Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Agreement

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

American Express sets and can change your Credit Limit and Cash Advance Limit, and you agree to stay within them

American Express assigns a Credit Limit to the Account and may make part of it available for cash advances as a Cash Advance Limit. There may also be a limit on ATM withdrawals in a given period. The limits are shown on page 1 of Part 1 and on each billing statement. American Express may increase or reduce either limit, even if you pay on time and your Account is not in default. You agree to manage the Account so that the balance (including fees and interest) is not more than the Credit Limit and the cash advance balance (including fees and interest) is not more than the Cash Advance Limit.

Supporting quotations

We assign a Credit Limit to your Account. We may make part of your Credit Limit available for cash advances (Cash Advance Limit). There may also be a limit on the amount you can withdraw from ATMs in a given period.

The Credit Limit and Cash Advance Limit are shown on page 1 of Part 1 and on each billing statement.

We may increase or reduce your Credit Limit and Cash Advance Limit. We may do so even if you pay on time and your Account is not in default.

your Account balance (including fees and interest) is not more than your Credit Limit, and

your cash advance balance (including fees and interest) is not more than your Cash Advance Limit

Qualifications & exceptions

• Limit changes may be made even when payments are on time and the Account is not in default.
• The balance tests include fees and interest.
• An ATM withdrawal limit is mentioned as a possibility ('There may also be a limit'), without an amount.

Not stated here

• The actual Credit Limit, Cash Advance Limit and any ATM limit are shown on a cardmember's own page 1 and statements; none appears in this document.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

Charges over the Credit Limit may be approved without an overlimit fee, but you must repay the excess if asked

American Express may approve charges that cause your Account balance to go over your Credit Limit. If it does, it will not charge an overlimit fee. If it asks you to promptly pay the amount of your Account balance above your Credit Limit, you agree to do so. The Minimum Payment Due calculation separately adds up to 1/24th of any overlimit amount.

Supporting quotations

We may approve charges that cause your Account balance to go over your Credit Limit. If we do this, we will not charge an overlimit fee. If we ask you to promptly pay the amount of your Account balance above your Credit Limit, you agree to do so.

up to 1/24th of any overlimit amount

Qualifications & exceptions

• Approval of over-limit charges is permissive ('may'), not a promise.
• No overlimit fee is stated, but a request for prompt payment of the excess and the Minimum Payment Due add-on can still apply.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

Person-to-person transactions are limited to $2,000 in any 30-day period

Your person-to-person transactions may not exceed $2,000 within any 30-day period, and you agree to manage your Account so that the total stays within that Person-to-Person Limit. American Express may decline a person-to-person transaction that would exceed the applicable person-to-person limit or your Credit Limit.

Supporting quotations

Person-to-Person Limit: Your person-to-person transactions may not exceed $2,000 within any 30-day period. You agree to manage your Account so that the total of your person-to-person transactions in any 30-day period do not exceed the Person-to-Person Limit.

We may not approve a person-to-person transaction if it would cause your Account to exceed the applicable person-to-person transaction limit or your Credit Limit.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The $2,000 limit is a rolling 30-day total.
• A transaction may also be declined for exceeding the Credit Limit.

Not stated here

• Part 2 defines person-to-person transaction as funds sent to another person or funds added to an Amex Send account; that definition is carded separately.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Procedure

Minimum Payment Due is the highest of three amounts plus penalty fees, plan payments and past-due amounts

To calculate the Minimum Payment Due, American Express starts with the highest of: (1) the interest charged on the billing statement plus 1% of the New Balance, excluding interest, penalty fees, overlimit amount and plan balances; (2) 2% of the New Balance, excluding penalty fees, overlimit amount and plan balances; or (3) $40. It then adds any penalty fees shown on the statement, up to 1/24th of any overlimit amount, any plan payment due, and any amount past due. The Minimum Payment Due will not exceed the New Balance, and you may pay more than the Minimum Payment Due, up to your New Balance, at any time.

Supporting quotations

To calculate the Minimum Payment Due for each billing statement, we start with the highest of:

Interest charged on the billing statement plus 1% of the New Balance (excluding any interest, penalty fees, overlimit amount, and plan balances); or

2% of the New Balance (excluding any penalty fees, overlimit amount, and plan balances); or

$40.

Then we add any penalty fees shown on the billing statement, up to 1/24th of any overlimit amount, any plan payment due, and any amount past due.

Your Minimum Payment Due will not exceed your New Balance. You may pay more than the Minimum Payment Due, up to your New Balance, at any time.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The starting amount is the highest of the three, not a sum.
• Penalty fees, overlimit amount (up to 1/24th), plan payment due and past-due amounts are added on top of the starting amount.
• The result is capped at the New Balance.

Cross-references

• contrast (model-proposed): There is no overlimit fee — Part 1 lists no overlimit fee, while the Minimum Payment Due calculation adds up to 1/24th of any overlimit amount. These pull in different directions: no fee is charged, but part of the over-limit balance still raises the required payment.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Context

Worked example: a $2,900 New Balance with $29.57 interest gives a $58.27 Minimum Payment Due

The example assumes a New Balance of $2,900, interest of $29.57, and no active plans, overlimit amount, penalty fees or past-due amounts. The first amount is $29.57 plus 1% of ($2,900 minus $29.57), which equals $58.27; the second is $58 (2% of $2,900); the third is $40. The highest is $58.27. The example adds that if the account has any active plans, overlimit amount, penalty fees or past-due amounts, the Minimum Payment Due will be higher.

Supporting quotations

EXAMPLE: Assume that your New Balance is $2,900, interest is $29.57, and you have no active plans, overlimit amount, penalty fees, or amounts past due.

$29.57 plus 1% multiplied by ($2,900 minus $29.57) equals $58.27

$58 (2% of $2,900)

$40

The highest of 1., 2., or 3. is $58.27. If your account has any active plans, overlimit amount, penalty fees, or amounts past due, your Minimum Payment Due will be higher.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The example assumes no plans, overlimit amount, penalty fees or past-due amounts.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Purchases are interest free only during an Interest Free Period; cash advances and balance transfers never get one

You are not charged interest on purchases when you are in an Interest Free Period. Your account enters one when you pay your New Balance as shown on your statement by the Payment Due Date, or if your account had no previous balance. When your account is not in an Interest Free Period, interest on purchases is charged from the date of the transaction. After you enter an Interest Free Period again, interest may appear on your next billing statement, reflecting interest from the beginning of that billing cycle through the date the payment was received. With an active Plan It plan, you can enter an Interest Free Period by paying at least the Balance Adjusted for Plans (or Adjusted Balance) by the Payment Due Date. Balance transfers and cash advances are charged interest from the date of the transaction and have no Interest Free Period. More detail is in the How we calculate interest section.

Supporting quotations

You are not charged interest on purchases when you are in an Interest Free Period.

Your account enters an Interest Free Period when you pay your New Balance as shown on your statement by the Payment Due Date or your account had no previous balance.

When your account is not in an Interest Free Period, we charge interest on purchases from the date of the transaction.

After you enter an Interest Free Period again, interest may appear on your next billing statement. This reflects interest charged from the beginning of that billing cycle through the date the payment was received.

If you have an active plan created through Plan It, you can enter an Interest Free Period by paying at least the Balance Adjusted for Plans (or Adjusted Balance) by the Payment Due Date.

Balance Transfers and Cash Advances will be charged interest from the date of the transaction and do not have an Interest Free Period.

For more details about how we calculate your interest charges, see the How we calculate interest section of this agreement.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The interest-free rule is tied to paying the New Balance by the Payment Due Date (or having no previous balance).
• A residual interest charge may appear on the next statement after returning to an Interest Free Period.
• With an active plan, the Balance Adjusted for Plans is the amount to pay.
• Cash advances and balance transfers are excluded from any Interest Free Period.

Not stated here

• The text does not say whether the interest that may appear after re-entering an Interest Free Period is calculated differently from ordinary purchase interest beyond the stated period.

Cross-references

• qualifies (model-proposed): No interest on purchases if you pay in full by the due date; cash advances accrue interest at once — The grace period section states the Interest Free Period rules (paying the New Balance by the Payment Due Date, residual interest after returning to the period, cash advances and balance transfers excluded) that sit behind the Rates and Fees Table summary.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company commitment

The rewards supplement gives 1 mile per $1 of eligible purchases, excluding fees, interest and cash-like items

A Supplement to the Card Member Agreement describes How Your Reward Program Works for the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card. You receive 1 mile for each $1 of eligible purchases on the Card Account. Eligible purchases are purchases for goods and services minus returns and other credits. Eligible purchases do not include fees or interest charges, cash advances, purchases of traveler's checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, purchases of any cash equivalents (including gift cards), or person-to-person transactions.

Supporting quotations

Supplement to the Card Member Agreement

How Your Reward Program Works

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

You receive 1 mile for each $1 of eligible purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Card Account).

Eligible purchases are purchases for goods and services minus returns and other credits.

Eligible purchases do NOT include: fees or interest charges, cash advances, purchases of traveler's checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, purchases of any cash equivalents, including gift cards, or person-to-person transactions

Qualifications & exceptions

• Miles are earned only on eligible purchases, net of returns and other credits.
• The excluded categories are listed in the source in capitals as 'do NOT include'.

Not stated here

• The forfeiture, transfer timing and other program conditions appear in later paragraphs and are carded separately.

Cross-references

• contrast (model-proposed): Definitions: charge, purchase, cash advance (including betting), balance transfer and person-to-person transaction — Part 2 defines a purchase to include person-to-person transactions, while the rewards supplement excludes person-to-person transactions from eligible purchases for miles. The two definitions serve different purposes and pull in different directions.
• has exception (model-proposed): Missing the Minimum Payment Due forfeits that period's miles, reinstatable within 12 periods for $35 — Miles are earned on eligible purchases, but miles for a billing period are forfeited if that period's Minimum Payment Due is not paid by the Payment Due Date.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company commitment

Delta purchases submitted with a Delta merchant code earn 1 additional mile (2 total) per $1

You receive 1 additional mile (a total of 2) for each $1 of eligible purchases for the following purchases submitted to American Express using a Delta merchant code: air travel on a Delta flight, air travel on a Delta partner flight with a DL flight number, Delta Stays prepaid hotels and vacation rentals, Delta Vacations packages, and other Delta services. You will not receive additional miles for purchases of air travel on a Delta flight that are part of all-inclusive air or sea tour packages.

Supporting quotations

You receive 1 additional mile (a total of 2) for each $1 of eligible purchases on your Card Account for the following purchases submitted to us using a Delta merchant code: air travel on a Delta flight air travel on a Delta partner flight with a DL flight number

Delta Stays prepaid hotels and vacation rentals

Delta Vacations® packages other Delta services

You will NOT receive additional miles for: purchases of air travel on a Delta flight that are part of all-inclusive air or sea tour packages

Qualifications & exceptions

• Only eligible purchases count, and they must be submitted using a Delta merchant code.
• Air travel on a Delta flight is excluded when part of all-inclusive air or sea tour packages.
• As extracted, the two air travel items run together on one line; the list items are read here as two separate items.

Not stated here

• Further conditions on additional miles (merchant codes, third-party sellers and wallets) follow in the next paragraph and are carded separately.

Cross-references

• qualified by (model-proposed): Additional miles depend on the merchant's code and may not be earned when sellers use third parties or wallets are used — The merchant code conditions limit when Delta purchases earn the additional mile.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company commitment

Eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide earn 1 additional mile (2 total) per $1

You receive 1 additional mile (a total of 2) for each $1 of eligible purchases on your Card Account charged at restaurants worldwide.

Supporting quotations

You receive 1 additional mile (a total of 2) for each $1 of eligible purchases on your Card Account charged at restaurants worldwide.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Only eligible purchases count.
• In the extracted text this sentence follows the tour-package exclusion in the same block; the exclusion is worded for Delta air travel, and the text does not say whether it also limits restaurants.

Not stated here

• Merchant-code and third-party conditions in the next paragraph (carded separately) may also affect whether a restaurant purchase earns additional miles.

Cross-references

• qualified by (model-proposed): Additional miles depend on the merchant's code and may not be earned when sellers use third parties or wallets are used — The merchant code conditions limit when restaurant purchases earn the additional mile.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company commitment

U.S. supermarket purchases earn 1 additional mile (2 total) per $1; superstores and warehouse clubs do not count

You receive 1 additional mile (a total of 2) for each $1 of eligible purchases on your Card Account charged at supermarkets located in the United States. Superstores and warehouse clubs are not considered supermarkets.

Supporting quotations

You receive 1 additional mile (a total of 2) for each $1 of eligible purchases on your Card Account charged at supermarkets located in the United States.

Superstores and warehouse clubs are not considered supermarkets.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Only supermarkets located in the United States qualify.
• Superstores and warehouse clubs are expressly not treated as supermarkets.
• Merchant-code conditions in the same paragraph, carded separately, also apply.

Cross-references

• qualified by (model-proposed): Additional miles depend on the merchant's code and may not be earned when sellers use third parties or wallets are used — The merchant code conditions limit when supermarket purchases earn the additional mile.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

Additional miles depend on the merchant's code and may not be earned when sellers use third parties or wallets are used

Merchants are assigned codes based on what they primarily sell, and American Express groups certain merchant codes into categories eligible for additional miles. A purchase with a merchant will not receive additional miles if the merchant's code is not included in a reward category. You may not receive additional miles if American Express receives inaccurate information or is otherwise unable to identify your purchase as eligible for a reward category. As examples, you may not receive additional miles when a merchant uses a third party to sell its products or services, when a merchant uses a third party to process or submit your transaction (for example mobile or wireless card readers), or when you pay with a third-party payment account or a mobile or digital wallet. These conditions sit alongside the Delta, restaurant and supermarket categories.

Supporting quotations

Merchants are assigned codes based on what they primarily sell. We group certain merchant codes into categories that are eligible for additional miles. A purchase with a merchant will not receive additional miles if the merchant's code is not included in a reward category.

You may not receive additional miles if we receive inaccurate information or are otherwise unable to identify your purchase as eligible for a reward category.

For example, you may not receive additional miles when: a merchant uses a third-party to sell their products or services; or a merchant uses a third-party to process or submit your transaction to us (e.g., using mobile or wireless card readers); or you choose to make a purchase using a third-party payment account or make a purchase using a mobile or digital wallet.

submitted to us using a Delta merchant code

You receive 1 additional mile (a total of 2) for each $1 of eligible purchases on your Card Account charged at restaurants worldwide.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The listed situations are introduced as examples of when you 'may not' receive additional miles, not as a closed list or a certain outcome.
• The Delta category is described as purchases submitted using a Delta merchant code.
• Applies to the reward categories for additional miles, not stated to affect the base 1 mile per $1.

Not stated here

• Which merchant codes fall within each reward category is not listed in this document.

Cross-references

• qualifies (model-proposed): Delta purchases submitted with a Delta merchant code earn 1 additional mile (2 total) per $1 — The merchant code conditions limit when Delta purchases earn the additional mile.
• qualifies (model-proposed): Eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide earn 1 additional mile (2 total) per $1 — The merchant code conditions limit when restaurant purchases earn the additional mile.
• qualifies (model-proposed): U.S. supermarket purchases earn 1 additional mile (2 total) per $1; superstores and warehouse clubs do not count — The merchant code conditions limit when supermarket purchases earn the additional mile.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Promotional bonus miles follow their own offer terms and post 8 to 12 weeks after month end

From time to time, American Express may make promotional offers of bonus miles. Those offers include terms about how you can earn the bonus miles and when you can use them, and those terms may differ from the terms above on miles earned for charges to the Card Account, including about when you can use the miles. Bonus miles awarded for promotional offers are posted to your Delta SkyMiles account 8 to 12 weeks after the end of each month. To be eligible to earn bonus miles, your account must not be cancelled or delinquent at the time of bonus fulfillment.

Supporting quotations

From time to time, we may make promotional offers of bonus miles. These offers include terms about how you can earn the bonus miles and when you can use them. These offer terms may differ from the terms above concerning miles earned for charges to your Card Account, including about when you can use the miles.

Bonus miles awarded for promotional offers will be posted to your Delta SkyMiles account 8 to 12 weeks after the end of each month.

To be eligible to earn bonus miles, your account must not be cancelled or delinquent at time of bonus fulfillment.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Offers are made 'from time to time' and may be made, not promised.
• Offer terms may differ from the standard earning terms.
• Eligibility requires the account to be neither cancelled nor delinquent when bonus miles are fulfilled.

Not stated here

• The terms of any particular promotional offer are not in this document; 'delinquent' is not defined here.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Earned miles are transferred to your Delta SkyMiles account after the end of the billing period

American Express transfers the miles you receive to your Delta SkyMiles account after the end of the billing period in which you received them.

Supporting quotations

We transfer the miles you receive to your Delta SkyMiles account after the end of the billing period in which you received them.

Not stated here

• The text gives no specific number of days after the billing period ends.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

Missing the Minimum Payment Due forfeits that period's miles, reinstatable within 12 periods for $35

If the Minimum Payment Due is not paid by the Payment Due Date of the billing period in which it is due, you forfeit the miles you earned for eligible purchases during that billing period. The supplement gives an example in which a billing period closes January 15, the minimum payment is due February 10 and is not made, and so no miles are earned for purchases in the billing period ending February 15. You may reinstate the miles within the next 12 billing periods if your Card Account is not past due and you pay a $35 fee.

Supporting quotations

If the Minimum Payment Due is not paid by the Payment Due Date of the billing period in which it is due, you will forfeit the miles you earned for eligible purchases during that billing period.

For example, if your billing period closes January 15 and the minimum payment for that billing period is due on February 10, and you do not make that minimum payment due by the due date on February 10, then you will not earn miles for purchases in the billing period ending February 15.

You may reinstate those miles within the next 12 billing periods if your Card Account is not past due and you pay a $35 fee.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Forfeiture applies to miles earned for eligible purchases during the billing period whose Minimum Payment Due was missed.
• Reinstatement requires both a Card Account that is not past due and payment of a $35 fee, within the next 12 billing periods.

Not stated here

• In the example, the billing period is said to close January 15 but the affected period is described as 'the billing period ending February 15'; the text does not explain the difference in dates, so the example is reported as written.

Cross-references

• refers to (model-proposed): Late payment fee is up to $40: $29 first, $40 if repeated within 6 billing periods — Missing the Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date triggers both the late payment fee and, under the rewards supplement, forfeiture of that billing period's miles.
• exception to (model-proposed): The rewards supplement gives 1 mile per $1 of eligible purchases, excluding fees, interest and cash-like items — Miles are earned on eligible purchases, but miles for a billing period are forfeited if that period's Minimum Payment Due is not paid by the Payment Due Date.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

Miles are earned only on eligible purchases for personal, family or household use

You will receive miles only for eligible purchases intended for personal, family or household use.

Supporting quotations

You will receive miles only for eligible purchases intended for personal, family or household use.

Not stated here

• The text does not say how American Express determines the intended use of a purchase.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Permission or license

American Express may change the reward program terms at its discretion and you may forfeit miles for violation or abuse

American Express may change the terms of the reward program at its discretion. If you violate or abuse the reward program, you may forfeit some or all of your miles.

Supporting quotations

We may change the terms of this reward program at our discretion.

If you violate or abuse this reward program, you may forfeit some or all of your miles.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Changes are at American Express's discretion; forfeiture for violation or abuse is stated as something that 'may' happen and may be some or all miles.

Not stated here

• The text does not define 'violate or abuse', give notice terms for changes, or say whether changes apply to miles already earned.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Context

Definitions: charge, purchase, cash advance (including betting), balance transfer and person-to-person transaction

A charge is any amount added to your Account, such as purchases, cash advances, balance transfers, fees and interest charges. A purchase is a charge for goods, services or person-to-person transactions. A cash advance is a charge to get cash or cash equivalents, including travelers cheques, gift cheques, foreign currency, money orders, digital currency, casino gaming chips, race track wagers, and other offline and online betting transactions. A balance transfer is a charge to pay an amount you owe on another credit card account. A person-to-person transaction is a charge for funds sent to another person or a charge to add funds to your Amex Send Account.

Supporting quotations

A charge is any amount added to your Account, such as purchases, cash advances, balance transfers, fees, and interest charges. A purchase is a charge for goods, services, or person-to-person transactions. A cash advance is a charge to get cash or cash equivalents, including travelers cheques, gift cheques, foreign currency, money orders, digital currency, casino gaming chips, race track wagers, and other offline and online betting transactions. A balance transfer is a charge to pay an amount you owe on another credit card account. A person-to-person transaction is a charge for funds sent to another person or a charge to add funds to your Amex SendTM Account.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Purchases include person-to-person transactions under this definition, while the rewards supplement separately excludes person-to-person transactions from eligible purchases.
• The cash advance definition lists examples with the word 'including', so it is not stated as a closed list.

Cross-references

• defines (model-proposed): Cash advances cost 5% with a $10 minimum added to the cash advance balance; there is no foreign transaction fee — The Part 2 definition of cash advance (including cash equivalents and betting transactions) determines which charges carry the cash advance fee shown in Part 1.
• contrast (model-proposed): The rewards supplement gives 1 mile per $1 of eligible purchases, excluding fees, interest and cash-like items — Part 2 defines a purchase to include person-to-person transactions, while the rewards supplement excludes person-to-person transactions from eligible purchases for miles. The two definitions serve different purposes and pull in different directions.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Context

Definitions: a plan, paying by a date means received and credited, and the Closing Date

A plan is a portion of your account balance that you have selected to pay over time through a set number of monthly payments using Plan It. To pay by a certain date means to send your payment so that American Express receives it and credits it to your Account by that date. The Closing Date appears on each billing statement and is the last day of the billing period covered by that statement.

Supporting quotations

A plan is a portion of your account balance that you have selected to pay over time through a set number of monthly payments using Plan It. To pay by a certain date means to send your payment so that we receive it and credit it to your Account by that date. The Closing Date appears on each billing statement and is the last day of the billing period covered by the billing statement.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Paying 'by' a date requires that the payment is received and credited by that date, not merely sent.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Plan It lets you pay selected purchases over time for a monthly fixed fee that replaces the purchase APR on that amount

American Express may offer Plan It, which lets you create a payment plan for qualifying purchases or a qualifying amount, subject to a plan fee that is a fixed finance charge charged each month a plan is active. You select qualifying purchases or a qualifying amount and a plan duration, and can view the monthly plan payments, including the plan fee. Each plan fee is disclosed before you create the plan and is based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase amount(s), and other factors. When you set up a plan, the purchases or amount are added to a plan balance and are subject to a plan fee instead of the APR for purchases.

Supporting quotations

We may offer you Plan It, which allows you to create a payment plan for qualifying purchases or a qualifying amount, subject to a plan fee. This fee is a fixed finance charge that will be charged each month that a plan is active.

You may use this feature by selecting qualifying purchases or a qualifying amount and a plan duration. You will be able to view the monthly plan payments, including the plan fee, for your selection.

Each plan fee will be disclosed before you create the applicable plan and will be based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase amount(s), and other factors.

When you set up a plan, the purchases or amount will be added to a plan balance and will be subject to a plan fee instead of the APR for purchases.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Plan It is offered at American Express's option ('may offer').
• The plan fee is disclosed before the plan is created.
• The plan fee applies instead of the purchase APR on the plan balance.

Not stated here

• The 'other factors' behind the plan fee are not listed here.
• Eligibility limits, number of plans and plan durations are in the following paragraphs and are carded separately.

Cross-references

• qualifies (model-proposed): Plan It charges a monthly fixed finance charge of up to 1.33% of each purchase or amount moved into a plan — Part 2 explains that a plan balance is subject to a plan fee instead of the APR for purchases, which qualifies Part 1's plan fee summary.
• qualified by (model-proposed): Your ability to create Plan It plans depends on your credit, limits and account status, at American Express's discretion — Plan It is available only subject to the eligibility factors, account conditions, plan limits and Credit Limit rule in the following paragraph.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

Plan It qualifying purchases meet a dollar minimum and exclude cash, balance transfers and fees

A qualifying purchase for Plan It is a purchase of at least a specified dollar amount. A qualifying amount is a specified portion of your balance. Qualifying purchases (or a qualifying amount, if you have a Card with a Credit Limit) do not include purchases of cash or cash equivalents, balance transfers (if offered), purchases subject to Foreign Transaction Fees, or any fee owed to American Express, such as Annual Fees.

Supporting quotations

A qualifying purchase for Plan It is a purchase of at least a specified dollar amount. A qualifying amount for Plan It is a specified portion of your balance. Qualifying purchases (or a qualifying amount, if you have a Card with a Credit Limit) do not include purchases of cash or cash equivalents, balance transfers (if offered), purchases subject to Foreign Transaction Fees, or any fee owed to us, such as Annual Fees.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Exclusions cover cash and cash equivalents, balance transfers if offered, purchases subject to Foreign Transaction Fees, and fees owed to American Express.

Not stated here

• The specified minimum dollar amount and the specified portion of the balance are not stated in this document.
• Part 1 lists the foreign transaction fee for this Card as None, so how the 'purchases subject to Foreign Transaction Fees' exclusion applies to this Card is not stated.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

Plans cannot be cancelled but can be paid off early by paying the New Balance in full, ending future plan fees

Plans cannot be cancelled after they have been created. You can choose to pay them early by paying the New Balance shown on your most recent billing statement in full. If you pay a plan off early, you will not incur any future plan fees on that plan.

Supporting quotations

Plans cannot be cancelled after they have been created but you can choose to pay them early by paying the New Balance shown on your most recent billing statement in full.

If you pay a plan off early, you will not incur any future plan fees on that plan.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Early payoff is by paying the New Balance shown on the most recent billing statement in full.
• Future plan fees stop on a plan paid off early; the text does not address plan fees already charged.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

You promise to pay all charges, including those by others you permit, and at least the Minimum Payment Due on time

You promise to pay all charges added to your Account, including charges that you or your Additional Card Members make, or permit others to make, even if you or they do not present the Card or sign for the transaction. You must pay at least the Minimum Payment Due on or before the Payment Due Date, in the time and manner shown on each billing statement.

Supporting quotations

You promise to pay all charges added to your Account, including charges that you or your Additional Card Members make, or permit others to make, even if you or they do not present the Card or sign for the transaction.

You must pay at least the Minimum Payment Due on or before the Payment Due Date in the time and manner shown on each billing statement.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Responsibility extends to charges made by others you permit and to transactions where the Card is not presented or signed for.
• Payment must meet the time and manner shown on each billing statement.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Procedure

Payments must be in U.S. dollars by check, negotiable instrument or electronic payment, with mail payment requirements

Make payments in U.S. dollars with a single check drawn on a U.S. bank, a single negotiable instrument clearable through the U.S. banking system (for example a money order), or an electronic payment that can be cleared through the U.S. banking system. When paying by mail, make a separate payment for each Account, mail it to the address shown on the payment coupon on your billing statement, write your Account number on your check or negotiable instrument and include the payment coupon.

Supporting quotations

Make payments to us in U.S. dollars with:

a single check drawn on a U.S. bank, or

a single negotiable instrument clearable through the U.S. banking system, for example a money order, or

an electronic payment that can be cleared through the U.S. banking system.

When making a payment by mail:

make a separate payment for each Account,

mail your payment to the address shown on the payment coupon on your billing statement, and

write your Account number on your check or negotiable instrument and include the payment coupon.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Each check or instrument must be a single one drawn on or clearable through the U.S. banking system.
• Mail payments follow three separate requirements.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Compliant payments received on time are credited the day received; others are credited the next day or may be delayed

If your payment meets the requirements above, American Express credits it to your Account as of the day it receives it, as long as it is received by the time and in the manner disclosed in your billing statement. If it is received after that time, it credits the payment on the day after it receives it. If your payment does not meet the requirements, there may be a delay in crediting your Account, which may result in late payment fees and additional interest charges (the text refers to How Rates and Fees Work in Part 1).

Supporting quotations

If your payment meets the above requirements, we will credit it to your Account as of the day we receive it, as long as we receive it by the time and in the manner disclosed in your billing statement. If we receive it after that time, we will credit the payment on the day after we receive it.

If your payment does not meet the above requirements, there may be a delay in crediting your Account. This may result in late payment fees and additional interest charges (see the How Rates and Fees Work in Part 1).

Qualifications & exceptions

• Same-day crediting requires a payment that meets the requirements and arrives by the cutoff disclosed in the statement.
• Non-compliant payments may be delayed, with possible late payment fees and additional interest.

Not stated here

• The cutoff time and manner are in each billing statement, not this document.

Cross-references

• refers to (model-proposed): Late payment fee is up to $40: $29 first, $40 if repeated within 6 billing periods — Part 2 says payments that do not meet the requirements may be credited late, resulting in late payment fees and interest, pointing back to the Part 1 late payment fee.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

Foreign currency and non-U.S. bank payments are refused; processing late or partial payments waives nothing

American Express will not accept a payment made in a foreign currency or drawn on an account at a bank located outside the U.S. If it processes a late payment, a partial payment, or a payment marked with any restrictive language, that has no effect on its rights and does not change the Agreement.

Supporting quotations

We will not accept a payment made in a foreign currency or a payment drawn on an account at a bank located outside of the U.S.

If we process a late payment, a partial payment, or a payment marked with any restrictive language, that will have no effect on our rights and will not change this Agreement.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Payments up to the minimum go to plans and the lowest rate first; the rest goes to the highest rate first

Where an Account has balances at different interest rates, Plan balances or Plan fees, American Express generally applies payments in a billing period as follows. Payments up to the Minimum Payment Due go first to any Plan amounts included in the Minimum Payment Due, then to the balance subject to the lowest interest rate, then to balances at higher rates. After the Minimum Payment Due is paid, payments go to the balance subject to the highest interest rate, then to balances at lower rates, and then to any Plan balances.

Supporting quotations

Your Account may have balances with different interest rates. For example, purchases may have a lower interest rate than cash advances. Your Account may also have Plan balances which are assessed Plan fees.

We apply your payments, up to the Minimum Payment Due, first to any Plan amounts included in your Minimum Payment Due, then to the balance subject to the lowest interest rate, and then to balances subject to higher interest rates.

After the Minimum Payment Due has been paid, we apply your payments to the balance subject to the highest interest rate, then to balances subject to lower interest rates, and then to any Plan balances.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Stated as how payments are generally applied, not a guarantee in every case.
• The order differs for the part of a payment up to the Minimum Payment Due and the part above it.
• Plan balances above the Minimum Payment Due are paid last.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Credits generally go to the related balance; negative balances are redistributed; plan credits need a call

In most cases, American Express applies a credit to the same balance as the related charge, for example a purchase credit to the purchase balance. It may apply payments and credits within balances, and among balances with the same interest rate, in any order it chooses. If there is a negative balance in any balance at the end of a billing period, the excess credit is redistributed to other balances according to the payment application order, which means Plan balances may in some circumstances get paid before they otherwise would. If you receive a credit for a purchase placed into a plan, you must call the number on the back of your Card to have the credit applied to the Plan balance.

Supporting quotations

In most cases, we apply a credit to the same balance as the related charge. For example, we apply a credit for a purchase to the purchase balance.

We may apply payments and credits within balances, and among balances with the same interest rate, in any order we choose.

If there is a negative balance in any balance on the account at the end of a billing period, that excess credit will be redistributed to other balances in accordance with how we apply payments described above. This means that in certain circumstances, Plan balances may get paid before they otherwise would.

If you receive a credit for a purchase placed into a plan, you must call us at the number on the back of your Card to have the credit applied to the Plan balance.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Applying a credit to the related balance is stated for 'most cases'.
• Order within a balance or among equal-rate balances is at American Express's choice.
• A credit for a purchase placed into a plan is applied to the Plan balance only after you call.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Interest is figured on each balance by the Average Daily Balance method including new transactions, then added together

American Express calculates interest for a billing period by first figuring the interest on each balance. Different categories of transactions, such as purchases and cash advances, may have different interest rates, and balances within each category may also have different interest rates. It uses the Average Daily Balance method (including new transactions) to figure interest charges for each balance, and the total interest charged for a billing period is the sum of the interest charged on each balance.

Supporting quotations

We calculate interest for a billing period by first figuring the interest on each balance. Different categories of transactions--such as purchases and cash advances--may have different interest rates. Balances within each category may also have different interest rates.

We use the Average Daily Balance method (including new transactions) to figure interest charges for each balance. The total interest charged for a billing period is the sum of the interest charged on each balance.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Interest is computed separately per balance and then summed.
• The Average Daily Balance method includes new transactions.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Procedure

Interest on a balance equals Average Daily Balance times Daily Periodic Rate times the days in the billing period

The interest charged for a balance in a billing period, except for variations caused by rounding, equals the Average Daily Balance (ADB) multiplied by the Daily Periodic Rate (DPR) multiplied by the number of days in the billing period. The definitions of ADB and DPR follow in the next section.

Supporting quotations

The interest charged for a balance in a billing period, except for variations caused by rounding, equals:

Average Daily Balance (ADB) multiplied by

Daily Periodic Rate (DPR) multiplied by

number of days in the billing period.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Rounding can cause small variations from the formula.

Not stated here

• The DPR values are not shown in this document; see the interest definitions card for the stated reference to them.

Cross-references

• defined by (model-proposed): ADB is the sum of daily balances divided by days; a DPR is 1/365th of an APR, but this agreement lists no DPR values — The ADB and DPR definitions give the meaning of the terms used in the interest formula.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Context

ADB is the sum of daily balances divided by days; a DPR is 1/365th of an APR, but this agreement lists no DPR values

To get the Average Daily Balance (ADB) for a balance, American Express adds up its daily balances and divides the result by the number of days in the billing period. A Daily Periodic Rate (DPR) is 1/365th of an APR, rounded to one ten-thousandth of a percentage point. The text then says 'Your DPRs are shown in How Rates and Fees Work in Part 1.' The How Rates and Fees Work section of Part 1 in this published agreement contains the Explanation of Variable Rates, Determining the Prime Rate, Fees, Credit, Cash Advance and Person to Person Limits, the Minimum Payment Due calculation and the grace period rules, and it lists no DPR values. The Rates and Fees Table gives each APR as the Prime Rate plus a margin (the purchase APR as a range), without a DPR. The agreement therefore does not show the DPRs it refers to, and none are computed or taken from elsewhere here.

Supporting quotations

ADB: To get the ADB for a balance, we add up its daily balances. Then we divide the result by the number of days in the billing period.

DPR: A DPR is 1/365th of an APR, rounded to one ten-thousandth of a percentage point.

Your DPRs are shown in How Rates and Fees Work in Part 1.

How Rates and Fees Work

Explanation of Variable Rates: If the Prime Rate increases, variable APRs (and corresponding DPRs) will increase.

Determining the Prime Rate: Prime Rate means the highest U.S. Prime Rate published in the rates section of The Wall Street Journal on the Closing Date of the billing period.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The DPR is defined as 1/365th of an APR, rounded to one ten-thousandth of a percentage point.
• The earlier Part 1 text speaks of variable APRs 'and corresponding DPRs' that increase when the Prime Rate increases.

Not stated here

• The DPR values this agreement says are shown in Part 1 do not appear in the published agreement; they are not stated and are not computed here from the APRs.
• Whether a cardmember's own Part 1 shows DPRs is not stated in this document.

Cross-references

• defines (model-proposed): Interest on a balance equals Average Daily Balance times Daily Periodic Rate times the days in the billing period — The ADB and DPR definitions give the meaning of the terms used in the interest formula.
• refers to (model-proposed): Variable APRs follow the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate and will not exceed 29.99% — Part 2 says DPRs are shown in How Rates and Fees Work in Part 1, and the variable rate explanation there mentions corresponding DPRs, but that section of the published agreement lists no DPR values.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Context

Worked interest example: a 15.99% rate, $2,250 ADB and 30 days gives $29.57 of interest

The example assumes a single interest rate of 15.99%, an ADB of $2,250 and 30 days in the billing period. The DPR is 15.99% divided by 365 days, which equals 0.0438%. The interest is $2,250 multiplied by 0.0438% multiplied by 30 days, which equals $29.57.

Supporting quotations

EXAMPLE: Calculating Interest

Assume that you have a single interest rate of 15.99%, your ADB is $2,250 and there are 30 days in the billing period. The DPR is 15.99% divided by 365 days equals 0.0438%

The Interest is $2,250 multiplied by 0.0438% multiplied by 30 days equals $29.57

Qualifications & exceptions

• The 15.99% rate is an assumption for the illustration, not a rate this Card carries.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Daily balances add new charges as of the transaction date, treat negatives as zero, and compound interest daily

American Express figures the daily balance for each balance by taking the beginning balance for the day, adding any new charges, subtracting any payments or credits, and making any appropriate adjustments. A new charge is added to a daily balance as of its transaction date, and a negative daily balance is treated as zero. For the first day of a billing period, the beginning balance is the ending balance of the prior billing period, including unpaid interest. For the rest of the billing period, the beginning balance is the previous day's daily balance plus interest equal to the previous day's daily balance multiplied by the DPR for that balance. The text states that this method results in daily compounding of interest.

Supporting quotations

Daily Balance: We figure the daily balance for each balance by:

taking the beginning balance for the day,

adding any new charges,

subtracting any payments or credits; and

making any appropriate adjustments.

We add a new charge to a daily balance as of its transaction date. If the daily balance is negative, we treat it as zero.

For the first day of a billing period, the beginning balance is the ending balance for the prior billing period, including unpaid interest. For the rest of the billing period, the beginning balance is the previous day's daily balance plus an amount of interest equal to the previous day's daily balance multiplied by the DPR for that balance. This method of figuring the beginning balance results in daily compounding of interest.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Beginning balances include unpaid interest, so interest accrues on interest.
• Negative daily balances are treated as zero.

Not stated here

• The 'appropriate adjustments' to the daily balance are not described.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Permission or license

American Express may use other methods giving equivalent results and may choose not to charge interest on some charges

To figure the ADB and interest charges, American Express may use other formulas or methods that produce equivalent results. It may also choose not to charge interest on certain types of charges.

Supporting quotations

To figure the ADB and interest charges, we may use other formulas or methods that produce equivalent results. Also, we may choose not to charge interest on certain types of charges.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Alternative methods are limited to those producing equivalent results.

Not stated here

• The types of charges that may not be charged interest are not identified.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

You agree to pay American Express's reasonable collection costs, including attorneys' fees

You agree to pay all reasonable costs, including attorneys' fees, that American Express incurs to collect amounts you owe.

Supporting quotations

You agree to pay all reasonable costs, including attorneys' fees, that we incur to collect amounts you owe.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Limited to reasonable costs.

Charges & Financial Obligations · User right or choice

You may close the Account by call or letter; the Annual Fee is refundable only within 30 days of its Closing Date

You may close your Account by calling or writing to American Express. If an Annual Fee applies, it will refund the fee if you notify it that you are voluntarily closing your Account within 30 days after the Closing Date of the billing statement on which the fee appears. For cancellations after that 30-day period, the Annual Fee is non-refundable. If your billing address is in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts when you close your Account, this policy does not apply to you. If your account is cancelled and American Express re-opens it at your request, it may charge you a $25 fee.

Supporting quotations

You may close your Account by calling us or writing to us.

If an Annual Fee applies, we will refund this fee if you notify us that you are voluntarily closing your Account within 30 days after the Closing Date of the billing statement on which that fee appears. For cancellations after this 30-day period, the Annual Fee is non-refundable.

If your billing address is in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the time you close your Account, this policy will not apply to you.

If your account is cancelled and we re-open it at your request, we may charge you a $25 fee.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Refund requires voluntary closure notified within 30 days after the Closing Date of the statement showing the Annual Fee.
• After 30 days the Annual Fee is non-refundable.
• The policy does not apply to a Massachusetts billing address at the time of closing.
• A $25 re-opening fee may be charged if the Account is cancelled and re-opened at your request.

Not stated here

• For a Massachusetts billing address the text says only that the policy does not apply; it does not state what applies instead.

Cross-references

• qualifies (model-proposed): The annual fee is $150, with no annual fee for additional cards — The Annual Fee in Part 1 is refundable only if the Account is voluntarily closed within 30 days after the Closing Date of the statement showing it, with a Massachusetts exception, as Part 3 states.
• refers to (model-proposed): Returned check fee is $38 and account re-opening fee is $25; fees go to the purchase balance — Part 3 says a $25 fee may be charged to re-open a cancelled account at your request, matching the Account re-opening fee in Part 1.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Permission or license

Paying by check authorizes a one-time electronic debit that may occur the same day, and the check is not returned

When you pay by check, you authorize American Express to use information from your check (such as routing number, account number and check serial number) to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from your bank or other asset account. When it does this, your payment may be withdrawn as soon as the same day it receives your check, and you will not receive that check back from your bank or financial institution. In certain circumstances it may process your payment as a check transaction.

Supporting quotations

When you pay us by check, you authorize us to use information from your check (such as routing number, account number and check serial number) to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from your bank or other asset account.

When we do this, your payment may be withdrawn from your bank or other asset account as soon as the same day we receive your check, and you will not receive that check back from your bank or financial institution. In certain circumstances, we may process your payment as a check transaction.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Withdrawal may occur as early as the same day the check is received.
• The check is not returned, and in certain circumstances the payment may instead be processed as a check.

Not stated here

• The circumstances in which a payment is processed as a check transaction are not described.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Foreign currency charges are converted to U.S. dollars by AEEML at no more than the highest official or interbank rate

If you make a charge in a foreign currency, AE Exposure Management Ltd. (AEEML) converts it into U.S. dollars on the date American Express or its agents process it, and you are billed in U.S. dollars on that conversion. Unless a particular rate is required by law, AEEML chooses a conversion rate that is acceptable to American Express for that date. The rate AEEML uses is no more than the highest official rate published by a government agency or the highest interbank rate AEEML identifies from customary banking sources on the conversion date or the prior business day. This rate may differ from rates in effect on the date of your charge. Charges converted by establishments (such as airlines) are billed at the rates they use.

Supporting quotations

If you make a charge in a foreign currency, AE Exposure Management Ltd.

will convert it into U.S. dollars on the date we or our agents process it, so that we bill you for the charge in U.S. dollars based upon this conversion.

Unless a particular rate is required by law, AEEML will choose a conversion rate that is acceptable to us for that date. The rate AEEML uses is no more than the highest official rate published by a government agency or the highest interbank rate AEEML identifies from customary banking sources on the conversion date or the prior business day. This rate may differ from rates that are in effect on the date of your charge.

We will bill charges converted by establishments (such as airlines) at the rates they use.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The rate is stated as no more than a ceiling (the highest official or interbank rate), not as a specific rate.
• The conversion date is the processing date, which may differ from the charge date.
• Conversions made by establishments such as airlines are billed at their rates.

Not stated here

• Whether the chosen rate includes any markup within that ceiling is not stated; Part 1 separately lists the foreign transaction fee as None.

Cross-references

• refers to (model-proposed): Cash advances cost 5% with a $10 minimum added to the cash advance balance; there is no foreign transaction fee — Part 1 lists the foreign transaction fee as None; Part 3 separately describes how foreign currency charges are converted into U.S. dollars.

Charges & Financial Obligations · User right or choice

Oregon residents: service charges limited to those permitted by law; you may pay more than the minimum

The Notice to Oregon Residents states that service charges not in excess of those permitted by law will be charged on the outstanding balances from month to month, and that you may pay more than the Minimum Payment Due, up to your entire outstanding balance, at any time.

Supporting quotations

Notice to Oregon Residents: Service charges not in excess of those permitted by law will be charged on the outstanding balances from month to month. You may pay more than the Minimum Payment Due, up to your entire outstanding balance, at any time.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The notice is addressed to Oregon residents; the text does not define residency.

Charges & Financial Obligations · User right or choice

Washington residents are not responsible for interest solely from a late merchant credit or late posting

The notice for residents of Washington State says that, in accordance with the Revised Code of Washington Statutes, Section 63.14.167, you are not responsible for payment of interest charges that result solely from a merchant's failure to transmit to American Express within seven working days a credit for goods or services accepted for return or forgiven, if you have notified American Express of the merchant's delay in posting such credit, or from American Express's failure to post such credit to your Account within three working days of receiving it.

Supporting quotations

Notice for residents of Washington State: In accordance with the Revised Code of Washington Statutes, Section 63.14.167, you are not responsible for payment of interest charges that result solely from a merchant's failure to transmit to us within seven working days a credit for goods or services accepted for return or forgiven if you have notified us of the merchant's delay in posting such credit, or our failure to post such credit to your Account within three working days of our receipt of the credit.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Relief covers only interest charges resulting solely from the delayed credit.
• The merchant-delay branch is conditioned on your having notified American Express of the delay.
• Time limits are seven working days for the merchant to transmit the credit and three working days for American Express to post it.

Not stated here

• The sentence ends with 'or our failure to post such credit ... within three working days'; the text does not make clear whether your notice is also a condition for that branch.
• The cited statute, Section 63.14.167, is not supplied here, so its text cannot be described.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company commitment

Your arbitration fees are capped at what a court filing would cost, and American Express pays the rest

You are responsible for paying your share of any arbitration fees (including filing, administrative, hearing or other fees), but only up to the amount of the filing fees you would have incurred if you had brought a claim in court. American Express is responsible for any additional arbitration fees. At your written request, it will consider in good faith making a temporary advance of your share of any arbitration fees, or paying for the reasonable fees of an expert appointed by the arbitrator for good cause.

Supporting quotations

You will be responsible for paying your share of any arbitration fees (including filing, administrative, hearing or other fees), but only up to the amount of the filing fees you would have incurred if you had brought a claim in court. We will be responsible for any additional arbitration fees. At your written request, we will consider in good faith making a temporary advance of your share of any arbitration fees, or paying for the reasonable fees of an expert appointed by the arbitrator for good cause.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Your share is capped at the court filing fees you would have incurred.
• An advance or expert-fee payment is only something American Express will consider in good faith on written request.

Charges & Financial Obligations · User right or choice

An award above American Express's final offer includes at least $5,000 plus fees and costs

If the arbitrator rules in your favor for an amount greater than any final offer American Express made before the final hearing in arbitration, the arbitrator's award will include (1) any money to which you are entitled, but in no case less than $5,000, and (2) any reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and expert and other witness fees.

Supporting quotations

Additional Arbitration Awards: If the arbitrator rules in your favor for an amount greater than any final offer we made before the final hearing in arbitration, the arbitrator's award will include:

(1) any money to which you are entitled, but in no case less than $5,000; and (2) any reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and expert and other witness fees.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The condition is an award greater than any final offer made before the final hearing.
• The money component is stated to be not less than $5,000.

Not stated here

• The text does not say what applies if American Express made no final offer.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Purchase APR is Prime Rate plus 12.74% to 21.74%; cash advance APR is Prime Rate plus 21.99%; both variable

The Rates and Fees Table gives the APR for purchases as a range, from Prime Rate + 12.74% to Prime Rate + 21.74%, and the APR for cash advances as Prime Rate + 21.99%. Both are described as variable APRs, which move with the Prime Rate as explained under Explanation of Variable Rates. The table states the rates as a margin over the Prime Rate rather than as fixed percentages.

Supporting quotations

Prime Rate + 12.74% to Prime Rate + 21.74%

This is a variable APR. See Explanation of Variable Rates below.

Prime Rate + 21.99%

This is a variable APR. See Explanation of Variable Rates below.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Both APRs are variable, tied to the Prime Rate.
• The purchase APR is a range, not a single rate.

Not stated here

• The table does not say what determines where within the purchase APR range an Account falls.
• The table gives no current Prime Rate value and no resulting percentage APR.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Variable APRs follow the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate and will not exceed 29.99%

If the Prime Rate increases, variable APRs (and the corresponding daily periodic rates) increase, so you may pay more interest and may have a higher Minimum Payment Due. A change in the Prime Rate takes effect on the variable APRs as of the first day of the billing period during which the Prime Rate changed. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%. The Prime Rate means the highest U.S. Prime Rate published in the rates section of The Wall Street Journal on the Closing Date of the billing period; if the Journal does not publish it that day, the rate from the previous day it was published is used, and if the Journal stops publishing the Prime Rate, American Express may use the Prime Rate published in another newspaper of general circulation.

Supporting quotations

If the Prime Rate increases, variable APRs (and corresponding DPRs) will increase.

When the Prime Rate changes, the resulting changes to variable APRs take effect as of the first day of the billing period during which the Prime Rate has changed.

Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.

Prime Rate means the highest U.S. Prime Rate published in the rates section of The Wall Street Journal on the Closing Date of the billing period.

If The Wall Street Journal does not publish the Prime Rate on that day, we will use the Prime Rate from the previous day it was published.

If The Wall Street Journal is no longer published or stops publishing the Prime Rate, we may use the Prime Rate published in another newspaper of general circulation.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Rate changes apply from the first day of the billing period in which the Prime Rate changed.
• The 29.99% ceiling is stated for variable APRs; the table also labels the Penalty APR a variable APR.
• The replacement newspaper is described as something American Express 'may' use.

Not stated here

• This section mentions corresponding DPRs but lists no DPR values; no DPR values appear in Part 1.
• The text does not separately say how the 29.99% ceiling interacts with the Penalty APR margin.

Cross-references

• referred to by (model-proposed): ADB is the sum of daily balances divided by days; a DPR is 1/365th of an APR, but this agreement lists no DPR values — Part 2 says DPRs are shown in How Rates and Fees Work in Part 1, and the variable rate explanation there mentions corresponding DPRs, but that section of the published agreement lists no DPR values.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

A Penalty APR of Prime Rate plus 26.74% can apply to new transactions for at least 6 months

American Express has the right to apply the Penalty APR, which is Prime Rate + 26.74% (a variable APR), to new Transactions if you do not pay at least the Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date, or if your payment is returned by your bank. If the Penalty APR is applied, it applies for at least 6 months. The Account is reviewed every 6 months after it is applied, and the Penalty APR continues until you have made timely payments with no returned payments during the 6 months being reviewed.

Supporting quotations

Prime Rate + 26.74%

We have the right to apply the Penalty APR to new Transactions if:

you do not pay at least the Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date

your payment is returned by your bank and we will notify you if we do

it will apply for at least 6 months

We will review your Account every 6 months after the penalty APR is applied.

The penalty APR will continue to apply until you have made timely payments with no returned payments during the 6 months being reviewed.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Stated as a right ('We have the right to apply'), not an automatic result.
• It applies to new Transactions, not stated to apply to existing balances.
• Minimum duration is 6 months, with review every 6 months and ending only after 6 reviewed months of timely, unreturned payments.

Not stated here

• After the words 'your payment is returned by your bank', the text says 'we will notify you if we do'; it does not say whether 'we do' refers to applying the Penalty APR or to the returned payment, or how or when notice is given.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company commitment

No interest on purchases if you pay in full by the due date; cash advances accrue interest at once

The Due Date is at least 25 days after the close of each billing period. American Express will not charge interest on purchases if you pay your entire balance each month by the due date; if a plan is outstanding, the balance adjusted for plans is the amount to pay. Interest on cash advances begins on the transaction date. The Interest Free Period rules in the grace period section add that a customer with an active Plan It plan can enter an Interest Free Period by paying at least the Balance Adjusted for Plans (or Adjusted Balance) by the Payment Due Date.

Supporting quotations

Your Due Date is at least 25 days after the close of each billing period.

We will not charge you interest on purchases if you pay each month your entire balance (or, if you have a plan outstanding, your balance adjusted for plans) by the due date.

We will begin charging interest on cash advances on the transaction date.

If you have an active plan created through Plan It, you can enter an Interest Free Period by paying at least the Balance Adjusted for Plans (or Adjusted Balance) by the Payment Due Date.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The no-interest commitment covers purchases only and depends on paying the entire balance each month by the due date.
• With a plan outstanding, the balance adjusted for plans replaces the entire balance as the amount to pay.
• Cash advances have no such grace period; interest begins on the transaction date.

Cross-references

• qualified by (model-proposed): Purchases are interest free only during an Interest Free Period; cash advances and balance transfers never get one — The grace period section states the Interest Free Period rules (paying the New Balance by the Payment Due Date, residual interest after returning to the period, cash advances and balance transfers excluded) that sit behind the Rates and Fees Table summary.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Plan It charges a monthly fixed finance charge of up to 1.33% of each purchase or amount moved into a plan

The Plan Fee (Fixed Finance Charge) is a monthly fee of up to 1.33% of each purchase or amount moved into a plan. It is based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors. It is a fixed finance charge charged each month a plan is active, and its dollar amount is disclosed before you set up a plan.

Supporting quotations

A monthly fee of up to 1.33% of each purchase or amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.

This fee is a fixed finance charge that will be charged each month that a plan is active. The dollar amount of your plan fee will be disclosed before you set up a plan.

For more information, see About Plan It Feature in Part 2 of your Card Member Agreement.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Stated as 'up to' 1.33% monthly; the actual percentage depends on duration, the otherwise-applicable APR and other factors.
• Charged each month that a plan is active.

Not stated here

• The 'other factors' behind the plan fee are not listed in this section.
• Plan It eligibility and plan terms are set out in Part 2 (About Plan It), carded separately.

Cross-references

• qualified by (model-proposed): Plan It lets you pay selected purchases over time for a monthly fixed fee that replaces the purchase APR on that amount — Part 2 explains that a plan balance is subject to a plan fee instead of the APR for purchases, which qualifies Part 1's plan fee summary.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

The annual fee is $150, with no annual fee for additional cards

The Rates and Fees Table lists an Annual Fee of $150. The fee explanation points back to that table on page 1 of Part 1. The Annual Fee for Additional Cards is stated as None.

Supporting quotations

$150

This fee is on the Rates and Fees Table on page 1 of Part 1.

Annual Fee for Additional Cards: None.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The $150 fee is for the Account as listed on the Rates and Fees Table.
• Additional cards are stated to have no annual fee.

Not stated here

• Refund treatment of the Annual Fee is not in this section; it is addressed in the Closing or suspending your Account provision of Part 3.

Cross-references

• referred to by (model-proposed): You are responsible for all use by Additional Card Members and may cancel their ability to use the Account — Part 2 refers to refund of an Annual Fee for Additional Cards if one applies; Part 1 lists the Annual Fee for Additional Cards as None.
• qualified by (model-proposed): You may close the Account by call or letter; the Annual Fee is refundable only within 30 days of its Closing Date — The Annual Fee in Part 1 is refundable only if the Account is voluntarily closed within 30 days after the Closing Date of the statement showing it, with a Massachusetts exception, as Part 3 states.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Cash advances cost 5% with a $10 minimum added to the cash advance balance; there is no foreign transaction fee

The Rates and Fees Table shows the cash advance transaction fee as either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater, and the foreign transaction fee as None. The fee explanation states the cash advance fee as 5% of the cash advance transaction, including fees charged by the ATM operator if any, with a minimum of $10, and says the fee is added to the Cash Advance balance. Foreign Transaction is stated as None.

Supporting quotations

Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater. None

5% of the cash advance transaction (including fees charged by the ATM operator, if any), with a minimum of $10. We will add this fee to the Cash Advance balance.

Foreign Transaction: None.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The 5% is applied to the transaction amount including any ATM operator fees.
• The fee is added to the Cash Advance balance.
• The table lists two transaction fees in one row, with values in the same order: cash advance, then foreign transaction (None).

Not stated here

• What counts as a cash advance is defined in Part 2 and carded separately.
• Currency conversion for foreign charges is addressed in Part 3, not in this section.

Cross-references

• defined by (model-proposed): Definitions: charge, purchase, cash advance (including betting), balance transfer and person-to-person transaction — The Part 2 definition of cash advance (including cash equivalents and betting transactions) determines which charges carry the cash advance fee shown in Part 1.
• referred to by (model-proposed): Foreign currency charges are converted to U.S. dollars by AEEML at no more than the highest official or interbank rate — Part 1 lists the foreign transaction fee as None; Part 3 separately describes how foreign currency charges are converted into U.S. dollars.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Late payment fee is up to $40: $29 first, $40 if repeated within 6 billing periods

A late payment fee of up to $40 applies if American Express does not receive the Minimum Payment Due by its Payment Due Date. The fee is $29 the first time; if it happens again within the next 6 billing periods, it is $40. The late fee on a statement will not exceed the Minimum Payment Due on the prior billing statement. Separately, the rewards supplement says that if the Minimum Payment Due is not paid by the Payment Due Date, you forfeit the miles earned for eligible purchases during that billing period, and may reinstate them within the next 12 billing periods if the Card Account is not past due and you pay a $35 fee.

Supporting quotations

Up to $40. Up to $40. None

Up to $40. If we do not receive the Minimum Payment Due by its Payment Due Date, the fee is $29. If this happens again within the next 6 billing periods, the fee is $40. However, the late fee on a billing statement will not exceed the Minimum Payment Due on your prior billing statement.

you will forfeit the miles you earned for eligible purchases during that billing period

You may reinstate those miles within the next 12 billing periods if your Card Account is not past due and you pay a $35 fee.

Qualifications & exceptions

• $29 for the first late payment, $40 for a repeat within the next 6 billing periods.
• Capped at the Minimum Payment Due on the prior billing statement.
• Mile forfeiture is a separate consequence under the rewards supplement, with its own $35 reinstatement fee and 12-billing-period window.

Cross-references

• referred to by (model-proposed): Missing the Minimum Payment Due forfeits that period's miles, reinstatable within 12 periods for $35 — Missing the Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date triggers both the late payment fee and, under the rewards supplement, forfeiture of that billing period's miles.
• referred to by (model-proposed): Compliant payments received on time are credited the day received; others are credited the next day or may be delayed — Part 2 says payments that do not meet the requirements may be credited late, resulting in late payment fees and interest, pointing back to the Part 1 late payment fee.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Returned payment fee is up to $40: $29 first, $40 if repeated within 6 billing periods

If a payment you make is returned unpaid the first time American Express presents it to your bank, the returned payment fee is $29. If this happens again within the same billing period or the next 6 billing periods, the fee is $40. The fee on a statement will not exceed the applicable Minimum Payment Due on the prior billing statement. The Rates and Fees Table lists the returned payment fee as up to $40.

Supporting quotations

Up to $40. Up to $40. None

If you make a payment that is returned unpaid the first time we present it to your bank, the fee is $29. If you do this again within the same billing period or the next 6 billing periods, the fee is $40. However, the returned payment fee on a billing statement will not exceed the applicable Minimum Payment Due on your prior billing statement.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The $40 level applies to a repeat in the same billing period or the next 6 billing periods.
• Capped at the applicable Minimum Payment Due on the prior billing statement.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

There is no overlimit fee

The Rates and Fees Table lists the overlimit penalty fee as None, and the fee explanation repeats Overlimit: None and points to the Credit Limit and Cash Advance Limit section in Part 1 for how limits work.

Supporting quotations

Up to $40. Up to $40. None

Overlimit: None. See Credit Limit and Cash Advance Limit in Part 1.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The statement is about the overlimit fee only; it does not say that balances over the Credit Limit have no other effect.

Not stated here

• How balances over the Credit Limit are treated is in the Credit, Cash Advance and Person to Person Limits section and the Minimum Payment Due calculation, carded separately.

Cross-references

• contrast (model-proposed): Minimum Payment Due is the highest of three amounts plus penalty fees, plan payments and past-due amounts — Part 1 lists no overlimit fee, while the Minimum Payment Due calculation adds up to 1/24th of any overlimit amount. These pull in different directions: no fee is charged, but part of the over-limit balance still raises the required payment.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Returned check fee is $38 and account re-opening fee is $25; fees go to the purchase balance

A $38 returned check fee applies if you use your card to cash a check at one of the approved locations and the check is returned unpaid, and American Express will also charge you the unpaid amount. A $25 account re-opening fee applies if your Account is cancelled, you ask to re-open it, and American Express does so. Unless American Express tells you otherwise, fees are added to the purchase balance.

Supporting quotations

$38 if you use your card to cash a check at one of our approved locations and the check is returned unpaid. We will also charge you the unpaid amount.

$25 if your Account is cancelled, you ask us to re-open it, and we do so.

We add fees to a purchase balance, unless we tell you otherwise.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The returned check fee is only for checks cashed with the card at approved locations.
• The re-opening fee applies only if American Express agrees to re-open the Account.
• The cash advance fee is the stated example of a fee not added to the purchase balance, since it is added to the Cash Advance balance.

Not stated here

• The approved check-cashing locations are not named in this document.

Cross-references

• referred to by (model-proposed): You may close the Account by call or letter; the Annual Fee is refundable only within 30 days of its Closing Date — Part 3 says a $25 fee may be charged to re-open a cancelled account at your request, matching the Account re-opening fee in Part 1.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Context

Interest is calculated by the average daily balance method including new purchases, explained in Part 2

The Rates and Fees Table states that interest is calculated using the average daily balance method (including new purchases) and sends the reader to the How we calculate interest section in Part 2 for the detail.

Supporting quotations

We use a method called average daily balance method (including new purchases). See the How we calculate interest section in Part 2.

Not stated here

• The calculation steps are in Part 2 and carded separately.