friedablass

So how is Amex supposed to differentiate between a refund for an error or a courtesy refund?

bgriff

I believe in most cases if a merchant credits you back against a transaction, for whatever reason, Amex refunds the merchant all or nearly all of the ~2-3% merchant fees which the merchant had paid for the original transaction, and which play a major role in funding the rewards Amex gives to customers. (In some cases if an intermediary processor like Square is involved, it sounds like Square doesn't always refund the merchant, but I believe Amex still refunds Square.) So Amex literally has no money from the refunded portion of the transaction with which to give you rewards.

Gasolin

Ok, I think that part makes more sense indeed. If they also lose their commission, then I suppose it changes the deal. Merchant seem to force the credit card refund but things like tax refunds could probably be refunded in cash and/or another credit card then since the option is offered.

cphurley

Can't stand the new "Summary". How's this math for you?
And of course, I always love seeing my pending points for "null" card(s):

josephstern

I haven't had any pending points post since 9/25 and I've had many charges since then.

Previously, I showed pending points as soon as a charge finalized.

Did Amex change the behavior of the portal? Are others seeing pending points since 9/25?

bgriff

After monitoring my points activity a little more carefully I think I was wrong in this post. It appears that both my Gold and Platinum cards do now work using the "points accelerated" logic whereby the points from a statement become earned as soon as that statement is paid for.

So I still feel like I lost a month's worth of points at some time during this transition by Amex, but more likely I just didn't notice when some of my points came in earlier than expected during the transition from the old timing system to the current system.

Now that I understand how it works, I am less offended by the current MR display. I do still like the idea of having a clearer tracking of actual changes in the available points balance, but the current Amex display system is essentially the same as the system Chase uses (other than the wrinkle of Amex requiring payment before points are credited and not just giving points when the statement closes), and I have never minded Chase's approach. I'm still not totally sure that the "pending" points counter is accurate -- mine currently seems to be giving me credit for a flight which I refunded a day after purchasing -- but it seems to work out correctly once the statement closes.

tr3k

So, I got this Business Blue+, had one statement close a week or so ago, and no points are anywhere in sight. Not pending, nada.
When do these points usually post?
When I reach the initial spend - when will the bonus points be posted?

(This is sort of important, as I am counting on these to book an award ticket)

Merlinrnr

Amex usually issues points after the second statement or after your payment clears. But if you ask they will do a one-time points advance to post them right away.

mia

American Express has recently changed the way MR points are posted and displayed, and that is the topic of this thread. Base points now move from pending to posted (available to redeem) after the statement closes -and- payment is made. If you are not seeing any pending base points, it is likely you are not looking in the right portion of the site.

New account bonus points are different. How soon they post after meeting the required spend depends on your own history with Membership Rewards. If this is your first card, look at the terms of the offer and understand that the clock starts when the statement is issued, not when the qualifying transaction posted.

tr3k

- Never mind the first question. Found pending points. Can't say I understand the logic (there are pending points and then 1/2 of those are "Available on payment" - I already paid this statement, yet none are posted).

- When you mention the "clock" - do you mean the 3 months for the qualifying bonus offer?

mia

No. New account bonus offers typically include a sentence like this: points will be credited to your Membership Rewards® account 8-12 weeks after you have met the eligible purchase requirement. The weeks are counted from the statement on which you make the qualifying spend, not the date of a specific transaction.

tr3k

I see. I was certainly hoping that the "8-12 weeks" is a formal limit, and they'd be more generous and post sooner. Unfortunate, as in 3 months it will be too late for this trip.

mia

It is, but if this is your first MR card it is also likely to be the actual timeframe. Doesn't hurt to ask to have the bonus posted sooner, in particular if you have spent considerably more than the requirement -and- and have continued spending.

tr3k

Being stingy with point posting is not a good way to ensure "continued spending". I have comparable non-Amex cards that deposit points at statement time without delay. Don't take this as a rant, but if this is how the card is - it will go to the bottom of the stack shortly (irrespective of the bonus, which I'll just use some other time).

friedablass

Points normally post much sooner than the 8 - 12 week mark. I met my spend limit on the personal Gold Card on 9/11 and my 50k bonus posted 9/13. I got an email on 9/17 letting me know that I've met my goal and my bonus points will post in 8 - 12 weeks but obviously I already had them.

I should note that this is by far not my first MR card, however this has been my experience since my first MR card opened many years ago. If I met the spend and all other conditions, the bonus posts automatically within a few days. Don't recall ever waiting the full time stated in the terms.