10,000 bonus points per 20 transactions

[medhead]

Total T = 386

Total spend - $30,300 :shock:

so that's like 385000 bonus points plus normal points. Sorry, I'm not sure of the earn rate but assuming 1 point per $ => 415k points costing about 7 cents per point.

Money well spent I say.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Yikes and this in personal (non business) spend?:arrow:

Whilst $30k is a bit, it's not that much. Had to keep a spreadsheet as MR transactions are limited to the previous 75 days or something on the Amex website. A quick look for mine shows 271 eligible transactions, but overall spend is more than 2x Simongr's.

 

[simongr]

so that's like 385000 bonus points plus normal points. Sorry, I'm not sure of the earn rate but assuming 1 point per $ => 415k points costing about 7 cents per point.

Money well spent I say.

Actually Amex Plat so 1.5/$

 

[NM]

Seems Amex also doesn't like the 'promo offered 5/5 from (ie backdated to) 1 Sept if you enrol before 31 December' argument.

Original promo specified the period was 10th September through to 31st December. I have not seen any mention of transactions between 1st and 10th September being eligible for the promotion.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Boo yah!

Just had a call from [insert name here] from Amex from the Executive group as a response to the query from the Ombudsman. The facts:

- Confirmed thatthere was an online offer for 5/5
- Confirmed I am on 5/5
- I will be recveiving points fully (including reversal of adjustments) under 5/5
- Sep/Oct points to credit soon
- Nov/Dec points to credit by 31/1
- Reconciliation of points will be provided on request
- Letter advising this to be sent to me and the Ombudsman

This I would call a result

Congrats Simongr, and thanks for blazing the trail. Looks like following in your footsteps might be the way to go.

 

[edman]

Signed up for all three pre 20 Sep. I did not try to cancel other registrations. I was then put on 10T/5K via a letter from Amex in Mid October. I called and was advised that I was stuck, called the exec group and was told to write to a specific address, sent letter, got no response and contacted the FSO.

Phew!

My situation was that I signed up for 20/10 online, then 5/5 the next day via phone whilst also cancelling the original 20/10 rego. I've been told repeatedly by Amex, who also told me that I would get written confirmation though this has never been received, that because I didn't get a postcard I would be on 10/5 even though I registered before the cut-off date. Long phone call today, CSR first advised the same thing, but on speaking to the manager a 2nd time, tells me that I'm on 5/5. Even though I had cancelled the first enrolment, this doesn't show on their main screen and they had to follow an audit trail to determine the correct info. This probably explains why I never got the letter saying I had been moved to 10/5.

I think there were a couple of others in the same boat as me; I'm not taking this as gospel until the points arrive, but she has made a note on the file of the managers details confirming my rego. Hopefully this will save me having to go down the BFSO path, but will see what happens on 31st January first (when the points will be awarded by).

 

[JakDac]

Re abusive letter response to American Express one formed on a whole (joint action) may be advisable with input advise from FO
worked out on this forum

A template letter formed by all on forum in response to Amex's abuse letter using suggestions from fos.org.au

As your symbol suggests solidarity

Again if we FORMULATE a UNIFIED response to Amex this could be CLASSY Action

 

[vet]

I figure I only got a free return flight's worth of points to/from the usa per $1300 spent.

What a rip off - I could've bought seats for $1100! Should I ask Amex for $200!!!!

 

[JohnK]

I wonder if it is worth pursuing the same path and going to the Ombudsman? I enrolled in all 3 promotions but also saw the offer on the Amex website although did not take a copy of it. Since I wasn't targetted I am on the 10T/5K promotion but also missing November/December points.

I can see why Amex has been playing dirty with most of us based on what I have read in some of the posts in this thread. If my assumptions are correct some people here are averaging ~$5 per transaction, possibly less and have probably accumulated more transactions than anyone else. Even though the promotion said to increase everyday spending somehow I do not think this is what Amex had in mind. Anyway kudos to Amex for continuing the promotion until the end and for abiding by the decisions of the ombudsman and FSO....

 

[lovestotravel]

Just heard from a lawyer that Amex is still mailing out the 'you weren't invited' arguments. I wonder how many people don't know about the apology letters etc so they merely 'cop it sweet'. Seems Amex also doesn't like the 'promo offered 5/5 from (ie backdated to) 1 Sept if you enrol before 31 December' argument.

If they have done this recently that that is nothing but a joke!

Also the offer was clear that it started on the 1st September

 

[NM]

If my assumptions are correct some people here are averaging ~$5 per transaction, possibly less and have probably accumulated more transactions than anyone else.

Not everyone has such a low transaction average. My average over the promotion period is $51.84 per transaction. I think my smallest transaction was $5.09 from Target and largest was $1158 (insurance). If my average was $5, I would be in line to earn around 4M points for the same total spend!

 

[simongr]

Again if we FORMULATE a UNIFIED response to Amex this could be CLASSY Action

Given that Amex are paying out once you go through the FSO process I see no need for a class action.

@JohnK Please lodge a complaint with Amex - they will have evidence of you having registered (especially if you got a letter saying you did multiple registrations ) then complain to the FSO when you dont get a timely response - you will win!

 

[vet]

I agree Loves.

Amex's different stories to different folk reminds of a case where disabled people won a raffle of government grants as part of the uum out of court settlement. Oddly the bureaucrats didn't want to testify - Jack Paccholli's Toorak Metro News threaten to report that people wanted perjury charges laid when the bueaucrats' different stories to different people were exposed.

M'thinks there's a gold mine of 'different stories' here - and would you believe Amex's various stories, backflips, admin errors, ops errors and apologies if you were an ombudsman or an ASIC officer in Investigations & Enforcement????

 

[simongr]

For the record vet - you complained to teh FSO and got a payout so did I - why the need for sensationalist TV?

 

[Gogo65]

I just received in the mail today a flyer with "Receive up to 33% bonus with points for credit" This is a strictly limited offer, only available to the first 2000 redemptions.
Membership reward points Credit Amount
36,000 points $250 credit +15% bonus
69,000 points $500 credit +20% bonus
130,000 points $1,000 credit +33% bonus.

There is a reward code, not sure if I am allowed to write that here?

I wonder if Amex are trying to get us all to cash our points in

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I can see why Amex has been playing dirty with most of us based on what I have read in some of the posts in this thread. ....

Your assumptions may not be considering everything.

For example with me there was the choice of:

* the Everday promo at 1000 bonus points per tx
* the Earth promo of 3 points per $

So any tx larger than about $650 would produce a larger bonus with Earth (though admitedly direct swept to QF...though I am working on two RTW Oneworld tickets there so that is ok)

With all the inconsistency and backtracking by Amex I personally put a bit of risk management into play. "Not having all ones eggs in the one basket" and all that.

ie
Larger tx went to Earth for GUARANTEED points
Smaller tx went to Amex Max for hopefully eventually 1000 points per tx.

This has reduced my Amex Max spend as a total, and has also reduced the average size of tx.

If Amex had played straighter then more of my larger tx would have also gone on the Max.

On the up side for Amex I still put through a lot more $ than normal.....and without adding it up exactly over $25K.

$15K of large tx went to Earth.

Amex are playing dirty because they stuffed up BADLY...and are trying to minimise the damage.

I am not about to feel guilty for taking advantage of the promo......just as Amex would not feel guilty for charging me a HUGE interest bill if I did not pay my bill on time.

In both cases the T&C is clear...and rules to be followed.

If I pay late..I have to pay the interest.

So in the promo I expect Amex to follow it's rules.

 

[medhead]

Amex's different stories to different folk reminds of a case where disabled people won a raffle of government grants as part of the uum out of court settlement. Oddly the bureaucrats didn't want to testify - Jack Paccholli's Toorak Metro News threaten to report that people wanted perjury charges laid when the bueaucrats' different stories to different people were exposed.

Actually the bureaucrats were probably prevented from testifying. That is how our system of government works. The bureaucrats implement the policy of the elected government, they simply act on the instructions of the minister. The bureaucrats answer to the minister and government. It's the minister who needs to testify.

Perjury - Jack Paccholli's Toorak Metro News is a court is it.

 

[JakDac]

Regarding abuse letter-(of which I take exception as to my character)

What was the PO Box for the Amex reply to their letter ?
Can it be faxed ?
Do we legally have to send it in within their 30 day time frame ?
If mailed is it wise to register letter?
Can we reply via email ?

Has anyone scanned letters(w/out names) as to compare or easily forward to interested parties

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Regarding abuse letter-(of which I take exception as to my character)

Has anyone scanned letters(w/out names) as to compare

From what I have read the letters were a form letter and were all the same.....right down to it be signed witha squiggle.

 

[beardoc]

Original promo specified the period was 10th September through to 31st December. I have not seen any mention of transactions between 1st and 10th September being eligible for the promotion.

I wrote this earlier in the thread, but when you entered MYREWARD, the page that you got then on the Amex site said:

"You are now registered to receive 5,000 Membership Rewards Bonus Points for every 5 transactions you make each month from 1 September to 31 December 2008, with no limit to the Bonus Points you can earn. To find out all of the places you can be
rewarded for using your American Express® Card click here [amexnetwork.com.au/merchantmap]"

(emphasis mine)