10,000 bonus points per 20 transactions

[NSWhere]

Information, Information, ones action are a result of 'information' provided. The lack of information, there can be no act.

And since inaction means certain death, we are all stuffed!!!!!!!

 

[beardoc]

If you want answers, Crystal at the Banking & Financial Services Ombudsman says they will look into this (log onto Financial Ombudsman Service :: Home Page and lodge a complaint under Banking & Financial Services) as it seems systemic and problematical affecting a lot of people. Or call the people at AMEX Executive Centre who assist the Ombudsman 'with enquiries' on 02 9271 4767. In other words, go to the top and bypass call centres and myrewards people. Then post back here to update us with what you're told. Hopefully Amex people start singing from the same hymn book. Incidentally I got bonus points over recent days and Amex transferred them to my ff program.

vet, deploy, Mal, and others:

Like Mal, I'm going to sit back and wait for something definitive to happen. I am using the promotion in the way it was supposed to (increasing everyday spending on Amex by moving cash and Visa transactions onto Amex by switching businesses that allow Amex), and at this time, Amex have not given me any reason to believe that I am capped (signed up online pre-20th September - have confirmation of acceptance into MYREWARD and notes of dealings with Amex with multiple people at Amex confirming this, and no variation of T&Cs relevant to me).

They are waiting 8-10 weeks for the posting of points. Points stopped posting on the 24th September, so 10 weeks later is Wednesday 3rd December. If points are not posting shortly after that for transactions related to our spend on 24th September (or they are capping retrospectively, etc.), then we have reason to complain, and I will be off to the Banking and Financial Services Ombudsman and encouraging everyone to go there as well and do the same (and encouraging others to email others to post to other forums where MYREWARD has been discussed with information on how to lodge a complaint).

But at the moment, we are just waiting as per the T&Cs. I have no reason to suspect that Amex have changed things for me at this point, so I am sitting tight, and monitoring the situation closely.

Should we need to launch any further action through the BFSO or other agencies, this would be a good forum for discussing it.

 

[simongr]

Should we need to launch any further action through the BFSO or other agencies, this would be a good forum for discussing it.

Although I would suggest a heavily moderated thread...

 

[QF WP]

beardoc, good to see others joining the "wait and see" approach, rather than the "bull at a gate". My situation is exactly the same as yours, except for registering for the 10T:5K points offer. However, I'll be approaching Amex first to try and concilate with them any complaint I had with the changes. Once I have exhausted that avenue, then and only then would I approach an independent body to try and mediate on my behalf.

simongr, nothing surer

 

[ColinP]

beardoc, good to see others joining the "wait and see" approach, rather than the "bull at a gate". My situation is exactly the same as yours, except for registering for the 10T:5K points offer. However, I'll be approaching Amex first to try and concilate with them any complaint I had with the changes. Once I have exhausted that avenue, then and only then would I approach an independent body to try and mediate on my behalf.

simongr, nothing surer

Lindsay, I think you'll find there are many people who are taking the "wait and see" approach. They'll be the less "excitable" amongst us so most will be below the radar or at least lost in the clutter that has been a hallmark of this thread.
I'm in the pre-20th Sep sign up group. I have a QF Premium Amex, was signed up by phone and advised verbally of the T&Cs (I won't repeat them as I'm sure we can all repeat them verbatim by now) My approach is the same as yours, simongr's, beardoc's etc.

As far as I'm concerned the original T&Cs still apply to me as I haven't been (officially) advised of any changes. I received 25,000 bonus points until they dried up on the 24th. I'll be waiting for 8 - 10 weeks and if no more bonus points are forthcoming, I'll be exploring my options.

 

[nlagalle]

Like Mal, I'm going to sit back and wait for something definitive to happen.

I'm with you on this one. From my reading there is a lot of dis-information floating around. Until I get told otherwise, I'm going along as per normal.

I think people need to sit back and take a breath and not worry about going to whichever group at this stage - it could well end up backfiring.

 

[lovestotravel]

Agree with the posts above, while there has been LOTS of talk in this thread about various avenues to explore for changes to the spirit of this promotion.

I can only see/read one person who has started to actually do anything about it.

We are all frustrated, and will be waiting until the first week of December OR for official notification from AMEX for the pre 20th group.

Until then, let us rant away, but I won't be doing anything else besides the odd rant on here until I receive a letter from AMEX, phone call rolleyes:) or I don't get all the points I was entitiled to.

It's just a waiting game now, as the talked about letter last week, phone calls this week haven't eventuated. I doubt that they will.

 

[lovestotravel]

I think people need to sit back and take a breath and not worry about going to whichever group at this stage - it could well end up backfiring.

Yep not worth doing anything at the moment, as the limited T&C's were very clear in that points would be posted in 8-10 weeks.

Until that time, the ACCC and other groups wouldn't care less!

 

[QF WP]

ColinP and nlagalle, truer words have never been spoken. I hope that some more of the more vociferous amongst the members heed the words of perhaps some of the older and wiser of the membership.

 

[deploy]

As much as I don’t like sitting back and play this guessing/waiting game. (As I believe we are entitled to confirm with AMEX what we had originally signed up for at any stage), I've absorbed the few posts above (as reminded, bonus points can take up to 8-10 weeks), hence agree with some of the members strategy to be calm and wait for judgment day approx 3rd Dec, before taking any form action.

I just feel for those that do sign up with AMEX promo and don’t have access to resource and great forums like this, to encourage them to seek further info.

Perfect example – my wife (although works for 1 of the top four banks in Aust. in the Credit Cards department as a Data Modeling Analyst – analyses customer spending behavior). It’s a fact that banks make more money from the lower income earners. I recall her saying that approx. 80% of credit card customers don’t repay on time(incur heaps of interest), and out of that 80%, 90% are from low income earners. The approx 20% that do repay on time, the majority are high income earners and know how to use the system. Hence, banks makes $$ for the lower income earners and a lot of promotion campaign are targeted at them.

When she heard about this rival promo from AMEX, she signed up (we’re a AMEX cardholder for about 10 years, also have a bank gold visa – u guess it, use visa more as its via wife’s employer, hence no fees) ‘however, also thought it was to good to be true’ when we realize news (forum) that the promo was capped, she said ‘oh well – AMEX couldn’t have sustained it – and definitely a few heads at AMEX would have rolled from it.’ And left it that.

 

[beardoc]

At the risk of providing an entirely new forum for everyone to complain, should we start a Wikipedia entry about this phenomenon, should we start a Wikipedia article about it? After all, if there is one for Hoover free flights promotion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia then surely the Amex MYREWARD promotion is worthy of a similar article?

My vote would be for calling the article: "American Express MYREWARD Promotion".

I wrote something up just now, and it was lost by the browser before I could save it, and too tired to write it all again now!

Anyone else interested in starting, I'll help out - or I'll kickstart it again tomorrow.

 

[vet]

As Amex has appointed itself judge jury and executioner with 'interpretations' that suit its profit margins, I'm tempted to ask the ombudsman to get a straight answer to: -am I in the uncapped 5k/5t promotion or not; - what is a ' transaction'; - is 'fraud or abuse' an abuse in the nature of fraud, and is fraud 'civil fraud' or non-civil fraud; - if I was removed, or downgraded from 5k/5t uncapped, where's the notice of default and the Consumer Credit Code notification of any changing terms; - does the gaming permit allow Amex to change the MR terms: I think not but I haven't done much with gaming laws since a Casino changed hands;

 

[oz_mark]

- does the gaming permit allow Amex to change the MR terms: I think not but I haven't done much with gaming laws since a Casino changed hands;

Since when has MR required a gaming permit?

 

[cardiology]

Any news for the pre-20th Sept group?

It is October now.
I registered online on 18 Sept (not targetted and no postcard) for my AMEX credit card.

As I have both AMEX Credit card and AMEX QFF card, obviosly I would put most of my spend on QFF card if I would get a cap at 10,000 pt / month for my 'myreward' registered card!

Anyone got a confirmation letter or phone call from AMEX for this "pre 20 Sept non-targetted group"??

 

[Matt_r]

I think you'll find there are many people who are taking the "wait and see" approach.

That's what I'm doing.. signed up for the 10k/20 promo before starting this thread, signed up for the 5k/10 and then finally the 5k/5. Called amex to figure out the multiple promotion mess, they put me on the 5k/5. So far I've heard nothing from them, so am assuming all is well.

I haven't abused the promotion, simply moved cash/mastercard spend over to amex. If they withhold points, I'll probably cancel the card. It's bad enough that I'm losing QFF and going from 1.5 to 1.25 earn next year, this will push me over the edge. I'll stick with my Earth amex earning 1.00 for a much lower annual fee.

 

[snufl]

Count me into the sit and wait group. There have been too many contradictions and inconsistancies in verbal advice given by Amex and this seems to change on a daily basis.

I have a copy of the the original T&Cs applicable when I signed up and nothing more in writing from Amex. Anyway, what is the good of contacting a consumer protection agency and saying I was told so & so...but someone else was told something else.

 

[holo]

Whilst it is admirable many are happy to wait I don't think it unreasonable others seek certainty as to their situation. The reason being is that several have received conflicting advice as to the benefits they are to receive. Many, including myself, have gone to some trouble to use an Amex card. For me this means walking out of non Amex accepting stores, paying a surcharge in numerous stores where previously I would use Visa or MC. I have even filled in online forms where the store didn't take Amex.

If people want to ensure that Amex are honouring their end of the deal then I applaud them for seeking clarity.

For example, if I spent 3 months incurring surcharges and walking out of non Amex stores then I would be severely ***** to find Amex reneged on their end of the deal.



All some people want is clarity.

 

[MicoPico]

I agree with Holo.

I have no postcard, not targetterd, pre-20Sept.

Since the promo started, I am spending a lot more time in using my Amex - shopping more often, taking longer at check-outs, walking to AMEX-accepting shops, sometimes buying a little more than I used to be etc...

I wouldn't be doing this if there's a cap.

My membership comes up for renewal in November, so I'll probably cancel my Maximiser to go to a lower fee card if the "uncapped promo" does not apply to me.

Knowing my fate will also help me plan my holidays next year too

 

[cardiology]

Called AMEX at 5:00pm.
I registered online on 18 Sept., no postcard.

I am on the old T&C with no cap. CS confirmed that.

 

[aussiejohn]

I have come late to this thread and do not really have the time, energy or inclination to try and wade thru 178 pages of posts. I have read backwards thru quite a few pages though. My apologies first and foremost if my question has already been answered.

I got a postcard from Amex but was unable to enrol as the website was down for a week. Last Saturday I enrolled over the phone for the 20 transactions, 10,000 points scheme. From my reading of some of this thread, there appears to be another scheme of 5000 points for 5 transactions.

Can anyone enlighten me on this? Are there 2 or even more schemes in operation? Do you get a choice? I was offered no choice over the phone last Satureday though I guess it might be tied to the offer code on your postcard. Mine was "EARNPOINTS". I am confused.

You cannot email Amex and trying to phone them is just an exercise in futility most days as you cannot get any sense out of people in their call centres. At least, that has been my experience in the past.

I am annoyed that I couldn't enrol till almost the end of September, thus losing the opportunity to gain an additional 40,000 points for the life of the promotion - provided I can meet the transactions each month. Still, 30,000 for Oct/Nov/Dec, added to what I have so far, will give me a trip to Singapore on SIA, so I will take what I can get and be grateful!!

Hope some kind soul can help here!

John in Oz