Clawbacks of 2019 reimbursements for REFUNDED airline "fees".
Mar 24, 2020, 8:29 pm
#91
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 2
So this is an interesting DP. I bought an award ticket on February 19, 2020 (4500 DL miles + $5.60 on my Hilton Aspire), and the $5.60 got credited as an airline fee. Due to the pandemic I ended up cancelling my flight. Delta redeposit my miles as well as refunded my $5.60. Since I haven't put any recent charges on my Hilton Aspire it shows a negative balance. I asked an AMEX CSR via chat if the airline reimbursement fee would get reversed and they said it wouldn't. I'm okay with that, but it will definitely will be annoying if they claw it back next year.
Mar 28, 2020, 10:56 am
#92
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 251
Clawbacks and MSRs?
Did anyone get a clawback of a credit that was needed to meet MSR for a new card bonus? I'm about to have a flight canceled because of COVID-19 and I'm concerned about what happens if my incidental refund puts me under MSR for a bonus I already received.
Mar 28, 2020, 1:56 pm
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,090
I don't think you understand the issue.
Here's a hypothetical example: In January 2019, I book an international award ticket on UA. UA deducts miles from my account and charges $50 in taxes and fees. Amex, purely through its own processes, with no request from me, reimburses the taxes and fees. A month later, in February 2019, I cancel the award because my plans changed, a better itinerary opened up, etc.. UA refunds my miles, as well as the taxes and fees (within 7 business days, as required under Reg Z). Amex does nothing. Twelve months later, in February 2020, Amex claws back the $50 statement credit by adding a $50 charge to my account. It's now too late for me to use the "unused" credit, which expired in 2019. I'm now screwed out of $50 worth of travel credits that I might have otherwise used if Amex had reversed the credit immediately after UA issued the refund.
And you think that would be perfectly fine?
Here's a hypothetical example: In January 2019, I book an international award ticket on UA. UA deducts miles from my account and charges $50 in taxes and fees. Amex, purely through its own processes, with no request from me, reimburses the taxes and fees. A month later, in February 2019, I cancel the award because my plans changed, a better itinerary opened up, etc.. UA refunds my miles, as well as the taxes and fees (within 7 business days, as required under Reg Z). Amex does nothing. Twelve months later, in February 2020, Amex claws back the $50 statement credit by adding a $50 charge to my account. It's now too late for me to use the "unused" credit, which expired in 2019. I'm now screwed out of $50 worth of travel credits that I might have otherwise used if Amex had reversed the credit immediately after UA issued the refund.
And you think that would be perfectly fine?
Mar 29, 2020, 12:29 pm
#95
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,090
Again, literally post 24, although there have been no further updates from that poster.
Mar 29, 2020, 12:51 pm
#96
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
That is a fee that is explicitly reimbursed so if that refunds it should indeed return the credit as well. I thought we were talking about the credits for certain items that should technically not be reimbursed but that somehow trigger the credit anyway ... not seen those taken back yet.
Mar 29, 2020, 4:11 pm
#97
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,546
Steps
1. do some modest number of clawbacks
2. make some noise about doing the clawbacks
3. blogs amplify noise because they need content for a half dozen posts every day
4. baptists online cheer because they can’t stand someone somewhere getting away something
5. lots of cardholders cool it with the games
6. voila! mission accomplished with oh so little effort.
it’s all crap, the same cycle used on hidden city.
1. do some modest number of clawbacks
2. make some noise about doing the clawbacks
3. blogs amplify noise because they need content for a half dozen posts every day
4. baptists online cheer because they can’t stand someone somewhere getting away something
5. lots of cardholders cool it with the games
6. voila! mission accomplished with oh so little effort.
it’s all crap, the same cycle used on hidden city.
Last edited by mia; Mar 29, 2020 at 4:39 pm Reason: Please review rule 16.
Apr 10, 2020, 9:19 am
#98
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 79
It may be too soon but have there been ANY reports about clawbacks of current year credits for what are obviously legitimate COVID related airline cancellations for eligible charges (not talking about any gaming of the system in anyway - I'm talking baggage, seat assignments, etc).
I just got the full $250 credited back to my card for seats and baggage for a cancelled flight next week. It sounds like most people have been told that once you get a credit (at least a legitimate one) it won't be reversed. Any data in the last two weeks (when I assume a lot more people have had cancelled flights) that contradicts that?
I just got the full $250 credited back to my card for seats and baggage for a cancelled flight next week. It sounds like most people have been told that once you get a credit (at least a legitimate one) it won't be reversed. Any data in the last two weeks (when I assume a lot more people have had cancelled flights) that contradicts that?
Apr 14, 2020, 1:38 pm
#100
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
Oct 13, 2020, 8:50 pm
#102
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Jan 6, 2021, 9:45 am
#104
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,546
i see a pattern that AMEX reviews the past utilization of this benefit shortly after account closure. if it were me, i'd try to get 2 years of time between the last credit (of the kind that was later refunded by the merchant) and AMEX account cancelation.