xinux

This morning, I received an email from Amex stating that a portion of my MR points were cancelled. When I logged in to check, I found out that I was short of 30k points. The email explained that the deduction might be due to a downgrade or certain offers not complying with the rules. After making a phone call, I was told that the 30k points were clawed back because I bought gift cards at a supermarket which is against the rules.

Indeed, this year I bought 25k of MO to take advantage of the Gold Card 5x referral. But I thought that apart from the sign-up bonus, Amex doesn't really care about this. Plus, each transaction was between $480-490, definitely not $505.95. I don't know how it triggered the alert. Anyone got similar DPs?

Hysch

They have been caring when that extra 5x referral bonus comes into play. Multiple clawback reports for gift card purchases earning the extra 5x. But the majority have been gift card looking amounts or multiple of the same amount. What grocery store are you frequenting? Seems Safeway has been a target.

Centurion

RATS are back! The Rewards Abuse Team (RAT) is a division within American Express that looks into accounts who try to game or abuse the rewards system.

Pulk5733

I never received an email but I am still waiting for a SUB from June 22nd of this year. Are things going that slow on Amex side of things again? I always remember them posting like the next day when the minimum spend was met.

xinux

Most of them are at Safeway, I guess that's the reason.

Pulk5733

I don't use Safeway. I shopped at BJs for 15k. Called in and they said I would get it. They always have the 8 to 12 wrrks to fall back on. Was wondering if anyone else was running late

I can see for miles

Have an AMEX Biz Plat on which I hit the MSR on 6/23 and a Biz Gold (different player) on which I met it 6/28. Neither have posted. Obvious MS on both; had points clawed back on one so far.

friedablass

How were the points clawed back on one if they didn't post yet on the first place?

blitzen

$25k of MO at 5MR per $ would be 125k MR and they only clawed back 30k MR > I would call myself lucky and fuggetaboutit

I can see for miles

MRs for spend to meet the MSR was clawed back, not the SUB itself, which hasn't posted.

Pebblebei

I received such email two days ago.
About 30k MR points were gone from one card account
I have been making 5xx.xx purchases in groceries such as Walmart Neighborhood and Kroger's.
Should I stop using this card or all Amex cards all together?
Can Amex clawback hotel/mileage points earned on Co-branded cards? is it still safe to use them?

Thank you all!

Here is the email:
We're writing to let you know that, unfortunately, we have removed some Membership Rewards® points from your program account.

Here's what happened

After careful review, we noticed activity that indicated these points may have been earned or used in a way that doesn't meet the terms and conditions of the Membership Rewards program or of the promotional offer under which you earned the points.

Here's what you need to know

The way Membership Rewards points are earned or used may not meet our terms for one or more of the following reasons:

• If your account was downgraded or canceled within 12 months of acquiring it
• If you didn't meet the spend criteria of an offer due to returns
• If the type of spend wasn't eligible to receive points
  • This applies to traveler's cheques, prepaid/gift cards, person-to-person payments or other cash equivalents, or purchases that don't represent the exchange of goods or services
• If an activity was not eligible to earn or redeem rewards (examples: self-referring for a reward or selling of points)

Here's what you can do next

If you feel these points were removed in error, don't hesitate to reach out - give us a call at 1-800-297-3276 right away. In the meantime, be sure to inform any Additional Card Members who may be authorized to redeem points about this change in your Membership Rewards points balance.

Have questions?

As always, you can review your points balance or chat with us online by logging into your account at ... - we're here for you 24/7.

Sincerely,

American Express

Steve M

If you are purchasing large amounts of groceries at grocery stores to get a spending bonus and you think that they've clawed them back because they falsely think the spend is ineligible, then it would seem the thing to do is to contact them and get it straightened out. I don't see a need to stop using that card or Amex cards in general.

golfr

Unexpected? ha!

cfischer

Amex can claw everything back. They usually don't. In 30 years of having multiple Amex cards it has never happened to me.

If you bought regular groceries ... write to Amex (or better call them) can get it sorted out.
If you bought gift cards (and they are not eligible) then ... you got caught Nothing to do here

msp3

Today I woke up to a surprise of an email saying 3038 MR was clawed back on my BBP, along with some generic description of what does not earn MR. Worryingly, the amount was 3038, the same amount I earned from buying 3 gift cards including fee at Safeway. Is this a one-off, or should I be concerned? I have not MS'd on this card for a long time, and only do so if some bonus/promotion comes along.