Amex 3 month cashback - start date?

ylesia

I'm hoping this is a stupid question (which is why I don't want to phone and ask!!).

I've just applied for a Amex 5% cashback card and they said it would take up to 10 working days to arrive. When does the 3 months start? From when I receive the card or from when my account was opened?

Cheers

JohalaReewi

When the account was opened.

ylesia

I literally applied today, the card is being sent out but will take up to 10 working days to get here. I forgot to ask when the 3 months would start, I'll just phone back 0800 number free anyway. Just thought somewhere here might know of the top of their head.

ylesia

Well just phoned and the 3 months starts today! So they really should advertise 2.5 months 5% cashback if it takes 2 weeks to get your card and pin. Oh well, she did apologize though and said it was a common question/complaint (but out of their control) so made me feel a little less stupid!

Innocent_Guy

I would have expected it to have been 3 months from 1st transaction

ylesia

Yeah me too! That's why I thought it was a stupid question! But alas no, it's from account opening/date of approval. The operator understood why I wasn't happy but there was nothing she could do as it was done automatically by "their system". Classic example of "computer says no"! They've obviously never thought of changing the date field on "their system" as at the moment it is impossible for a customer to get 5% cashback for 3 months - surely false advertising. But hey - I'm not going to whinge anymore, it's hardly the end of the world

tipsychick

Just to add to the mix, I was told that the 3 months start from when the account was created. In my case, this seems to have been five days after I applied for the account online with immediate acceptance.

If you're planning a large purchase towards the end of the 3 month period, I'd get a specific date from them as to when the cashback actually ends. (Take name and date and time of call for future reference).

I know it's obvious but do watch that the cashback being credited on your statement is actually accurate. They've just changed their systems and instead of 5% cashback, I've got 0.5% for the over £3K of purchases I made last month! All will be sorted out, I've been promised...

On a positive note, I must admit their customer service has been a dream so far!

ylesia

Well maybe I'll get an extra few days then , she said it was when the account was created and that was when I was accepted but hopefully she was mistaken. I've got a large purchase to pay for next week and one at the end of July so I was trying to time it right to get 5% on both.

zebedy

Hi, when I first got my AmEx the card didn't arrive until 2 weeks after the account was opened but i still couldn't start using it as the PIN took over one month to arrive. Once it finally arrived I phoned Amex to politely complain that i only had 2 months left of the 5% cashback bonus time because they had taken so long.
I finally got them to change the date that my 5% bonus ended (and managed to blag an extra 2 weeks!)
I had to be very persistent and it took a couple of phone calls. I was persistent but was also very patient and polite (not doing angry type complaining0 and it worked for me.

About a week after they agreed to change the date I rang again and just asked when my 3 month 5% bonus came to an end and they told me the new correct date.

It might not always work but it may be worth a try

basill

tipsychick wrote: »

On a positive note, I must admit their customer service has been a dream so far!

I have to agree, my card was issued with a paltry £700 limit as I already have an Amex Nectar card. Customer services moved the limit between the two cards, offered to clear the 66p I had had had trouble paying via the web page and added the new card to my internet page.

Simple stuff but all done with a genuine smile!

B

ylesia

Well I just had my welcome phone call and the guys was very nice. Pretty much let me set my own credit limit by asking how much I was likely to spend! I didn't mention the start date of the offer, think I'll wait and see how long it actually takes to get the cards and pins, then phone and "confirm" that the 3 months starts from then and see how that goes. They are also sending me an offer for 15% cashback at homebase if I spend using my card in May or June - we were thinking of getting some new garden furniture so happy days