Merchant Category Being Reported Incorrectly for Bonus Points Categories
Feb 23, 2012, 1:20 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 93
Merchant Category Being Reported Incorrectly for Bonus Points Categories
I have the new business gold card which provides double points on shipping charges. I use a USPS postal reseller called Express One in order to get commercial postal rates.
The problem is that this vendor shows up as "Other-miscellaneous," and thus I do not get the bonus points. The appropriate category would be "Business services - mailing and shipping." This vendor does not engage in any other business activities aside from selling postage. Has anybody ever successfully petitioned the vendor or AMEX to get a category changed? Any ideas how I would go about that?
The problem is that this vendor shows up as "Other-miscellaneous," and thus I do not get the bonus points. The appropriate category would be "Business services - mailing and shipping." This vendor does not engage in any other business activities aside from selling postage. Has anybody ever successfully petitioned the vendor or AMEX to get a category changed? Any ideas how I would go about that?
Feb 23, 2012, 1:33 pm
#2
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,954
No useful experience, but for information I think the category is often selected by the acquiring bank, rather than the merchant.
Feb 23, 2012, 2:54 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: AL
Programs: All of the Above
Posts: 1,374
I too have that problem, but I it's going to work out better for me. An advertiser that I use (a national radio company), is not categorized as Advertising, but as a telephone company. So I was hoping to get the bonus points for my Biz Gold, and didn't, but I SM'ed Am Ex and they gave me a courtesy adjustment. The good news, is now I can charge them to my Ink Bold, and get 5x points for telephone/communications services, all from running radio advertisements. 
Feb 23, 2012, 3:26 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 93
I too have that problem, but I it's going to work out better for me. An advertiser that I use (a national radio company), is not categorized as Advertising, but as a telephone company. So I was hoping to get the bonus points for my Biz Gold, and didn't, but I SM'ed Am Ex and they gave me a courtesy adjustment. The good news, is now I can charge them to my Ink Bold, and get 5x points for telephone/communications services, all from running radio advertisements.