I had problems trying to purchase Lifemiles for the first time this weekend. The system errored out multiple times online using two different credit cards. Multiple calls to Lifemiles did not help. They took my billing information then sent me to the automated credit card entry. The phone automated card entry usually failed before I got my information in. The one time I got my information in and the system accepted it the phone agent told me my card was declined but when I called Amex they said they had never seen a charge come in.

Part of the problem may be language difficulties with the phone agents. I think they misheard my billing information. I should have had them read it back to me.

Eventually I was able to get the payment processed online but I do not know exactly why since I made a couple of changes in the successful attempt. I used a different Visa card (I had previously tried both Amex and a different Visa card) but I think the most likely reason it went through finally is because I entered my street address differently. I live on a court. I always abbreviate "Court" to "Ct" in my address because this is the way pretty much all merchants in the US process it and this is the way it is listed with the card issuers. When I spelled out "Court" instead of abbreviating it the charge went through finally.

Good grief. Six calls and over an hours worth of time spent on hold and Lifemiles could not resolve the issue over the phone. Thank goodness I finally figured out the right Mojo to get it to work. Hopefully this information will help someone else.