@Anonymous wrote:So, yesterday marked the end of my first billing period for my AMEX SPG Luxury Card. I recently traveled home to Chicago, and used my card for my stay at Chicago Marriott Suites O'Hare (I loved my stay there), as well as other charges. After all of the charges cleared, I went ahead and paid the balance on Tuesday and brought it down to zero. Great right?
WRONG!
They hit me with the annual fee on the statement closing date, but it did not appear until this morning:
So, instead of my balance reading $0, I now have a balance equivalent to 7.23% utilization of this card. I feel some type of way about this. Not about the fee, as I knew there would be one; just the timing of it. Dammit. The card isn't reporting yet, but when it does, this balance will, too. And I know my scores are going to dip; they were going to already because of the new tradeline, but man...
Well, shoot.
I'm sorry you were blindsided. YMMV, but it took AMEX 2 months to report my 2 accounts to the CRA's. Also, AMEX seems to cycle mid-morning, unlike some that update overnight. So expect to see account updates around 10 to 11am standard time. Glad to hear you enjoyed your time here. Chicago is the greatest city in the world! IMO!
@Streetervillelady wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:So, yesterday marked the end of my first billing period for my AMEX SPG Luxury Card. I recently traveled home to Chicago, and used my card for my stay at Chicago Marriott Suites O'Hare (I loved my stay there), as well as other charges. After all of the charges cleared, I went ahead and paid the balance on Tuesday and brought it down to zero. Great right?
WRONG!
They hit me with the annual fee on the statement closing date, but it did not appear until this morning:
So, instead of my balance reading $0, I now have a balance equivalent to 7.23% utilization of this card. I feel some type of way about this. Not about the fee, as I knew there would be one; just the timing of it. Dammit. The card isn't reporting yet, but when it does, this balance will, too. And I know my scores are going to dip; they were going to already because of the new tradeline, but man...
Well, shoot.
I'm sorry you were blindsided. YMMV, but it took AMEX 2 months to report my 2 accounts to the CRA's. Also, AMEX seems to cycle mid-morning, unlike some that update overnight. So expect to see account updates around 10 to 11am standard time. Glad to hear you enjoyed your time here. Chicago is the greatest city in the world! IMO!
Indeed! It's my hometown, actually. 
I love coming back home!
@UpperNwGuy wrote:Two thoughts:
1. Posting the annual fee as part of the statement closing process is done by many issuers. Amex didn't do anything wrong.
2. Why are you so upset with having a balance show on your statement? Balances are good. They document the fact that you're using the card. No interest will be charged if you pay the balance before the following due date.
I'm not upset. You should read the subsequent comments.
Also, I know that balances are good. I just don't like to have balances reporting above a certain threshold.
@Anonymous wrote:I suggest putting everything on autopilot, report all charges naturally, set autopay for full statement balance on due date, keep your money in interest earning accounts through grace period, you can always implement UTI micromanaging the cycle before application if you feel few points will make or break, no reason to waste your time, energy and money micromanaging at all times.
For reference, I gained 0 points on EX, 5 on TU and 3-4 on EQ going from all cards reporting naturally (7% UTI) to AZEO (1% UTI).
Great suggestion. I appreciate the input. 
And since I won't be app'ing for a while (unless my fingers get twitchy on a random night at 1AM again 
), perhaps I can back off myself for a bit.
