Delayed Starwood Amex Sign-up Bonus
Back in the middle of 2017, American Express updated their terms to counteract the acts of “gaming” or “churning” American Express credit cards and charge cards and the related sign-up bonuses. We first saw this appear on the Delta Gold Amex, through it has definitely creeped into the terms of the otehr card offerings…
One part of this update included anti-abuse language, which allowed Amex to claw back bonus or even close down accounts.
ANTI-ABUSE LANGUAGE – “If we in our sole discretion determine that you have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with the welcome bonus offer in any way or that you intend to do so (for example, if you applied for one or more cards to obtain a welcome bonus offer(s) that we did not intend for you; if you cancel or downgrade your account within 12 months after acquiring it; or if you cancel or return purchases you made to meet the Threshold Amount), we may not credit Starpoints to your account. We may also cancel this Card account and other Card accounts you may have with us.”
And yes, they are hard at work trying to enforce the updates to these terms – see Amex Rewards Abuse Team (RAT).
Also in the offer terms is language allows Amex to delay sign-up bonus amounts for a pretty significant amount of time – 8 to 12 weeks after meeting spending thresholds!
BONUS DELAY – “Bonus points will appear on your Starwood Preferred Guest statement 8-12 weeks after you reach the spend threshold.”
This is the part I really don’t like…
I totally get understand where Amex (or any card issuer) is coming from wanting to limit those who abuse the system. I am pretty sure the majority of those people who have put themselves in borderline “abuse” situations (myself included) are well aware that they are at placing themselves some advantage over the card issuer. If that card issuer decides to take action, that is there right.
But, there are those who stick to the rules, and still get the shaft…
Bonus 8-12 weeks after you reach the spend threshold?
That just seems like a long time, right!?
If I recall, the standard terms on American Express cards stated 6-8 weeks, though typically bonuses would post either as soon as the spending threshold was met, or possibly after the statement was close and bill was paid.
This is the first time I have seen American Express where they actually may be sticking to their policy and in my specific experience, the the timeline has gone a little something like this:
10/5/2017 – Sign-up for SPG Business card under following bonus structure: 25,000 bonus Starpoints after making $6,000 in purchases within the first 3 months and an extra 10,000 bonus Starpoints after making an additional $4,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
10/26/2017 – Met $6,000 spend requirement – triggering the initial 25,000 point bonus
10/27/2017 – 1st Statement Close
11/24/2017 – Met additional $4,000 spend requirement – triggering the additional 10,000 point bonus
11/24/2017 – 2nd Statement Close
11/25/2017 – Chat Amex utilizing the online tool confirming the sign-up bonus offer. Investigation was opened by the
11/282017 – Call Amex referencing the above investigation
12/3/2017 – Chat Amex referencing the above investigation
12/13/2017 – Chat Amex referencing the above investigation. Instructed to wait the full 8-12 weeks…
TODAY 12/22/2017 – Still no bonus yet… just a lonely 13k Starpoints…
Final Thought
No longer of the days where you can hurry up and meet spend shortly before your desired redemption. Lucky for me I was not in pressing need of these bonus points in order to book upcoming travel, but I would still prefer them to be safe in my account than subject to this 8-12 holding period.
Be careful applying for American Express cards in the future with upcoming redemption contingent on the sign-up bonus and expect delays in bonus posting!
Have you noticed a delay in your SPG Business Amex sign-up bonus posting? Or any other American Express card for that matter?
Happy Travels!
DW
I received my card in early December, had legitimate spend for the bonus within a few days, and I received my bonus a couple of days later
Interesting… thanks for the data point! Is that related to a business or personal card?
My Spend is legitimate as well (no gift cards or other manufactured spend), but I have been having a lot of trouble getting this bonus to post.
It was the personal card…
I signed up for the personal SPG Amex card about 3-4 weeks ago for 30k points with 3k spend. My first statement I spent 2900. I was hoping to hit the 3k spend by the first statement so I would get the bonus points earlier since I thought it would post only after each statement.
I spent about 400 more the followings days and when those transaction posted, I got my 30k SPG right away. Which was literally like 5 days ago.
I’m Marriott Platinum and SPG platinum and I bought SPG points. I don’t know if those affect if they post your points right away or not. This is my only Amex card besides the old Costco one that converted to Citi.
Maybe only the personal one post right away and business card takes a bit longer.
Thanks for the data point! It may just be the specific version of the business offer that I signed up for…
DW
I received the card in early April with the same 25k/10k bonus upon hitting $3,000 and $5,000 spend respectively. I hit the threshold in mid May and the points hadn’t shown up a month later. When I called in June, the representative essentially told me to wait a few more weeks. Flash forward several months and multiple calls later, and I still hadn’t received the points. Each time I called, the representative acknowledged I had validly earned the points and should be receiving the bonus, but that there was some problem with their system and that they were conducting an investigation to determine why the points weren’t transferring. In the meantime, I was regularly using the SPG card for most non-meal or travel spend. Finally, in early December, I speak to a supervisor who tells me that there’s no record of that bonus offer being attached to the account (or any bonus offer, for that matter) and that I should look through my documents for any record of this bonus offer. I am, of course, livid that after months of being assured by almost 10 different representatives that the points had been legitimately earned and that Amex was working to have them transferred, the representative was now telling me there was essentially nothing that she could do. I calmly tell her that I’ll look for any records I might have, but that I shouldn’t be expected to keep bonus announcements 7 months after applying for the card, that this was a very public promotional campaign and that it’s generally unacceptable to receive this information so long after receiving the card. I hang up feeling defeated but determined to look into my options for recourse. Strangely, a couple of days later, I’m looking at my Amex account and I see the points have magically appeared, and sure enough, are transferred to my Starwood account a few days later.
Long story short, I think Amex might just have some computer issues that impact a small portion of SPG cardholders. I don’t think I would have triggered any anti-abuse software since I was and still am regularly using the card for organic spend. For anyone having issues receiving the points, be patient but keep calling back and ask to elevate to a supervisor. Ask them to confirm on the record that the bonus offer is in fact attached to the account and SAVE ANY RECORDS YOU HAVE THAT MENTION THE BONUS OFFER, in case Amex tries to argue that no bonus offer ever applied to your application.
WOW! Seems that you and me are in the same type situation, though at least you have received your bonus! I have been saving my conversation for fear of something like this… Thanks for the heads up on this!
DW
I got the Business card November2, 2017. I completed the $6,000 December 10 and received 25000 starpoints 1 week later, before the statement. AMEX has always given my bonus within a few days of earning it.
My husband had almost the identical situation. Points finally posted at the end of November.