new AmEx holder and where not to use card question

[CreditScholar]

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@takeshi74 wrote:

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@john398 wrote:

Is it ok to use to pay for hotels and use for incidentals hold at Casino Resorts such as MGM and Harrah's?

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If hotels and casino resorts were not ok they would lose a lot of valuable customers and many of us would have little use for our AmEx cards.  Use it don't worry.

Always consider your sources and corroborate.

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+1. Using it for hotels and incidentals is fine, but if you start using it for large cash advances to spend at the tables then they might get a bit concerned.

[Networth]

As others have said just use the card just like you would a debit card. Don't spend more than you can pay back. Amex isn't looking to "get you" I never understand why people fear Amex so much. They are just a lender like anyother, don't cheat them and they wont cheat you.

[nyancat]

Remember they probably get detailed transaction data too, so hotel rooms should be fine. I'd say avoid anything normally considered "sinful" by the Christian Right along with the Christian Right's favourite shop (Walmart). Both seem to be considered bad habits by Amex that can result in AA. Especially if they're new habits for you (aka if you drink every week on your Amex, no big deal. Never used your Amex in a bar and run up a $100 tab this Friday night? BIG deal)

[azguy13]

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@nyancat wrote:

Remember they probably get detailed transaction data too, so hotel rooms should be fine. I'd say avoid anything normally considered "sinful" by the Christian Right along with the Christian Right's favourite shop (Walmart). Both seem to be considered bad habits by Amex that can result in AA. Especially if they're new habits for you (aka if you drink every week on your Amex, no big deal. Never used your Amex in a bar and run up a $100 tab this Friday night? BIG deal)

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I completely disagree with this. OP, use your card wherever you want and pay the money back. Do not let politics change how you use your card. If certain places like Walmart was a red flag for Amex, everyone who shopped there would be AA'd and they would lose money. 

Use your card, pay your card, don't worry about rumors of certain places triggering an AA

[Exonumist]

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@nyancat wrote:

Remember they probably get detailed transaction data too, so hotel rooms should be fine. I'd say avoid anything normally considered "sinful" by the Christian Right along with the Christian Right's favourite shop (Walmart). Both seem to be considered bad habits by Amex that can result in AA. Especially if they're new habits for you (aka if you drink every week on your Amex, no big deal. Never used your Amex in a bar and run up a $100 tab this Friday night? BIG deal)

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I've done this and nothing happened. 

[Exonumist]

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@azguy13 wrote:

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I completely disagree with this. OP, use your card wherever you want and pay the money back. Do not let politics change how you use your card. If certain places like Walmart was a red flag for Amex, everyone who shopped there would be AA'd and they would lose money. 

Use your card, pay your card, don't worry about rumors of certain places triggering an AA

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Exactly! 

[azguy13]

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@D-Wall wrote:

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@nyancat wrote:

Remember they probably get detailed transaction data too, so hotel rooms should be fine. I'd say avoid anything normally considered "sinful" by the Christian Right along with the Christian Right's favourite shop (Walmart). Both seem to be considered bad habits by Amex that can result in AA. Especially if they're new habits for you (aka if you drink every week on your Amex, no big deal. Never used your Amex in a bar and run up a $100 tab this Friday night? BIG deal)

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I've done this and nothing happened. 

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When I was in college and worked in a bar, I used to do this all the time. Granted, I barely paid for anything there, but I used to buy bottles from them. I would ALWAYS put it on my AMEX and nothing ever happened. I probably put a few hundred a month on it. And before anyone asks, it was not a restaurant, strictly a bar. 

[youngandcreditwrthy]

My WHOLE bill at The Renaissance last weekend was alcohol. Haha topshelf nonetheless.
In fact, I oft spend a LOT at various night clubs, bars on drinkin' and partyin'... And payin' for my friends' s***. (IT's stopping, I know!) to me, a lot is 200-500.
I never use it at Walmart or for late night munchies like Taco Bell or BK.

[youngandcreditwrthy]

Ive literally bar/club hopped all over Dallas, Austin, and NYC... My BCE is my going out card, but it's been part of my habits from the beginning. I spent me $150 in cash back on a round of shots :-P lol

[azguy13]

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@youngandcreditwrthy wrote:
Ive literally bar/club hopped all over Dallas, Austin, and NYC... My BCE is my going out card, but it's been part of my habits from the beginning. I spent me $150 in cash back on a round of shots :-P lol

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There ya go. Another poster with evidence that the rumors are wrong. 

My favorite one is that AMEX will AA you if you use it at McDonalds