Issues with American Express Posting Points for Simon Malls Purchases?
I have had a couple different readers and Facebook Group members reach out about Simon Malls purchases the last week or two. They have been having issues with Amex not giving points for all Simon Malls purchases. American Express has done similar things with high spending bonuses like the Delta cards’ 25K spend bonuses. But have they started denying points earned on cards without large spending offers too?
We Need More Data
I have a few readers that say their latest statement doesn’t show earnings for their Simon Malls purchases over the last few weeks. It is hard to tell if this is an error or if American Express is starting to deny obvious gift card purchases from all points earning cards. If you have made Simon Malls purchases over the last few weeks/month then please check your statements/points activity and see what it says. Share your data points in the comments.
Conclusion
Simon Malls is a popular way to increase spend because their fees are so low. If you normally use an American Express card for those purchases you may want to consider pivoting to a different option for the time being. At least until the dust settles on this. Please share any positive or negative data points in the comments.
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a bit old, but I used my amex biz plat during the $1000 vgc promo at a physical simon mall in July. I had no idea that MR points had stopped posting (I don’t MS on my biz plat often).
my points activity shows pending points for organic spend in august already. I guess amex has upped their “anti-gaming” program. live and learn.
Another recent DP — $8k transaction (in mall) on Delta Reserve yielded no miles and no progress on MQD waiver, which hadn’t previously been an issue.
Thanks for the DP Ben
Data point. About $33k in Simons Mall spend on AMEX Bonvoy personal did not show up with a single point. The last time I got points was in April 11 2019. So it’s been 2 statements after with spending throughout and no Bonvoy points gained.
This is in mall (not via the website).
What about buying Simon VGCs online? Points posted for my last online purchase on my AmEx Hilton Bus card, but not for my in mall purchase. I’m gun shy about making a big order online until there are some more DPs.
Wondering if we have any updates on this? I have been avoiding using my AMEX cards at Simon. Curious if there are any recent updates.
I have not seen any positive data points so I would stay away from Amex
i don’t get bonvoyed,points for Simon purchases in April and the statement closed in May.
Thanks for the DP
Has anyone called in to AMEX and got them to post any points to your account? How did the call go?
I don’t purchase Simon Mall cards, but my Business Gold statement just closed on May 9 and I didn’t receive my fuel bonus points. This is the first since January. This appears like a glitch and may apply to this thread? I will contact Amex on Monday.
Update…I got a few of my points back only because they can only go back until the end of March. I have to wait another month for the next statement to close to get my additional points for my statement closing on May 9.
Rep said that she brought this glitch up to cooperate. So, they are aware of it now.
As for the Simon Mall cards, I would not recommend to call because they go through a lot of process and who knows what they may do. Instead, I would wait a month or two and maybe the Bus Gold card fuel points glitch is also a glitch on the Simon Mall purchases.
Thanks JB – we will do a quick article for this for others to check their statements!
No points earned on a Simon Mall purcase using a Delta AMEX in the last week of April. The same merchant gift cards earn rewards at other stores. Is AMEX violating merchant agreements by handling the purchase transactions from one merchant different than identical transactions from another merchant? It really appears that AMEX has created an uneven merchant playing field and is incentivizing customers to purchase merchant gift cards from all vendors but Simon Mall. Is this a case of bad faith on the part of AMEX? Has the AMEX RAT finally sprung a trap?
I think they can easily see these purchases at cash equivalents but some other vendors they can not tell that like grocery stores etc. I would not be surprised to see them move onto other similar vendors in the future but I am guessing Simon Malls volume was higher than everyone else so they started there.
April 3 statement for former Business SPG Amex card points posted
May 3 statement for former Business SPG Amex card POINTS DID NOT POST.
Maybe if you buy online from GCM you can circument this. Amex would have to elmiminate points on all purchase of gift cards effectively across the board? This oculd be a workaround if somebody wants to check it out
Wow. I never did this with the SM but was thinking about it merely to renew my Marriott stuatus in case I dont stay there much this year. Usually I will jump in and be the junx for all. Clearly the Simin Mall thing became very evident to the guys at AMEX who easily could address that with software on their end to flag those charges. It definitely kills potentialy alot of volume at Simon.
Just curious how the transactions are posting for everyone. Does it actually say Simon Malls anywhere in the merchant description? Mine typically don’t and I’ve had Hilton points post over the last 90 days. Granted the spend level has only been in the $1.5K – $3K at a time.
[…] night, Miles to Memories reported that Amex may no longer be paying out points on Simon Mall purchases. We have since received and […]
This topic has been covered (a bit) on flyertalk, there are some similar data points, that miles/points are not posting across many different cards for many people since late-April.
Cheers,
PedroNY
Did not get points on my BBP purchases in April.
[…] Issues with American Express Posting Points for Simon Malls Purchases? Need Data Points by Miles to Memories. Don’t think it has been a good idea to use American Express cards for these purchases for a long time, but if anybody has any experience then share them in that linked post. […]
On my Bonvoy Business Card, I charged $4500 on April 4th, statement closed on April 28th, and the points showed up. I have charged recently, but the statement has not closed yet.
4/6 SPG/MARRIOTT AMEX (PERSONAL) POSTED
4/6 BLUE BUSINESS PLUS PENDING
4/12 SPG/MARRIOTT AMEX (PERSONAL) NOT POSTED
4/12 BUSINESS PLATINUM PENDING
Spent 5k on my Blue Business 4/13. No points posted on my statement.
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I was using amex everyday preferred regularly at Simon mall. The transactions stopped earning points in mid-april
Bummer – thanks for the DP Jed
Simon Mall purchases haven’t been earning points on Amex cards since about April 11. I confirmed this a few days ago with several friends after one friend alerted me. No points on SPG cards, Hilton cards, platinum cards, every day card, Delta Reserve cards, biz blue cards. I’m pretty sure Simon mall purchases of vgc are dead for the purposes of earning any points on any Amex card. I’ve been in mourning ever since….
Bummer – thanks Pauline
Just realized that Amex SPG cards are no longer earning pts from Simon VGCs started in April, in my case. Preciously was thought co-branded cards were exempt, but now Marriott/SPG and Hilton cards are not earning pts from Simon VGCs purchases. I was earning Hilton and Marriott pts up till April 3rd. After April 6th all Simon mall purchases showed 0 points.
Thanks for the info Tom
I got Hilton points and it counted on my 15,000 meter for free night on Ascend card for Simon online gift cards totaling $1500.00 on Feb 27. A little old of a data point.
Every bit helps – thanks Fathiss!
I also got Hilton points and it counted for my 15k meter for a free night on my Hilton Bus card for Simon online purchase made on April 29th. However, a similar purchase made on my wife’s Hilton Bus card for Simon gift cards purchased at a Simon Mall did not count towards Hilton points or for her 15k meter for a free night. So based on my experience, online Simon gift card purchases still seem to count, while actual in person purchases at a Simon Mall location don’t.
Interesting – thanks
They haven’t been posting for me across all cards (MR, cashback, or partners) since roughly April 11th. Had a few statements close and I get points for everything but spend at Simon.
Great DP thanks for sharing Brendam
Not getting any points from SMGC on a delta reserve, bonvoyed, or hilton from the last couple months. I thought it may have been I put eyes on my account when I called in to cancel my plat but the rep convinced me to keep it, (longer story). But I’ve been in the game awhile and this rep was unlike any other I’ve spoke with as he knew what I was after. So I thought this guy saw my spend and flagged it but sounds more widespread. We’ll see how long this last, would be cool to see how much their volume drops off because of this.
Thanks Chris – great DP
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Any specific Amex card?
The reports were MR earning cards but not sure if it extends beyond that or not.
ones with 15 digits seem to be affected