topic Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express in Credit Cards

Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:21:31 GMT

So, I got my Costco Amex card this weekend & set-up my account online. I was gonna go ahead and PIF the the charges from a week ago, but I can't (yet) because the balance due is zero. This isn't a problem or anything... And, I know that I could always push a payment through via my bank bill pay, but again, this isn't an issue.

I'm just wondering if you have to wait until the statement drops to pay, always, or is this just because my account is so new that it'll take a cycle for me to be able to pay through Amex online?

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:24:24 GMT

I opened my account awhile ago, but I seem to recall that you have to take a hit the first time (i.e, you can't pay until statement).

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:25:28 GMT

If you PIF every month on your AMEX card, they won't allow you to make any payments until your statement closes as long as the

statement balance was $0.00. For example, your current balance could be $100 but if your statment balance was $0.00, then you

won't able to pay off the $100 balance until your statement closes UNLESS you make an electronic payment.

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

Scamp — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:35:17 GMT

LilMirth, I went through the same thing with my Blue and my Gold - couldn't pay charges until the first statement dropped.

Nowadays, I pay things pretty much as they appear, on both of them.

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

jaysdad2k — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:08:19 GMT

It's just part of the cost of having Amex. The first month you have a balance, and then you can pay it as often as you like.

My CR shows a balance of $75 for June 2008, then zero's after that. I'm sure that I may carry a balance at some point in the future, but I am thankful that I haven't had to yet.

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

Watchmann — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:56:34 GMT

You can always make an immediate payment up to your current balance via AMEX's pay system. However, you can't schedule it for a future date until the statement cuts. I'll often pay it off before the statement cutoff date just for it to show zero.

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:12:46 GMT

Same with me as the others. After your first statement cuts you can pay as many times as you like. But I believe I actually sent in a paper check for the first month.

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

Itsmeagain — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:01:08 GMT

Same here but with this added. Amex allows a payment every 24 hrs., unlike Discover, Chase and some others that only allow payment every 3 days.

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:31:28 GMT

Great information! Thanks, everybody.

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:34:45 GMT

I actually tried to make a payment on Friday and the system would not allow it since my statement balance last time was $0. I usually push the payment through my BOA bill pay but didn't this time. I wanted the payment to post yesterday since my statement closed yesterday. I even called and begged the rep to take a payment and he wouldn't. He told me to overnight a check. Never mind. Statement dropped today so I went ahead and paid it. From now on I'll be on auto-pay through BOA. I've only been using the card for my creditsecure.com charges.

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:31:04 GMT

i dont think you can pay early because you just added a bank account to your AMEX account. Everytime i change my bank account info, i cannot make more than one payment.

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

haulingthescoreup — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:26:03 GMT

ObsessedwithmyFico wrote:
I actually tried to make a payment on Friday and the system would not allow it since my statement balance last time was $0. I usually push the payment through my BOA bill pay but didn't this time. I wanted the payment to post yesterday since my statement closed yesterday. I even called and begged the rep to take a payment and he wouldn't. He told me to overnight a check. Never mind. Statement dropped today so I went ahead and paid it. From now on I'll be on auto-pay through BOA. I've only been using the card for my creditsecure.com charges.

Wow, that's unusual! I always show a $0 balance, and after that first month, I've been able to pay on the AmEx site without a problem.

Either that's something new, or they've got your account set up in a strange manner. Might be worth trying to fix for just the reason you mention.

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

Watchmann — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:03 GMT

@haulingthescoreup wrote:

Wow, that's unusual! I always show a $0 balance, and after that first month, I've been able to pay on the AmEx site without a problem.

Either that's something new, or they've got your account set up in a strange manner. Might be worth trying to fix for just the reason you mention.

Same here. I had a zero balance last month on my Gold Card but have charged some things this month. I just went online to see if I could pay and there was no problem. What the system won't allow you to do is schedule a payment for a future date, it is an instant payment for today. Once the statement drops you can then schedule a payment anytime in the grace period window.

Message Edited by Watchmann on 10-13-2009 07:00 PM

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:05:54 GMT

Watchmann wrote:
@haulingthescoreup wrote:

Wow, that's unusual! I always show a $0 balance, and after that first month, I've been able to pay on the AmEx site without a problem.

Either that's something new, or they've got your account set up in a strange manner. Might be worth trying to fix for just the reason you mention.
Same here. I had a zero balance last month on my Gold Card but have charged some things this month. I just went online to see if I could pay and there was no problem. What the system won't allow you to do is schedule a payment for a future date, it is an instant payment for today. Once the statement drops you can then schedule a payment anytime in the grace period window.
Message Edited by Watchmann on 10-13-2009 07:00 PM

Okay, just to make sure that I'm understanding correctly... The only reason that I can't currently PIF (specifically through the Amex website) is that my account is brand new (no statements at all yet). But, after the statement closes this month, I can pay whenever I want (both immediately, and scheduling payments for the future) through the Amex website? I making sure, because I wasn't trying to schedule a future payment. When I click on the "pay" button I immediately get a message saying that no balance is due, and no option to make a payment anywhere.

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

Itsmeagain — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:43:18 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Okay, just to make sure that I'm understanding correctly... The only reason that I can't currently PIF (specifically through the Amex website) is that my account is brand new (no statements at all yet).
Correct! . . . After your first statement you should see a payment window similar to the one below. Notice that it has a button for "Outstanding Balance".

But, after the statement closes this month, I can pay whenever I want (both immediately, and scheduling payments for the future) through the Amex website?
You may schedule a payment anytime. However, for future payments, you MUST show a balance due from the last statement. In the example below, I show NO statement balance, only an Outstanding Balance. I can pay the Outstanding Balance but ONLY using today's date.

Gosh, that sounds clear as mud. Hope it helps.

IMA

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

Watchmann — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:51:33 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Okay, just to make sure that I'm understanding correctly... The only reason that I can't currently PIF (specifically through the Amex website) is that my account is brand new (no statements at all yet). But, after the statement closes this month, I can pay whenever I want (both immediately, and scheduling payments for the future) through the Amex website? I making sure, because I wasn't trying to schedule a future payment. When I click on the "pay" button I immediately get a message saying that no balance is due, and no option to make a payment anywhere.

Wait until your first statement posts online and your payment options will be clear! You can ALWAYS pay what you owe, AMEX will NOT refuse your money! But until you get your first statement you are in limbo.

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:38:36 GMT

Aaaah! Visual clarity! Now I get it. Really this time...

Itsmeagain wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:

Okay, just to make sure that I'm understanding correctly... The only reason that I can't currently PIF (specifically through the Amex website) is that my account is brand new (no statements at all yet).
Correct! . . . After your first statement you should see a payment window similar to the one below. Notice that it has a button for "Outstanding Balance".

But, after the statement closes this month, I can pay whenever I want (both immediately, and scheduling payments for the future) through the Amex website?
You may schedule a payment anytime. However, for future payments, you MUST show a balance due from the last statement. In the example below, I show NO statement balance, only an Outstanding Balance. I can pay the Outstanding Balance but ONLY using today's date.

Gosh, that sounds clear as mud. Hope it helps.

IMA

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:47:59 GMT

Watchmann wrote:
Wait until your first statement posts online and your payment options will be clear! You can ALWAYS pay what you owe, AMEX will NOT refuse your money! But until you get your first statement you are in limbo.

Somewhere, in a secret Amex location, the infamous Amex Axe Team is furiously attempting to ascertain my identity. One flustered analyst, looking wide-eyed at his screen screeches, "For the love of... How many times, and how many ways do they have to explain it to her?" Another, furiously typing on his laptop, "Calm down, Mort. I'm on it. You get the closure letter ready. I'm sending a message to the boss upstairs, time to adjust the risk model again. Cluelessness is definitely out."

LOL!

Thanks for the clarification... again. Hopefully this time it sticks. <blush>

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

haulingthescoreup — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:13:38 GMT

Cheer up, a lot of banks are like this! It's baffling at first, especially when you're determined not to let a balance post.

I've always just made the initial payment from my outside bank. If you "push" your payment into the AmEx (or any other) system, it gets credited. You just can't pay on their website for that first billing cycle.

I'll send a note to Mort to back off.

Re: Amex Gurus: Paying American Express

tntexans72 — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:46:56 GMT

I know this is an old link but I have another question regarding Amex "PUSH" payment method.....

I just received my Amex CC and have spent about $1500 on the CC so far. From what I've read, I can't pay at american website til after the 1st payment cut. I've decided to "PUSH" the paymeht in the amount of $1500 from my bank account to Amex. I guess the question I have is....how soon will the payment be posted to Amex once they received the electronic check.

For example, I push the payment on 6/17/2011 and my bank stated Amex will received the payment by 6/21/2011. Any idea when will the payment be credit to my Amex account? 2 business days? 5 business days?

Thanks in advance.........