American Express Membership Rewards - Starwood AMEX increases annual fee, changes minimum payment

Pardon me if this was already posted, but I didn't see it going back a month.

I just received my monthly Starwood AMEX bill, and included therewith was about 5 pages of fine print. Slogging my way through it, it seems:

1. Effective 1 November 2007, the annual fee is increased to $45 per year.

2. The minimum amount due will now be calcuated in a new fashion, using a formula that (I swear) would cause rocket scientists to furrow their brows in perplexity. I'm not stupid (or at least I wasn't the last time I was tested), but I can't say I understand it. I take heart from the fact that they assure me "The Minimum Amount Due will not exceed the New Balance" (capital letters theirs), but beyond that you're on your own.

3. There are some changes to the Purchase Protection provisions and other provisions.

Pardon me if this was already posted, but I didn't see it going back a month.

I just received my monthly Starwood AMEX bill, and included therewith was about 5 pages of fine print. Slogging my way through it, it seems:

1. Effective 1 November 2007, the annual fee is increased to $45 per year.

2. The minimum amount due will now be calcuated in a new fashion, using a formula that (I swear) would cause rocket scientists to furrow their brows in perplexity. I'm not stupid (or at least I wasn't the last time I was tested), but I can't say I understand it. I take heart from the fact that they assure me "The Minimum Amount Due will not exceed the New Balance" (capital letters theirs), but beyond that you're on your own.

3. There are some changes to the Purchase Protection provisions and other provisions.
I don't see why it should matter what the minimum payment is. If you make anything other than full payment each month, the cost of the interest you pay on carrying a balance will far far far far far outweigh the value (whatever way you compute it) of the points or miles you earned on the initial purchase.

If you want to carry a balance, do so on a separate card where you get a better interest rate (rarely do miles/points earning cards give you the best rate) via balance transfers. Keep all miles/points cards free of carried balances, or else you're wasting your annual fee (whatever it is) thinking you're making it back on points/miles.

I didn't think this deserved its own thread but I had a question about the SPG card. I recently got one. Do I automatically get an SPG account with the card that they deposit my points into or do I have to create an account myself and then link them?

I didn't think this deserved its own thread but I had a question about the SPG card. I recently got one. Do I automatically get an SPG account with the card that they deposit my points into or do I have to create an account myself and then link them?

They automatically set up the account for you when you apply. Your SPG program card will arrive several weeks after you receive your amex.

They automatically set up the account for you when you apply. Your SPG program card will arrive several weeks after you receive your amex.

I got my SPG Amex in March, and have yet to receive it. I didn't even know they sent out cards, lol. I'm new to the hotel stuff though. Should I call up Amex or SPG to get it?

Extensive discussion in Starwood section...

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=730605

I got my SPG Amex in March, and have yet to receive it. I didn't even know they sent out cards, lol. I'm new to the hotel stuff though. Should I call up Amex or SPG to get it?
Are you sure that you indeed have an open SPG AmEx account? How do you know if you never received cards, and thus couldn't charge anything? Did you get one statement with the annual fee posted and nothing else, then statements reflecting no activity in the account? Yes, call AmEx now.

How do you know if you never received cards, and thus couldn't charge anything?

I believe PanAm330 received the credit card, but not the Starwood Preferred Guest membership card which could be presented when checking into a Starwood hotel.

I believe PanAm330 received the credit card, but not the Starwood Preferred Guest membership card which could be presented when checking into a Starwood hotel.
Your reading of his post is more probable than mine.

If you don't have the SPG AmEx card with you, you are going to have a difficult time charging to it in stores, hotels, etc. But how often does it matter whether or not you have the SPG card with you when you check into a SPG property? Hotels have always been able to look it up for me and I have gotten whatever Gold entitled me to whether I showed the card or not. Maybe better to have the card along than not, but likely to actually matter?

Your reading of his post is more probable than mine.

Indeed. It was a poor choice of words on my part, so for that I apologize. I've charged quite a bit on my account, so one would hope it's open :p! I've yet to receive my SPG Gold card, for use at Starwood properties. I've had a few stays, and they've always just looked it up, or it's already attached to the reservation. It's not too big a deal, but of course would be nice to have.

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