To clarify, I pay AMEX directly via my bank and not thru the "make a payment option." Again, I get a confirmation email that the funds have been received and applied to my account but the ONLINE system does not show a payment applied to the account. In addition, the credit is NOT freed up...at least on the ONLINE statement. When I called AMEX they said they got the payment...it has been applied but it will not reflect ONLINE for up to 48 hours. So essentially what mia said is what is happening with my account.