I purchased 270 000 points last Tuesday (6 days ago) to use for a Travel Package.
1. 99000 points with bmi MasterCard
2. 99000 points with bmi MasterCard
3. 72000 points with Amex Platinum because the bmi card was rejected the third time.

I received the Purchase Receipt screens each time and three email receipts within a couple of minutes - each stating that my credit card had been billed and that I would receive the points in 24-48 hours.

I received an email on 2nd March from Marriott Rewards Partners stating "Your credit card has been frozen because of multiple uses as a security measure. If your charges are valid, you can contact me to have the credit card turned back on." but ignored it because the debits were showing up on my bmi card online statement and I wasn't planning on buying any more Marriott Rewards Points for a long time!

However, no points had been credited to my account by today - after 6 days. So I phoned their US customer support number today. Apparently the problem was that the transfer of 270000 points was on hold because of possible fraudulent use of my credit card. They removed the "hold" and said that the points will reach my account within 48 hours from now. The agent was happy to order my Travel Package immediately though, creating an instant negative account balance of -270000 points which will be repaid when the points I purchased reach my account. The email confirmation of the Travel Package reward arrived within a few minutes.

The agent mentioned that if Reward Points are purchased by phone, they can be used immediately for a Reward. Given that some other posters also seem to have had problems with points purchased online not posting within 48 hours, telephone purchase with immediate redemption for a Reward during the same telephone call might be the best route to follow for anyone wanting to buy and use more points by 8th March.