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Tidbits from American Express Technologies

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Mailak
Frequent Contributor

Tidbits from American Express Technologies

I was at an American Express event yesterday and thought I'd share a couple of thing I heard/saw. They highlighted the fact that they know more about people than most other corporations because they were a network and card issuer. Interesting tidbits from the Big Data group within AMEX Technologies:

1) They are able to collect up to 400 pieces of data per transaction
2) Some merchants will in addition provide SKUs.
3) They will get things like destination for a swipe in a taxi

I got a look at some of their internal analytics applications:
4) AMEX customers' largest preferred restaurant type is "American." :-)
5) AMEX customers are big seafood eaters! :-)
6) One of their applications took in an AMEX card number and it immediately spit out classifications of spending patterns and guesses of interests: it was 2/3. One of them was just inaccurate. Neverthless, the others were accurate and it's amusing to see they were able to somehow put it together.

I got a kick out of it - thought I should post about it here!

PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards (19.5k), Amex BCE (9k), Chase Sapphire Reserve (30k), Chase Freedom Unlimited (14.5k), Chase Marriott Premier (19k), Discover More (10k)
Message 1 of 12
11 REPLIES 11
injustifiiable
Valued Contributor

Re: Tidbits from American Express Technologies

That is pretty interesting...one of the advantages of being both the issuer and the network....you can get all kinds of dirt on folks. lol

Scores 5/15/2016 (clean reports!): TU Walmart FICO: 696 | EQ FICO: 679 | EX AMEX FICO: 680

In my new wallet: American Express Green EMV: PSL $2000 | BankAmericard Cash Rewards Visa EMV: $2500 | Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World MasterCard: $6400 | Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard: $1000 | Discover IT: $2500 | Amazon Rewards Visa Signature: $1500 | Chase Freedom: $1500 | Capital One QuicksilverOne MasterCard: $2100 | Target: $2800 | J.Crew $21,550 | Marvel (Captain America) MasterCard: $6000
Message 2 of 12
tinuviel
Moderator Emeritus

Re: Tidbits from American Express Technologies

Thanks for sharing. I'm not surprised. Data mining is a big industry these days, and I'm not surprised that Amex is squeezing the last little piece of information that they possibly can out of a transaction. Hmmmm... I wonder if this means they know exactly what size and color t-shirt I bought from the museum gift shop during my recent trip to NY? Smiley Surprised


Current Scores: EQ 775 (03/04/2014), EX 756 (03/01/2014), TU 760 (03/01/2014)
Ruby Spade Garden Club Member - Last App: 03/04/2013 - No apps until 2014
Cards: Cap1 Venture 6.4k, Cap1 Quicksilver MC 1.75k, BankAmericard 1-2-3 Visa Signature - UCF Alumni Association 5k, Discover 7k, Citi Diamond Preferred MC 10.35k, Wells Fargo Rewards Visa 7k, Chase Freedom 5k, Chase Ink 7.5k, Amex Green NPSL, Dillard's Amex 7.5k, JC Penney 7.5k, Kay Jeweler's 5.1k
Message 3 of 12
john398
Senior Contributor

Re: Tidbits from American Express Technologies

Thanks for sharing, they must have a huge data center

Message 4 of 12
injustifiiable
Valued Contributor

Re: Tidbits from American Express Technologies


@tinuviel wrote:

Thanks for sharing. I'm not surprised. Data mining is a big industry these days, and I'm not surprised that Amex is squeezing the last little piece of information that they possibly can out of a transaction. Hmmmm... I wonder if this means they know exactly what size and color t-shirt I bought from the museum gift shop during my recent trip to NY? Smiley Surprised


LOL Tinu...I wouldn't be surprised. AMEX bills already show things like Flight Information, how much your gas was per gallon and the quantity, and  how much of a tip you left at your favorite restaurant. This will happen one day, I bet. lol.

Scores 5/15/2016 (clean reports!): TU Walmart FICO: 696 | EQ FICO: 679 | EX AMEX FICO: 680

In my new wallet: American Express Green EMV: PSL $2000 | BankAmericard Cash Rewards Visa EMV: $2500 | Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World MasterCard: $6400 | Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard: $1000 | Discover IT: $2500 | Amazon Rewards Visa Signature: $1500 | Chase Freedom: $1500 | Capital One QuicksilverOne MasterCard: $2100 | Target: $2800 | J.Crew $21,550 | Marvel (Captain America) MasterCard: $6000
Message 5 of 12
jsickz32
Valued Contributor

Re: Tidbits from American Express Technologies

Then they must know the name of the strip club and bar i go to! Smiley Surprised
Amex BCE (2500) / Amex SPG (4000) / Amex GoldPR / Merrill+ Visa siggy (5000) / BofA Amex (6000) / Bofa cash rewards (5000) / BofA Privileges Cash Rewards (5000) / Citi Forward (4400) / Citi DP (2000) / Chase Freedom (4000) / Chase CSP (5000) / Chase Hyatt (5000) / Discover IT (1700) / FNBO AMEX (3600) / NFCU cashRewards Visa signature (15000) / NFCU Flagship Visa signature (12500) / NFCU Navcheck (5000) / Nordstrom (500) / MetroCU Visa Elite (5000) / Walmart (4500) / Kays Jewerels (6600) / Kohls (300) / Macys Platinum (2500) / DCU platinum Visa (17500) / Citizens bank cash back (1100) / Bill Me Later (1631) / PayPal Smart connect (2200) / BestBuy store card (2000)
Message 6 of 12
GoldenloveNY
Frequent Contributor

Re: Tidbits from American Express Technologies

You mean to tell me that Amex knows exactly what I bought in a Adult store last night, every detail or even the name of the girl I like the most in a NYC strip club ? Holy crap...I feel so dirty and shameful....:/ I feel invaded...I hate myself...:/
Citi Double Cash: $1,000
Capital One Secured: $500
Capital One Savor One: $1,650
Amex Gold- NPSL.
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Best Buy Store Credit Card: $2,000
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Merrick Credit Card: $1,400
First Savings Credit Card: $1,250
Message 7 of 12
jsickz32
Valued Contributor

Re: Tidbits from American Express Technologies

Lol they must know about stripper dollars and kiana Smiley Tongue
Amex BCE (2500) / Amex SPG (4000) / Amex GoldPR / Merrill+ Visa siggy (5000) / BofA Amex (6000) / Bofa cash rewards (5000) / BofA Privileges Cash Rewards (5000) / Citi Forward (4400) / Citi DP (2000) / Chase Freedom (4000) / Chase CSP (5000) / Chase Hyatt (5000) / Discover IT (1700) / FNBO AMEX (3600) / NFCU cashRewards Visa signature (15000) / NFCU Flagship Visa signature (12500) / NFCU Navcheck (5000) / Nordstrom (500) / MetroCU Visa Elite (5000) / Walmart (4500) / Kays Jewerels (6600) / Kohls (300) / Macys Platinum (2500) / DCU platinum Visa (17500) / Citizens bank cash back (1100) / Bill Me Later (1631) / PayPal Smart connect (2200) / BestBuy store card (2000)
Message 8 of 12
BearOSO
Contributor

Re: Tidbits from American Express Technologies

Not surprised but interesting to read! Like Google, not sure if it is a good or bad thing Smiley Sad

Message 9 of 12
Mailak
Frequent Contributor

Re: Tidbits from American Express Technologies


@GoldenloveNY wrote:
You mean to tell me that Amex knows exactly what I bought in a Adult store last night, every detail or even the name of the girl I like the most in a NYC strip club ? Holy crap...I feel so dirty and shameful....:/ I feel invaded...I hate myself...:/

 

I know, right?

 

The guy saw somewhat astonished face when he said some merchants now provide SKUs. I didn't expect them to have an itemized list of what I was buying. I very  apprehensively put in my number into their application (with others telling me later that they were holding their breath)... who knows what would have come up... but I had to give it a try. Too good an opportunity to pass up!

PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards (19.5k), Amex BCE (9k), Chase Sapphire Reserve (30k), Chase Freedom Unlimited (14.5k), Chase Marriott Premier (19k), Discover More (10k)
Message 10 of 12
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