10,000 bonus points per 20 transactions

[JohnK]

John, Earn up to 10,000 bonus points on your Christmas shopping. It's our gift to you.

I just had a look at the new postcard I received from Amex and the code is HOLIDAYS. This is definitely different to the original 3 promotions and I do not remember seeing this code posted on this thread. Looking at the fine print there is no indication that signing for the current promotion is going to cancel out any previous promotions.

Is it worth it signing up for this promotion? I will be struggling to have 30 transctions in December, going overseas in 2 weeks, and there is no gurantee I will receive points from the original promotion where as this is guaranteed to net me 10,000 bonus points. Decisions, decisions....

 

[file51]

JohnK, as per your card mine says the same thing, however the code is "REWARD" hence my hesitation in registering (very close to previous opt-in codes).

 

[oz_mark]

So we have

Uncapped promotions
MYREWARD - 5,000 MR every five transactions
MYBONUS - 5,000 MR every ten transactions
EARNPOINTS - 10,000 MR every twenty transaction

capped promotions
REWARD- 5,000 MR every five transactions
BONUS - 5,000 MR every ten transactions
POINT - 10,000 MR every twenty transaction

christmas promotions
REWARD - 5,000 MR every five transactions
BONUS - 5,000 MR every ten transactions
POINT - 10,000 MR every twenty transaction
HOLIDAYS - 5,000 MR every ten transactions

 

[JohnK]

Sorry should have mentioned HOLIDAYS is 5,000 bonus points for every 10 transactions capped at 10,000 bonus points. Can sign up for the promotion up to 31 December 2008 and bonus points will post 8-10 weeks after the end of the promotion.

I think I will sign up for it but I may wait and see if any points post from the previous promotion.

 

[QF WP]

Month      Transactions      Points Credited      Points Owed 
September^      23                5,000               5,000
October         70                    0              35,000
November       102                    0              50,000
December#       26                    0              10,000

^ from date of registration (18/9)
# up to and including 5/12, with at least 4 transactions to post from yesterday (plus any from my wife who's out shopping today). Goal is 120, so I'm well ahead of target

Hmmm, haven't got any new postcard from Amex yet, but I wouldn't be going in for another 10K only, if it would harm my original offer.

 

[JohnK]

Hmmm, haven't got any new postcard from Amex yet, but I wouldn't be going in for another 10K only, if it would harm my original offer.

I know I have not posted all the details of the current postcard but what makes you think that signing for the latest promotion would harm the original promotion? The only reason I can think of is Amex pulling some sort of swifty otherwise it looks like a good opportunity for an extra 10,000 bonus points.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I know I have not posted all the details of the current postcard but what makes you think that signing for the latest promotion would harm the original promotion? The only reason I can think of is Amex pulling some sort of swifty otherwise it looks like a good opportunity for an extra 10,000 bonus points.

Well if they are all different version of the earnpoints promo...then T&C state:

Can I enrol in the promotion more than once?
No, only one registration is permitted per eligible Cardmember.

American Express will be tracking instances of multiple enrolments and for those cases identified your Membership Rewards account will be amended to reflect one enrolment.

It would be unfortunate to move from an "uncapped" to 10k per month cap.

 

[vet]

If you can only enrol once in 'the promotion', what happens if they run 3 promos and you enrol once in each???? Does the term say "not to be used in conjunction with any other offer" or 'thou shalt be in one promo at a time'??

I think the BFSO should start hiring more staff.

 

[JohnK]

Well if they are all different version of the earnpoints promo...

Well is this a different version of the Earnpoints promotion? Mine says HOLIDAYS so I cannot see the similarity othen 5,000 bonus points for 5 transactions.

It would be unfortunate to move from an "uncapped" to 10k per month cap.

As I stated earlier I have no idea if I will receive any bonus points from previous promotions and I am not likely to get more than 30 transactions for December. So do I take a guaranteed 10,000 bonus points for the new HOLIDAYS promotion, for which I am targetted, or a possible 15,000 bonus points from MYREWARD promotion?

 

[JohnK]

If you can only enrol once in 'the promotion', what happens if they run 3 promos and you enrol once in each???? Does the term say "not to be used in conjunction with any other offer" or 'thou shalt be in one promo at a time'??

I have not seen anything on the postcard that even remotely resembles any mention of previous promotions.

I wish I knew what to do. I do not think I am likely to get any straight answers from AFF as the paranoia seems to have deeply settled into place. Perhaps it is time to call Amex and explain the situation.....

 

[straitman]

JohnK,

If this is a new variation of the previous promotion they should not accept any new enrollment under the T&C as laid down.

It's a good line of thought in theory

 

[simongr]

Well if they are all different version of the earnpoints promo...then T&C state:

Can I enrol in the promotion more than once?
No, only one registration is permitted per eligible Cardmember.

American Express will be tracking instances of multiple enrolments and for those cases identified your Membership Rewards account will be amended to reflect one enrolment.

It would be unfortunate to move from an "uncapped" to 10k per month cap.

I actually think this is positive for us.

If this is a separate promo then it reinforces the position that we could join three promos...

 

[vet]

Should one enrol in the new promo on 29th December, and run up 10,000 points on the new promo. It might be a bit of insurance

 

[vet]

Spoke to the BFSO and Exec Customer Services.

The BFSO has a workload that is still causing it delays. When I asked if the workload was due to tons of complaints about Amex's promos, there was a chuckle - and no denial.

Then after sending complaints they give Amex a month.

Then the BFSO considers matters.

Then it makes a decision that will be binding on Amex if the customer agrees with it.

Then issues may be referred to regulatory bodies like ASIC.

ASIC has some laws that allows it, if it wants, to seek civil compensation for people as well as fines.

Overall, it looks like this thread won't be over for a while.

 

[QF WP]

Does the term say "not to be used in conjunction with any other offer" or 'thou shalt be in one promo at a time'??

I actally agree with vet (I never thought I'd say that...). If they have brought out a new promo that overlaps with an existing promo, then they would need to include wording in the T&C's to specifically include or exclude piggybacking with the other promo's. As this hasn't happened, they won't have a leg to stand on with the authorities if they subsequently deny the additional point earning (and would be a retrograde step for them given the better T&C's they produced for the subsequent BP and Colorado promo's).

I think this new offer has been born, in part, from the negative publicity and loss of goodwill from (I would suspect) a growing number of complaints involving the BFSO.

Looking at oz_mark's post listing the names of all the current promo's, I find it surprising that they would use the same words for the first three promo's - unless they are "piggybacking" these promo's for those that:

1. Got the original card but didn't register initially (trying to re-engage them to using their Amex card this Xmas)
2. Didn't get a card (in the first mailing), and given the furore Amex created with lots of unhappy people being told about the promo, ringing up and not being allowed to register after whatever date it was canned (trying to re-engage them)
3. People who registered/rang up expecting uncapped offer, but given capped promo - trying to placate those cardholders from instituting further action

Although I haven't received the new promo postcard (yet...), I probably don't expect to :shock:.

However, the cynic in me thinks this new promo has the opportunity for a right royal stuff up, which is quite possible with Amex's recent history ...

 

[vet]

The ACCC has explained things like this:

1. ACCC investigates misleading and unconscionable conduct in marketing and promos, but not financial service products. So it can look into things.

2. BFSO & ASIC investigate financial industry issues that include misleading prize promos and promos generally, unconscionable conduct, conduct likely to mislead consumers, and whether terms are void under any law of the States or Commonwealth or void under the unwritten common law. As we know, the BFSO has already ruled against Amex;

3. Gaming regulators apply State laws to promos for bonus points that were entrable into the draw for prizes (like the flights Amex too the permits out for). The Vcgr is looking into Amex's exclusions of people and other issues: including how entries into a promo over about 10 weeks can be delayed until after the prizes are won.

4. Consumer Affairs has laws too dealing with void terms and conditions, and the Jetstar case ruled against fine print.

(ACCC also wonders if Amex has problems relying on terms that regulators have trouble finding on amex's website and its amexnetwork.com.au site).

So there's 3 or 4 agencies looking into the first three promos, the gaming permit promo plus, maybe soon, these latest promos too.

Surely Amex could explain things better.

 

[glass]

getting hard now to go shopping several times a week, the xmas crowds are out!
only 80tx this mth.

 

[lovestotravel]

Yep I avoided the shops over the weekend as much as I wanted to spend up on the AMEX.

Hit the shops today but still a bit too busy for my liking and the next 3 weeks will be worse.

I should have gone harder on my AMEX in October/November

 

[vet]

I just received by snail mail an offer for 2,000 bonus points if I direct debit the Telstra phone on amex.

The terms say the offer is only to the addressee and there's a 'limit of one bonus per cardmember'. The terms say ''please allow 6-8 weeks for points to appear from the date of enrolment".

So is Amex really saying their earlier terms allowed multi-enrolments??

Is Amex saying the 6-8-10 weeks they want for the 5k/10k/20k bonus promos should have been very prominent?

 

[simongr]

Is Amex saying the 6-8-10 weeks they want for the 5k/10k/20k bonus promos should have been very prominent?

They were clearly spelled out in the postcard that has been shown here numerous times.