I tried to use both Starwood and Citi. This was at an "official" Amex office. I was immediately told that the Starwood was no fee and was not a cash advance and the Citi was a "CASH ADVANCE". She began to fill out a form for the "CASH ADVANCE". I called Citi and they confirmed that it was a cash advance. I got a supervisor in the US CS center...and she confirmed it was a cash advance.
I think it is a cash advance....but I could be wrong....if every CS person I spoke to was wrong....(but they seemed pretty sure of their answers and acted as though the question had been asked before....."not a benefit of the program".)
It is probably a cash advance because Citi is your creditor on Citibank issued American Express branded cards. Citi taking your credit risk and has to securitize the receivables, not Amex thus as Citi do with their MA and V products in such instances cash advance. Starwood is not bank affiliated -- it is proprietary Amex thus they decide they can treat it as a purchase
So I tried this at an AMEX travel office in New York City on Thursday. I got $1000 in Travelers Checks with my Delta AMEX card and $1000 with my Starwoods AMEX. I had to give them my SS# and fill on a short form that came inside the TC envelopes. Other than that there wasn't much of a problem.
I've been checking my online statement and neither of the $1000 purchases have appeared yet. Is that suppose to happen?
I see $1000 less in my available credit limit on my Delta card, but my Starwoods credit limit hasn't changed.
So I tried this at an AMEX travel office in New York City on Thursday. I got $1000 in Travelers Checks with my Delta AMEX card and $1000 with my Starwoods AMEX. I had to give them my SS# and fill on a short form that came inside the TC envelopes. Other than that there wasn't much of a problem.
I've been checking my online statement and neither of the $1000 purchases have appeared yet. Is that suppose to happen?
I see $1000 less in my available credit limit on my Delta card, but my Starwoods credit limit hasn't changed.
Anyone know the reason for this?
seems Amex gave you a Gift of $1000, must have been your Lucky Day
NOT, I guess this must be the very 1st time you ever had a credit card. not all charges made on a single day will post on the same day. So much so you can make several purchases say on a Mon and 1 on Tues and the Tues charge will appear before the Mons and the Tues purchase can decrease your limit before all of Mons will.
Why is it so? I dont know nor does it make any difference to me, sort of like with depositing a check into an acct, dont write or make any withdrawls against the deposit unless you know the amount needed has cleared. Here too, know your limit and dont go over or else you will get an Over the limit fee
$1000/per week: per card over all offices or at each office
I'm a couple thousand in spending short of a SPG Amex signup promo for 15K bonus starpoints, with two weeks of spending left before my times up.
Can I go to two different AMEX travel offices and purchase $1K in travelers checks with the same credit card during the same week? I've never purchased AMEX travelers checks before, so I wouldn't be a familiar face in either office.
I'm a couple thousand in spending short of a SPG Amex signup promo for 15K bonus starpoints, with two weeks of spending left before my times up.
Can I go to two different AMEX travel offices and purchase $1K in travelers checks with the same credit card during the same week? I've never purchased AMEX travelers checks before, so I wouldn't be a familiar face in either office.
I'm a couple thousand in spending short of a SPG Amex signup promo for 15K bonus starpoints, with two weeks of spending left before my times up.
Can I go to two different AMEX travel offices and purchase $1K in travelers checks with the same credit card during the same week? I've never purchased AMEX travelers checks before, so I wouldn't be a familiar face in either office.
There's $3500 of spending available there (allowed two boxes of $250 for each president -- of which there are in this series, availability does change daily though). You effectively buy $3500 for $3500 on your credit card. No fees, no shipping charges, nada.
Of course, it takes the mint a gawd awful amount of time to process the order (and actually run the charge)...
I'm a couple thousand in spending short of a SPG Amex signup promo for 15K bonus starpoints, with two weeks of spending left before my times up.
Can I go to two different AMEX travel offices and purchase $1K in travelers checks with the same credit card during the same week? I've never purchased AMEX travelers checks before, so I wouldn't be a familiar face in either office.
the idea for the $1 coins is No good as it can take awhile till its processed and the charge is put thru.
seems to be a Fully Refundable airline tkt is in the cards for you. Of cause I also see that something will come up causing you to have to cancel said trip. As long as you cancel it after your statement has closed the pts will be earned and not taken away, and since its in the pipeline they will allow you to deduct it from the total that will be due. Eg you statement is for $4500 of which $2500 is the Tkt, so all you will need to pay is $2000 by the due date and not $4500. Of cause the tea leaves also tell me you will have been back to amex for more TCs for that trip.
Just make sure the tkt you purchase is 100% fully refundable!! alot of Biz or so called full coach fares arent 100% refundable
Of course, it takes the mint a gawd awful amount of time to process the order (and actually run the charge)...
Too true!
I bought the 1st batch as soon as they came out while I had a few weeks left on an AMEX double points promo and of course the purchase didn't post 'til after the promo period ended
Location: Rio Grande Do Sul, Brasil and Rayong, Thailand
Programs: American Platinum Lifetime, Starwood Gold, United, Krisflyer, Delta, Lufthansa, Thai, Int. Avenger
Posts: 235
Quote:
Originally Posted by STAM4NICK
It is probably a cash advance because Citi is your creditor on Citibank issued American Express branded cards. Citi taking your credit risk and has to securitize the receivables, not Amex thus as Citi do with their MA and V products in such instances cash advance. Starwood is not bank affiliated -- it is proprietary Amex thus they decide they can treat it as a purchase
I was answering the post below that was quoted, not asking a question.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AAerSTL
I phoned AMEX (Citi) today and inquired regarding travelers checks. They verified to me that I can indeed purchase them fee free as a cardholder and that my purchase would be processed as a point of sale (POS) NOT a cash advance. This is for the AAdvantage Citi AMEX Select card. Does anyone have this card and has had problems purchasing them?
Quote:
Originally Posted by maskedavenger
This is 100% wrong.
I tried to use both Starwood and Citi. This was at an "official" Amex office. I was immediately told that the Starwood was no fee and was not a cash advance and the Citi was a "CASH ADVANCE". She began to fill out a form for the "CASH ADVANCE". I called Citi and they confirmed that it was a cash advance. I got a supervisor in the US CS center...and she confirmed it was a cash advance.
I think it is a cash advance....but I could be wrong....if every CS person I spoke to was wrong....(but they seemed pretty sure of their answers and acted as though the question had been asked before....."not a benefit of the program".)
Programs: BAEC Gold, BD Gold, Lufthansa FTL plus lots of shiny hotel and rental car plastic
Posts: 17,131
I just went to an Amex office in San Francisco (Market Street) and the teller said I'd need to call Amex and find out whether it is a cash advance or not for US$ TCs. I used the phone in their office and was put on hold while they looked at my account (SPG Amex). Was told it would be cash advance so didn't bother
The teller said she had no control over the matter and would depend on my account.
My wife also called (her own SPG Amex) and was told the same.
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