topic Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers in Credit Cards

Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

navyox — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 17:16:58 GMT

If you want the cool bonus point offers, clear your browser cookies and/or use a different browser than the one you normally login with. After 2 inquiries I was given the word I will not be getting 25000 MR for completing $2k spending in first 3 months. The CSR acknowledged that my best bet to get the bonus was cancel the card and apply again in 12 months. Pays to be a churner I guess.

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

09Lexie — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 19:45:44 GMT

Because you apped for the SPG?

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

lg8302ch — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 19:50:10 GMT

So when you have 1 Amex you will never get the sign up bonus for a new card even if it is a different product ?

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

navyox — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 20:22:37 GMT

@09Lexie wrote:
Because you apped for the SPG?

I already had the SPG, and I was logged in when I applied. That's what steered my application toward's no MR bonus land. Apparently if Amex recognizes you through cookies in your browser, you will most likely not get a decent bonus attached to your application. I had been looking at the 25000 MR offer on another site, and naively thought logging in to app would help (and to be fair, maybe it did help with the approval, no way to know for sure). Instead it identified me as someone they already had a relationship with, and thus not worthy of the juicy bonus. One CSR all but admitted that failing to clear cookies and log in cold was what kept me from getting the bonus MR.

The frustrating thing is I have NEVER had a card affiliated with the MR program, in fact, my only Amex prior to PRG, was my SPG I've had since 2008.

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

navyox — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 20:25:14 GMT

@lg8302ch wrote:
So when you have 1 Amex you will never get the sign up bonus for a new card even if it is a different product ?

If you are logged in, most likely not. Your best way is to clear cookies or use a different web browser so they don't recognize you. The last CSR I spoke to said I could get the 25,000 MR bonus in a year (assuming they were still running it) if I cancelled and applied again. It's almost like they are actively encouraging you churn.

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

Revelate — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 20:28:29 GMT

@navyox wrote:
@lg8302ch wrote:
So when you have 1 Amex you will never get the sign up bonus for a new card even if it is a different product ?
If you are logged in, most likely not. Your best way is to clear cookies or use a different web browser so they don't recognize you. The last CSR I spoke to said I could get the 25,000 MR bonus in a year (assuming they were still running it) if I cancelled and applied again. It's almost like they are actively encouraging you churn.

I'm not certain about that: simply because you get the offers in the online interface doesn't mean the backend system is going to recognize it; end of the day you have a unique member number which is assuredly tied to your SSN somehow, and unless you're using a different SSN or TID, I rather strongly doubt this would get past their systems.

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

scenery_guy — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 20:36:49 GMT

Sorry for your hassle, this is a head scratcher for sure. I have received every one of my AMEX bonuses without intervention and I hold 6 cards. Recently got the 30K point personal SPG card while holding the business SPG card and it was not an issue. Actually had to chose a card to close to get the personal card (max 4 revolvers apparently) and I picked the business SPG card to close. I have received all of my points for the personal card offer just a couple weeks ago.

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

09Lexie — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 20:39:31 GMT

I'm with scenery_guy on this one. I'd keep trying 25,000MR is a lot to give up.

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

lg8302ch — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 20:42:18 GMT

@09Lexie wrote:
I'm with scenery_guy on this one. I'd keep trying 25,000MR is a lot to give up.

+1 - Good luck!

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

Anonymous — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 20:48:37 GMT

I think I had the same problem with my BCE.

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

navyox — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 21:29:16 GMT

@Revelate wrote:
@navyox wrote:
@lg8302ch wrote:
So when you have 1 Amex you will never get the sign up bonus for a new card even if it is a different product ?
If you are logged in, most likely not. Your best way is to clear cookies or use a different web browser so they don't recognize you. The last CSR I spoke to said I could get the 25,000 MR bonus in a year (assuming they were still running it) if I cancelled and applied again. It's almost like they are actively encouraging you churn.
I'm not certain about that: simply because you get the offers in the online interface doesn't mean the backend system is going to recognize it; end of the day you have a unique member number which is assuredly tied to your SSN somehow, and unless you're using a different SSN or TID, I rather strongly doubt this would get past their systems.

I would have never thought something like clearing cookies would make a difference, but after a lot of poking around on point chasing sites, apparently that's all there is to it. Very frustrating.

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

youngandcreditwrthy — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 02:14:11 GMT

Just don't be logged in when you ap Amex! Simple as that! Lol

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

slap_happy — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 02:51:27 GMT

I was logged in when I applied for my BSP and they did not give me the 15000 point sign up bonus and all I have is the Zync, I had no Amex revolvers at the time either, they said that I was already a "member"

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

navigatethis12 — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 03:04:41 GMT

You don't have to clear cookies, just don't log in. American Express is not known for matching offers or giving the bonus if the application didn't have it attached. You can ring and message until you can't ring and message anymore, and they will still say no. They never like giving out decent bonuses and they like even less to give them to people that have given them business over the years.

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

Walt_K — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 04:17:45 GMT

The issue is not one of them checking your SSN or member number or anything like that against their systems. It is simply that when you log in, and sometimes when you have certain cookies, you get taken to a different application page. You think you're applying for one offer because you've seen it elsewhere and you do not notice that the offer has changed when you log in.

At least that is what appears to be going on. Which explains why the Amex reps are telling you that you didn't apply for the offer you think you applied for. And it also explains why people who clear cookies and/or don't log in or use an incognito browser have no issues getting their bonus. It's not that they are defeating any kind of back end security check by Amex. It's just that they don't have the offer pulled out from under them during the application process. They actually do end up applying for the offer they believe they clicked on.

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

navyox — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 09:56:42 GMT

@Walt_K wrote:
The issue is not one of them checking your SSN or member number or anything like that against their systems. It is simply that when you log in, and sometimes when you have certain cookies, you get taken to a different application page. You think you're applying for one offer because you've seen it elsewhere and you do not notice that the offer has changed when you log in.

At least that is what appears to be going on. Which explains why the Amex reps are telling you that you didn't apply for the offer you think you applied for. And it also explains why people who clear cookies and/or don't log in or use an incognito browser have no issues getting their bonus. It's not that they are defeating any kind of back end security check by Amex. It's just that they don't have the offer pulled out from under them during the application process. They actually do end up applying for the offer they believe they clicked on.

+1, thanks for explaining it better than I was. I kind of want to cancel the PRG, so I can start the window to apply again and get the bonus, but I JUST added an AU. I also like the idea of a different type of account in my mix and no utilization reporting. If I can find an EO email I will try one more time, and if that is unsuccessful, cancel.

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

youngandcreditwrthy — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 11:54:50 GMT

Yeah, just don't be logged in when you app.
Do it from a diff computer lol or diff phone or diff browser. They have far too many accounts to not be dependent on their auto-systems.

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 13:10:33 GMT

Same thing happened to me, but I missed out on an additional 15k SPG points. Lets just say moving the majority of my spending to this card only to be denied the additional bonus had me livid. I have been going back and forth with them regarding this disguisting policy...reward non-customers vs. current cardholders. I will be closing the card (maybe all) and will make sure I get the bonus that motivated me to apply in the first place.

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

navyox — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 14:12:24 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Same thing happened to me, but I missed out on an additional 15k SPG points. Lets just say moving the majority of my spending to this card only to be denied the additional bonus had me livid. I have been going back and forth with them regarding this disguisting policy...reward non-customers vs. current cardholders. I will be closing the card (maybe all) and will make sure I get the bonus that motivated me to apply in the first place.

I wouldn't go scorched Earth, just PC to no fee cards and sock drawer them. I am leaning heavily towards cancelling the PRG, even though I love it, 25000 MR is just too much to pass up. I will reapply in Nov 2014.

E: I think the only card you can PC SPG to is Blue Cash.

Re: Learn from Mistake Re Amex Bonus Offers

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 14:43:21 GMT

@navyox wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Same thing happened to me, but I missed out on an additional 15k SPG points. Lets just say moving the majority of my spending to this card only to be denied the additional bonus had me livid. I have been going back and forth with them regarding this disguisting policy...reward non-customers vs. current cardholders. I will be closing the card (maybe all) and will make sure I get the bonus that motivated me to apply in the first place.
I wouldn't go scorched Earth, just PC to no fee cards and sock drawer them. I am leaning heavily towards cancelling the PRG, even though I love it, 25000 MR is just too much to pass up. I will reapply in Nov 2014.

E: I think the only card you can PC SPG to is Blue Cash.

In closing and re-applying I will boost my AAoA either way...and make sure I don't make the same mistake this time. Even CSR's recommend closing and re-applying. I just need to make sure I don't apply too early....