

He said if my rental was $120 and I had a $10 off coupon, I would NOT have AMEX CDW protection because $10 was not paid with the card.

This is the most assinine thing I've heard in quite a while. It came up when I asked if I used a Hertz free day coupon and upgraded the car type so there was a $20 or so actual car rental charge and he said that situation would not be covered.

Accoriding to him, every last dollar of the rental must be paid for and reverved by the AMEX. A discount coupon voids coverage (he said this explicity) with the exception of a coupon that ups your car type but leaves the rate fully intact or, I should have guessed, if you are using MR points.

I'm extremely disappointed that they play dirty like this. IMHO, if I pay the total "cost" of the car rental - that is to say there is a line on the bill that says "Rental charges - $X,XX - on the card it *should* be covered as I paid MY total cost of the car.

Anyone had more pratical experience with this?

Some coupons show up explicitly on the rental agreement; some do not. It seems that this might open them up to a lawsuit, since a coupon could be interpreted as a discount on the rate (rather than a form of payment).

Anyone know if this is the same policy as for the SPG Amex? Thanks

First off, since you don't actually pay until you return the car, it's pretty easy to make sure you pay 100% at that time if there was an accident.

That said, the full terms do state that you have to pay in full when the car is returned - or use MR points: https://www.ufac-claims.com/amexcm/documents/Platinum.pdf

Anyone know if this is the same policy as for the SPG Amex? Thanks

Sorry I omitted this - this was with the SPG Amex....

Anyone know if this is the same policy as for the SPG Amex? Thanks

I'm assuming it's classed as an, "optima." Therefore, you would want to read: https://www.ufac-claims.com/amexcm/documents/optima.pdf.
Note: if you go to, " https://www.ufac-claims.com/amexcm/aspx/aebenefits.aspx
You should be able to see all cards. SPG is not listed separately, but I'm pretty sure it is an Optima.

Thanks for pointing this out. I have a rental coming up and will double-check that the coupon being used is just for a double-upgrade.

Many thanks!

Sorry I omitted this - this was with the SPG Amex....

just because ONE supervisor tells you something verbally does not mean its true.
A coupoun is a discount , not a form of payment.

Perhaps if you used a HiltonHonors award for a free car rental the CDW would not be covered. But a discount??? C'mon.

First off, since you don't actually pay until you return the car, it's pretty easy to make sure you pay 100% at that time if there was an accident.
This is a good point.

I just got off the phone with a supervisor at the company that handles this for AMEX.

He said if my rental was $120 and I had a $10 off coupon, I would NOT have AMEX CDW protection because $10 was not paid with the card.

Sorry, but I don't believe this for one second. Every rental car I've ever rented has shown some discount or other on the contract, and I would imagine the same is true for many other renters, if this were true we would have heard about it much much sooner than now.

Sorry, but I don't believe this for one second. Every rental car I've ever rented has shown some discount or other on the contract, and I would imagine the same is true for many other renters, if this were true we would have heard about it much much sooner than now.

I agree this sounds like a bunch of baloney to me.

Following that line of thinking what about the free coupons earned by promos etc given out by the car rental companies themselves.
Use of them voids the insurance????
Dont you really think any car rental company would let you take out a car under those conditions?

mike

just because ONE supervisor tells you something verbally does not mean its true.
A coupoun is a discount , not a form of payment.

Perhaps if you used a HiltonHonors award for a free car rental the CDW would not be covered. But a discount??? C'mon.

I agree completely - I've had this discussion with Amex people before - as long as the amount of the total final bill is paid for with the Amex & the car is reserved using the Amex as the primary form of payment, then it shouldn't be an issue. My understanding is the reason they state it must be paid in full with Amex is because if its paid partially by say a Visa & partially by an Amex, then there's a dispute as to who would be the covering company - in this case though, since both state the car must be paid in full with with the credit card of choice, neither would cover it. You can certainly use coupons & discounts & even dollar off certs for the rental car - as long as the remaining balance is paid for by the CC. Even if you use a free day certificate, it is just a discount & as long as the total taxes/fees are covered all on your Amex, you should be fine.