American Express Clawing Back Some for their 4x ‘Home Improvement’ Referral Spend Offer

American Express is clawing back points from some people who ‘abused’ the 4x home improvement offer. That deal offered 4x points on up to $25,000 at home improvement stores if you referred a friend to AmEx, and some people bought gift cards at stores like Lowe’s to max it out. AmEx apparently was not happy with that and is now clawing back points from some of those people.

Hat tip to downvotesucks

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Mikey
Mikey (@guest_1241048)
August 18, 2021 17:49

I used to have at least 4 or 5 AMEX cards in my portfolio at all times. Not anymore. I refuse to spend my hard earned money living in fear that I might inadvertently include a gift card in my purchase and then get into “drama” months later. Clearly, posts like this focus on abusers. But the rest of us can get caught up in the undertow, and I neither appreciate it, want it or need it.

VL
VL (@guest_1241095)
August 18, 2021 19:24

I really doubt that purchase of a single gift card would cause you any problems…. even if they would took back the points for that particular gift card purchase I would not be worried about it too much either. Giving up all possible bonuses in Amex portfolio for that does not make much sense to me. Also, keep in mind they are clawing back only the points for purchasing Visa or MC GCs (cause they are considered cash equivalents and were not supposed to earn points in the first place). Store CGs are fine.

Dugroz Reports
Dugroz Reports (@guest_1240834)
August 18, 2021 10:27

There was a guy on one of the Facebook groups (might have been Frequent Miler) who was outraged he had points clawed back and when pressed he admitted that about $22K of his $25K spend was gift cards. Apparently people have not yet learned that you just can’t do that with Amex.

Vy
Vy (@guest_1240923)
August 18, 2021 13:06

Ignorance generally produces more outrage than anything else.

Simplicity
Simplicity (@guest_1240740)
August 18, 2021 02:04

They clawed back 36k leaving me with a negative

Drew R
Drew R (@guest_1240677)
August 17, 2021 22:29

“American Express” and “Clawing Back” is just redundant to write out at this point.

King
King (@guest_1240658)
August 17, 2021 21:39

What is going to happen for 10x grocery spend offers upto 15 k…I have spent 90% only on gc…

Moved most of my points to schwab….

Can they still claw back and make balance negative?

Dylan
Dylan (@guest_1240678)
August 17, 2021 22:33

Yes, they can.

St
St (@guest_1240699)
August 17, 2021 23:32

They can even send a bill to you demanding repayment for the points (I think at 1c/pp).

Glenn Lee
Glenn Lee (@guest_1240604)
August 17, 2021 18:54

I got 2215 MR points clawed back, I think I did return some stuff so that seems legit. Didn’t play with GCs, if I wanted to play with GCs last quarter I’d have used chase freedom.

P
P (@guest_1240580)
August 17, 2021 18:18

It’s shameless for them to retain the words “American” and “Express” in their company name.

Xavier
Xavier (@guest_1240913)
August 18, 2021 12:45
  P

Technically it’s still true. (1) American company. (2) Express speed at clawing back points.

People should know better than to MS in such a lazy and obvious way.

Victor
Victor (@guest_1240579)
August 17, 2021 18:17

Rat used to take out money from their custom’s pocket, and no exception this time. You know what? They are happy to send their custom to Lowes and even safeway to risk their lives, and finally this people get nothing, I bet the safeway is not safe any more,

Jordan (Professional MSer)
Jordan (Professional MSer) (@guest_1240574)
August 17, 2021 18:07

FUCKKKKKKK YOUUUUU AMEXXX!!!!!!!

Kenny Shaw
Kenny Shaw (@guest_1240575)
August 17, 2021 18:09

He’s back!

Victor
Victor (@guest_1240576)
August 17, 2021 18:09

I like it this time, fuck it hard pls

TB
TB (@guest_1240592)
August 17, 2021 18:36

Soft ban over already? It’s too bad your last 3 comments were deleted within a day

Elcheapo
Elcheapo (@guest_1240624)
August 17, 2021 19:57

Sick of guys with lil parts that need to curse to prove their limited manhood.

St
St (@guest_1240700)
August 17, 2021 23:33

Around here we don’t consider anything Jordan says to be curse words. It’s just a war cry.

harv
harv (@guest_1240567)
August 17, 2021 17:53

I had 20k in points taken away today. I called in to ask why and after being put on hold for 5 minutes the lady said she submitted a ticket and I should call back after ten business days. I did not buy any gift cards at Home Depot but did spend a lot of money there under the promo. Not happy.

Ferris
Ferris (@guest_1240634)
August 17, 2021 20:20

This is the kind of DPs for Amex to end RAT team. Make sure you complain big time and file CFPB so they see it all

John Rawls
John Rawls (@guest_1240878)
August 18, 2021 11:46

I’d send them receipts to prove it wasn’t gift cards.

Jz
Jz (@guest_1240952)
August 18, 2021 14:16

You don’t need to send them anything!