topic Re: American Express Welcome Offer Question in Credit Cards

American Express Welcome Offer Question

RedWolfFish77 — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 23:31:25 GMT

Hello, I have a question about the Amex welcome offer's. I was recently approved for the Cash Magnet which earns 1.5% cash back on purschases. I put a $720 gym purschase (personal trainer) on the new card. It did'nt show up on the cash back page redeemption page. I paid with some grocies on the card the same day and they showed up as 1.5% back pending. Does this mean that gym charge I put on the card is not eligible for the 1.5% cash back or count towards the welcome offer of spend $2000 within 6 months and get $200 back?

TLDR - New amex card with welcome offer, big charge did not show up as 1.5% back but small one did. Does this mean it doesnt count towards overall welcome offer?

Thank you in advance for reading and possibly contributing!

Re: American Express Welcome Offer Question

OmarGB9 — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 23:33:31 GMT

How was that $720 processed? Did you pay the gym directly, or was this an independent trainer you paid via square, venmo, cashapp, etc.?

Re: American Express Welcome Offer Question

RedWolfFish77 — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 23:35:24 GMT

It was billed directly to the gym (Anytime Fitness) it looks like on the Amex website

Re: American Express Welcome Offer Question

OmarGB9 — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 23:41:45 GMT

Hmm, maybe they're just scrutinizing that purchase because it is a rather large first purchase on a new card?

Is this your first ever card with Amex?

Re: American Express Welcome Offer Question

RedWolfFish77 — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 23:43:10 GMT

It is my first card with Amex, I paid it right off when it was finished pending and payable

Re: American Express Welcome Offer Question

Remedios — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 23:52:14 GMT

Have you contacted Amex? They are the only ones who can answer your question, really.

Re: American Express Welcome Offer Question

OmarGB9 — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 23:54:27 GMT

@RedWolfFish77 wrote:
It is my first card with Amex, I paid it right off when it was finished pending and payable

Yea I've got nothing. I'd suggest following @Remedios's advice and just call or chat with Amex.

Re: American Express Welcome Offer Question

RedWolfFish77 — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 23:58:49 GMT

That's completely fair, I'll do that now and keep you updated.

Re: American Express Welcome Offer Question

OmarGB9 — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 00:50:11 GMT

@RedWolfFish77 wrote:
That's completely fair, I'll do that now and keep you updated.

Please do.

Re: American Express Welcome Offer Question

practical1 — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 00:56:09 GMT

@RedWolfFish77

You'd be surprised to learn that AMEX's databases of vendors is not always up to date or complete, when it comes to characterization. I've had similar situations with cards I've had for years used at supermarkets, restaurants and hotels (which were, from their very names), clearly identified as exactly what they were -- and not had promotional points credited, until I've spoken to Customer Service reps and investigations were launched to update their records. Took as long as a couple of months, in one case.

So, definately call them and forward whatever documentation (web pages, etc.) you can to prove the vendor meets the criteria for their special offer. AMEX will eventually fix their oversight -- but you need to be polite but pro-active.

Good luck.

Re: American Express Welcome Offer Question

RedWolfFish77 — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 01:02:23 GMT

I called them, they were really polite about, it does qualify for both the 1.5% and the welcome offer

Re: American Express Welcome Offer Question

OmarGB9 — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 01:15:23 GMT

@RedWolfFish77 wrote:
I called them, they were really polite about, it does qualify for both the 1.5% and the welcome offer

So what was the problem, though?

Re: American Express Welcome Offer Question

RedWolfFish77 — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 01:43:47 GMT

I guess I was confused as to why the small purchase that was made on the same day after the big one was showed as cash back while the big one wasnt showing anything

Re: American Express Welcome Offer Question

OmarGB9 — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 03:08:38 GMT

@RedWolfFish77 wrote:
I guess I was confused as to why the small purchase that was made on the same day after the big one was showed as cash back while the big one wasnt showing anything

No lol, what I meant was, did Amex offer any explanation as to why the small charge showed cash back while the large one didn't.

Re: American Express Welcome Offer Question

NRB525 — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 11:25:12 GMT

I'm confused. Can you take a screen image, blot out identifying info and post those?

My first thought is something about the description of the transactions runs longer for the fitness center, and that puts the 1.5% note on a sub-screen where more detailed info can be seen on a larger grid. The grocery would also have a more-detailed second screen.

Also, I thought CM got 1.5% everything, except obviously cash equivalents.

Re: American Express Welcome Offer Question

jcooks — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 12:33:35 GMT

It may take a while for it to register the correct award after purchasing. I noticed similar with my Gold and Blue Business Plus. One grocery purchase didn't show on the Gold as 4x right away, after statement closing, it showed up correctly. Same with a random charge on the Blue Business Plus for 2x.