Train Delay Repay to BA Amex?

JamesPeter

I know if you purchase something using a BA Amex, then return it for a refund, Amex deduct any BA Avios points originally earned at the time of initial purchase – fair enough.

However, should this apply for delay repay compensation on trains?

Basically, I purchased a ticket on Transpennine Express (TPE) using my BA Amex. I used the ticket (I travelled on the booked train) but as the train was so late, I became entitled to 100% delay repay.

TPE have now sent the delay repay compensation back to my Amex card but Amex have taken back the Avios initially awarded (obviously thinking it was a refund of the original ticket as opposed to compensation for the train being very very late).

I know the value of the Avios is relatively low, but is it correct that Amex deduct the Avios on what is effectively a compensatory payment, not a refund of the original ticket?

Or should TPE be using a different MCC code etc for delay repay payments as opposed to ticket refunds in order to differentiate between the two (I have no idea what codes are actually used).

Just interested on the forum’s view on this?

Thanks.

 

born_again

There are no different MCC codes for refunds. As well as they will also pick up by retailer name. Which will be why it is seen as a refund rather than compensation.

All you could really do is ask Amex on this type of situation & they may reinstate points.

amanda1024

Is there still an option to get your delay repay another way - by bank transfer, for instance? That would avoid this situation.

JamesPeter

amanda1024 said:

Is there still an option to get your delay repay another way - by bank transfer, for instance? That would avoid this situation.

It appears that they try to pay the compensation to the original method of payment first. Only if that fails do they go to a secondary form of re-payment such as bank transfer etc.

JamesPeter

born_again said:

There are no different MCC codes for refunds. As well as they will also pick up by retailer name. Which will be why it is seen as a refund rather than compensation.

All you could really do is ask Amex on this type of situation & they may reinstate points.

Thanks, I will give Amex a buzz later.

DullGreyGuy

born_again said:

There are no different MCC codes for refunds. As well as they will also pick up by retailer name. Which will be why it is seen as a refund rather than compensation.

All you could really do is ask Amex on this type of situation & they may reinstate points.

I thought there was more to it than this... a refund can be made against a specific transaction in which case they get the merchant fees back or money can just be sent like any other payment in which case the merchant doesn't get the fees back. 

I'd expect the train company will try and clawback the fees it had paid and hence why the points are lost as AmEx has lost the margin it made.