American Express is offering its cardmembers double membership rewards points on gas and groceries. You can sign up by visiting American Express's Web site or by calling a phone number and entering a code. The promotion runs from March 15, 2009, through March 15, 2010. There is a $1,000 spend limit each month.
Cardmembers and their authorized users can earn double points on the following consumer cards: the American Express Card, the American Express Rewards Green Card, the American Express Preferred Rewards Green Card, the American Express Gold Card, the American Express Rewards Gold Card, the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card, the American Express Rewards Plus Gold Card, the Platinum Card, and the Centurion Black Card. 
Full details of the offer can be found here.
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tip Of The Day: American Express Offering Double Membership Rewards Points
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26 comments:
Better than nothing ;-)
If you're already using your AmEx card for gas and groceries, it's a no brainer. I use my Penfed card for gas. I use my Chase Freedom card for groceries.
Wish the Amex clear card was eligible. Its seems like Amex is targeting only the high end spenders as well as the charge card members.
Raz, yep. Every card that's eligible for this promo is a charge card.
Make sure you go to upscale gas stations and grocery stores, wouldn't want any AA.
Don't think there's much to worry about with grocery stores and gas stations. Plus, didn't AmEx say that it would no longer use shopping habits to penalize customers? Do people not believe AmEx?? :)
CM,one of my friends defaulted on Amex credit card.Amex send to him interesting letter "Opportunity to regain Cardmembership".Have you heard about it?
Anon, sounds like AmEx's Oasis program. Your friend pays the outstanding debt in full and AmEx will issue your friend an Optima card.
Oh, and the limit will be half, I believe, of the previous outstanding balance. So, if your friend owes $2,000 on the debt, the Optima card will have a $1,000 limit. Something like that.
If your friend is interested, have him or her contact AmEx to get the details.
Sounds fishy:)Is it works for sure?
Anon, not much fishy to it. American Express, through the collection agency it uses (NCO, I believe), asks you for full payment. If you agree to pay off your entire debt, it's agreeing to let you back into the American Express fold.
Do a Google search. There certainly has to be sites or people who have detailed the Oasis plan.
Hi CM, have not written in a while (although I usually read the site everyday). I have an American Express Rewards Gold Card, Member since 200* - more than three years, less than eight. I have always received double membership rewards points for purchases on gas and groceries (and the US Post Office). There has not been a required $1,000 spending limit each month. Makes me wonder what they are up to, sounds like a way to offset the expenses for their bonus program. I know I like my Williams-Sonoma gift cards but I doubt they like sending them to me! :-)
HBB, interesting.
Other readers: do your experiences mirror those of HBB?
I wonder if the new twist is that there is a $1,000 cap.
Being an award winning secretary (no joke) and a perfectionist I am sure I have something on file (in chronological order with the most current correspondence in the front of course). I'll check the last information I received about bonus points and give you an update later. :-)
Thanks, HBB.
Nothing for my Clear card.
Thank goodness, and CreditMattersBlog, for my Penfed card!
A true no-nonsense rewards card, the first one I ever had!
I signed up-
I wonder if this will put me back on the AMEX radar-
Their system is down right now so I have to try later.
The last time I used my Amex Gold Rewards card for groceries, the next day I received a credit limit; my no pre-set limit was changed to $1,000 available credit only. That was in November, 2008.
I do all the membership purchasing /shopping under this card. My husband is the card owner and I am an AU. I tried to do my husband's card first but Amex said he wasn't enrolled for the Gold Membership Rewards so thus he is not eligible for this promotion. I imagine he could go to the rewards site and sign up or call Amex. Will see what happens when I enroll under my authorized user card and report back.
Thanks CM for the heads up here because my husband paid the $160 membership fee and was just about to cancel same. He feels he hasn't been adversely affected lately because he is paying the fee. He hasn't, but I have under my card. His credit limit is still intact, mine was slashed by half. I used and paid the card monthly from my spending allowance and Amex had no problem putting my husband's balance on my card for me to pay along with my own!!!
CiifIcare
Hey CM,
If you cant get penfed (I didnt qualify to join), NASA Federal Credit Union has a not bad no hassle rewards card too (I signed up last week). Plus if you're a space junkie (I am) its a bonus :)
No more feeding evil Amex/Chase for me!
HBB, I got something for you. An American Express spokesperson got an answer for me regarding your double points comment.
"We previously did have a built-in double Membership Rewards benefit for our Rewards Green and Gold Charge Cards that provided double points for purchases in a number of “everyday” spending categories, including gas, groceries. We discontinued that Card benefit in 2006.
"We periodically offer special bonus points promotions in spend categories or at particular merchants, some targeted and some, like this one, more broad. This particular promotion is available for all Charge Cardmembers with Membership Rewards until March 15, 2010."
So there you have it.
Pulled the file. Have the original August 2006 letter from "Jud Linville, President, Consumer Cards, Member Since 1989". It does state "These opportunities to earn more points replace double points on everyday purchases at stand-alone supermarkets, drugstores, gas stations, wireless bills, and the U.S. Postal Service." These opportunities include:
1. Membership Rewards points will double in value when you transfer them to your airline frequent flyer programs.
Note: Don't use this program.
2. We are introducing the Bonus Points Mall - shop online at BonusPointsMall.com and earn double points at over 100 of the most popular online brand-name retailers, such as saks.com, Target.com, BarnesandNoble.com and Gap.com.
Note #1: I don't shop here because alot of items cost twice as many points as apposed to ordering a gift card and getting twice as much product. Will expand on this if neccessary.
Note #2: If you want to know where AMEX wants you to shop, might want to check here!
3. Roadside Assistance (free service)
Note: Don't use this program, already have it at no charge.
4. Event Ticket Protection Plan
Note: Don't use this plan, don't care to haggle over a "Covered Incident".
Oh! Here's the kicker!
"To deliver a better Membership Rewards program, new benefits, and the world-class service you expect, your annual fee will now be $125."
I'm sorry, where did I benefit? I'm mad now. Let me know if you want me to transmit this to you. Also, I read somewhere on the site you were looking for the Centurion Bank paperwork and I have it, dated 04/04. Sorry so long.
Sorry, I double checked and found this "Does anyone happen to have an old Providian terms and conditions agreement?" Thought it said Centurion Bank. :-)
Maybe this is a test to see who CAN spend at least $1,000 a month?
Matthew said:
If you cant get penfed (I didnt qualify to join ...snip...
Matthew - anyone is eligible to join Penfed, if the join the NMFA (National Military Families Association). Worthy organization, in and of itself. You can join it, then Penfed, right on on Penfed's website:
https://www.penfed.org/howToJoin/overview.asp
*waves to CM and co. * hope all is well!
cb_opus
Opus, thanks for visiting. All is well.
cb_opus
DOH! Well thank you for that, kind sir :)
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