Oh, no!
A few reports (1, 2, 3) indicate that Amex is again freezing Membership Rewards accounts of those who applied using the 100k Platinum link that surfaced a couple weeks ago. [This issue is with the leaked personal 100k link, not the public 100k business Platinum card offer.]
This is the same thing that happened back during the May leaked Platinum 100k offer. First they froze the Membership Rewards accounts, then they clawed back the bonus.
Now, some people who got in on the November 100k offer are seeing that their MR accounts are frozen. Points earned from all MR Amex cards are frozen. Both this time and last time, the freeze began around two weeks after the applications.
Let’s hope they don’t claw back the points again this time. So long as you did your part, you should get the bonus points, but we’ll have to see if that happens.
Last time around, Amex used two strategies to skirt their obligations when people challenged them:
- If the minimum spend was met utilizing manufactured spend and thus they aren’t eligible
- Since you already got a signup bonus on a different version of the Platinum card you aren’t eligible
In this case, just make sure to meet the spend requirement without MS to get out of the first problem. If you previously got a Platinum bonus on a different version of the Platinum card, they might crack down and not give you the bonus. We shall see. 🙁
Probably not worth calling in; just wait to see what Amex does. It’s likely an issue that affects hundreds of people together. If you applied for the Platinum 100k offer and your account isn’t frozen it might be worth transferring out what you’ll need soon.
