Love and Hate
Written: Feb 13 '01
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Pros: 1 Starwood Preferred Guest Point per dollar
Cons: American Express Customer Service
The Bottom Line: I really like Starwood Preferred Guest's program, but I really hate American Express.
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| globee's Full Review: Sheraton Starpoints (American Express) |
This card is ideal for members of the Starwood Preferred Guest program. The points accumulate quickly and can be applied towards free hotel nights or upgrades. Also, during the first year after signing up for this card, you are upgraded to a Gold Starwood Preferred Guest membership which means automatic room upgrades when you check in. The points are automatically transfered every month to your Starwood Preferred Guest account, no need to call AMEX to transfer the points to Starwood. Also, you can check your points online at www.preferredguest.com.
As much as I love the rewards and benefits of this card, I can't stand American Express' customer service. Unlike other companies that post payments within a certain number of days after they receive them, American Express does not apply payments toward your credit limit until the next billing cycle. For example, let's say you have a $10,000 credit limit and maxed out your card. You send an initial payment of $2,000. Then during the month, you make 2 other payments of $4,000 each. The additional $8,000 will show as payments but will not clear until the next payment cycle. Which means that your credit limit will reflect the $2,000 payment but not the $8,000 payments, leaving your available credit limit at only $2,000. This is VERY inconvenient if you need to travel or use your card for business. I have called their customer service to ask why they do not apply the payments toward the credit limit when they receive the payments and was told, "Our computers just can't do that."
While it is convenient to be able to make payments over the phone or online, don't expect their customer service to be friendly while helping you make payments. I asked, "How many days will it take for this payment to post?" They replied, "3 days." I said, "Oh, I thought that I read somewhere on my statement that it was only 1 day?" They replied, "THEN WHY DID YOU ASK?" And don't bother to ask to speak to a manager, that was the manager!
I have stopped using my card just because the customer service is so horrible. I'm keeping it for LARGE purchases only. If Visa or Mastercard ever offers Starwood Preffered Guest Points, I'm dumping American Express!
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
globee
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Reviews written: 16
Trusted by: 0 members
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