Brent has proven twice (DL and SPG) that Amex will reward you if you complain about this glitch in their system. He got 6,000 Delta miles and 5,000 SPG miles respectfully for his complaint.

So if you are new card holders, it looks like another freebie is coming your way thanks to your fellow frugal traveller Brent.

Here are his two emails to me with his suggestion:

Hi!
I wanted to let you know that I’ve been reading your blog every day and have found it very interesting. I enjoy that you update so frequently. Sometimes it’s hard to find time to dig around Flyertalk and the web for travel deals and your website has been a great help.

The other day you had posted about calling to cancel your card to see what they offer you. Well, I’ve been doing the presidential coin deal and recently got a Delta Gold Amex card so that I could rack up miles for a trip this coming summer. To my surprise when I tried to pay off my first balance they would not let me pay online. I called the Delta Amex 800 number and the CSR told me that I had to wait till the end of the first billing cycle to pay my balance online, the CSR told me that if I wanted to pay my balance before the first statement that I could mail a check in. I complained a bit, and she gave me 6,000 delta skymiles!! I’ve called a few times and it seems as if they have a certain amount of miles on an annual basis they can give customers if they have issues. I was just going to give you the heads up and maybe see if this has worked for anyone else.

Anyways,
Keep up the great blog!

And the follow up letter:

Hi,

Sorry let me be a bit more detailed. When you receive a new American express card they will not let you pay your bill through electronic payment till you receive your first paper bill. They consider that the end of your first billing cycle.

You can register an electronic billing method (savings/checking account). They will let you pay that billing balance that is printed on your paper bill, but if you want to be able to make a payment every 24 hours, say to pay your posted balance, it takes 30 days for your billing method (savings/checking account) to be registered.

It’s all somewhat confusing and only really is trouble if you have a low credit limit or you max your credit limit out very quickly. The only way to pay your balance until either your bill has posted or your payment method has been registered is to send in a check by snail mail. I called and complained and received 6,000 Skymiles for my Delta Gold Amex. 3,000 posted instantly and the other 3,000 posted at the end of my billing period.

I called and complained and received 5,000 Starwood points for my Starwood card, all of which will post at the end of my billing period. I asked for a manager both times, and each manager told me they do not know why this is their policy. They also told me they get calls and complaints about this on a regular basis. The managers were always very friendly and encouraged me to mail in my payment if I needed to open up some of my credit on the card.

Took about 15 minutes per card, and I feel that this is a legitimate complaint to make for people who are given a credit limit on their card.

Brent, you just made the day of several miles and points collectors, and that’s what this blog is all about.

Thanks again.