Consumer complaint received 2016-09-18
Product: Credit card — 
Issue: Rewards — 
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY (CO)

-I have filed a claim already and American Express answered me with a generic, stock letter that did not address my situation and made it appear as if they had not even bothered to read my actual complaint. If I receive this lack of regard again I plan to take this claim to arbitration. 
-I have met the {$3000.00} spend in 3 months required per the terms and conditions of the American Express XXXX XXXX card that I applied for on XXXX XXXX, 2016. I have spent {$3000.00} in excess of any charges that would not count towards my minimum spend ( such as the gift card charges that American Express specifies. ) American Express first awarded the XXXX points on XXXX XXXX 2016, then later removed my XXXX Membership Rewards point bonus on XXXX XXXX 2016, saying that I had not met the minimum spend. 
-I ask American Express to specify WHICH OF THE CHARGES LISTED BELOW would not count as an eligible charge in threshold minimum spend : Please note that there are not any gift cards, cash equivalents, or returns amongst these charges and that they all posted within 3 months of my having applied for the card. This list also does not include the {$200.00} in XXXX XXXX charges that posted on XXXX/XXXX/16 and were refunded to me on XXXX/XXXX/16. 
Date Merchant Type of purchase Amount XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX XXXX groceries XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX XXXX gas XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX XXXX chair cushions XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX dinner XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX ice cream XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX groceries XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX children 's apparel XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX children 's apparel XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX coffee and burrito XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX XXXX children 's boots XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX XXXX children 's shoes XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX XXXX XXXX children 's camp tuition XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX XXXX XXXX children 's camp tuition XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX children 's shoes XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX food XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX pizza XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX XXXX 's XXXX food XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX XXXX fast food XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 Whole Foods groceries XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 Mt XXXX XXXX XXXX food XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX Post outdoor clothing XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX clothing XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX groceries XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX children 's clothing XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX XXXX journal XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX fast food XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX clothing XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX XXXX groceries XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX shoes XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX shoes XXXX XXXX/XXXX/16 XXXX pizza XXXX This amount equals {$3100.00} ( which is in excess of the {$3000.00} required minimum spend. ) -I did purchase {$2500.00} from XXXX on XXXX/XXXX/16. I understand that these charges do not apply to the minimum spend. I had no control over the fact that American Express mistakenly applied this charge towards my minimum spend and that my bonus points therefore posted earlier than they should have. 
-This is NOT, however, grounds for American Express to remove my XXXX point bonus permanently. American Express does not prohibit the purchase of gift cards with the personal Platinum card. In fact, each time that I call to speak to the Membership Rewards team I am subjected to lengthy advertisements for American Express cash equivalent gift cards. A reasonable person would assume from these advertisements that American Express encourages the purchase of gift cards. 
-I called and spoke with a Membership Rewards supervisor on XXXX/XXXX/2016 after receiving the generic response to my first CFPB complaint. He said that in some cases American Express had just removed XXXX point bonus when they saw gift card purchases without carefully looking through other purchases and completing a summative assessment of spend. 
-See attached credit card statement and terms & conditions of conditions of original of offer.