Comments on: TrueEarnings Card from Costco and American Express Review http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/true-earnings-card-from-costco-and-american-express-review/ A premier personal finance blog, established 2003. Within, Flexo discusses his own experiences with money, and he and other authors comment on a wide range of personal finance topics. Sat, 26 May 2012 13:49:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joe K http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/true-earnings-card-from-costco-and-american-express-review/comment-page-1/#comment-296042 Joe K Fri, 20 Apr 2012 06:10:31 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=14363#comment-296042 Mark, I too live in California and I just found myself in a similar situation, only Amex isn't even offering me the 1/4 credit they offered you. The membership department at Costco told me that Amex DOES reissue the checks, but a call to Amex and conversations with a customer rep and her supervisor ended with them insisting that they only do so before the expiration date. Did you ever follow up on this? If so, please share what you learned. Thanks! Joe Mark,

I too live in California and I just found myself in a similar situation, only Amex isn’t even offering me the 1/4 credit they offered you.

The membership department at Costco told me that Amex DOES reissue the checks, but a call to Amex and conversations with a customer rep and her supervisor ended with them insisting that they only do so before the expiration date.

Did you ever follow up on this? If so, please share what you learned. Thanks!

Joe

]]> By: mark cochran http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/true-earnings-card-from-costco-and-american-express-review/comment-page-1/#comment-275542 mark cochran Thu, 24 Nov 2011 19:27:32 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=14363#comment-275542 I don't recall receiving my annual rewards check in the mail. I called today and was told It was for over $1000 but it expired in August and they will credit my AmEx balance for 1/4 the amount. I said that was not acceptable and they said "there is nothing else they can do". I live in California, and there are laws that prevent "gift cards" from expiring. Any idea of this gets covered by that law? Has anyone ever complained to their state's attorney general about this? Thanks Mark I don’t recall receiving my annual rewards check in the mail. I called today and was told It was for over $1000 but it expired in August and they will credit my AmEx balance for 1/4 the amount. I said that was not acceptable and they said “there is nothing else they can do”.

I live in California, and there are laws that prevent “gift cards” from expiring. Any idea of this gets covered by that law?

Has anyone ever complained to their state’s attorney general about this?

Thanks
Mark

]]> By: JOE http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/true-earnings-card-from-costco-and-american-express-review/comment-page-1/#comment-261844 JOE Tue, 05 Jul 2011 21:54:16 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=14363#comment-261844 BE CAREFUL. IT ONLY TAKES ONE LATE PAYMENT AND AMX WILL CHARGED YOU LATE FEE + INTEREST (UP TO 27.24%) FOR TWO MONTHS (even if you paid the full amount) WHICH WILL BE MORE $$$ THAN YOUR EARNINGS!!! BE CAREFUL. IT ONLY TAKES ONE LATE PAYMENT AND AMX WILL CHARGED YOU LATE FEE + INTEREST (UP TO 27.24%) FOR TWO MONTHS (even if you paid the full amount) WHICH WILL BE MORE $$$ THAN YOUR EARNINGS!!!

]]> By: skylog http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/true-earnings-card-from-costco-and-american-express-review/comment-page-1/#comment-258011 skylog Sat, 14 May 2011 21:19:40 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=14363#comment-258011 this sounds like a great card! (not that is matters, but it has a nice look as well) i do not have Costco near me or i would seriously consider it. i never knew that rewards were not given at stores like Costco, thank you for the information. this sounds like a great card! (not that is matters, but it has a nice look as well) i do not have Costco near me or i would seriously consider it. i never knew that rewards were not given at stores like Costco, thank you for the information.

]]> By: skylog http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/true-earnings-card-from-costco-and-american-express-review/comment-page-1/#comment-258010 skylog Sat, 14 May 2011 21:16:35 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=14363#comment-258010 wow, that is a little bit of a bummer. flexo may want to put that in the review. wow, that is a little bit of a bummer. flexo may want to put that in the review.

]]> By: shellye http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/true-earnings-card-from-costco-and-american-express-review/comment-page-1/#comment-257971 shellye Fri, 13 May 2011 18:17:09 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=14363#comment-257971 This sounds like a great card. Costco rocks. I may have to break my own rule about not applying for anymore credit cards to get this one. Thanks for the info! This sounds like a great card. Costco rocks. I may have to break my own rule about not applying for anymore credit cards to get this one. Thanks for the info!

]]> By: lynn http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/true-earnings-card-from-costco-and-american-express-review/comment-page-1/#comment-257945 lynn Fri, 13 May 2011 11:53:34 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=14363#comment-257945 We don't have a Cosco, so no problem here. I use only one card, the other to keep it updated once in a while. We don’t have a Cosco, so no problem here. I use only one card, the other to keep it updated once in a while.

]]> By: Mike Lowell http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/true-earnings-card-from-costco-and-american-express-review/comment-page-1/#comment-257918 Mike Lowell Thu, 12 May 2011 23:41:36 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=14363#comment-257918 I used to use a cash back American Express similar to this card, but recently switched to a Capital One cash back MasterCard for a couple reasons. 1) it is accepted everywhere, which is not only easier when deciding which card to pull out at the register, but also because it leaves me with only 1 payment to make each month. 2) there are no tiers, so 2% is earned on gas and groceries forever and 1% for everything else. 3) the rewards are earned immediately as soon as the purchase has cleared, and 4) they are automatically applied to my statement balance as a credit as soon as they hit $25. I highly recommend this card! I used to use a cash back American Express similar to this card, but recently switched to a Capital One cash back MasterCard for a couple reasons. 1) it is accepted everywhere, which is not only easier when deciding which card to pull out at the register, but also because it leaves me with only 1 payment to make each month. 2) there are no tiers, so 2% is earned on gas and groceries forever and 1% for everything else. 3) the rewards are earned immediately as soon as the purchase has cleared, and 4) they are automatically applied to my statement balance as a credit as soon as they hit $25. I highly recommend this card!

]]> By: South County Girl http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/true-earnings-card-from-costco-and-american-express-review/comment-page-1/#comment-257850 South County Girl Wed, 11 May 2011 23:03:07 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=14363#comment-257850 I love this card. I use it for gas and costco purchases only because i have a 2% cash back on everything card and I can get the rewards sooner than once a year. I love this card. I use it for gas and costco purchases only because i have a 2% cash back on everything card and I can get the rewards sooner than once a year.

]]> By: jim http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/true-earnings-card-from-costco-and-american-express-review/comment-page-1/#comment-257835 jim Wed, 11 May 2011 18:29:45 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=14363#comment-257835 This is my primary card and I use it for everything. Nets me >$500 in rewards annually. The card is great in general and I recommend it. Its especially good for the 3% restaurant rewards. It also doubles as your Costco club card. The only problem I have is the minor annoyance with having to go to Costco to cash in your rewards check which they give you in cash. I'd rather they just mail a regular check or credit my account, but its clear they are just trying to push you into their store with a pile of cash which you might spend there. This is my primary card and I use it for everything. Nets me >$500 in rewards annually. The card is great in general and I recommend it. Its especially good for the 3% restaurant rewards. It also doubles as your Costco club card.

The only problem I have is the minor annoyance with having to go to Costco to cash in your rewards check which they give you in cash. I’d rather they just mail a regular check or credit my account, but its clear they are just trying to push you into their store with a pile of cash which you might spend there.

]]> By: Krantcents http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/true-earnings-card-from-costco-and-american-express-review/comment-page-1/#comment-257818 Krantcents Wed, 11 May 2011 15:49:18 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=14363#comment-257818 Although I would like to see monthly credit of the rebates, it is still a decent deal on the gas. The Costco gas is generally 5-15 cents below market prices for the area, the rebate is a nice extra. Although I would like to see monthly credit of the rebates, it is still a decent deal on the gas. The Costco gas is generally 5-15 cents below market prices for the area, the rebate is a nice extra.

]]> By: Flexo http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/true-earnings-card-from-costco-and-american-express-review/comment-page-1/#comment-257816 Flexo Wed, 11 May 2011 15:35:25 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=14363#comment-257816 American Express seems to have removed the language that referred to the annual rewards check expiring -- but anyone who issues any type of check may allow it to be rejected after 180 days. I often see "void after 90 days" or "void after 180 days" on certain business checks I receive. The point of "rewards never expire" is that you'll always receive a check representing the full amount of cash back you earned. Checks can expire. American Express seems to have removed the language that referred to the annual rewards check expiring — but anyone who issues any type of check may allow it to be rejected after 180 days. I often see “void after 90 days” or “void after 180 days” on certain business checks I receive. The point of “rewards never expire” is that you’ll always receive a check representing the full amount of cash back you earned. Checks can expire.

]]> By: Spokane Al http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/true-earnings-card-from-costco-and-american-express-review/comment-page-1/#comment-257812 Spokane Al Wed, 11 May 2011 14:46:05 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=14363#comment-257812 I have this card and like it very much. However, one correction to your great article is in order. You state in part, ". . . and the rewards never expire." Actually they do. I received my annual rewards check and it specifically states that it expires on August 31, 2011. I have this card and like it very much. However, one correction to your great article is in order. You state in part, “. . . and the rewards never expire.”

Actually they do. I received my annual rewards check and it specifically states that it expires on August 31, 2011.

]]> By: Ceecee http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/true-earnings-card-from-costco-and-american-express-review/comment-page-1/#comment-257805 Ceecee Wed, 11 May 2011 14:01:58 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=14363#comment-257805 Sounds like a great card. I wasn't aware of how these cards usually worked. Thanks for the info! Sounds like a great card. I wasn’t aware of how these cards usually worked. Thanks for the info!

]]> By: rewards http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/true-earnings-card-from-costco-and-american-express-review/comment-page-1/#comment-257798 rewards Wed, 11 May 2011 12:59:45 +0000 http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/?p=14363#comment-257798 Only knock I have against this card is that rewards are only credited once a year. Other than that, it's great. Only knock I have against this card is that rewards are only credited once a year. Other than that, it’s great.

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