By Christopher Elliott | Problem Solved
Cole Juchems thinks he’s earned a $350 credit from American Express after meeting the spending requirement on his platinum card. But Amex says he’s $3.47 short and refuses to give him the credit. Is he out of luck?
Q: American Express offered me a promotional credit when I renewed my Amex Platinum card annual fee in July 2024. The offer was for a $350 credit, roughly half the $695 annual fee, if I spent $4,000 on the card over the next 90 days.
At the end of 90 days, I added my spending and found that I’d met the minimum amount required. I reached out to Amex again to inquire about the credit, only to be told that I’d figured incorrectly and was $3.47 short.
I understand the calculation error was mine, but I find it surprising that Amex wouldn’t make an effort to retain a loyal cardmember in good standing by waiving the last $3.47 and awarding the credit. I’ve made upwards of $25,000 in purchases since opening my account in June 2023 and am disappointed that the company values my loyalty at less than $3.47.
I don’t expect Amex to make an exception in my case, but I would appreciate it if your team could inquire on my behalf, if for no other reason than to see how Amex responds. Any help you can offer is appreciated. — Cole Juchems, Pekin, Ill.
A: Amex should have considered letting the $3.47 slide, or given you a way to make up for it. You spent nearly $4,000 on your card in just three months — and over $25,000 in a little over a year. I think you’ve more than proven your loyalty to the company.
But that’s the problem with credit card companies. They push you to spend more, which may be good for Amex, but not necessarily for you.
I would carefully reconsider bonus offers like these, because you could easily overextend yourself and end up in debt. You were smart to keep close track of your spending. If you hadn’t made an error, you would have received the $350 credit while meeting the minimum spending requirement.
You did the right thing by contacting Amex to inquire about the credit. You also kept a detailed paper trail of your correspondence. You could have also appealed to an executive at Amex. I list the names, numbers, and emails of the American Express executives on my consumer advocacy website, Elliott.org.
I contacted American Express on your behalf. A representative acknowledged the unusual circumstances of your case and agreed to issue the $350 credit to your account.
“I appreciate very much the help that you and your team provided,” you said. “I doubt that I’d have gotten a positive result by working within Amex’s internal customer service structure. It’s obvious that your team’s inquiry on my behalf led to this timely, positive resolution.”
Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy ( elliottadvocacy.org), a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at [email protected] or get help by contacting him at elliottadvocacy.org/help/
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Amex denied me a credit because I was $3.47 short )
Also on site :
- A look at six bills in Albany awaiting Gov. Hochul’s signature
- Israel tried to break Iran – but it may have actually helped unite it
- This 'Iconic' Cereal is Finally Making a Comeback and Fans Going Wild: 'Holy Smokes'