Understanding AMEX Statement Payments & Dates

[Anonymous]

I recently acquired an Amex Hilton Honors card. We like to use it and pay it off for the points but its not like my other credit cards where I can pay whatever the balance is when I want.

For example, we used it on a trip out of town, I want to payoff the $500 balance but its only showing a total balance of $178, remaining statement balance $0 - no payment due and no ability to pay off the current charges.

I want to pay it before the amount hits my credit report. Anyone have any insight? If this has been asked before, can someone point me in the direction of the post?

Thank you!

[thornback]

Amex won't show a payment due until your statement cuts. However, you can pay prior to that. You should be able to just click on "make a payment" and select the option to pay current balance.

If only $178 is showing for current balance, it's possible the other charges are still pending.

[Anonymous]

That's whats confusing...when I hit "Make a Payment" it says "No Payment due at this time" and doesn't allow me anywhere to make any payments....

[Dalmus]

Is the charge still "pending?"  It won't reflect on your current balance line until it leaves the pending status.  I've had charges sit as pending for sometimes 3-4 days before they clear.  I don't believe Amex will let you pay more than what is listed as your current balance.

Also, if this is your first month with the card, you'll only be able to make ONE payment for the month.  After the first statement cuts, you can make multiple payments.

[Anonymous]

I'm new with Amex as well, and here are some rules I've read on the forums:

1. Amex doesn't like more than one payment source the first statement cycle.
2. Amex won't report until the second statement, so your balance the first statement doesn't matter as it won't report.

So there's really no reason for you to worry.  Make your first payment on time, whenever, and then play utilization reporting games before the 2nd statement posts.

[Anonymous]

This what I see:

But then its saying my available balance is ~$300

[thornback]

Why not call them? Or use the chat feature? Maybe they can clarify - better than the rest of us guessing. I've always been able to pay prior to statement cut... even in my very first month of having the card. So it's very odd you don't even have the option.

[Anonymous]

Forgot about the chat option - I will try that

[SBR249]

AmEx should allow you to make a payment even if your balance shows nothing and there's no limit (that I'm aware of) as to how much you can prepay. I'm on my BCE page and I have one pending charge, no posted balance, and I can enter any amount I'd like to pay even more than 10X the amount of the pending charge. 

The only thing I can think of is if AmEx maintains a different website for these co-branded cards compared to its own cards. It looks like the interface is different so I wouldn't be surprised if this is the case and in that case, the functionality to prepay may not be enabled. 

[thornback]

Thats a good point. I have BCE too and did not consider the account interfaces may differ.