Possible Amex crackdown on bonus MSR
Sep 15, 2017, 10:43 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 13
Possible Amex crackdown on bonus MSR
Just joined to point out something I've seen going through a few websites such as Dr or Credit, Reddit, and now Flyertalk MS under Simon Mall thread. I'm no stranger to MS, I'm currently at around 20k a month MS across two SPG accounts during my runs home from work and waiting on GC.com orders, as I've been using them exclusively as of late.
I recently signed up for the SPG promotion to add AU's for 2500 SPG points after $1000 spend. My wife and I have an account each, added our two kids to each account, resulting in 4 AU cards. I purchased 2X$500 VGC from Kroger on three of the accounts, the last one I did 2X$500 at CVS. The bonuses from the three AU from Kroger purchases posted 4 days after the transaction posted, to my SPG account before statement cuts, as SPG bonus points normally do. However, the CVS transaction was done over two weeks ago, still no bonus posted.
I can't determine if the points will post via regular (non bonus) until the statement cuts, in about 3 days. Curious, I ran out and purchased 2x$500 at Kroger tonight on the AU card that made the CVS purchase, I'll report back next week if the bonus posts and if the non bonus (monthly spend accrual) matches points posted.
Again, I noticed this trend in the Simon Thread, comments on Dr of Credit SPG AU promotion thread, and Reddit, hoping this isn't a crackdown on ineligible bonus spend based on merchants. It would be even worse if it is also effecting regular spend on a monthly statement basis.
I recently signed up for the SPG promotion to add AU's for 2500 SPG points after $1000 spend. My wife and I have an account each, added our two kids to each account, resulting in 4 AU cards. I purchased 2X$500 VGC from Kroger on three of the accounts, the last one I did 2X$500 at CVS. The bonuses from the three AU from Kroger purchases posted 4 days after the transaction posted, to my SPG account before statement cuts, as SPG bonus points normally do. However, the CVS transaction was done over two weeks ago, still no bonus posted.
I can't determine if the points will post via regular (non bonus) until the statement cuts, in about 3 days. Curious, I ran out and purchased 2x$500 at Kroger tonight on the AU card that made the CVS purchase, I'll report back next week if the bonus posts and if the non bonus (monthly spend accrual) matches points posted.
Again, I noticed this trend in the Simon Thread, comments on Dr of Credit SPG AU promotion thread, and Reddit, hoping this isn't a crackdown on ineligible bonus spend based on merchants. It would be even worse if it is also effecting regular spend on a monthly statement basis.
Sep 15, 2017, 10:50 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 13
Thanks, my wife posts under here with another user name about the spending of points, I'm just the one that makes them. I've garnered lots of information over the years and thought I should give back on something that could help piece together something that would really effect a lot of churners ability to acquire VGC at spots that might no longer be viable.
Sep 15, 2017, 11:20 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: MR, SPG, UR
Posts: 38
Personally, I think Amex is on to something regarding those bonus promotions. I added 4 authorized users for my amex platinum card back in August. I put $500 on each of the four cards in the same day at two CVSs. I was suppose to get 4 x 5000 MR points. But I only got 5000 points after a few days. I did not want to call to alert AMEX about my purchases. But I really doubt the remaining points will ever post.
Back to the topic. I also added 4 spg authorized users around the end of August. And I fulfilled the spending requirements for 4 cards in two days at CVS. So I was hoping to get 10000 SPG in one shot. However, to my surprise, same thing happened again, only 2500 points posted to my account 3 days later. I waited for a few more days till my statement came out. No more bonus points added.
Back to the topic. I also added 4 spg authorized users around the end of August. And I fulfilled the spending requirements for 4 cards in two days at CVS. So I was hoping to get 10000 SPG in one shot. However, to my surprise, same thing happened again, only 2500 points posted to my account 3 days later. I waited for a few more days till my statement came out. No more bonus points added.
Sep 15, 2017, 11:35 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 13
Musicalmind, do you have access to other places to purchase VGC and see if it will post under another merchant transaction? Granted, if it wasn't for the bonus, I'd stick to my GC.com orders, but for $1000, I just went back to Kroger/CVS to mix in with my GC.com liquidation runs.
Sep 16, 2017, 6:23 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 13
Sep 20, 2017, 2:41 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Northwest, United
Posts: 3,256
Of course. This is why we can't have nice things.
OP, You should know: Amex (and all the banks/card issuers) read every post here, every blog, every day. Your post, and the countless well-meaning but naive posts like them, only serve as a big, flashing, red sign that screams HEY AMEX, THIS IS HOW PEOPLE ARE SCREWING YOU!!! LOOK HERE FOR ALL THE DETAILS, THEN SHUT IT ALL DOWN!!!
The more you post about theses things, the more circles-and-arrows the blogs post, the faster every good thing goes away.
OP, You should know: Amex (and all the banks/card issuers) read every post here, every blog, every day. Your post, and the countless well-meaning but naive posts like them, only serve as a big, flashing, red sign that screams HEY AMEX, THIS IS HOW PEOPLE ARE SCREWING YOU!!! LOOK HERE FOR ALL THE DETAILS, THEN SHUT IT ALL DOWN!!!
The more you post about theses things, the more circles-and-arrows the blogs post, the faster every good thing goes away.
Sep 21, 2017, 8:20 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,820
