AMEX NPSL Spending Power: Multiple Charge Cards

[CreditCrusader]

I'm hoping my fellow AMEX users can shed some light on this.

I was recently approved for both the Gold and Green cards, both of which I absolutely LOVE.

Both are NPSL, but obviously have internal spending power limits.

Does AMEX automatically split those limits between cards?

I don't want to nag the luv button (for reasons well documented on this board over the years), but it's really the only peek into AMEX's mind we have on these cards in the absence of this sort of clarification. Any feedback would be appreciated.

DPs: FICOs 750+ across the board...zero debt...$1m+ total net worth...$110,000k annual income

[GZG]

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@CreditCrusader wrote:

I'm hoping my fellow AMEX users can shed some light on this.

I was recently approved for both the Gold and Green cards, both of which I absolutely LOVE.

Both are NPSL, but obviously have internal spending power limits.

Does AMEX automatically split those limits between cards?

I don't want to nag the luv button (for reasons well documented on this board over the years), but it's really the only peek into AMEX's mind we have on these cards in the absence of this sort of clarification. Any feedback would be appreciated.

DPs: FICOs 750+ across the board...zero debt...$1m+ total net worth...$110,000k annual income

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your account/profile/ssn has like a dynamic, internal limit and that will be based on all of your cards/products with them, including your credit cards with limits if you have them 

so it's not 'split' but it's like one giant pool that any of your cards can tap into upto let's say '100%' of what your internal limit with amex is

[FicoMike0]

A little off topic, but, what inspired the great love? I'm guessing you have to spend a lot, which I dont, to appreciate the benes. Just curious.

[CreditCrusader]

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@FicoMike0 wrote:

A little off topic, but, what inspired the great love? I'm guessing you have to spend a lot, which I dont, to appreciate the benes. Just curious.

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Their categories and rewards are simply perfect fits for this stage in our lives.

Plus, we live in an area where EVERYONE accepts AMEX...and very few charge card fees (We carry cash for those places).

[SuperFlyEDSguy]

Congrats on your new AMEX Cards!

Their Gold Card is probably my favorite and most used card. I have several others to capture specific benefits and rewards, but that combo sounds particularly good for you. I'm just curious, why get the Green Card instead of the Platinum Card? I recently added that one to my collection and it seems to now be complete as I covered all my bases.

Now, moving on, you may have noticed that you have two separate limits for each card, the NPSL and the Pay Over Time (POT). Let's start with the latter. You may have been approved for different POT amounts for each charge card, there is no guarantee that they will be the same as they are card specific limits. You probably won't extend purchases on a charge card, so POT may or may not be something that you would even use, but I wanted to clarify this as you will come across it either in the portal or on your bill soon enough.

Next up, the actual NPSL. Well, you could click the help next to it in the portal to get an idea on exactly how they calculate this internal limit, but in short, it's based on a variety of factors to include your card usage, payments, relationship with AMEX, income, credit scores, etc. I have found this number to be VERY dynamic, even changing from day to day! You could get an idea where it stands by going to the "Spending Power" link for that card in your account portal. You could check this only three times per day, but that's per card! Start with an arbitrary, but reasonable amount, and work up/down accordingly to see where they will cut you off. You could always resume the next day, but remember this number is extremely dynamic in my experience.

Although it's been said that the NPSL for charge cards is tied to the account holder rather than the card, I have found different "Spending Power" cutoff amounts between my Gold and Platinum Cards. Oddly, my Gold was higher, but my Platinum was newer. So, it wouldn't surprise me at all if AMEX imposes an internal temporary limit on newer cards. That may have just been the case. My point is that you could see different amounts on different charge cards. Interestingly enough, the "Spending Power" does increase after making a payment, so I pay in full at least once a month. As a new member you may even get messages advising you that your spending is high when it's more-or-less regular spending, this is at least until AMEX sees a trend with your payments. It's not unusual or even uncommon, so if they ask for a payment mid-month, just take care of it ASAP and go on using your card(s) as usual. It will go away after some time unless you make a purchase that they believe is unusually high for you, even then it's rare and intermittent. Additionally, don't worry too much if your "Spending Power" is initially on the lower-side or trends to the lower-side later in a given month as AMEX is very relationship-based and only wants to see the trends before opening up more and more.

I hope this helps! Enjoy those MR Points and be certain to qualify for the SUB early to ensure you get it and don't forget it. Those MR Points really add up and I've surprised my adult daughter with a plane ticket once from those points, another time AMEX was having a promo with Amazon and I saved $25 and got nearly $400 in product with points that I had. Unlike their Cash Back (Blue) cards, the MR Points are pooled between your charge cards, something I personally find very convenient. Best of luck! 

[ptatohed]

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@FicoMike0 wrote:

A little off topic, but, what inspired the great love? I'm guessing you have to spend a lot, which I dont, to appreciate the benes. Just curious.

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I ask myself this all the time @FicoMike0 .  $400 in annual fees for Green + Gold.  4 MRPs on restaurants and groceries, 3 MRPs on airfare with the Gold.  3 MRPs on travel, transit, and restaurants with Green.  I've searched the web and the value of a MRP is all over the place from 0.5cpp (cash options) to the max I saw 2.8cpp (travel partner options).  I think 2cpp would be a fair valuation (and that's actually higher than a lot of sites value an MRP at).  So, 8cpp (or 8%) for rest's and groce, 6cpp (or 6%) for airfare, travel, and transit.  I'm disregarding the 1X 'other' category as that would be no better than any 2% card.  So, 8% and 6% are good returns but then throw in the $400 in annual fees.  That's an awful lot of money you'd have to spend in those limited 8% and 6% categories to break even with AmEx + AFs vs straight 2% CB + no AF (not to mention 3-5% CB no AF category cards).  And cash can be invested or spent anywhere, MRPs can only be used for travel partners (for the highest return).  Yes there are credits which, if (if) used organically, can definitely close the gap.  But, for me, the anxiety of making sure I use Uber 12 times per year (I don't) or spend $100+ at LoungeBuddy (I have no idea what that is) just would not be worth it.  I'm genuinely happy for those who love their AmEx cards and can make the math work.  Hat's off to you.  

[SuperFlyEDSguy]

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@ptatohed wrote:

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@FicoMike0 wrote:

A little off topic, but, what inspired the great love? I'm guessing you have to spend a lot, which I dont, to appreciate the benes. Just curious.

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But, for me, the anxiety of making sure I use Uber 12 times per year (I don't) 

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You made some great points and it's funny that you mentioned Uber because I used them just a handful of times maybe 8-ish years ago when my car was in the shop. After my disability caught up with me, EDS, a rare genetic connective tissue disease that I was finally diagnosed with at 39, we lived in a rural area until a couple of months ago when we decided to move to Florida to be closer to family. I was also diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome/Toxic Exposure, so I definitely got the short end of the stick. After the move, I discovered that my associated VA medical centers are all like within 5-minutes from my house. So, there are days that I'm just in too much pain or too fatigued to drive, and I am finally now able to put those Uber credits to use! 

[Anonymous]

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@ptatohed wrote:

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@FicoMike0 wrote:

A little off topic, but, what inspired the great love? I'm guessing you have to spend a lot, which I dont, to appreciate the benes. Just curious.

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I ask myself this all the time @FicoMike0 .  $400 in annual fees for Green + Gold.  4 MRPs on restaurants and groceries, 3 MRPs on airfare with the Gold.  3 MRPs on travel, transit, and restaurants with Green.  I've searched the web and the value of a MRP is all over the place from 0.5cpp (cash options) to the max I saw 2.8cpp (travel partner options).  I think 2cpp would be a fair valuation (and that's actually higher than a lot of sites value an MRP at).  So, 8cpp (or 8%) for rest's and groce, 6cpp (or 6%) for airfare, travel, and transit.  I'm disregarding the 1X 'other' category as that would be no better than any 2% card.  So, 8% and 6% are good returns but then throw in the $400 in annual fees.  That's an awful lot of money you'd have to spend in those limited 8% and 6% categories to break even with AmEx + AFs vs straight 2% CB + no AF (not to mention 3-5% CB no AF category cards).  And cash can be invested or spent anywhere, MRPs can only be used for travel partners (for the highest return).  Yes there are credits which, if (if) used organically, can definitely close the gap.  But, for me, the anxiety of making sure I use Uber 12 times per year (I don't) or spend $100+ at LoungeBuddy (I have no idea what that is) just would not be worth it.  I'm genuinely happy for those who love their AmEx cards and can make the math work.  Hat's off to you.  

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But to channel @redpat .... you are perfectly happy doing the special spend/missions etc on the Devil's Own Card, because it doesn't really change your normal spending patterns (or so the devil makes you say).   Same here, for some the credit use is perfectly natural, sometimes reducing the AF to $0 or below, and then the category spend is excellent.

[ptatohed]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@ptatohed wrote:

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@FicoMike0 wrote:

A little off topic, but, what inspired the great love? I'm guessing you have to spend a lot, which I dont, to appreciate the benes. Just curious.

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I ask myself this all the time @FicoMike0 .  $400 in annual fees for Green + Gold.  4 MRPs on restaurants and groceries, 3 MRPs on airfare with the Gold.  3 MRPs on travel, transit, and restaurants with Green.  I've searched the web and the value of a MRP is all over the place from 0.5cpp (cash options) to the max I saw 2.8cpp (travel partner options).  I think 2cpp would be a fair valuation (and that's actually higher than a lot of sites value an MRP at).  So, 8cpp (or 8%) for rest's and groce, 6cpp (or 6%) for airfare, travel, and transit.  I'm disregarding the 1X 'other' category as that would be no better than any 2% card.  So, 8% and 6% are good returns but then throw in the $400 in annual fees.  That's an awful lot of money you'd have to spend in those limited 8% and 6% categories to break even with AmEx + AFs vs straight 2% CB + no AF (not to mention 3-5% CB no AF category cards).  And cash can be invested or spent anywhere, MRPs can only be used for travel partners (for the highest return).  Yes there are credits which, if (if) used organically, can definitely close the gap.  But, for me, the anxiety of making sure I use Uber 12 times per year (I don't) or spend $100+ at LoungeBuddy (I have no idea what that is) just would not be worth it.  I'm genuinely happy for those who love their AmEx cards and can make the math work.  Hat's off to you.  

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But to channel @redpat .... you are perfectly happy doing the special spend/missions etc on the Devil's Own Card, because it doesn't really change your normal spending patterns (or so the devil makes you say).   Same here, for some the credit use is perfectly natural, sometimes reducing the AF to $0 or below, and then the category spend is excellent.

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Yes.  I don't think I said anything to the contrary.  

[Anonymous]

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@ptatohed wrote:

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I ask myself this all the time @FicoMike0 .  $400 in annual fees for Green + Gold. ...

   I'm genuinely happy for those who love their AmEx cards and can make the math work.  Hat's off to you.  

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Yes.  I don't think I said anything to the contrary.  

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I would say it was a mixed message!   There is no need to ask yourself all the time if you really accept (in your heart,..) that these cards merely aren't for you but are great for others.  Just like the Honest Bob Top Hat Club card (AF $1000, 20% of all top hats) But you do seem to mention amex cards negatively a little.