NEW Changes coming to Amex Card Program

[Anonymous]

Posted by The Points Guy, the following changes are coming to Amex, the last change at the end of the page, amex holders will def not be happy about.

Effective immediately, you will not be able to add authorized users and have your authorized users have their own Membership Rewards account (separate from the primary Membership Rewards account).

Starting on Thursday (June 6, 2019), the American Express Gold Card will now earn 4x at restaurants worldwide (instead of just restaurants in the United States) All other card bonus categories and caps remain the same

The Blue for Students Card will no longer earn Membership Rewards Points (I can’t even find any info on this card).You should convert this credit card to an AMEX EveryDay Credit Card

Effective September 1, 2019, your authorized user will need to wait at least 90 days before you can link their airline/hotel loyalty account to the primary Membership Rewards account. I believe this is American Express’s attempt to crack down on members selling their Membership Rewards Points by adding a buyer as an authorized user, then adding their airline/hotel loyalty account to the primary Membership Rewards account and then transferring Membership Rewards Points out of the primary account

Effective September 28, 2019, authorized users that have their own Membership Rewards account will have until October 31, 2019, to redeem their accumulate Membership Rewards Points.  In addition, after September 28, 2019, all purchases made by authorized users will have their points post to the primary Membership Rewards account.

Probably the biggest change is Effective September 1, 2019, you will need to pay your bill by the payment due date, otherwise you may forfeit any Membership Rewards Points earned that period.

updated: On Terms it states "We are changing the Terms and conditions,  to we must recieve your pyament of the amount due on your linked account by the payment due date for a biling period instead of by the closing date of the next billing period, in order for you to avoid forfeiting  the points that you would have earned for that billing period"

 What does everyone think?

Here link to full article
https://thepointsguy.com/news/amex-authorized-user-rules-no-points-late-payments/

[hawkins]

Seems a little extreme the balance part. They have been pushing the pay it plan it for awhile now and now want balance paid in full? They can’t have both! If indeed this is how or what they are wanting won’t be great for them. I believe in PIF however, there are times you might need an extra month or two if you have a large business expense or what not. No MR points will kill all that.

[kdm31091]

I read it as you just have to make a payment by the due date to receive your points, not that it has to be paid in full. So you won’t get points if your account isn’t paid up to date, but doesn’t mean you have to pay in full. It would make no sense to force that on revolving credit products.

[simplynoir]

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@kdm31091 wrote:
I read it as you just have to make a payment by the due date to receive your points, not that it has to be paid in full. So you won’t get points if your account isn’t paid up to date, but doesn’t mean you have to pay in full. It would make no sense to force that on revolving credit products.

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+1 I read it as if you don't meet the minimum payment due you run the risk of forfeiting any points earned during that statement period. I'm assuming those that put large purchases on Plan It for the charge cards for instance the same principle applies so it's really not as big a deal as it sounds unless I'm missing something here.

[Physh1]

It doesn't say pay in full...it just says pay your bill. If you don't pay your minimum amount due than you should lose your MR points. Why give benefits to someone who cannot pay their bill? It's a little vague...that will need clarification. None of this impacts me at all...none of it seems out of sorts. The last part will need clarification but beyond that this effects me 0.

[Shadowfactor]

Didn’t know that employee cards could have their own MR account.

Only noticeable change IMO is the 90 day rule on AU for point transfers. Amex is likely trying to combat selling miles. 

[Anonymous]

update: i found the term language 

https://ibb.co/QnpjkVY

[imaximous]

"Effective September 28, 2019, authorized users that have their own Membership Rewards account will have until October 31, 2019, to redeem their accumulate Membership Rewards Points.  In addition, after September 28, 2019, all purchases made by authorized users will have their points post to the primary Membership Rewards account."

Can anyone elaborate on this? AFAIK, AUs don't get the points for purchases. They just go to the main account. The account owner can allow an AU to use the points, but I never knew AUs would accumulate points. 

[AverageJoesCredit]

Lol, figure someone would find away to abuse AU accounts.

[Anonymous]

I’m confused, so do AU’s lose their online access?