topic Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!) in Credit Cards

Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

K-in-Boston — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 01:34:43 GMT

I got an email alert from Amex that there were important messages on my Platinum statement and just opened the PDF. I'll summarize:

Pay Over Time program names have changed to Pay Over Time Direct, Pay Over Time Travel, and Pay Over Time Select.
Credit reports section of cardmember agreement amended to: And you agree that we will use such information for any purposes (for example, marketing to you or evaluating you for a new account), subject to applicable law.
Contact section of cardmember agreement amended to: If we need to contact you to service your account or to collect amounts you owe, you authorize us (and our affiliates, agents and contractors, such as debt collection agencies and service providers) to contact you at any phone number or email address you provide, from which you contact us, or at which we believe we can reach you. We may contact you in any way, such as calling, texting, emailing, sending mobile application push notifications or using any other method of communication permitted by law. We may contact you using an automated dialer or prerecorded messages. We may contact you on a mobile, wireless or similar device, even if you are charged for it. We may monitor and record any calls between you and us.
The Gold Card from American Express will now be known as the American Express Classic Gold Card.
Starpoints change confirmed that it will be 1:1 after August 1st to the new Starriott-Carlton program: On August 1, 2018, Starpoint balances in loyalty member accounts will convert to points at a 1:3 ratio (one Starpoint will convert to three points). For example, 1,000 Starpoints will become 3,000 points. In general, the number of points needed to redeem in the loyalty program will have corresponding changes. To align with this, we are making changes to the Membership Rewards Program Terms & Conditions that impact Card Members who are enrolled in the Membership Rewards program and are eligible for a Membership Rewards point transfer. Membership Rewards points can now be transferred at a 1:1 ratio into the Starwood Preferred Guest® program and can be transferred in increments of 1,000 points.
Changes to using Membership Rewards or MRs + card for Amazon purchases: For example, if you make a $500 purchase and elect to cover $300 of that purchase with points, American Express will: • Charge your Card account $300, • Apply a $300 credit to your Card account, and • After your purchase ships, charge your Card account $200.
While many other lenders have been slashing purchase protections, Amex is upping it: If the original manufacturer's warranty is less than two (2) years*, We will match the length of that warranty. • If the original manufacturer's warranty is between two (2) and five (5) years, We will increase coverage to provide two (2) additional years of warranty. The benefit is limited to the actual amount charged to Your Card for the item, up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Purchase Protection is provided to You as a benefit of Card Membership at no additional charge when a purchase is made with Your eligible Card. For claims submitted to Us on and after August 1, 2018, the coverage duration on eligible purchases will be increased from 90 days to 120 days.

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

simplynoir — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 01:39:50 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
Starpoints change confirmed that it will be 1:1 after August 1st to the new Starriott-Carlton program: On August 1, 2018, Starpoint balances in loyalty member accounts will convert to points at a 1:3 ratio (one Starpoint will convert to three points). For example, 1,000 Starpoints will become 3,000 points. In general, the number of points needed to redeem in the loyalty program will have corresponding changes. To align with this, we are making changes to the Membership Rewards Program Terms & Conditions that impact Card Members who are enrolled in the Membership Rewards program and are eligible for a Membership Rewards point transfer. Membership Rewards points can now be transferred at a 1:1 ratio into the Starwood Preferred Guest® program and can be transferred in increments of 1,000 points.

Does this mean what I think it means? Or am I just misreading it???

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

K-in-Boston — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 01:43:12 GMT

It means on or after August 1st, you can transfer Membership Rewards 1:1 to the new Starriott-Carlton points. Trust me, I flew straight to the transfer page to see if it was 1:1 already! (It's still 1000:333 until then.)

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

simplynoir — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 01:50:47 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
It means on or after August 1st, you can transfer Membership Rewards 1:1 to the new Starriott-Carlton points. Trust me, I flew straight to the transfer page to see if it was 1:1 already! (It's still 1000:333 until then.)

Shame.

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

wasCB14 — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 01:55:49 GMT

So really the main news here is about warranties and purchase protection?

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

K-in-Boston — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 01:59:15 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
So really the main news here is about warranties and purchase protection?

That depends on who's reading it. For a lot of us the big news is the confirmation that MRs will transfer to Starriott-Carlton 1:1. For those who wear foil hats, there's the more flexible use of your contact information and credit reports. And for those of us that are nostalgic, there's the change to the American Express Classic Gold Card. Hmmmph! I carried that "classic" as my daily driver for 14 years.

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

Loquat — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 02:11:53 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
It means on or after August 1st, you can transfer Membership Rewards 1:1 to the new Starriott-Carlton points. Trust me, I flew straight to the transfer page to see if it was 1:1 already! (It's still 1000:333 until then.)

@K-in-BostonYou know you're my go-to for all things Marriott. Correct me if I'm misunderstanding...but isn't this already the current situation (or very close). 1000MR = 333 Starpoints - transfer to Marriott 1:3 = 999 Marriott Reward points and the upcoming change will be 1:1 meaning 1000MR = 1000 Marriott Reward points thus gaining 1pt more than the current transfer situation?

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

K-in-Boston — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 02:21:11 GMT

Yes, but it's about quantity. Before, if you moved over 100,000,000 MRs you'd only get 33,300,000 Starpoints which would convert to 99,900,000 Marriott Points. Now you'd get the extra 100,000 points which is enough for 20 nights at Category 1 with a Points Saver award!*

* Seriously, though, it hadn't yet been announced for sure that MRs would transfer directly 1:1 so it was a bit of a relief to see it in print.

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

Loquat — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 02:28:19 GMT

@K-in-BostonYou know I don't think that deep...LOL! But yes...I get it and that is a heck of a gain. Now only if I had a magic wand or if Amex would offer me a one time multiplier of my current MR situation. Hahaha...one can wish right?

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 03:08:17 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
Yes, but it's about quantity. Before, if you moved over 100,000,000 MRs you'd only get 33,300,000 Starpoints which would convert to 99,900,000 Marriott Points. Now you'd get the extra 100,000 points which is enough for 20 nights at Category 1 with a Points Saver award!*

* Seriously, though, it hadn't yet been announced for sure that MRs would transfer directly 1:1 so it was a bit of a relief to see it in print.

If I ever get 100,000,000 MR points, I am going to retire (off MR points)

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

redpat — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 04:07:58 GMT

K Boston, I know you are a Marriott guy, so EDP is a must for you because of 3x gas and 4.50x on grocery. Also, you should really like Amex MR offers. It’s going to be real easy to load up on Marriott points.

Amex is really chipping away at Chase and blew past Citi long ago.

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 04:17:20 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:
So really the main news here is about warranties and purchase protection?
For those who wear foil hats, there's the more flexible use of your contact information and credit reports.

As I am sure you know , THEY have found a way round foil hats, so I now use foil-lead-steel helmets. But even so:

If we need to contact you to service your account or to collect amounts you owe, you authorize us (and our affiliates, agents and contractors, such as debt collection agencies and service providers) to contact you at any phone number or email address you provide, from which you contact us, or at which we believe we can reach you

Seems a low standard given some of the CSRs. So everyone, expect calls from Amex trying to reach other card members as they "believe" that they are at your number!

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

wasCB14 — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 06:00:33 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@K-in-Boston wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:
So really the main news here is about warranties and purchase protection?
For those who wear foil hats, there's the more flexible use of your contact information and credit reports.
As I am sure you know , THEY have found a way round foil hats, so I now use foil-lead-steel helmets. But even so:

If we need to contact you to service your account or to collect amounts you owe, you authorize us (and our affiliates, agents and contractors, such as debt collection agencies and service providers) to contact you at any phone number or email address you provide, from which you contact us, or at which we believe we can reach you

Seems a low standard given some of the CSRs. So everyone, expect calls from Amex trying to reach other card members as they "believe" that they are at your number!

Pay your bill or we might call your coworkers or relatives to "try to get in touch with you".

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 14:38:36 GMT

I was logged into my account earlier and noticed the change to Pay Overtime, it currently now shows Pay Overtime Direct. But what concerned me more was that it totally removed my current 0% interest offer which is supposed to run til Oct. 17, 2018. It is now currently showing back to 19.74%. I currently have a large balance on POT to take advantage of the 0 offer till Oct. I wonder if this is just a glitch during their modifications and that it will revert back to normal once all the changes have been effected.

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

K-in-Boston — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 15:11:33 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I was logged into my account earlier and noticed the change to Pay Overtime, it currently now shows Pay Overtime Direct. But what concerned me more was that it totally removed my current 0% interest offer which is supposed to run til Oct. 17, 2018. It is now currently showing back to 19.74%. I currently have a large balance on POT to take advantage of the 0 offer till Oct. I wonder if this is just a glitch during their modifications and that it will revert back to normal once all the changes have been effected.

Amex doesn't take away promotional balances unless you default. Where are you seeing the APR? On your statement it should show the correct balance subject to interest at the promotional APR with an expiration date. I don't recall ever seeing a promotional APR listed on their website when I had one. My Platinum currently has a 9.99% (that I am not using, but it's there) and this is what it shows on the POT info screen:

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 15:48:02 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I was logged into my account earlier and noticed the change to Pay Overtime, it currently now shows Pay Overtime Direct. But what concerned me more was that it totally removed my current 0% interest offer which is supposed to run til Oct. 17, 2018. It is now currently showing back to 19.74%. I currently have a large balance on POT to take advantage of the 0 offer till Oct. I wonder if this is just a glitch during their modifications and that it will revert back to normal once all the changes have been effected.
Amex doesn't take away promotional balances unless you default. Where are you seeing the APR? On your statement it should show the correct balance subject to interest at the promotional APR with an expiration date. I don't recall ever seeing a promotional APR listed on their website when I had one. My Platinum currently has a 9.99% (that I am not using, but it's there) and this is what it shows on the POT info screen:

Thanks for the response K. No I have not defaulted with any TL to date. Back in April they sent me this offer for the 0% for 6 mos. on any POT Balance, so I took it and have since been paying it down on time. The initial balance was 6.5K when it started in April, now down to 4.2K and I have till October to zero out the POT Balance under 0%. I attached the statement screenshot highlighting the POT portion and the variable APR vs the promotional APR. And the second screenshot is what is currently shown on the AMEX Dashboard page. Also my other two accounts with AMEX are PIF every time.

Taken from May 2018 Statement

Currently what is shown on POT Dashboard

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

K-in-Boston — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 15:58:27 GMT

Ahh, okay. I haven't seen that particular screen. That certainly looks like a glitch; may be worth a quick call to CS (or online chat) to ensure you're still enrolled in the promotional APR.

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 16:20:31 GMT

Thank you. I called in and they said that they still see the 0 APR promo and is still in effect on their records, and guaranteed that nothing has or will change. I guess, I will just keep an eye out for this month's statement to see if the promo is still reflected.

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

QuakerOatmeal — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 16:27:16 GMT

So, as I'm a bit dense, does this mean the PRG is getting a new look?

Re: Changes to Amex MR cards (mostly positive!)

K-in-Boston — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 16:56:11 GMT

@QuakerOatmeal wrote:
So, as I'm a bit dense, does this mean the PRG is getting a new look?

No. The Gold card is actually a different card. They recently discontinued new applications for it as it has been wholly replaced by the Premier Rewards Gold card. There will still be many people that have the original card (now renamed The Classic Gold Card) until and unless Amex forces an upgrade to PRG. (I actually only changed mine in 2016.) It is also the version that will be extended to authorized users (up to 99 of them) on the Platinum Card for no fee if the primary user doesn't want to issue Platinum cards to the AUs.

Gold card (~~left~~ top), Premier Rewards Gold card (~~right~~ bottom).

(Edit: Well that's where they were in the preview!)