AMEX Explorer Card Travel Credit Problem. Any Advice Please?

L3jidaddy on 06/08/2018 - 10:27
Last edited 06/08/2018 - 10:35 by 1 other user

Hi. I uses AMEX Explorer card. I pay $395 for annual fee and receive $400 travel credit.

Here is the problem.

I used $42 travel credit for Aquarium ticket in this year. I knew that my card anniversary was coming so I accessed the travel page last week and found no credit left.

I called AMEX and they said that the travel credit should be used in 1 transaction otherwise the credit would be forfeited.

I didn't know about this terms and conditions and no one in AMEX informed about this to me when I signed up, when I used my credit two years ago, or even when I asked for my credit balance two years ago.

I didn't receive any welcome package and I am not that stupid to use $400 travel credit for $42.

I paid my payment on time and never had credit issue.

Can you help me with any advices to get my $350 travel credit?
Is there any gov. agency that I can report this to?

Thank you in advance.

Financial American Express Credit Card Travel Credit

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Comments

  • MathNerd on 06/08/2018 - 10:50
    +9

    Sorry, it's crystal clear in the American Express Explorer Credit Card Travel Credit Terms and Conditions:

    2 . The $400 Travel Credit can be redeemed against any single eligible travel booking made and paid through American Express Travel Online: americanexpress.com.au/travel. If the full Travel Credit amount is not redeemed against a single travel booking then the remaining amount will be forfeited.

    4 . Card Members are only able to redeem one Travel Credit per booking.

    This has always been the case, and the majority of discussions of this travel credit (or any other travel credit on an AmEx card) make it pretty clear that it's only once that you can use it. It's not like a "bank balance" or "gift card" that can be used many times until it's eroded.
    An example is here, where the OP stated clearly:

    Please note all bookings are final, non refundable and the whole $400 has to be used in one booking.

    Sorry OP, even a government department won't help you with this one.

    • cwongtech on 06/08/2018 - 10:57
      +11

      Sorry OP, even a government department won't help you with this one.

      There is one, it's called the education department, courtesy of the generous taxpayers.

    • ronnknee on 06/08/2018 - 12:05
      +3

      Don't expect OP to be able to read. His username checks out.

    • HighAndDry on 06/08/2018 - 13:19
      +3

      Sorry OP, even a government department won't help you with this one.

      I hate how the first thing people think of is going to the govt. Adults shouldn't act like kids on the school playground, running to the teachers for every little thing.

  • tomclancy on 06/08/2018 - 10:53
    +4

    no one in AMEX informed about this to me when I signed up

    Of course they did. You just didn't read the T&Cs.

    • MathNerd on 06/08/2018 - 10:54
      +1

      Spot on Tom.

    • Randxyz123 on 06/08/2018 - 12:10

      Yep this.

      Sorry OP but it’s in the FAQs. 100% legal

  • ctd on 06/08/2018 - 12:12
    +2

    As others have said, it is in the T&Cs whether you noticed it or not.

    If I were you, I'd be speaking to AMEX and asking what they can do, with the end-goal either being they make things right by you, or you cancel the card.

  • Ocker on 06/08/2018 - 12:14
    +4

    Sorry, but this is just yet another case of a person crying foul simply because they never took the time to read T & C's

  • djkelly69 on 06/08/2018 - 12:18
    +6

    I am not that stupid to use $400 travel credit for $42

    Oh really?

  • Ughhh on 06/08/2018 - 12:31
    +2

    I didn't know about this terms and conditions and no one in AMEX informed about this to me when I signed up, when I used my credit two years ago, or even when I asked for my credit balance two years ago.

    … Should read the fine prints for any contract you sign up for, rather than just assume or expect to be spoon-fed.

  • TimOfEastBNE on 06/08/2018 - 13:13

    Hopefully no further personal attacks on the OP, s/he is probably realising their error now, and will take the learning on the chin I'm sure. And not make the same mistake again!

    No different to someone who redeems points for minor merch in the [insert brand here] online rewards redemption store instead of transferring to airline points and living it up business or selling said points even…

    • HighAndDry on 06/08/2018 - 13:23
      +3

      We're not really ragging on OP for making the mistake - that's unfortunate and I think most people would've made similar mistakes at least once or twice.

      It's rather the "I made the mistake but I want to blame it on someone else, and use the government to force someone else to give me stuff I'm not entitled to" that I think most people object to. See:

      no one in AMEX informed about this to me when I signed up, when I used my credit two years ago, or even when I asked for my credit balance two years ago.

      Deflecting blame, dodging responsibility.

      I didn't receive any welcome package

      Again.

      I am not that stupid to use $400 travel credit for $42.

      Again.

      Is there any gov. agency that I can report this to?

      And now wanting to whine to the government.

      Yeah - my sympathy ran out a long way further up.

      No different to someone who redeems points for minor merch in the [insert brand here] online rewards redemption store instead of transferring to airline points and living it up business or selling said points even…

      Yeah, except instead of going "damn, I should do this differently next time", the person gave a list of excuses for why they're not to blame for redeeming the points, and asking if they can go to a govt agency to force the company to give back the redeemed points.

  • 3jidaddy on 06/08/2018 - 21:22

    Thanks for your time and comments.

    Yes. I didn't read the terms and conditions. To be honest, I wouldn't expect such condition would apply. However yes I admit that I didn't read it. Part of it is my fault.

    I see what highandry is saying. I am not tring to give excuses but to state the facts from my side. Yes AMEX can states their facts, terms and conditions and etc but these are my facts and I have no intention to lie.

    Honestly, I am quite upset with the situation. I even said to AMEX rep that people do make mistakes and there should be someway to correct the mistake. If people make the same mistake again after they were informed then this is different story. Again in the context of using credit card benefit. I had experiences with CBA corrected my mistake that I sent money to wrong account or with 28 degrees card that they refunded the service fee back to me. Some companies tried to accommodate their customers' mistake but AMEX didn't.

    Anyway… thanks again for the comments.

    • HighAndDry on 07/08/2018 - 13:09
      +1

      Honestly, I am quite upset with the situation. I even said to AMEX rep that people do make mistakes and there should be someway to correct the mistake.

      I can understand why you're upset, and without the other factors I mentioned I'd be sympathizing with you and even join you in lamenting the injustice of this world. But the bold part? That's not how the world works - the real world doesn't really give you a chance to correct your mistakes a lot of the time. You made a mistake, you live with it.

      Some companies tried to accommodate their customers' mistake but AMEX didn't.

      They can do it as a favour to you, but they're not obligated to, it's not their responsibility, and again the part that I think most people object to - you're not entitled that they do this for you.

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