For as long as I can remember, this has always been Amex's m.o. Whenever I can, I always push my payment to them, unless it falls on a weekend or holiday, where I'd have to use the "pull" method; and, even then, I double and triple check that my deposit account info is 100% accurate. While I may with others, with Amex, I never use auto-pay. I've found them much more accepting of "a" late payment than an erroneous one.