topic Re: AMEX didn't receive payment issue? in Credit Cards

AMEX didn't receive payment issue?

Budoka — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 03:23:59 GMT

I have a strange situation and I am curious if this has happened to anyone else before.

I always push the payment to Amex from my bank account. I've been doing this for probably longer than the average age of the customer reps I am dealing with. LOL Anyway, I have NEVER had a problem and have NEVER had a late payment with Amex in 30 years, Not even once. (I stress this for a reason).

So payment due date is July 1on my PRG. AMEX changed the terms to the due date being the real due date vs the closing date. So I pushed a payment from my bank on June 26th a week before. Payment should have arrived at AMEX the 28th, This has been the case for every payment I have made. So I am checking and the payment hasn't posted. I contact my bank and they confirm the payment went and tell me to contact AMEX...which I do...and this is where it gets troubling.

They will open an "investigation" . Fine and good.

So what should I do about the due date tomorrow? "We suggest you pay again to be "safe".

Huh?

"It will register immediately if you pay on our website now and we will give you a credit if the payment is double."

Huh? I prefer to push payments which means it wouldn't arrive until Monday AND the problem at hand hasn't been resolved so how do I know it won't happen again?

"We understand that. There wouldn't be any late fee while the investigation is taking place."

Anyway this is getting longer than I planned to write but I explain some other glitchy website stuff I noticed when checking my payment history on the website. He says it "could" be related. Blah blah blah.

I say to him the second sentence you said when I contacted you was to thank me for 30 blah years of membership. You can see I have never missed or had a late payment and you are telling me you can't give me a grace period until 1) This is resolved. or 2) The next banking day so I can double pay.

"If you want to be safe you should pay on our website now. Blah blah."

So now I want to punch a wall.

So my question is two fold...
1) If I add my bank account to the AMEX site for them to pull the payment will it actually really happen that same day as the rep stated?
2) Can I remove the banking account information from the account once the payment has been pulled? I like to keep my bank accounts and charge/credit card accounts separate and I vaguely remember a thread indicating if a bank account was added to Discover it was next to impossible to have it removed from their system.

Or should I call back and try to insist on a grace period?

Re: AMEX didn't receive payment issue?

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 03:46:17 GMT

I could be wrong, but I believe everytime I make a payment with amex it seems to credit me the same day or says they will credit me as the date posted of when I hit submit. They also seem pretty fast, I always check and it seems like the funds are taken out of my bank account at least by the next day compare to other lenders.

btw, I actually prefer to put my bank info on their actual website and have it "pulled" instead of "pushing" the payment on my end. Is there any downside to actually doing this? I know theres a fair share of people who prefer to push payment method Vs the Pull. Not sure if theres any significant advantages or disadvantages?

Re: AMEX didn't receive payment issue?

UncleB — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 04:10:36 GMT

@Budoka wrote:
I have a strange situation and I am curious if this has happened to anyone else before.

I always push the payment to Amex from my bank account. I've been doing this for probably longer than the average age of the customer reps I am dealing with. LOL Anyway, I have NEVER had a problem and have NEVER had a late payment with Amex in 30 years, Not even once. (I stress this for a reason).

So payment due date is July 1on my PRG. AMEX changed the terms to the due date being the real due date vs the closing date. So I pushed a payment from my bank on June 26th a week before. Payment should have arrived at AMEX the 28th, This has been the case for every payment I have made. So I am checking and the payment hasn't posted. I contact my bank and they confirm the payment went and tell me to contact AMEX...which I do...and this is where it gets troubling.

They will open an "investigation" . Fine and good.
So what should I do about the due date tomorrow? "We suggest you pay again to be "safe".
Huh?
"It will register immediately if you pay on our website now and we will give you a credit if the payment is double."
Huh? I prefer to push payments which means it wouldn't arrive until Monday AND the problem at hand hasn't been resolved so how do I know it won't happen again?
"We understand that. There wouldn't be any late fee while the investigation is taking place."

Anyway this is getting longer than I planned to write but I explain some other glitchy website stuff I noticed when checking my payment history on the website. He says it "could" be related. Blah blah blah.

I say to him the second sentence you said when I contacted you was to thank me for 30 blah years of membership. You can see I have never missed or had a late payment and you are telling me you can't give me a grace period until 1) This is resolved. or 2) The next banking day so I can double pay.
"If you want to be safe you should pay on our website now. Blah blah."

So now I want to punch a wall.

So my question is two fold...
1) If I add my bank account to the AMEX site for them to pull the payment will it actually really happen that same day as the rep stated?
2) Can I remove the banking account information from the account once the payment has been pulled? I like to keep my bank accounts and charge/credit card accounts separate and I vaguely remember a thread indicating if a bank account was added to Discover it was next to impossible to have it removed from their system.

Or should I call back and try to insist on a grace period?

I'm sorry you're having to deal with this... I would be frustrated as well.

I'll let others chime in on making a second payment (to answer that question, in my experience they generally do give immediate credit). To move things forward, if it were me I would be in contact with the bank that sent the payment.

I know you mention you already reached out to them once, but clearly something is wrong, and at least with my banks in the past part of the 'deal' was that if there were an issue like this the bank would assist with getting it resolved, up to and including paying any associated late fees if they were at fault. Note that I've never had to get the bank to cover a late fee, since I've never had an issue with them sending the payment properly.

If you don't mind sharing, what bank did you use to send the payment? Perhaps some on here will have knowledge specific to that institution that might be helpful.

Re: AMEX didn't receive payment issue?

austinguy907 — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 04:22:20 GMT

OP - I wouldn't worry too much about the payment not posting yet. Sometimes the dropbox company they're using takes longer than normal when the get a stack of payments in. Your bank you sent the payment from will cover any late charges if they don't receive the payment by the requested date.

Adding your checking info for any CC shouldn't be much of an issue and removing can usually be done easily as well. If you can't remove it online then a quick chat or phone call should suffice. I have all of my CC's tied to my payment account for ease and enabling autopay for the balance each month instead of having to login to each one to check the balance, edit the payment, and so on.

The only advantage of pushing a payment is usually the first month or two you have an open account and they only allow a single payment from your payment source and you're tyring to avoid reporting a balance. This again can be cleared up with a 3-way call w/ lender + bank.

The only case in which I would advise against joining your CC and payment account is when you're dealing with CU's since they have a clause in their paperwork to where if you miss / default / etc. they can recover funds from your CU account. i.e CU CC + CU checking = potentially bad if your finances take a dive

Also, with CU's they cross collateralize debts with them so say you become delinquent on your car they may impose a restriction on the CC and/or take payment from your checking account for the overdue amount.

I don't spend much time worrying about this anymore since I never put cash where there's credit since CU's that offer high APY checking don't typically have the best CC / Loan options these days. My primary CU pays me 2.5% APY and my lowest APR is at another CU for 5.xx% but that other CU only pays 0.15% APY on their checking.

Long story short.... just add your account to your CC pay from option for just in case issues like this one. As to AMEX grace.... 30 years of history makes me think they'll get on their knees for you if there's an issue that needs to be resolved.

Re: AMEX didn't receive payment issue?

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 04:29:24 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

btw, I actually prefer to put my bank info on their actual website and have it "pulled" instead of "pushing" the payment on my end. Is there any downside to actually doing this? I know theres a fair share of people who prefer to push payment method Vs the Pull. Not sure if theres any significant advantages or disadvantages?

I go the next step and set up auto PIF on due date. While I have never had to test it, my belief is that this puts at least some of the burden on them (providing the bank account has enoigh money): they have agreed to take it on the due date, and so.... That said, probably all those auto-pay T&Cs probably disadvow responsibility as well!

But it's worked ok for years with lots of banks. And as OP has found, pushing can also fail in some ways

Disadvantages: some people, including OP, like to keep things separate, and one big consideration is not having valuable data, such as a bank account number, in too many places, such as on a cc website. And for those micromanaging utilization, some cc sites won't allow you to pay too many times in a cycle, or pay when the balance is zero when you are trying to pay a pending charge etc.

Re: AMEX didn't receive payment issue?

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 04:38:36 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:

btw, I actually prefer to put my bank info on their actual website and have it "pulled" instead of "pushing" the payment on my end. Is there any downside to actually doing this? I know theres a fair share of people who prefer to push payment method Vs the Pull. Not sure if theres any significant advantages or disadvantages?
I go the next step and set up auto PIF on due date. While I have never had to test it, my belief is that this puts at least some of the burden on them (providing the bank account has enoigh money): they have agreed to take it on the due date, and so.... That said, probably all those auto-pay T&Cs probably disadvow responsibility as well!
But it's worked ok for years with lots of banks. And as OP has found, pushing can also fail in some ways

Disadvantages: some people, including OP, like to keep things separate, and one big consideration is not having valuable data, such as a bank account number, in too many places, such as on a cc website. And for those micromanaging utilization, some cc sites won't allow you to pay too many times in a cycle, or pay when the balance is zero when you are trying to pay a pending charge etc.

If I set up auto pay, If I manually pay in full on my way own before the auto pay date. It won't do a second payment through auto pay right? It can just be used as back up then?

Re: AMEX didn't receive payment issue?

700orbust — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 04:44:37 GMT

Payments made by 10pm Mountain time post the same day and will be drafted the following banking day. Provisional credit is usually issued immediately (i.e. your available credit reflects the payment immediately regardless of posting time)

Re: AMEX didn't receive payment issue?

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 04:47:47 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:

btw, I actually prefer to put my bank info on their actual website and have it "pulled" instead of "pushing" the payment on my end. Is there any downside to actually doing this? I know theres a fair share of people who prefer to push payment method Vs the Pull. Not sure if theres any significant advantages or disadvantages?
I go the next step and set up auto PIF on due date. While I have never had to test it, my belief is that this puts at least some of the burden on them (providing the bank account has enoigh money): they have agreed to take it on the due date, and so.... That said, probably all those auto-pay T&Cs probably disadvow responsibility as well!
But it's worked ok for years with lots of banks. And as OP has found, pushing can also fail in some ways

Disadvantages: some people, including OP, like to keep things separate, and one big consideration is not having valuable data, such as a bank account number, in too many places, such as on a cc website. And for those micromanaging utilization, some cc sites won't allow you to pay too many times in a cycle, or pay when the balance is zero when you are trying to pay a pending charge etc.

If I set up auto pay, If I manually pay in full on my way own before the auto pay date. It won't do a second payment through auto pay right? It can just be used as back up then?

In most cases, yes. I think I have heard of some bank that might not be so good at stopping an auto pay, but the big ones seem fine. Also, if you do the payment through the web site, most will inform you that an auto-pay is scheduled, and give you the option to cancel that payment.

Re: AMEX didn't receive payment issue?

700orbust — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 04:54:38 GMT

re: push or pull, If you submit payment via their website, and get a confirmation number, thats all you would need. You would have credit for that payment until something happened, opposite of the position you're in.

I also like not giving up my cash any sooner than I have to. I usualy do my payments on Fridays so that I get an extra couple days with a higher balance. Makes my accounts look better. Any time I push payments, its taken away immediately, and I don't know exactly when it'll post.

If you don't like having the CC's linked to your account, just open a separate checking and use it for billpay. Thats what I do. That account stays empty unless I need to pay something. Its free to open multiple checking accts with NFCU, and possibly your own bank. If not, find one that does

Re: AMEX didn't receive payment issue?

austinguy907 — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 05:43:59 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
If I set up auto pay, If I manually pay in full on my way own before the auto pay date. It won't do a second payment through auto pay right? It can just be used as back up then?
In most cases, yes. I think I have heard of some bank that might not be so good at stopping an auto pay, but the big ones seem fine. Also, if you do the payment through the web site, most will inform you that an auto-pay is scheduled, and give you the option to cancel that payment.

I have a feeling this is what would happen with BOA since they have this funky e-bill thing going on for autopay and if you set it for statement balance it fills in that amount. You can go in and change it though manually to a reduced/increased amount for the balance you want to pay if you don't set it up for min balance.

As to AMEX my statement last month cut for the regular amount but, I had a return on something but had other charges above the statement balance and they too the NET amount of the balance minus the return even though there were other charges post statement.

Re: AMEX didn't receive payment issue?

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 06:11:58 GMT

What I like to do is the first weekend when I get a statement is make the miniumum payment via pull. Twice a month I go through and make my pif or whatever payments I still prefer pulls. My bank Backwoods National hates Amex and will not accept most pulls or pushes and I have to mail a paper check. DW bank Third Smalltown Bank, NA does pulls and pushes very fast.

Re: AMEX didn't receive payment issue?

NRB525 — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 06:45:53 GMT

OP, use the AMEX website, set up your checking account so the payment request you initiate from AMEX pulls from your bank account. Take their offer of "it will be credited immediately".

I have autopayment for certain amounts on several of my AMEX cards. If the amount on the AMEX card is more than I have for the autopayment, I initiate an additional payment, usually for some days in the future, and becuase I have initiated so many payments from the AMEX site to my bank accounts they know when I tell them to get the money from my bank account it will be there. Thus they give me a notice, as they are starting the action of taking the non-autopayment amount "We received a payment from you". This is usually a few days before it actually clears my checking account on the other bank. It is another variation on the whole good credit thing, they trust when I tell them they can go get the money.

They don't have any visibility in the current situation about what is going on, they just know they do not have any money yet. They have to take OP's work for it that the push payment really truly was set up correctly. It probably was, but OP has no visibility to where the payment is, either.

People need to trust the credit card companies, particularly AMEX. With a charger, there should be no issue with having them draw the amount from your bank account, since you always owe the amount on the statement. I don't get the reasons for keeping checking account info out of the credit card account.

Guess what, your checking account knows where your credit card is But it's all good There is not a conspiracy in the banking system that is going to harm your money.

Take them up on the offer and initiate another payment from the AMEX side to draw from your bank.

Re: AMEX didn't receive payment issue?

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 20:05:37 GMT

@700orbust wrote:

If you don't like having the CC's linked to your account, just open a separate checking and use it for billpay. Thats what I do. That account stays empty unless I need to pay something. Its free to open multiple checking accts with NFCU, and possibly your own bank. If not, find one that does

The only problem is that adds another potential point of failure, you have to put money in the account, so you need to transfer it in time, make sure it gets in there etc.

Re: AMEX didn't receive payment issue?

Budoka — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 05:18:43 GMT

Update: 3 weeks later and this still has not been resolved. The money is gone from my account and AMEX is now dealing directly with my bank which has provided all the required documentation that the payment went to and was received by AMEX. AMEX has been understanding and so that I don't triple pay (1) Missing payment. 2) The payment I made to cover my a** from another account. 3) My next statement coming up in a week) is freezing all my payments until they figure out what the h*ll happened. They gave me an estimated resolve by date of Oct 6th which just sounds insane to me but it is what it is. Phone support has been wonderful. Online support is useless and I made an "official" complaint about them but who knows who's ears that will eventually reach.

Re: AMEX didn't receive payment issue?

NRB525 — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 12:22:57 GMT

Sorry to hear about all the troubles.

Have you updated your AMEX info so your bank is listed and you can initiate or automate payments where AMEX pulls the money from your bank account?

Re: AMEX didn't receive payment issue?

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 19:10:37 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:

btw, I actually prefer to put my bank info on their actual website and have it "pulled" instead of "pushing" the payment on my end. Is there any downside to actually doing this? I know theres a fair share of people who prefer to push payment method Vs the Pull. Not sure if theres any significant advantages or disadvantages?
I go the next step and set up auto PIF on due date. While I have never had to test it, my belief is that this puts at least some of the burden on them (providing the bank account has enoigh money): they have agreed to take it on the due date, and so.... That said, probably all those auto-pay T&Cs probably disadvow responsibility as well!
But it's worked ok for years with lots of banks. And as OP has found, pushing can also fail in some ways

Disadvantages: some people, including OP, like to keep things separate, and one big consideration is not having valuable data, such as a bank account number, in too many places, such as on a cc website. And for those micromanaging utilization, some cc sites won't allow you to pay too many times in a cycle, or pay when the balance is zero when you are trying to pay a pending charge etc.

If I set up auto pay, If I manually pay in full on my way own before the auto pay date. It won't do a second payment through auto pay right? It can just be used as back up then?
In most cases, yes. I think I have heard of some bank that might not be so good at stopping an auto pay, but the big ones seem fine. Also, if you do the payment through the web site, most will inform you that an auto-pay is scheduled, and give you the option to cancel that payment.

Would you considered Cap 1 as a big one? I once made a large payment before the scheduled auto payment that covered the amount due, plus some posted charges, leaving just what I wanted to report to the next statement, and even though the amount due was zeroed out, they went ahead and process the autopay anyway by grabbing my remaining posted charges. CSR told me I have to cancel my autopay arrangement before and setup autopay again after, doesn't make sense to as it doesn't happen to my other lenders. I later found out I can avoid this Cap1 software glitch by editing the autopay amount on the pending payment page.

Re: AMEX didn't receive payment issue?

driftless — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 22:24:09 GMT

Yes, CapOne will

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:

btw, I actually prefer to put my bank info on their actual website and have it "pulled" instead of "pushing" the payment on my end. Is there any downside to actually doing this? I know theres a fair share of people who prefer to push payment method Vs the Pull. Not sure if theres any significant advantages or disadvantages?
I go the next step and set up auto PIF on due date. While I have never had to test it, my belief is that this puts at least some of the burden on them (providing the bank account has enoigh money): they have agreed to take it on the due date, and so.... That said, probably all those auto-pay T&Cs probably disadvow responsibility as well!
But it's worked ok for years with lots of banks. And as OP has found, pushing can also fail in some ways

Disadvantages: some people, including OP, like to keep things separate, and one big consideration is not having valuable data, such as a bank account number, in too many places, such as on a cc website. And for those micromanaging utilization, some cc sites won't allow you to pay too many times in a cycle, or pay when the balance is zero when you are trying to pay a pending charge etc.

If I set up auto pay, If I manually pay in full on my way own before the auto pay date. It won't do a second payment through auto pay right? It can just be used as back up then?
In most cases, yes. I think I have heard of some bank that might not be so good at stopping an auto pay, but the big ones seem fine. Also, if you do the payment through the web site, most will inform you that an auto-pay is scheduled, and give you the option to cancel that payment.

Would you considered Cap 1 as a big one? I once made a large payment before the scheduled auto payment that covered the amount due, plus some posted charges, leaving just what I wanted to report to the next statement, and even though the amount due was zeroed out, they went ahead and process the autopay anyway by grabbing my remaining posted charges. CSR told me I have to cancel my autopay arrangement before and setup autopay again after, doesn't make sense to as it doesn't happen to my other lenders. I later found out I can avoid this Cap1 software glitch by editing the autopay amount on the pending payment page.

Yes, Cap One will still run auto-pay if you make mid-cycle payment(s). Other banks, like Chase, will cancel that month's auto-pay if you make a mid-cycle payment.