American Express Membership Rewards - SPG Amex - possible to change due date?

Hi everyone,

I have an SPG Amex that has a due date around the 24th-26th each month. I called Amex to change the due date to sometime in the beginning of the month. They said they couldn't do that because it's a Starwood card and everyone's due dates are the same because the points have to be reported to SPG at the same time. I wasn't totally convinced, but again I didn't argue. I have been able to change due dates with all my other credit cards.
Is it true that the due date of SPG Amex cannot be changed?
Is your due date around the 24th-26th of the month?

My closing date is around the 26th of the month. The due date is around the 14th.

I recently changed my CLOSING date to the 10th with no problem.

Closing date 3/28, due 4/17.

I changed mine, no problem. In fact, I change my due date as soon as I have a new card so I can get the iniital bonus miles asap.

I called Amex to change the due date to sometime in the beginning of the month. They said they couldn't do that because it's a Starwood card and everyone's due dates are the same because the points have to be reported to SPG at the same time.This is partly correct. If you've had the card longer than one billing cycle, you cannot change the cutoff date on the card, but not for the reason they told you. I have been trying to do this for several years. I've had a few CSRs say that this option is coming. Last month I had a CSR take my request to change the due date, then last week I received a letter from AMEX stating that the CSR gave me bogus information and that this was not possible at this time on this card. As for due dates and reporting the points to SPG, there is no one day of the month that they report everything to SPG. My brother has an SPG AMEX, and his cutoff and points posting dates are different than mine.

What they all say is that if I want to change the cutoff date, I would need to close my current account and open up a new one - then I could change it before the first billing cycle. I'm reluctant to do this because it's taken me a few years to build up my credit limit on this card to a decent level, and I'd hate to have to do it all over again if something got hosed up on their end.

I recently changed my CLOSING date to the 10th with no problem.Either you had the card for less than one billing cycle, or you changed a different AMEX card. I have changed the cutoff date on my green AMEX without a problem.

... reluctant to do this because it's taken me a few years to build up my credit limit on this card to a decent level.

Apply for another credit card, such as The Nest. Reallocate your credit limit to put maximum amount on The Nest, minimum amount ($1,000) on SPG. Cancel SPG. Reapply. Change billing date. Reallocate limit to fit actual usage.

Inasmuch as you already have Green charge card The Nest is worthwhile. No annual fee. Points treated as regular Membership Rewards if linked to existing Membership Rewards card. 5,000 point activation bonus. 10,000 point annual bonus for $15,000 calendar year spend. We use The Nest for recurring household expenses, such as telephone, cable, newspaper, dry cleaning, etc. The physical card seldom leaves the house.

I tried to do this today, and the agent read me the advisory that it inteferes with the posting of Starpoints and that they aren't supposed to do it unless I absolutely insist. I declined, even though it probably was harmless. I have a Hilton card too and I wanted the two billing cycles to coincide.

Apply for another credit card, such as The Nest. Reallocate your credit limit to put maximum amount on The Nest, minimum amount ($1,000) on SPG. Cancel SPG. Reapply. Change billing date. Reallocate limit to fit actual usage.Good idea in theory, but reallocation isn't automatically granted, as I found out. I'm about $8K from topping out my credit limit on my Starwood card. A couple of months ago I tried to move $8K LOC from my Hilton card to my Starwood card - Amex turned me down. And I always pay off my balances in full. If I was able to move most of the LOC to the Hilton card, get a new Starwood card, and them have Amex turn down my reallocation request, I would not be happy. I have enough Hilton points to last for awhile, but you can never have enough Starpoints.

As for the Nest, it might be worthwhile if the MR cards don't see another double points promotion for a long time, like we had from 09/05 through 12/06. $15K gets 60K Hilton points (first year) or 15K Starpoints - if I needed Hilton points, I might take you up on the idea.

Did you attempt the reallocation using the online tool or by telephone? I cannot see that they would care how you allocated the credit between cards provided you didn't go below $1,000 (or the current balance) on any card and that you didn't exceed an (unspecified) cap that may apply to individual cards.

I tried to do this today, and the agent read me the advisory that it inteferes with the posting of Starpoints and that they aren't supposed to do it unless I absolutely insist. I declined, even though it probably was harmless. I have a Hilton card too and I wanted the two billing cycles to coincide.

I called again today. They still said it couldn't be done. I insisted this time, but I still didn't get it changed. The agent did say something about the possible interference with Starpoints posting. In the end, he said it was not possible. As with most Customer Service matters, I might try again.

Did you attempt the reallocation using the online tool or by telephone? I cannot see that they would care how you allocated the credit between cards provided you didn't go below $1,000 (or the current balance) on any card and that you didn't exceed an (unspecified) cap that may apply to individual cards.I did it by phone - but I don't think it mattered. From what I've been told (and I talk to Amex alot), there are different levels of approval at Amex for increases that take your LOC over $25K, $50K, and $75K. I've been told there is only one person that can sign off for anything over $75K (some sort of Grand Poobah of Credit). And I do know the limit on this card is $100K.

I agree, I don't see why it matters. I could stiff them on one card just as easily as I could on two. But because they don't see it your way (or mine), I'm going to have to pass on the reallocation idea and wait until they allow us to change the cutoff date.

This is partly correct. If you've had the card longer than one billing cycle, you cannot change the cutoff date on the card, but not for the reason they told you. I have been trying to do this for several years. I've had a few CSRs say that this option is coming. Last month I had a CSR take my request to change the due date, then last week I received a letter from AMEX stating that the CSR gave me bogus information and that this was not possible at this time on this card. As for due dates and reporting the points to SPG, there is no one day of the month that they report everything to SPG. My brother has an SPG AMEX, and his cutoff and points posting dates are different than mine.

What they all say is that if I want to change the cutoff date, I would need to close my current account and open up a new one - then I could change it before the first billing cycle. I'm reluctant to do this because it's taken me a few years to build up my credit limit on this card to a decent level, and I'd hate to have to do it all over again if something got hosed up on their end.

Either you had the card for less than one billing cycle, or you changed a different AMEX card. I have changed the cutoff date on my green AMEX without a problem.

Your are correct. It was a new card and I called before the first billing cycle. Dumb luck that I thought to make the change so quickly.

I agree, I don't see why it matters. I could stiff them on one card just as easily as I could on two. .


This always had me scratching my head but then I read a Business Week article (about Cap 1) that analyzed some of the reasons credit card companies issue multiple cards.

The most devious reasons were cited in the article: "By offering several cards with low limits, instead of one with a larger limit, the odds increase that cardholders will exceed their limits, garnering over-limit fees. Juggling several cards also increases the chance consumers will be late on a payment, incurring an additional fee. And if cardholders fall behind, they pile up over-limit and late fees on several cards instead of just one."

But another reason is to make their underwriting appear more conservative to stockholders and increase credit quality in investors' eyes.

It's an interesting read:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_45/b4008048.htm



btw-- Amex told me that it is impossible to change the due date on a *wood card.

I did have them do it for me (closing around 23-25, due sometime in the next month). I was later told that it wasn't supposed to be changed, and they should not have done it. So, it all comes back to a common FT mantra- if you don't get the answer you like the first time, call back. Clearly it can be done...just a question of getting someone who will.

Cheers.

I did have them do it for me (closing around 23-25, due sometime in the next month). I was later told that it wasn't supposed to be changed, and they should not have done it. So, it all comes back to a common FT mantra- if you don't get the answer you like the first time, call back. Clearly it can be done...just a question of getting someone who will.

Cheers.

I just called to change the date. Still no success. I spoke to a supervisor who was not friendly and suggested that I close the account if the due date doesn't work for me :confused:. I'm planning to call again to see if someone is willing to do it. Some of you mentioned that you had someone who would do it. Maybe I didn't say it and explain it right. Any tips/suggestions/tricks as to what I need to say?