American Express periodically sends out targeted bonus offers of 10,000-30,000 points for enrolling in “Pay Over Time.” This is a feature that allows a cardholder to use a charge card (ie Platinum, Gold etc) more like a normal credit card by paying balances off over an extended period. In order to earn the bonus, you just have to enroll in the program, not actually apply it to any charges or balances.
Often, those targeted receive an e-mail or find the offer listed in their account, but the most recent offer of 20,000 points has a link that allows anyone to check and see if they’re targeted. It’s worth checking your AMEX charge cards, as these are some of the easiest Membership Rewards you can earn.
The Deal
- Earn 20,000 Membership Rewards by enrolling a targeted charge card in Pay Over Time.
Direct Link to check if you’re targeted (must log-in)
If you see a screen with no offer or a screen with the banner below, it means that you’re not targeted on that card:
Keep in mind, the card that you’re checking is the one that’s selected as the default card on your Amex account. You can check other cards by manually selecting them.
Quick Thoughts
If you’re targeted for this offer, it will be the easiest 20,000 points you’ve ever earned, especially since you don’t actually have to use the feature. A few things to keep in mind:
- Once the points have been awarded, make sure to unenroll the card so that you are eligible to be targeted again (see Stephen’s post on how to do it). If you have cards currently enrolled in Pay Over Time, get them unenrolled pronto.
- When you reach the landing page, you will be prompted to log-in. The card that you will be checking is your default/starred card only. If that card isn’t showing an offer, switch to another card and checking the landing page again. It is possible to have some cards targeted and not others.
Good luck and may the rewards be ever in your favor!
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Amex newbie here! When I went to use the link, mine and my husband’s cards said we were already enrolled. I asked in “chat” when I enrolled and was told I was enrolled since the card’s opening. I don’t recall doing this, but I asked them to disenroll me (and did this separately with my husband’s card as well).
Should I assume that I won’t be eligible this time around since I just now disenrolled?
Thank You!
I received a mailer with the 20k MR offer. I attempted to enroll online but appeared as though I wasn’t targeted. I called the number on the mailer and asked them to confirm eligibility for 20k and they enrolled for me.
Had you received the bonus before? I did last spring and unenrolled after getting the bonus.
Now in the past few weeks I’ve received 2 email offers for this again, an offer on the website when logged in and an offer by paper mail. When I try to use it, I’m not eligible.
My family received both mailer and email, but when we log in, it says not eligible within the offer period (probably because we enrolled before). Amex can certainly enroll for you, but would they give you the 20k points afterwards?
In that case, I would call the number on the mailer. I wouldn’t sign up on a link that’s not showing the bonus.
@Tim Steinke,, Ok, question. Had (and removed) POT from my Plat card a while back. Got the mailer yesterday for 20k for POT if I add it. Great! Went to the link shown in the (snail mail) mailer and entered the instructed code.
Got the instant blat at the top of the page after I did that that said I already had used this promotion/had POT added.
Should I call in? Chat? try again? I do not like to rock the boat with AMEX as they are my main target in this game. But I sure would like me them easy 20k points.
Can you advise? Yea or nay?
@Carl, I would try calling in during midweek business hours. We’ve heard of a few people having issues with the code on their mailer, but then the CSR was able to set them up with the bonus with no issue. I wouldn’t worry too much about eyes where you don’t want them to be with an issue like this.
Ok, I was thinking if I called for daytime during the week. Weekends and nights it can be…. shall we say, difficult to accomplish much on the phone.
Appreciate the reassurance about eyes. I’ll see how this plays out.
Same here! Got the same error on my gold and plat cards. Called in and they said the offer wasn’t available on my account. Will try calling during the week, not on weekend
I did call and got a nice (seemingly) North American accented person who was VERY patient and took their time to determine that the marketing people do not talk with the people that administer these things and it had been WAY too recent since I had received this very bonus before and that the current offer I got was actually the same offer I had used so tough cookies. But he was very nice about it!
I’ll just wait a few months and see what happens when/if I get another offer. Plus I have saved the letter with the code on it and check to see if a different code before attempting again. Good luck to you though!
arg… my familys 4 amex golds – none are targeted
Yuck.
Last month I activated the offer and then deactivated after receiving the bonus. I have now received an offer again . Do you think any risks of claw back if take advantage so soon?
How long from activation until the points posted? I activated last week but haven’t seen the points yet.
This is confusing. The photo of the girl looking at her computer is the supposed landing page for the offer, but it doesn’t mention anything about a 20K bonus. What am I missing here?
If you click the link and just see the landing page with no offer, it means that the card is not targeted.
Then why not post the actual landing page that has the offer? What is the point of including the landing page that doesn’t have an offer? Don’t you think it’s confusing?
Hmmm…I guess that’s why there’s a whole post explaining the offer. 😉
Wow. You seem like a difficult person.
FYI: your post doesn’t clearly explain if someone has been targeted, as evidenced by similar comments provided by three other people. But you seem to believe your article is good enough. Clearly, it’s not. Oh dear…
Thanks Drew! I appreciate your feedback!
Finally targeted! I just enrolled. Once the points post I’ll unenroll again, but is there anything else I need to do to ensure I don’t pay interest? All of my accounts have been set to “pay in full” before enrollment.
Congrats! I don’t think there’s any easier MR points out there.
It’s interesting, we’ve had several reports of interest being charged and are trying to figure out what’s behind it. None of our team has ever been charged interest and no one should be, based on the terms. Those who said they have been have all said that Amex reversed the interest charges immediately. So, perhaps it’s a glitch on the Amex side. Regardless, best practice is always to unenroll the statement period after the points have been awarded.
Thanks Tim! How long does it usually take for the points to post? It has been 10 days and I haven’t seen anything.
They say it can be 6-8 weeks, but at the end of the statement period seems more normal.
I got the 30,000 points offer for this about a month ago! It was as simple as clicking the link from your email and activating. 2-3 days later the points were in my account! Easiest points earn!
Thanks. Winner, winner, chicken for dinner!
Thanks. Not targeted on my one eligible card, but I did unenroll another card that was enrolled already.
Good work…I actually found one that I had forgotten to unenroll from last time as well.
How long do you need to leave this feature on before turning it back off again?
Wait for the points to post. I always give it until after the end of the billing cycle, but that could very well just be superstition on my part. 🙂
Thank you!
Charlie Brown Halloween voice “I got a rock” 2 players, 4 cards zero offers
Thanks! P2 was targeted on a normal plat. $200+ just for turning on the feature (again) is great.
Once again, thanks FM. Tried it and no offer, but then checked a different MR card and the offer appeared in AMEX Offers. That’s an easy 20,000 AMEX MR points!
did you get the points yet?
Terms say 8-12 weeks and for me it has been about three hours so . . . no.
points posted!
had this on P1 and P2 – AmexPlat. But have yet to see the points…the 8-12 weeks spiel.
This there supposed to be something on the page that mentions the 20k points?
I don’t see the Promotion Invalid message, but I also don’t see anything about a bonus.
Same here.
Also, how soon do the points usually post?
I signed up for the offer on Thursday, and the 20,000 points posted today, so pretty quickly for me!
Yes if you don’t see it, you weren’t targeted. Sometimes you get an error but sometimes you just get the standard pay over time activation page without ’20k’ bonus.