10,000 bonus points per 20 transactions

[QF WP]

i am wandering how many transactions other ppl are doing?

I signed up using the 20T/5K promo using the first link in this thread on the 17th and then (I think) signed up for the 10T/5K on the same date. I was a bit concerned about the "piggyback" issue so I rang up on 18th and was confirmed by CSR that I was signed up for the 10T/5K promo.

Had made 10 transactions by 21st and credited 5K bonus. Had another 13 by 30/9, so have accrued another 5K bonus points not yet credited.

Have 15 transactions from 1 Oct (with another yet to be presented), so have accrued another 5K bonus points not yet credited.

I have transferred 270K points to SPG (100K on 24/9 and 170K on 26/9) - these were points already in my account. I retained 5K points (the bonus points credited) in the account, so will know if I get POCked.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Re: 10000 points per day, and 100 Transactions per week

Wow, 10000 points per day, and 100 Transactions per week... No wonder people get POCed

I don't think AMEX has in mind to give away 1M points to customers. And yes we all could be doing "Cough" legitimate transactions but anything above 100K a month is just not in their mind.

I'm *very* sure Amex knows exactly how much their customers spend, and they're very able to get stats on how many transactions and dollars those customers spend.

Spending $1m/year or more on a Plat/Centurion card isn't really that rare.

I am afraid my friend that if you engage yourself in a quest to make 100 transactions per week you will end up making 100 calls per week asking Why did I lost all my points?

If the previous poster regularly made that many transactions/week, then Amex shou;d have known about it, and blocked the signup in the first place.

I can do about 200/month when travelling (about 50/week). Amex is well aware of that, since I've been a cardmember for many years. If that's too many points to give away, then they shouldn't have let me signup in the first place.

 

[rodgerbranch]

Re: 10000 points per day, and 100 Transactions per week

....... I can do about 200/month when travelling (about 50/week). Amex is well aware of that, since I've been a cardmember for many years. If that's too many points to give away, then they shouldn't have let me signup in the first place.

Well, are you travelling right now?

An increase to 200 or 400 transactions per month can not be justified unless you used to make around X00 transactions before the promo as well. If you used to make 20 transactions per month and now you make 200 that is a different story. I think that AMEX will want to see you using your card in a bunch of new shops (not just one or two). Probably 1 new shop for every 10 new transactions you make.


I agree that Amex will check your previous months to see if you used to make that many transactions. IF NOT then they will only accept your transactions if they fit within the SPIRIT of the promotion. Otherwise they will offer you a 10,000 points per month CAP in GOOD WILL. :mrgreen:


At that point is up to you to get a lawyer

 

[benhadi]

Re: 10000 points per day, and 100 Transactions per week

Well, are you travelling right now?

An increase to 200 or 400 transactions per month can not be justified unless you used to make around X00 transactions before the promo as well. If you used to make 20 transactions per month and now you make 200 that is a different story. I think that AMEX will want to see you using your card in a bunch of new shops (not just one or two). Probably 1 new shop for every 10 new transactions you make.


I agree that Amex will check your previous months to see if you used to make that many transactions. IF NOT then they will only accept your transactions if they fit within the SPIRIT of the promotion. Otherwise they will offer you a 10,000 points per month CAP in GOOD WILL. :mrgreen:


At that point is up to you to get a lawyer

The way i see it, AMEX started this promotion for one purpose - to get ppl to spend. The bonus MR points is an incentive to get us to do just that. Doesn't really matter if we spend in 100 times in 1 shop, or once in 100 shops.

Looking at one's previous "spending pattern" to justify witholding bonus points jsut doesn't cut it for me. It defeats the whole purpose of this promotion. One would have reasonably thought that AMEX actually wants us to INCREASE our spending amount/frequency on their card (i.e. above and beyond our usual spending pattern on AMEX), without the abuse of course (like paying the one telephone bill multiple times in small increments for the sole purpose of getting the bonus points without actually changing spending pattern).

If your hypothesis was indeed right, then what AMEX is doing is simply a disincentive for people to use their AMEX more than they currently are. Doesn't make sense. Remember, this promotion is really supposed to be about using AMEX more often in more places, not about giving MR points.

As long as we fulfil our side of the bargain, they should do the same on theirs.

Well, that's the expectation. My expectation.

TO be honest i don't see why AMEX is reacting to this so badly. Surely they can weed out the "abusers". For the majority of us, we are actually changing the way we spend...mostly on AMEX now. And as fas as i'm concerned everytime the card is swiped, they get paid. So what is their problem exactly?

 

[simongr]

Re: 10000 points per day, and 100 Transactions per week

Well, are you travelling right now?

An increase to 200 or 400 transactions per month can not be justified unless you used to make around X00 transactions before the promo as well. If you used to make 20 transactions per month and now you make 200 that is a different story. I think that AMEX will want to see you using your card in a bunch of new shops (not just one or two). Probably 1 new shop for every 10 new transactions you make.

I agree that Amex will check your previous months to see if you used to make that many transactions. IF NOT then they will only accept your transactions if they fit within the SPIRIT of the promotion. Otherwise they will offer you a 10,000 points per month CAP in GOOD WILL. :mrgreen:

At that point is up to you to get a lawyer

I am stunned again at your ridiculous assumptions of what Amex might do and what other forumites might do.

 

[baz123]

Re: 10000 points per day, and 100 Transactions per week

Well, are you travelling right now?

An increase to 200 or 400 transactions per month blah blah blah

It seems that your opinion is being debated again. I'd have to agree with the other people - that a comparison of current spend to previous spend is irrelevant. I only used to use my Amex card for large transactions, but now use it where I used to use cash or Visa. That seems to me like the whole point of the promotion - to up the frequency of spend.

 

[snufl]

rogerbranch I'll give examples of how this promo has changed my habits.

1) Using Amex instead of cash for smaller purchases. This will continue after the promo, I am surprised how much these add up to dollarwise, and the number of extra normal MR points they generate. I do hope they introduce a tap-type card in the future for purchases under $30.

2) I saw a big ticket item at one store, they didn't take Amex. Went to another store, asked for a price match, and paid by Amex. This will continue, I get more points with Amex than Visa.

So Amex are changing my habits. Yes I'm generating more transactions than usual, but they will benefit well into the future. I think their idea was to generate an increased spending pattern, otherwise why run a promo at all?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Rodgerbranch your last post is ridiculous and fanciful...

While Amex blundered in how they did this promotion...it was always clearly a promotion to increase spend...and in particular as Luisa said they wanted us to get out and spend at the thousands of new businesses.

Transcations numbers will go up....this is what Amex wanted.
Previous spend patterns are irrelevant.

However Amex has indicated that bill splitting and obvious abuse will be cause to have points denied or even your MR membership being terminated.

Abuse is not..I repeat not making more genuine purchases. Yes 50 visits to one KMart ina day would probably be deemed abuse..but purchasing from 50 different stores would just be what amex wanted.

 

[Platcard]

rogerbranch I'll give examples of how this promo has changed my habits.

1) Using Amex instead of cash for smaller purchases. This will continue after the promo, I am surprised how much these add up to dollarwise, and the number of extra normal MR points they generate. I do hope they introduce a tap-type card in the future for purchases under $30.

2) I saw a big ticket item at one store, they didn't take Amex. Went to another store, asked for a price match, and paid by Amex. This will continue, I get more points with Amex than Visa.

So Amex are changing my habits. Yes I'm generating more transactions than usual, but they will benefit well into the future. I think their idea was to generate an increased spending pattern, otherwise why run a promo at all?

I Completely agree@!

 

[oz_mark]

Firstly they made a mistake in their offer. It was clearly too generous. How this every got through is stunning...and their must be some hugely embarressed people at Amex for the lack of review and justification.

While me never know where the promotion went wrong, I think the use of the word unlimited was intentional,due to its strong marketing appeal.

Secondly they exectured so poorly it is amazing (ack of tight T&C, allowing multiple enrolements, allowing no targetted enrolements etc). Certainly their other promotions were normally done with far more extensive T&C and better execution.

This is where I think things really went wrong. Having however many they targetted on unlimted promotions is one thing, but due to a poorly executed opt-in process they basically had unlimted people on unlimted points, and in some cases those people on three unlimted promtions.

So, they should have stated that the promotion was for the recipient of the card and enforced the opt-in*

Thirdly on discovering they had a problem they acted slowly. At first they did not even realise the problem was not so much the extra enrolements, but rather that the size of the bonus was actually too large. I guess this is in some ways not surprisng as the problem probably went make to the people who executed the promotion who had no idea of their mistakes.

We will have to just disagree on which we think the main issue is. I think it was the sheer volume of extra enrolments. Either way, I doubt we will ever know.

Fourthly..they continue to be fragmented and haphazard in their responses. Not giving their CSR's a standrd script to use now is quite amazing.

Certainly based on what people are repoting here, this issue is a big problem. They definitely need to take a look at this aspect when the review things.


*As an aside, I always wonder why bother with opt-in. Why don't you just send a letter saying you are on such and such a promotion, knock yourself out.

 

[Skoogle]

*As an aside, I always wonder why bother with opt-in. Why don't you just send a letter saying you are on such and such a promotion, knock yourself out.

They would have everyone profiled and know the percentages of people who will not bother or hold off for a little bit. Those who forget will still have a good feeling for AMEX and blame themselves.

This way, they can appear generous without actually costing anything.

 

[straitman]

Re: 10000 points per day, and 100 Transactions per week

Well, are you travelling right now?

An increase to 200 or 400 transactions per month can not be justified unless you used to make around X00 transactions before the promo as well. If you used to make 20 transactions per month and now you make 200 that is a different story. I think that AMEX will want to see you using your card in a bunch of new shops (not just one or two). Probably 1 new shop for every 10 new transactions you make.


I agree that Amex will check your previous months to see if you used to make that many transactions. IF NOT then they will only accept your transactions if they fit within the SPIRIT of the promotion. Otherwise they will offer you a 10,000 points per month CAP in GOOD WILL. :mrgreen:


At that point is up to you to get a lawyer

rodgerbranch,

I was going to comment about how ridiculuous I believe your post to be but I think that benhadi, simongr, baz123, snufl, lovetravellingoz and Platcard, have said it all.

 

[Laura_sus]

in a nut shell,

This is a very poorly planned marketing promo that has effectively devalued rewards point. I have been with AMEX for a decade with utilization over 90% paying each month promtly. I am not in targetted group and truly beleive loyality works both ways. Hence I have now decided to close all AMEX credit cards and swithc to CitiBank. I am also prusuing to see whether this could be broguth to Todaytonight or Current affairs to demonstrate how poorly the big corporation showing loyality to their customers and showing genoricity to new customers for new business. There is no point loosing your existing base when AMEX spend enomous in attracting new customers in cutthroat competitive market.... Unfortunately AMEX as an entitity failed to recognised that. Perhaps it is time that they start going to school again and learn fundamentals.... While this thread which has run over 230 pages does bring some degree of publicity but out of 230 pages only 10 pages were positive if you clearly look carefully. There have been lots of threads talking about Todaytonight, ACA, and ACCC etc ....

Any way as for me AMEX is now over, I would urge everyone to join me to teach lessons to AMEX that Customer being the king in free market....

 

[oz_mark]

I am also prusuing to see whether this could be broguth to Todaytonight or Current affairs to demonstrate how poorly the big corporation showing loyality to their customers and showing genoricity to new customers for new business. There is no point loosing your existing base when AMEX spend enomous in attracting new customers in cutthroat competitive market.... Unfortunately AMEX as an entitity failed to recognised that. Perhaps it is time that they start going to school again and learn fundamentals....

I disagree with your assertion that it was about attracting new members. I was targetted and my card says Member Since 98.

There was a geographical element to the targetting, however, in areas where they signed up merchants this year. Certainly prior to the promo, I got another mailout with a list of where I could now use my Amex card.

 

[serfty]

... Any way as for me AMEX is now over, I would urge everyone to join me to teach lessons to AMEX that Customer being the king in free market....

I reckon that's a bit silly! Amex MR still gives me an easy 1½ point per $ which I can post to a multitude of programs.

I have received 10K bonus point through this- that's a bonus. Any more I receive through this I will still treat as a bonus - not a right.

So I'm sticking with Amex ... where it's accepted!

 

[LDJordan]

Re: 10000 points per day, and 100 Transactions per week

Well, are you travelling right now?


I agree that Amex will check your previous months to see if you used to make that many transactions. IF NOT then they will only accept your transactions if they fit within the SPIRIT of the promotion. Otherwise they will offer you a 10,000 points per month CAP in GOOD WILL. :mrgreen:

Stop posting cough again, need to block u!!

Spent 1.5Mil with AMEX last year (mainly business purchase lol) on my plat card....if they still try to CAP me, happy to put all charges to VISA.

 

[mick]

I signed up for all three offers... the 20t/10k on 16/9, and 10t/5k on 17/9 and 5t/5k on 17/9... (also confirmed the other two had been removed and the 5/5 remained via phone on the 17th)

Have been told by 2 AMEX CSR's in the specialized MR department handling this promotion that:

As I was never targeted, and having signed up for multiple promotions... all people in this boat will be placed on the 10 transactions / 5000 bonus points tier... uncapped... (Provided they are pre20th)

Not very happy... but neither CSR seemed to want to budge... and both mentioned the fact that because I was never targeted they did have the option of removing all points and un-enrolling in the promotion, but decided that the mid-tier would be most fair!!

Perhaps it is best to speak to a team leader? Maybe once the bonus points recommence posting?

It would seem that my situation is very similar to yours, except I didn't bother to call to remove the other two promotions - not because I thought all the promos would be enacted at the same time, but because I'm just lazy...

It has been confirmed by an Amex CSR that I'm now on 10T/5K and, even though I've had my initial 5,000 bonus points removed, they say that after 6-8 weeks the points will be allocated under the newly allocated offer. I can now only wait to see if this will occur - I have no reason to assume otherwise.

I think this is fair enough, particularly as I wasn't targetted for any of the offers.

Poor handling of this promotion by Amex aside, most of us stand to gain at least a few thousand bonus points by the end of the year, so that's something to be happy about!

 

[rodgerbranch]

Re: 10000 points per day, and 100 Transactions per week

....... Spent 1.5Mil with AMEX last year (mainly business purchase lol) on my plat card....if they still try to CAP me, happy to put all charges to VISA.

Amex put themselves in big trouble giving access to the promo to people who spend $1m+

They are a high risk. If they are granted all they transactions then they could bleed Amex MR points dry :mrgreen:. If they are capped then they will threaten to leave Amex and put all charges to VISA

If they wanted to reward the big spenders, then they better mail them some around the world tickets or a $XX,000 check, because that is how much it may endup costing them.


If you are a 1.5M+ spender then you shouldn't be worried, for sure you make loads of legitimate transactions every month. Reaching 1M points should be no trouble for ya.

Keep in mind that Corporate Cards were excluded from the promo very clearly from day one.

Play fair and tray not to get POCed by doing silly thing

 

[Rambo]

I will save this up along with their other stuff ups to me this year, and hit them with it late November if I am not on the 5/5 promo. I spent well over 500k a year on my various Amex cards, so if they want to stuff me around happy to jump ship if needed.

You must get some free travelling with all the normal points you earn, from your previous post you are a platinum card holder, so spending over $500K each year on platinum cards you will be earning in excess of 750K points from Amex each year (as platinum cards get 1.5 points per dollar) if you take your businees from Amex you are going to lose a lot of points.

 

[simongr]

Re: 10000 points per day, and 100 Transactions per week

Play fair and tray not to get POCed by doing silly thing

Yet more ridiculous gibberish. A number of people have had points removed with a POC reference and have done nothing to abuse the program. You are making spurious nonsense up again and trying to tar other posters for things that havent done.

I think it's time to stop feeding the troll...