10,000 bonus points per 20 transactions

[AnonymousCoward]

The court's role is to interpret the legislation in place. The EPA makes it decision and that is legally binding because of the legislation.

First you should read the Constitution.

Second you should take a class in Administrative law (or talk to a lawyer). No executive body (and the EPA is an executive body - it's not the Parliament, and it's not a Judicial body) can make legally binding decisions due to the separation of powers doctrine. Only a competant court can decide legal rights as between parties in dispute.

I've said this too many times. I'm not going to repeat it again. If you won't go and read Boilermakers (there's an article on Wikipedia) or even understand the separation between Parliament, Executive and Judicial arms of government (for some reason you think that an independant body is not part of the executive), then we will not get anywhere but just go round and round in circles.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Anyway..back to points.

Is anyone still being awarded bonus points?

Or have they basically dried up with that surge on Dec 31?

That there was a surge on Dec 31...adds support to what some CSR's have indicated...that more points will be awarded on (or near) Jan 31.

( Even though I am currently in limbo...my deduction is that if Amex pays out most people then they will have to pay my points too, for my tx were all legit...just lots of them)

 

[alemdohorizonte]

Anyway..back to points.

Is anyone still being awarded bonus points?

Or have they basically dried up with that surge on Dec 31?

That there was a surge on Dec 31...adds support to what some CSR's have indicated...that more points will be awarded on (or near) Jan 31.

( Even though I am currently in limbo...my deduction is that if Amex pays out most people then they will have to pay my points too, for my tx were all legit...just lots of them)

nothing from amex for me. the last bonus i received from amex was on september 26.

 

[oliverd]

nothing from amex for me. the last bonus i received from amex was on september 26.

I was receiving 5T/5K points every five transactions until 23 September... since then, not a single (bonus) point. Was told to expect September points in mid-Jan, which is now getting close. I was also told there was no backlog in processing the Oct-Dec points, so some of these should also have been credited by now. Very frustrating.

 

[vet]

Amex's delays mean our planned trip next year clouded in the uncertainty of getting award seats.

Already we paid cash flights for the trip this year because of Amex' delays and I fear we will miss the award seats needed for a trip in January 2010.

 

[simongr]

Here is where I struggle vet - are you saying that Amex has some for of liability for your 2010 holiday?

 

[vet]

Interesting thought Simongr.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Here is where I struggle vet - are you saying that Amex has some for of liability for your 2010 holiday?

Well vet appears to think so. As long as Amex deposits points per their official T&C, I can't see any reason why Amex has any liability for vet's inability to book an award flight on Virgin...

 

[lovetravellingoz]

As long as Amex deposits points per their official T&C, ...

Well I do not know about VET..but for many including me, Amex is clearly in breach of the T&C in awarding points.

That is that they would according to the T&C be awarded upto 10 weeks from qualifying earn (ie every 5th, 10th or 20th tx depending on which promo version you are in.

There are many forumites who have not had any points since Sept....and it is now Jan 10. That is 15 weeks+..with Amex being in breach for 5+ weeks and counting.

 

[vet]

but for many including me, Amex is clearly in breach of the T&C in awarding points. That is that they would according to the T&C be awarded upto 10 weeks from qualifying earn (ie every 5th, 10th or 20th tx depending on which promo version you are in. There are many forumites who have not had any points since Sept....and it is now Jan 10. That is 15 weeks+..with Amex being in breach for 5+ weeks and counting.

Ne'er a truer word be spoken.

One has to wonder too if they have dug another hole when making representations about 6-8-10 weeks for allocation.

 

[Iza]

An update on my dealings with AMEX. Apparently the transactions with a value of less than $3.00 caused my suspension from the program.

 

[kpc]

An update on my dealings with AMEX. Apparently the transactions with a value of less than $3.00 caused my suspension from the program.

There was nothing in the T & Cs to say there was mininum transaction

 

[straitman]

There was nothing in the T & Cs to say there was mininum transaction

I guess the assumption drawn is that multiple transactions of a very low $ value is/was a deliberate violation of the T&C as per using multiple transactions to pay a single bill.

A bit of a stretch and I understand the logic though I don't agree with the methodology or outcome.

 

[Iza]

I guess the assumption drawn is that multiple transactions of a very low $ value is/was a deliberate violation of the T&C as per using multiple transactions to pay a single bill.

A bit of a stretch and I understand the logic though I don't agree with the methodology or outcome.

I concur. Methinks AMEX is making up the rules as it goes along!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

There was nothing in the T & Cs to say there was mininum transaction

Plus on checking my registration on TWO occassions I was told without asking....no minmum spend and no limit to the number of bonuses I can earn.

Plus T&C have:
What do you mean by legitimate everyday spend?
We mean the types of legitimate purchases that you make everyday, like buying a coffee, picking up lunch or a movie ticket.

Everday I bought a newspaper. cost $1.60 to $ depending on the day of the week.

Some coffees I bought were only $2.50.

Lunch I often bought at Coles or Safways.
One particular Coles on many days had 50% off items in their bakery department.... so $2 was a common spend.

When thirsty again the supermarkets were handy...and a $1 -ish would securea soft-drink.

Krispy-Kremes for a donut at $2.75.

Maybe a chocolate bar at 7-11, Priceline etc...again for well under $3 each time.

etc etc etc

 

[beardoc]

An update on my dealings with AMEX. Apparently the transactions with a value of less than $3.00 caused my suspension from the program.

This is plainly ridiculous. As has been mentioned above if they're looking for everyday spending AND they specified items like a coffee, etc. then they plainly cannot assume that items below $3 are liable for suspension from the program. I've paid for multiple things that are less than $3 (chocolate, a can of drink, a coffee, a newspaper, a pack of ballpoint pens, parking meters, bread, sushi roll, a carton of milk, all sorts of snacks, etc.).

They are completely making it up as they go along. If they believed it wasn't possible to spend on an American Express for amounts less than $3, they were very wrong.

If they wanted $3 to be the minimum transaction amount, it should have been in the T&Cs from the start, or in a modified T&C that they gave to customers. The promotion period is over - they can't retrospectively change the T&Cs now!

 

[skeltonl]

I guess the assumption drawn is that multiple transactions of a very low $ value is/was a deliberate violation of the T&C as per using multiple transactions to pay a single bill.

A bit of a stretch and I understand the logic though I don't agree with the methodology or outcome.

I agree with straitman that this is the assumption they would try to operate under.

Obviously it's not just having a few transactions under $3 (I had 2 out of my 201 October transactions and they paid me all of the points for that month on 31 Dec) but multiple transactions probably calculated as a percentage of the total number done.

The ridiculous way that AMEX have oprated this promo by refusing to supply clear guidelines is beyond a joke. Why they just didnt say only one transaction from any merchant per day will be counted and the limit is $X is beyond me.

I think forum members suspended for this reason have a very valid right to be aggrieved if they pursue this line.

 

[alemdohorizonte]

I guess the assumption drawn is that multiple transactions of a very low $ value is/was a deliberate violation of the T&C as per using multiple transactions to pay a single bill.

A bit of a stretch and I understand the logic though I don't agree with the methodology or outcome.

i don't see how this latest amex position has any rational foundation nor how they can, in good conscience, even consider making the argument that transactions less than $3.00 are considered abuse of the system and cause for suspension from the promotion.

with my sceptical mind anticipating that amex might pull something like this (i used my card for small purchases as well like my daily soy milk purchases, street parking and music purchases from itunes (but have not *yet* received a suspension letter)) i saved a web page from the amex membership rewards site on october 17, 2008 that says (verbatim):

"Other Ways To Boost Your Points Earning Potential
--Don't change the way you spend, just the way you pay.
You don't have to increase your spending to earn Membership Rewards points. Just use the American Express Card for your daily purchases instead of cash, cheques or another card. That way you'll maximise your points - and your rewards."

upon reading this, i think any reasonable person would agree that amex is encouraging small transactions (anything that you'd use cash for). to me, this clearly negates their argument that sub $3.00 transactions are abuse of the spirit of the bonus points promo.

i saved the web page in pdf format but don't know how to post it here. if someone will help me i will be glad to post it here so it can be used by anyone who would like to use it to show the hypocrisy and capriciousness of amex' constantly changing positions.

 

[codash1099]

Amex are totally erratic. How could they explain a friend of mine on the 20t/10k promotion getting 25000 points. Nott only should there not be an odd 5000, but the awarded points exceed what was actually earned.

And here's me owed only 15000 points covering 3 months and still they tell me I have to wait until the end of the month.:evil::evil::evil::evil:

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Given that we'll only heard this from one CSR, the story may be completely incorrect (given how many times we've heard CSR messages that are incorrect).

Additionally, I suspect (as others have posted before) that it's got to be based on more than just spending less than $3. There must be other calculations involved (maybe proportions of transactions under $3). Doesn't mean that you are rorting the promotion.

And lastly Amex have dug themselves into a huge hole here financially. I'm frankly not surprised that they are taking some measures to desparately reduce their liability. 10k points/month for those capped is worth $100 or so (x 4 months = $400 they are giving away). For others that are uncapped, the liability is looking like many thousands (or tens of thousands) for those that perhaps got more enthusiastic than others. Somehow I think we are all going to end up paying for this mistake - not Amex.