Amex reporting AF the same day it posts to account

[Jeffster1]

This isn't a complaint as much as an observation. 

I have an Amex Gold. My statement closing date is the 22nd. My $250 AF was charged to my account on 9/23 and was immediately reported as a $250 balance to EX, EQ and TU. I check my Amex accounts daily and I had no opportunity to pay it down to 0 before it reported. I keep all accounts PIF except for a $3 charge I keep riding monthly on my Cap One Savor card. This really did nothing to my utilization as I am knocking on the $200K door but this could drive up the utilization unnecessarily for some folks. 

I had thought the $250 AF would be posted and I would then have my normal cycle to pay it. It posted on 9/23 and I PIF on 9/23 but it's going to report as a $250 balance for the next month.

Not losing any sleep over it but just wanted to share. This may be normal but it took me by surprise.

[citymunky]

The AMEX Gold (as well as the Platinum and Green) are charge cards. The balance reported does not change your overall credit utilization percentage.

I normally pay my AMEX after the statement date, since the changing balance shows I'm actively managing credit.

[Jeffster1]

@citymunky  Thanks.. Appreciate the good info. It just surprised me that there was no time between positing the AF and reporting the balance. I'm really not worried about utilization anyway as I sit between 0% and 1% overall.

[DSTforlife]

Yes. Amex AF always posts on the statement close date.   I'm assuming it's the same for 90% of the AF cards out there. 

you can pay the balance and ask Amex to report to the credit bureaus off cycle.  They've done it before at my request. 

[Jeffster1]

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@DSTforlife wrote:

Yes. Amex AF always posts on the statement close date.   I'm assuming it's the same for 90% of the AF cards out there. 

you can pay the balance and ask Amex to report to the credit bureaus off cycle.  They've done it before at my request. 

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 @DSTforlife  Thanks! Great info, 

[h2oeng]

Typical for amex.  No big deal just pay it the following month.  

[Jeffster1]

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@h2oeng wrote:

Typical for amex.  No big deal just pay it the following month.  

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I just PIF the same day. 

[zerofire]

This is well known. AmEx will post the AF and report it immediately unless you already paid it off before it posted. Nothing new and I am fairly certain every issuer that does annual fees does it that way.