American Express Membership Rewards - Getting around the low AMEX credit limit to pay tuition

I have a fairly new AMEX(delta) with a ridiculously low credit limit. I just found out that my daughter's college will accept AM EX tuition payments with no convenience fees. If I prepay my AMEX so that I have a credit balance, would the charge go through? Or should I just make several smaller payments, using my online billpay to pay off each smaller payment between charges? I don't have time to try for the credit increase. However, I would really like to hit my first year sign-up bonus.
Frequent flyer miles and free trips are my reward for tuition and high medical bills! ;)

Call Cust Service and tell them what you are going to pay for.

They will almost always grant it. (I just bought an escalade on mine)

How new is 'fairly new'? Most experience here suggests that initial limits are stuck for the first six months after which you can request a review.

Read the first reply. Call customer service.

I would be very surprised if a single call was able to permit a high value transaction well above the established credit limit on a brand new account. MAYBE if it were pre-paid but even then unlikely. AmEx doesn't seem to be of the habit of granting lots of credit these days, particularly not on new accounts.

How new is 'fairly new'? Most experience here suggests that initial limits are stuck for the first six months after which you can request a review.

Less than 6 months, I tend to churn and have always had almost ridiculously high limits UNTIL this AMEX.

Will try the customer service route, I can always use my Citibank AA was just trying to rake in the new card bonus.

Was very surprised by the no fees, my sons college charged excessive credit card fees.

What I do is send in a payment for the amount I want to charge so that I end up with a negative balance. Then charge the item in question. I've not had good luck with the customer service folks being accomodating in any way.

What I do is send in a payment for the amount I want to charge so that I end up with a negative balance. Then charge the item in question. I've not had good luck with the customer service folks being accomodating in any way.

Will this really work? Even though you have negative balance, it doesnt "increase" your available credit and I always thought that the amount you can charge is limited by your available credit.

Just call..They will ask you to wire the $$ to the amex/jp account, then you can charge against it. This will also be averaged in to raise your future limits.

Will this really work? Even though you have negative balance, it doesnt "increase" your available credit and I always thought that the amount you can charge is limited by your available credit.

This has worked with me in the past. Your credit line will remain the same, but the available credit will increase by the amount of the overpayment.

To the OP - again, check with Customer Service, but I don't see why it would be an issue if you prepay first. AMEX doesn't have any additional risk with the transaction (since they already have the money). Another benefit to prepaying is if you fully prepay, the report that month to the credit bureau shouldn't show the high balance of the tuition.

We've had am AMEX card for years, and recently went over the limit to pay taxes. I called before loading it up, and the rep said there would be no over limit fees as long as the overage was paid by the closing date. ^