Does Amex consider gift cards "cash equivalents"?
Jun 11, 2013, 7:40 pm
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: SF Bay area
Posts: 269
Jun 11, 2013, 10:03 pm
#32
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 191
unusual alert from amex
don't know much detail at this point ('till tomorrow), but my relative has various "alerts" set up with his PRG. After buying a GC at our regular place, he's gotten some sort of alert about his card being used for "foreign currency" purchase or something to that extent, he did check his amex accounts for any unauthorized purchases but all is good, so I suspect it's got something to do with GC purchase, hope I'm wrong, but I will stop by his place tomorrow to check out that alert myself, I'll report back, P.S. it was a grocery purchase
Last edited by tommy14; Jun 11, 2013 at 10:09 pm Reason: more info
Jun 12, 2013, 6:31 pm
#33
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
I'm hearing some similiar concerns (in the nonpublic boards) regarding repeated use of an AMEX for gift card purchases at a grocery store linked to a subsequent FR. Watch out as this kind of activity may now be on AMEX's "kill list." In the days of the mint, use of AMEX cards to buy AMEX gift cards for coins purchases made the "kill list." AMEX seems to have a higher level of awareness of your activity than other card issuers, perhaps a function of their historic ability to provide detailed receipts.
don't know much detail at this point ('till tomorrow), but my relative has various "alerts" set up with his PRG. After buying a GC at our regular place, he's gotten some sort of alert about his card being used for "foreign currency" purchase or something to that extent, he did check his amex accounts for any unauthorized purchases but all is good, so I suspect it's got something to do with GC purchase, hope I'm wrong, but I will stop by his place tomorrow to check out that alert myself, I'll report back, P.S. it was a grocery purchase
Jun 12, 2013, 6:49 pm
#34
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,184
I'm hearing some similiar concerns (in the nonpublic boards) regarding repeated use of an AMEX for gift card purchases at a grocery store linked to a subsequent FR. Watch out as this kind of activity may now be on AMEX's "kill list." In the days of the mint, use of AMEX cards to buy AMEX gift cards for coins purchases made the "kill list." AMEX seems to have a higher level of awareness of your activity than other card issuers, perhaps a function of their historic ability to provide detailed receipts.
On another note, I just noticed that a regular GC purchased at an office supply store posted with the 'pre-paid credit' detail message on my Amex.
Jun 12, 2013, 10:21 pm
#37
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 191
Are you equating "kill list" with FR or something more serious? FR's are a pain but they're relatively minor as far as A/A goes.
On another note, I just noticed that a regular GC purchased at an office supply store posted with the 'pre-paid credit' detail message on my Amex.
On another note, I just noticed that a regular GC purchased at an office supply store posted with the 'pre-paid credit' detail message on my Amex.
Jun 12, 2013, 10:29 pm
#39
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 191
Jun 13, 2013, 9:12 am
#44
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 367
I've got $5,500 of GC purchases at WG,CVS, and 2 different Supermarkets since the beginning of the month (and my most recent statement). All of them are simply listing the category (e.g. MERCHANDISE & SUPPLIES - PHARMACIES). The ones that have additional text simply reiterate the category (e.g. Pharmacies).
So, based on my experience so far it was only the VRs purchased (at CVS) that didn't post to my rewards tracker. And those are also listed properly as MERCHANDISE & SUPPLIES - PHARMACIES - with no additional test.
What I'm interested in is for everyone who doesn't have a cash equivalent that has made it into their proper rewards category - how is that transaction listed? In my case, there is nothing in the transaction detail that would indicate it was different than any other transaction.
So, based on my experience so far it was only the VRs purchased (at CVS) that didn't post to my rewards tracker. And those are also listed properly as MERCHANDISE & SUPPLIES - PHARMACIES - with no additional test.
What I'm interested in is for everyone who doesn't have a cash equivalent that has made it into their proper rewards category - how is that transaction listed? In my case, there is nothing in the transaction detail that would indicate it was different than any other transaction.
