[OFFER DEAD, MR accounts frozen, some bonuses clawed back] 100k Amex Plat (USA)
Nov 5, 2016, 1:09 pm
#1426
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: America!
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Explorist Caesars Wyndham Diamond, MGM Gold
Posts: 249
My 100K points were clawed back in August (applied platinum May 100k offer).. They blamed returns.. Then i explained how returns didnt affect the required 3K spend.. Then the rep took a complaint and said someone will call in 5 days.. Got a call and now he blamed buying giftcards.. I did buy visa giftcards online on target.. Does Amex get Level 3 data for online target.com orders? Should I try CFPB complaint? NEVER had any PLATINUM before and this is my first..
I still have 250K Amex points..
Not sure how to proceed..
I still have 250K Amex points..
Not sure how to proceed..
Last edited by sowhatwegetdrunk; Nov 5, 2016 at 1:19 pm
Nov 5, 2016, 1:37 pm
#1427
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,710
Neither do I for the record nor do I have an issue in them cutting unprofitable customers after all they are a business. I am just trying to figure out what Amex deems questionable the devil as always is in the details. And Amex has had more than its share of questionable behavior in this thread as well. There is plenty of mud to sling around here.
Nov 5, 2016, 1:40 pm
#1428
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,710
You can do whatever you want but if you are buying the giftcards from target that I think you are I don't think you will have a leg to stand on since they say prepaid right on them and the terms are clear about prepaid cards not counting for bonus spend.
Nov 5, 2016, 1:59 pm
#1429
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: America!
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Explorist Caesars Wyndham Diamond, MGM Gold
Posts: 249
Well.. I just wanted to know from others experience about how Amex will know that or prove that.. Or is it worth a shot for me without risking a complete shut down of all my amex cards?
Nov 5, 2016, 6:13 pm
#1430
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,075
Nov 5, 2016, 7:33 pm
#1431
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
Nov 6, 2016, 6:01 am
#1432
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
What shot? What are you going to say in your complaint? You did not meet the written terms of the offer, and Amex knows that. There are people who did meet the terms who are fighting to get what they are owed. Why do you think someone who did not comply with the offfer will (or should) get the 100k?
Nov 6, 2016, 6:14 am
#1433
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
Yes you should pursue it. AMEX will give up eventually as the cost to benefit ratio doesn't make sense for them.
Nov 7, 2016, 5:02 am
#1434
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,257
i know there were a lot of Amex MR clawback for the 100K personal platinum card.
what i would like to know is, since the whole debacle, has there has been any DP out there indicating that the MR clawback is not limited to just the 100K personal plat - when min spend is achieved partially or almost exclusively with MS.
thanks!
what i would like to know is, since the whole debacle, has there has been any DP out there indicating that the MR clawback is not limited to just the 100K personal plat - when min spend is achieved partially or almost exclusively with MS.
thanks!
Nov 7, 2016, 6:17 am
#1435
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,955
We have a report of frozen points and a spending audit on Premier Rewards Gold.
Nov 7, 2016, 9:37 am
#1436
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,762
We have a report of frozen points and a spending audit on Premier Rewards Gold.
Looks like if the offer is not publicly available on AMEX site, or the applicant being invited by mailer or email, the account would be frozen pending scrutiny.
Instead of modify the program in giving out bonus, AMEX is targeted offer URLs to identify accounts they want to review - freeze the reward account first, then take their time to do the review. Meanwhile the account holder could not even use the existing balance. Really bad business practice of AMEX - presume cardholder guilty until being proven innocent. That is not how this country works.
Nov 7, 2016, 12:38 pm
#1437
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 81
I have no real luck with JAMS mediation. Submitted the claim online - never got a response. Then emailed it to them. They are figuring out what to do with it now, but I think they will just refuse to work on it. AAA wanted money upfront: no way.
I probably will bring the matter to Small Claims.
I probably will bring the matter to Small Claims.
Nov 7, 2016, 12:40 pm
#1438
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 57,075
What shot? What are you going to say in your complaint? You did not meet the written terms of the offer, and Amex knows that. There are people who did meet the terms who are fighting to get what they are owed. Why do you think someone who did not comply with the offfer will (or should) get the 100k?
To be sure, there is room for debate on these points. That's what lawyers do.
Nov 7, 2016, 1:41 pm
#1439
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,257
We have a report of frozen points and a spending audit on Premier Rewards Gold.
This is disturbing. Note the poster got the offer via incognito...
Looks like if the offer is not publicly available on AMEX site, or the applicant being invited by mailer or email, the account would be frozen pending scrutiny.
Instead of modify the program in giving out bonus, AMEX is targeted offer URLs to identify accounts they want to review - freeze the reward account first, then take their time to do the review. Meanwhile the account holder could not even use the existing balance. Really bad business practice of AMEX - presume cardholder guilty until being proven innocent. That is not how this country works.
Looks like if the offer is not publicly available on AMEX site, or the applicant being invited by mailer or email, the account would be frozen pending scrutiny.
Instead of modify the program in giving out bonus, AMEX is targeted offer URLs to identify accounts they want to review - freeze the reward account first, then take their time to do the review. Meanwhile the account holder could not even use the existing balance. Really bad business practice of AMEX - presume cardholder guilty until being proven innocent. That is not how this country works.
Nov 8, 2016, 2:42 am
#1440
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
It's important to distinguish offer in a lay sense, and the same term in contract law. Here, it is actually the applicant who is making an offer. Amex then does its credit analysis and decides whether to the accept that offer. I submit that an applicant who applies on via a "bonus point offer" (lay sense) is offering to take the deal with the points. If Amex accepts the offer and says nothing about how it will not give that applicant bonus points, the terms of the agreed-upon contract include the bonus points.
To be sure, there is room for debate on these points. That's what lawyers do.
To be sure, there is room for debate on these points. That's what lawyers do.
The reality is that whoever made the legal offer, the Amex' language excluding GCs from initial spend to earn bonus is still part of the terms. And sowhatwegetdrunk admits to relying on GCs for minimum spend. So I still don't see his 'shot'. Does he just keep filing generic complaints, ignoring GC rule, hoping Amex gives up (as TMM1982 recommends)?
As I've suggested before, biggest risk here is that some of Amex' antics in this case become SOP in the future.
Last edited by Mountain Trader; Nov 8, 2016 at 6:32 am