Introduction
We all know to stay away from GCs when trying to meet min spend for the AMEX signup bonuses; however there is now 1 data point that shows they will not give you spending bonuses either. Here’s a reader’s exact quote:
In October, I received a promotion on my biz SPG card offering 15k bonus starpoints after $15k spend. I completed the spend, but never received the points. After a number of phone calls, Amex finally confirmed with me today that the reason I didn’t receive the bonus was that a large part of the spend was made at Simon. This is proof that the RAT doesn’t only oversee signup offers, but also promotions for existing members.
Well there you have it. AMEX RAT don’t play ya’ll!
How about buy Department store GC like JC Penney?
“After a number of phone calls.” I wonder if this was what did him/her in. Fortunately, I haven’t been in this situation myself, but I sometimes question if I would call in if a bonus didn’t show up. With AmEx, prob. not.
Just got off the Amex black list apparently, and was able to get a Platinum card. Having been on the BL for years, I only pay minimal attention to Amex reports. Do they have problems with RadPad, Plastiq, etc for minimum spend? I was thinking of switching my rent payment over to Amex for a couple months to hit the MS. Wasn’t sure how far the rat team extends their tails… Thanks!
You just got out of jail and now you’re asking, “If I take this kid’s ice cream cone, is that theft or am I just helping him eat the ice cream?”
Does Gift of College gift cards not count as well?
How can they tell if you buy a gift card? Do they get the receipt? What does “a large part of the spend” mean? I need to meet biz plat (20k) and that’s a large amount to meet in genuine spend.
Started on 2/21 my Amex Everyday (no AF) stopped giving 2x on Visa gift at grocery store (Kroger). Was giving 2X the week before.
Was this while you were meeting MSR on the sign up bonus or is this an established card?
False alarm, finally show as 2x. Apparently doesn’t register as 2x right away. This is the yearly 2x on the first $6000, not sign up bonus.
How do you know this considering the lag in rewards with Amex and your report of the change being last week?
False alarm, finally show as 2x. Apparently doesn’t register as 2x right away.
How is AMEX “rats” when they publicly state that gift card purchases or “cash like equivalents” aren’t included in any bonus offers?
because it’s called the “rewards abuse team” – RAT. It’s their own name for themselves.
LOL. Ahhhhh got it! I didn’t know they had a formal name for their abuse team. Ha, ha. Thanks for educating me on that one. 🙂
Plus those “GC purchases and cash like equivalents” is used in everything. Most don’t enforce, but RAT apparently does.
i use my spg amex card to buy simon gc visa in dec and my pts posts but it wasn’t a promotion deal though and it was 9k
Those rats are too cute to use to describe Amex. You should’ve use some big ass ol’ NYC subway rats.
I was trying to ease you into the bad news.
I thought this was known — I personally experienced it in the fall with an offer on my Biz Plat.
It’s bec you didn’t tell me… or maybe you did and I forgot… sigh