10,000 bonus points per 20 transactions

[ejb]

Hi all,

I just phoned Amex Plat service and was put through to MR. The lady on the phone confirmed I am enrolled in 5K/5T and because I enrolled on 16th I am still enrolled, however she did say that everyone enrolled will get a phone call to clarify the situation and I am due to get my call tomorrow AM.

Furthermore she commented the program was canned due to a high number of people abusing the system. She commented one person had paid $1200 phone bill in $1 payments and furthermore Coles and wollies had both complained about the number of multiple small transactions. Seems someone had told them about the program and they didn't like having their time wasted.

I await the phonecall from amex for further information.

ejb

 

[Andym]

Hi All,

I am about to call Amex and ask what is happening and see what promotion level I am on. I received a card in the mail on the 17th, enrolled straight away and received 5K bonus on the 19th after making 5 purchases in those 2 days - all legit, Petrol, Groceries etc.

I have not received ANY bonus points since that initial 19th Sept bonus and find it strange, considering everyone else was receiving theirs? I have made 26 transactions since the 17th and have only been credited once... I find this quite unusual and wonder if they have changed my promotion? - even though my card states I was offerred the 5/5K

I am still getting my usual 1.5 points for every dollar spent that I get through my Plat Charge card, but just not the bonuses... wierd

Also, I am still awaiting 4 transactions to appear on my bill that took place on the 20th Sept (4 taxi rides). I have rung the taxi company and was aughed at and told why am I worrying if they haven't been added to my bill yet? Well considering that they were all in excess of $40 trips, that's $160 that my account is out of balance!!! :evil: I know it's only Monday, but again, 3 taxi rides from the 27th have not appeared also.... 7 Taxi fares in 9 days are yet to show up??!!!

Anyways, I'll give AMEX a call now and see what is happening, and also might call the Taxi company too... sure, I should be happy that they have not been charged.. but on the other hand, I like to have my accounts up to date!

Thank you for listening

 

[kort]

Furthermore she commented the program was canned due to a high number of people abusing the system. She commented one person had paid $1200 phone bill in $1 payments and furthermore Coles and wollies had both complained about the number of multiple small transactions. Seems someone had told them about the program and they didn't like having their time wasted.
ejb

When I originally signed up I did not see anything in the T&C about the above NOT being allowed? When I enrolled, there was mention of "no limits to the number of points you can earn".....sure paying a phone bill in 1200 increments is unusual, but the person was still playing within the rules.

It doesn't seem fair/legal to chop and change the rules and then backdate those rules? Surely ACCC or Consumer Affairs would have something to say? Is it worth pusuing AMEX on this?

Since the promotion began (I signed up around the 20/9), I have put about 50 transactions through - the 1st 10,000 came through for my 1st 10 transactions, but since then I have had NO points....The actions of AMEX seems a bit fishy....its almost like "we don;t like the rules, we will just re-write them in our favour) - thats BS!

I admire the person who did that 1200 transactions!

 

[rodgerbranch]

In summary NO summary

So, in summary:

--> if enrolled MYREWARD before 19th September: original T&C apply

--> if enrolled after 19th September: see AMEX site for new T&C


Finally, despite the reassurances from AMEX, we will only truly know once the bonus points are applied - and that may not be known for another 8-10 weeks.

Amex is planning a smart fix without having to change T&C... Bonus Points will be added nearly at the end of the Promo. 8 weeks from now, if people has gone banans doing 100's of small transactions then they will disclose the small print or add new rules and remove points and transactions again. Now if people dont go Crazy and moderate their purchases (Aim for a lot less than UNLIMITED) then Amex will achive what they need without Changing the T&C at all

If anyone gets a writen reply with clear rules about Unlimited points Please Post it...

 

[kort]

Re: In summary NO summary

Amex is planning a smart fix without having to change T&C... Bonus Points will be added nearly at the end of the Promo. 8 weeks from now, if people has gone banans doing 100's of small transactions then they will disclose the small print or add new rules and remove points and transactions again. Now if people dont go Crazy and moderate their purchases (Aim for a lot less than UNLIMITED) then Amex will achive what they need without Changing the T&C at all

Not sure what they mean by "smart fix" - its does not seem right that AMEX can "backdate" T&C when people (like myself) signed up to different T&C in the 1st place. Is what they are doing even legal (ie backdating changing T&C??!)?

 

[kamchatsky]

Hi all,

I just phoned Amex Plat service and was put through to MR. The lady on the phone confirmed I am enrolled in 5K/5T and because I enrolled on 16th I am still enrolled, however she did say that everyone enrolled will get a phone call to clarify the situation and I am due to get my call tomorrow AM.

Furthermore she commented the program was canned due to a high number of people abusing the system. She commented one person had paid $1200 phone bill in $1 payments and furthermore Coles and wollies had both complained about the number of multiple small transactions. Seems someone had told them about the program and they didn't like having their time wasted.

I await the phonecall from amex for further information.

ejb

1200 transactions in $1 increments?! Wow ..... Very time consuming ......

So did they comment on anyone who buys 100 mushrooms separately?!

NOTE: No, I did NOT do it Don't have the time and energy (I average 5 transactions per day).

 

[asdfghjkl32]

Now when I call them, they just say that it's experiencing problem in the system, always ask me to call back in 3 or 4 hours.... today is better..... 1 or 2 hours they have asked.

 

[simongr]

When I originally signed up I did not see anything in the T&C about the above NOT being allowed? When I enrolled, there was mention of "no limits to the number of points you can earn".....sure paying a phone bill in 1200 increments is unusual, but the person was still playing within the rules.

It doesn't seem fair/legal to chop and change the rules and then backdate those rules? Surely ACCC or Consumer Affairs would have something to say? Is it worth pusuing AMEX on this?

Since the promotion began (I signed up around the 20/9), I have put about 50 transactions through - the 1st 10,000 came through for my 1st 10 transactions, but since then I have had NO points....The actions of AMEX seems a bit fishy....its almost like "we don;t like the rules, we will just re-write them in our favour) - thats BS!

I admire the person who did that 1200 transactions!

Why do you admire them? They exploited a loop hole that has led to many other people losing out on the promo... yay great for them.

Amex have done nothing in breach of the T&Cs at the moment other than post points when they shouldnt have done.. you should not expect any points for another 6-8 weeks anyway.

 

[vet]

Hi Kort & Holo - the amex lass tells me today that the lady who signed me up was right to say a $100 bill could be paid in 5 x $20 instalments, but $1 payments would be abuse. Hmmm. So bill splitting is ok if its for some amount over $1, like what?$2, $5 or $19.99? The amex lass also says I never received a postcard so they've reversed me out of the 5k/5t promo onto a $1 per point plan. Apparently the lady who took my $80 joining fee signed me onto 5k/5t and Velocity but, somehow, from day 1, I was 'really' on a $1 plan. They've even wiped off 274 points for petrol, coffees, bourbon & cokes, wine and rasperberry lemonade followed 2 hours later (after the +1 returned from the medical centre) by a lunch and coffees. This is 'abuse' apparently. Not happy Jan. I'm logging onto the complaints forms at the ACCC (www.ac.gov.au), Banking & Financial Services Ombudsman, Consumer Affairs and Gambling Regulation Commission (tel 03 9651 3333). Let the experts handle amex.

 

[futaris]

They exploited a loop hole that has led to many other people losing out on the promo... yay great for them.

I would say that this site exists for that very reason:

SC runs in USA on YUPs = loophole
Jetstar Starclass upgrades earning business class SCs = loophole
Maximizing segments on *ONE* to earn more SCs = loophole
F trip around the world on a standard AAdvantage partner award = loophole
Paraburdoo - Tom Price Bus = loophole

 

[snufl]

sure paying a phone bill in 1200 increments is unusual, but the person was still playing within the rules.
I admire the person who did that 1200 transactions!

The original T&Cs included this line:
Subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Membership Rewards program.
If you read 14.4 of MR T&Cs I think this type of activity is addressed.

I don't like to chances of the person with those 1200 transactions being able to justify keeping those points.

 

[oz_mark]

Paraburdoo - Tom Price Bus = loophole

Wow, someone managed to weave the bus into this thread

As for when points post, I would have thought that they would have taken each months transactions, total it up, work out the points and credit them (which could have allowed anything that was returned to be removed from the total etc). Was quite surprised to read here that they were posting for some people as they went.

 

[kamchatsky]

Hi all,

I just phoned Amex Plat service and was put through to MR. The lady on the phone confirmed I am enrolled in 5K/5T and because I enrolled on 16th I am still enrolled, however she did say that everyone enrolled will get a phone call to clarify the situation and I am due to get my call tomorrow AM.

Furthermore she commented the program was canned due to a high number of people abusing the system. She commented one person had paid $1200 phone bill in $1 payments and furthermore Coles and wollies had both complained about the number of multiple small transactions. Seems someone had told them about the program and they didn't like having their time wasted.

I await the phonecall from amex for further information.

ejb

Now my only worry is the Coles/Woolworths will ban any Amex transactions less than $5 ....... Then it would really defeat Amex's purpose of advocating increasing use of Amex ......

 

[futaris]

Wow, someone managed to weave the bus into this thread

I already mentioned it back in post #1064 (page 107 on 10posts/page):

The Australian Frequent Flyer Online Community - View Single Post - 10,000 bonus points per 20 transactions

 

[deploy]

AFter reading post #142 (pwanda) & post # 1464 (ejb)

I advised my wife to call again, this time, received the following response:
"The guy I talked to at AMEX who told me that we are on the original T&C with unlimited bonus points is Adrian( AMEX CSR). He gave me a case number to confirm that I've been told that I'm on the unlimited T&C. Case number is xx_xx_XX. (i purposely removed my case number)"

Obviously, AMEX CSRs all have different information, hence providing different information to us.
If AMEX is totally confused, no doubt we should be too.

as 'pwanda' mentioned earlier, we wont know til 8-10 weeks time, or unless AMEX comes clean with their process.

BTW - I'm just going to continue to use my AMEX where possible as I have been in the past, 'if no bonus points comes out of it - disappointing, tough luck for me, but will walk away with a lasting impression of what type of Entity AMEX really are.

 

[vet]

Why do you admire them? They exploited a loop hole that has led to many other people losing out on the promo... yay great for them.

Amex have done nothing in breach of the T&Cs at the moment other than post points when they shouldnt have done.. you should not expect any points for another 6-8 weeks anyway.

Simongr, the amex promo says they'll post points in 'one day' so transferors get into the draw on the 30th. Amex can't issue lottery entries 8 weeks after the prize was drawn. Kort, amex has decades on experience in promotions, and human nature, and yet didn't seek a minimum spend or impose a max number of transactions per day or per shop per day. Nor did they exclude certain companies like telecos. . I bet they factor into their costings an 'human nature' factor. Overall their marketing, accounting and legal people all somehow overlooked so much, ... or did they.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Original Promo Was from 10Th SEP to 31DEC

This promotion was clearly meant to increase transactions (and remember that Luisa invited us all to go out and visit all the thousands of new businesses who now accepted Amex.)...and yet the amended T&C would now only reward many cardholders for a portion of their normal spend with no change in normal spend action is needed to achieve the bonus. ie it will not increase transactions for many, if not all. Amex have now moved to a "face-saving" campaign to try and minimise aggravation.

I highly doubt we will see anything like this promotion again from Amex. And the way most people are carrying on with Amex customer support, AFF and threats of cancelling cards and going to ACCC we may never see another promotion again from Amex even remotely resembling this promotion.

 

[simongr]

Simongr, the amex promo says they'll post points in 'one day' so transferors get into the draw on the 30th. Amex can't issue lottery entries 8 weeks after the prize was drawn.

I would love to see the T&Cs/evidence that Amex said they would post points within one dayso you could transfer to another promotion and get multiple entries in a lottery...

 

[equus]

On this topic of targeting, I was surprised to read early on in this thread about the different offers and low/medium/high spend range.

The main reason for the surprise is I got the 5 for 5000 offer but routinely do around 80 transactions a month (before the promo). It seems I've been classified as a "low" transactor, despite this, and despite spending in the order of $200k a year on AMEX.

Unless someone from AMEX actually confirms what the "HIGH" and "LOW" mean, I suspect the assumption that number of transactions was what counted is wide of the mark. If you instead assumed high or low cost or risk or whatever-else-they-calculate, with cost being a calculation by AMEX of the your likely benefit vs cost situation, or risk being the likelihood of the cost of your bonus blowing out, I think you would be closer to the mark.

By my calculations, 80 txns per month equates to 960 per year, and with a $200K spend, your average transaction is over $200. AMEX may well have decided that they do quite well out of your spend, and you are a Low risk of running up lots of very small transactions - and so have been generous with the offer. Someone with many less transactions (lets say 15 per month), but only spending $250 per month, would be a High risk of adding a lot more small transactions.

When AMEX come to analyse all the transactions for whatever criteria they determine they need to check, I would expect that average value of transaction per month in conjunction with the number of transaction is likely to be a key indicator of what gets reviewed (I am not suggesting that any account with low average transaction value is suspicious, just that this may be an obvious indicator for further scrutiny).

 

[anat0l]

Slightly O/T:

I would say that this site exists for that very reason:

Not sure all of those is called a loophole...

Some of these would be more "tricks" than "loopholes" - "loophole" seems to carry a slightly 'illegal' connotation with it, or very much out of the spirit of what was intended (in other words, a slightly negative connotation to it).

SC runs in USA on YUPs = loophole

Not really. Just a dumbly "cheap" fare in what seems to be a real competitive market. In AA terms I think it would be very difficult to get Exec Plat on these if you had to pay for all of them. For QF, this is just what is needed. So perhaps it was a dumb idea for QF to agree on AA P = First creditable?

If SC runs from YUPs are a loophole, wouldn't the Plat challenge also be one?

As an aside, it begs to think why does US domestic have "Economy" (aka "Coach") then "First"? Why not Business? Is it a marketing ploy?

Jetstar Starclass upgrades earning business class SCs = loophole

Call it a loophole if you like - it's not worth it any more.

Maximizing segments on *ONE* to earn more SCs = loophole

Now with 16 sectors as the cap, again the sliding scale between the two poles of "*ONE* for pleasure" vs. "*ONE* for status" gets tighter. (In other words, one person's pleasure from a *ONE* usually comes at the expense of maximising SC.)

F trip around the world on a standard AAdvantage partner award = loophole

Don't know about this one.

Paraburdoo - Tom Price Bus = loophole

No experience with this, although I have heard it is a hoot of a moot.