Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card Agreement

American Express · Official agreement

Read the agreement

58 of 109 cards in Charges & Financial Obligations

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

American Express assigns a Credit Limit and part may be a Cash Advance Limit

American Express assigns a Credit Limit to the Account and may make part of it available for cash advances, called the 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.

Details
Who
American Express
What it covers
Credit Limit; Cash Advance Limit; possible ATM withdrawal limit
Condition
Limits shown on page 1 of Part 1 and on each billing statement

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.

Not stated here

  • The amounts of the Credit Limit, Cash Advance Limit and any ATM withdrawal limit are individual to the Account and are not in the public agreement text.
  • The length of the period for any ATM withdrawal limit is not stated.
Also annotated in the same passage (2)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Permission or license

American Express may raise or lower the limits, even if you pay on time

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

Details
Who
American Express
What it does
may increase or reduce the Credit Limit and Cash Advance Limit
Condition
Allowed even when you pay on time and the Account is not in default

Supporting quotations

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.

Not stated here

  • This passage does not state any notice requirement or reasons for a change.
Also annotated in the same passage (2)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

American Express may approve charges over the Credit Limit without an overlimit fee

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.

Details
Who
American Express
Condition
Charges that cause the balance to exceed the Credit Limit
What it does
You agree to promptly pay the excess if asked

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.

Qualifications & exceptions

  • Approval of an over-limit charge is permissive ("may"); the passage does not promise that over-limit charges will be approved.

Not stated here

  • "Promptly" is not defined in this passage.

Cross-references

  • referred to by (model-proposed): No overlimit fee — The Fees section's overlimit entry (None) points to the Part 1 limits section, which says American Express may approve charges over the Credit Limit without an overlimit fee.
Also annotated in the same passage (1)

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 cause your Account to exceed the applicable person-to-person limit or your Credit Limit. Part 2 defines a person-to-person transaction as a charge for funds sent to another person, or a charge to add funds to your Amex Send account.

Details
What it covers
Person-to-person transactions
When
Any 30-day period
Condition
Transaction would exceed the applicable limit or the 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.
A person-to-person transaction is a charge for funds sent to another person

Qualifications & exceptions

  • Person-to-person transactions are also excluded from the purchase rewards (see the eligible purchases card).

Not stated here

  • The word "applicable" in "the applicable person-to-person transaction limit" is not explained; the passage does not say whether any limit other than $2,000 applies.
Also annotated in the same passage (6)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

How the Minimum Payment Due is calculated

For each billing statement, American Express starts with the highest of three amounts: (1) interest charged on the statement plus 1% of the New Balance, (2) 2% of the New Balance, or (3) $40. The New Balance used in (1) excludes interest, penalty fees, any overlimit amount, and plan balances; in (2) it excludes penalty fees, overlimit amount and plan balances. Then it 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.

Details
What it covers
Minimum Payment Due for each billing statement
Condition
Highest of interest plus 1%, 2%, or $40
What it does
Then add penalty fees, up to 1/24th of any overlimit amount, plan payment due, and past due amounts

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.

Charges & Financial Obligations · User right or choice

Minimum Payment Due never exceeds the New Balance; you may pay more at any time

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. The agreement gives an example: with a New Balance of $2,900, interest of $29.57 and no active plans, overlimit amount, penalty fees or past-due amounts, the three starting figures are $58.27, $58 and $40, so the highest is $58.27. If the account has active plans, an overlimit amount, penalty fees or past-due amounts, the Minimum Payment Due will be higher.

Details
What it does
You may pay more than the Minimum Payment Due, up to the New Balance, at any time
Condition
Cap: Minimum Payment Due does not exceed the New Balance

Supporting quotations

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.
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 is an illustration with assumed numbers, not a statement of any Card Member's actual amounts.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company commitment

Interest Free Period: no interest on purchases while you pay the New Balance by the due date

You are not charged interest on purchases while 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 when your account had no previous balance. When your account is not in an Interest Free Period, interest is charged on purchases from the date of the transaction. After you enter an Interest Free Period again, interest may appear on your next billing statement, reflecting interest charged 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.

Details
Condition
Pay the New Balance (or, with an active plan, the Balance Adjusted for Plans) by the Payment Due Date, or have had no previous balance
What it covers
Interest on purchases
When
Interest from the date of the transaction when not in an Interest Free Period

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.

Qualifications & exceptions

  • The Interest Free Period covers purchases only; see the card on balance transfers and cash advances.

Not stated here

  • The phrase "or your account had no previous balance" is not explained further in this passage.
  • Details of how interest is calculated are in the How we calculate interest section (Part 2).

Cross-references

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Balance transfers and cash advances are charged interest from the transaction date

Balance Transfers and Cash Advances are charged interest from the date of the transaction and do not have an Interest Free Period. For more detail on interest charges, the agreement refers to its How we calculate interest section.

Details
What it covers
Balance Transfers and Cash Advances
When
Interest from the date of the transaction
Exception
No Interest Free Period

Supporting quotations

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.

Not stated here

  • This passage names Balance Transfers; the Rates and Fees Table in Part 1 lists APRs for purchases, cash advances and the Penalty APR only.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Reward supplement: 2 Marriott Bonvoy Points per $1 of eligible purchases

The Supplement to the Card Member Agreement says you receive 2 Marriott Bonvoy Points for each $1 of eligible purchases on this Card Account.

Details
What it covers
2 Points per $1 of eligible purchases
Who
You (the Card Member)

Supporting quotations

Supplement to the Card Member Agreement
You receive 2 Marriott Bonvoy Points (Points) for each $1 of eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Card Account).

Not stated here

  • The conditions on posting and keeping Points are in later passages of the supplement and are analyzed from that text.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

What counts as eligible purchases for Points

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, purchases of gift cards (except Marriott gift cards purchased at Marriott online stores), or person-to-person transactions.

Details
What it covers
Eligible purchases: goods and services net of returns and credits
Exception
Excluded: fees, interest, cash advances, traveler's checks, prepaid cards, cash equivalents, gift cards (except Marriott gift cards bought at Marriott online stores), person-to-person transactions

Supporting quotations

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, purchases of gift cards (except Marriott gift cards purchased at Marriott online stores), or person-to-person transactions.

Cross-references

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

4 additional Points (6 total) per $1 at participating Marriott properties and stores

You receive 4 additional Points, for a total of 6 Points, for each $1 of eligible purchases on the Card Account charged directly with participating Marriott Bonvoy properties, standalone Marriott branded retail establishments, and Marriott branded online stores (including online purchases of Marriott branded gift cards). In each case the establishment must be owned or managed by Marriott International, Inc. and its affiliates.

Details
What it covers
4 additional Points (6 total) per $1 of eligible purchases
Condition
Charged directly with participating properties, retail establishments or online stores owned or managed by Marriott International, Inc. and its affiliates

Supporting quotations

You receive 4 additional Points (for a total of 6 Points) for each $1 of eligible purchases on your Card Account charged directly with participating Marriott Bonvoy properties, standalone Marriott branded retail establishments, and Marriott branded online stores (including online purchases of Marriott branded gift cards), that in each case, are owned or managed by Marriott International, Inc. and its affiliates.

Qualifications & exceptions

  • Gift card purchases at Marriott online stores are included in this bonus, as the passage states, although other gift card purchases are excluded from eligible purchases.

Not stated here

  • Which properties are "participating" is not listed in the agreement.
Also annotated in the same passage (1)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Additional Points: 6 total at Marriott, 3 total for airfare and restaurants

Beyond the 2 Points base rate, you receive 4 additional Points (6 total) per $1 charged directly with participating Marriott properties and stores. You receive 1 additional Point (3 total) per $1 of eligible purchases for airfare on a scheduled flight charged directly with passenger airlines, with charter flights and private jet flights excluded. You also receive 1 additional Point (3 total) per $1 of eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide.

Details
What it covers
3 Points total per $1 for airfare on a scheduled flight and at restaurants worldwide
Condition
Airfare must be charged directly with passenger airlines
Exception
Charter flights and private jet flights are excluded

Supporting quotations

You receive 4 additional Points (for a total of 6 Points) for each $1 of eligible purchases on your Card Account charged directly with participating Marriott Bonvoy properties
You receive 1 additional Point (for a total of 3 Points) for each $1 dollar of eligible purchases on your Card Account for airfare on a scheduled flight charged directly with passenger airlines (charter flights and private jet flights are excluded).
You receive 1 additional Point (for a total of 3 Points) for each $1 dollar of eligible purchases on your Card Account charged at restaurants worldwide.

Not stated here

  • Whether a purchase made through a travel agency or booking site counts as "charged directly with passenger airlines" is not addressed in this passage.
Also annotated in the same passage (1)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

Additional Points depend on merchant codes and may be missed

Merchants are assigned codes based on what they primarily sell, and American Express groups certain codes into reward categories. A purchase with a merchant will not receive additional Points if the merchant's code is not in a reward category. You may not receive additional Points if American Express receives inaccurate information or cannot identify your purchase as eligible for a reward category. Examples given: a merchant uses a third party to sell products or services; a merchant uses a third party to process or submit your transaction (for example mobile or wireless card readers); or you pay using a third-party payment account or a mobile or digital wallet.

Details
Condition
Merchant code must be in an eligible reward category
Exception
Inaccurate information, unidentifiable purchases, third-party sellers or processors, third-party payment accounts, mobile or digital wallets

Supporting quotations

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

Qualifications & exceptions

  • The listed situations are examples introduced by "for example" and "may not receive"; they are not stated as an exhaustive list or as always resulting in no additional Points.

Not stated here

  • Which merchant codes are in each reward category is not listed in the agreement.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Permission or license

Promotional bonus Points offers carry their own terms

From time to time American Express may make promotional offers of bonus Points. Those offers include terms about how you can earn the bonus Points and when you can use them, and those terms may differ from the terms above on Points earned for eligible purchases, including when you can use the Points.

Details
Who
American Express
What it does
may make promotional offers of bonus Points
Condition
Offer terms may differ from the standard earning terms

Supporting quotations

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

Not stated here

  • The terms of any particular promotional offer are not in this agreement.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

When Points are transferred to the Marriott Bonvoy account

American Express transfers Points to your Marriott Bonvoy Member Account after the end of the billing period in which you received them. Bonus Points received from your Card will be posted to the Marriott Bonvoy Member Account up to 12 weeks after the end of each month, and your account must not be cancelled or delinquent at the time of bonus fulfillment.

Details
What it does
Transfer Points to the Marriott Bonvoy Member Account after the billing period ends
When
Bonus Points posted up to 12 weeks after the end of each month
Condition
Account must not be cancelled or delinquent at the time of bonus fulfillment

Supporting quotations

We transfer Points to your Marriott Bonvoy Member Account after the end of the billing period in which you received them.
Bonus Points received from your Card will be posted to your Marriott Bonvoy Member Account up to 12 weeks after the end of each month. Your account must not be cancelled or delinquent at the time of bonus fulfillment.

Not stated here

  • The passage does not define which Points are "Bonus Points" for the 12-week posting rule or what "delinquent" means.
Also annotated in the same passage (1)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

Points are forfeited if the Minimum Payment Due is missed; reinstatement costs $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 Points you earned for eligible purchases during that billing period. The example shows the period in question: with a billing period closing January 15 and a minimum payment due February 10, missing the February 10 due date means no Points for purchases in the billing period ending February 15. You may reinstate those Points within the next 12 billing periods if your Card Account is not past due and you pay a $35 fee.

Details
Condition
Minimum Payment Due not paid by the Payment Due Date
What it covers
Points earned for eligible purchases during the billing period in which the payment was due
What it does
Reinstate within the next 12 billing periods for a $35 fee
Condition
Card Account not past due for reinstatement

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 Points 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 Points for purchases in the billing period ending February 15.
You may reinstate those Points within the next 12 billing periods if your Card Account is not past due and you pay a $35 fee.

Qualifications & exceptions

  • Per the example, the forfeited Points are those for the billing period containing the missed due date (ending February 15), not the billing period that closed January 15.
Also annotated in the same passage (1)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

Rewards only for eligible purchases for personal, family or household use

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

Details
Condition
Eligible purchases for personal, family or household use

Supporting quotations

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

Not stated here

  • The passage does not say how a purchase is judged to be for personal, family or household use.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Permission or license

American Express may change the reward program; abuse can forfeit Points

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

Details
Who
American Express
What it does
may change reward program terms at its discretion
Condition
Violating or abusing the program may forfeit some or all Points

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 Points.

Not stated here

  • The passage does not define "violate or abuse" and does not state any notice period for a change.
Also annotated in the same passage (1)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Context

Defined charge types: purchase, cash advance, balance transfer, person-to-person

A charge is any amount added to the 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 owed 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 the Amex Send account.

Details
What it covers
Charge, purchase, cash advance, balance transfer and person-to-person transaction as defined terms

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

Qualifications & exceptions

  • The definition of purchase includes person-to-person transactions, while the reward supplement excludes person-to-person transactions from eligible purchases.
  • The cash advance definition lists examples with "including"; the passage does not say the list is complete.

Cross-references

  • defines (model-proposed): Cash advance fee: the greater of $10 or 5% — Part 2 defines what a cash advance is, which determines when the cash advance fee, APR and interest timing apply.
  • contrast (model-proposed): What counts as eligible purchases for Points — The Part 2 definition of a purchase includes person-to-person transactions, while the reward supplement lists person-to-person transactions among charges that are not eligible purchases for Points. The two use the word purchase for different sets.
Also annotated in the same passage (4)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Context

Defined terms: plan, paying by a date, 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.

Details
Condition
A payment is made by a date only when American Express receives and credits it by that date
When
Closing Date is the last day of the billing period

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.
Also annotated in the same passage (5)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Permission or license

American Express may decline charges and is not responsible for resulting losses

American Express may decline to authorize a charge for various reasons, including if it suspects fraud or based on its assessment of your creditworthiness, even if the charge would not take you over your Credit Limit and even if your Account is not in default. It is not responsible for any losses you incur if it does not authorize a charge or if any merchant refuses to accept the Card.

Details
Who
American Express
What it does
may decline to authorize a charge
Condition
Including suspected fraud or its assessment of your creditworthiness, even within the Credit Limit and with the Account not in default
Exception
No responsibility for losses from declined charges or merchant refusals

Supporting quotations

We may decline to authorize a charge for various reasons, including if we suspect fraud or based on our assessment of your creditworthiness, even if the charge would not cause you to go over your Credit Limit and even if your Account is not in default.
We are not responsible for any losses you incur if we do not authorize a charge or if any merchant refuses to accept the Card.

Not stated here

  • "Various reasons" is not limited to the two examples given.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Plan It: qualifying purchases or amounts paid over time for a plan fee

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 you can view the monthly plan payments, including the plan fee, before you create the plan. A qualifying purchase is a purchase of at least a specified dollar amount, and a qualifying amount is a specified portion of your balance. They 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.

Details
Who
American Express (may offer Plan It)
What it covers
Qualifying purchases or a qualifying amount
Exception
Cash and cash equivalents, balance transfers, purchases subject to Foreign Transaction Fees, fees owed to American Express
Condition
Plan fee shown before the plan is created

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.
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.

Not stated here

  • The specified dollar amount for a qualifying purchase and the specified portion of the balance for a qualifying amount are not stated.
  • The Rates and Fees Table lists no Foreign Transaction Fee for this Card; this passage does not say whether any purchase is "subject to Foreign Transaction Fees" on this Card.

Cross-references

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

Your ability to create plans is limited and decided by American Express

Your ability to create plans is based on factors such as your creditworthiness and your Credit Limit. You will not be able to create plans if your Account is cancelled, or if one or more of your American Express accounts is enrolled in a payment program, has a payment returned unpaid, or is past due. American Express will tell you how many active plans you may have and may change that number at any time. Plan durations offered and whether multiple qualifying purchases or amounts can go in one plan are at American Express's discretion. You agree to manage your Account so that the total of your plan balances (including plan fees) is not more than your Credit Limit.

Details
Condition
Account not cancelled; no American Express account in a payment program, with a returned payment, or past due
What it does
American Express may change the number of active plans at any time
What it covers
Total plan balances (including plan fees) not more than the Credit Limit

Supporting quotations

Your ability to create plans will be based on a variety of factors such as your creditworthiness and your Credit Limit. You will not be able to create plans if your Account is cancelled. You will also not be able to create plans if one or more of your American Express accounts is enrolled in a payment program, or has a payment that is returned unpaid, or is past due.
We will tell you the number of active plans you may have and we may change this number at any time. The plan durations offered to you, and your ability to include multiple qualifying purchases or a qualifying amount in a single plan, will be at our discretion and will be based on a variety of factors such as your creditworthiness, the purchase amount(s), and your Account history.
You agree to manage your Account so that the total of your plan balances (including plan fees) is not more than your Credit Limit.

Not stated here

  • Which American Express "payment program" is meant is not defined in this passage.
  • The factors beyond those named ("a variety of factors such as") are not listed.
Also annotated in the same passage (1)

Charges & Financial Obligations · User right or choice

Plans cannot be cancelled, but can be paid off early without further plan fees

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.

Details
What it does
Pay the plan off early by paying the New Balance shown on the most recent billing statement in full
Condition
No future plan fees on a plan paid off early

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.

Not stated here

  • Plan fees already charged are not addressed by this passage.

Cross-references

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

You promise to pay all charges and at least the Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date

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.

Details
Who
You (the Card Member)
What it covers
All charges, including those by Additional Card Members or people you permit
When
At least the Minimum Payment Due on or before the Payment Due Date

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.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Procedure

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

Payments must be made 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. For a payment by mail, make a separate payment for each Account, mail it to the address on the payment coupon on your billing statement, and write your Account number on the check or negotiable instrument and include the payment coupon.

Details
What it covers
Payments in U.S. dollars by check, negotiable instrument or electronic payment
Condition
Mail: separate payment per Account, coupon address, Account number and coupon included

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.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

When payments are credited, and what happens if requirements are not met

If a payment meets the stated requirements, American Express credits it to your Account as of the day it receives it, as long as it receives it by the time and in the manner disclosed in your billing statement. If received after that time, the payment is credited on the day after it is received. If a 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. 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.

Details
When
Credited as of the day received if received by the disclosed time and manner; otherwise the next day
Exception
Foreign currency payments and payments drawn on banks outside the U.S. are not accepted
Condition
Processing a late, partial or restricted payment does not change American Express's rights or the Agreement

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).
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.

Not stated here

  • The cut-off time is shown on the billing statement and is not in this agreement text.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

How payments are applied among balances

Your Account may have balances with different interest rates (for example purchases may have a lower rate than cash advances) and Plan balances that carry plan fees. In a billing period, payments up to the Minimum Payment Due are applied first to any Plan amounts included in the Minimum Payment Due, then to the balance with the lowest interest rate, then to balances with higher rates. After the Minimum Payment Due has been paid, payments are applied to the balance with the highest interest rate, then to balances with lower rates, and then to any Plan balances. American Express says this is how it generally applies payments.

Details
What it does
Minimum Payment Due: Plan amounts first, then lowest rate, then higher rates
What it does
Above the Minimum Payment Due: highest rate first, then lower rates, then 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. If your Account has balances with different interest rates, Plan balances, or Plan fees, here is how we generally apply payments in a billing period:
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

  • The order is described as how payments are "generally" applied.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Credits are applied to the related balance; excess credits are redistributed

In most cases, a credit is applied to the same balance as the related charge; a credit for a purchase goes to the purchase balance. American Express may apply payments and credits within balances, and among balances with the same interest rate, in any order it chooses. A negative balance at the end of a billing period is redistributed to other balances according to the payment order above, which means Plan balances may 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.

Details
What it does
Credit applied to the related balance; excess credit redistributed
Condition
Credit for a purchase placed into a plan: call to have it 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.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Interest is figured per balance by the Average Daily Balance method

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 too. It uses the Average Daily Balance method (including new transactions) for each balance, and the total interest charged for a billing period is the sum of the interest charged on each balance.

Details
What it covers
Interest on each balance, summed for the billing period
Condition
Average Daily Balance method including new transactions

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.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Interest for a balance equals ADB times DPR times days in the billing period

Except for variations caused by rounding, the interest charged for a balance in a billing period equals the Average Daily Balance (ADB) multiplied by the Daily Periodic Rate (DPR) multiplied by the number of days in the billing period.

Details
What it covers
Interest = ADB x DPR x number of days in the billing period
Exception
Variations caused by rounding

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.

Not stated here

  • The meaning of ADB and DPR is given in the passage that follows.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Context

How ADB is figured and what a DPR is

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.

Details
What it covers
ADB: sum of daily balances divided by days in the billing period
What it covers
DPR: 1/365th of an APR, rounded to one ten-thousandth of a percentage point

Supporting quotations

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

Not stated here

  • The DPR values for this Card are not stated in the published agreement (see the DPR reference card).

Cross-references

Charges & Financial Obligations · Context

The agreement says DPRs are shown in Part 1, but the published text lists none

Part 2 says: "Your DPRs are shown in How Rates and Fees Work in Part 1." The published agreement does not show any DPR value. Its How Rates and Fees Work section in Part 1 holds the Explanation of Variable Rates, Determining the Prime Rate, Fees, limits, the Minimum Payment Due calculation and the interest-free period text, and the Rates and Fees Table gives APRs only as the Prime Rate plus a margin (some as a range). The Explanation of Variable Rates itself mentions "corresponding DPRs" without giving values. This analysis does not calculate DPRs from the APRs or take them from another document.

Details
What it covers
DPR values for this Card
Condition
Referenced to How Rates and Fees Work in Part 1

Supporting quotations

Your DPRs are shown in How Rates and Fees Work in Part 1.
How Rates and Fees Work
If the Prime Rate increases, variable APRs (and corresponding DPRs) will increase.

Not stated here

  • The Daily Periodic Rate values are not in the published agreement. The reference points to Part 1, which in the published text lists none; a Card Member's own Part 1 is not part of this analysis, and no value is computed or imported from elsewhere.

Cross-references

  • refers to (model-proposed): How ADB is figured and what a DPR is — The DPR definition in Part 2 is the term whose values the Part 2 sentence says appear in Part 1; the published text lists none.
Also annotated in the same passage (1)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Context

Worked interest example: ADB $2,250, 15.99%, 30 days gives $29.57

The agreement gives an example with assumed numbers: 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%, and the interest is $2,250 multiplied by 0.0438% multiplied by 30 days, which equals $29.57.

Details
What it covers
Example interest $29.57 from ADB $2,250, DPR 0.0438%, 30 days

Supporting quotations

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
number of days in the billing period.

Qualifications & exceptions

  • The 15.99% rate in the example is an assumed number for illustration; it is not a rate stated for this Card in the Rates and Fees Table.
Also annotated in the same passage (1)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

How the daily balance is built, including daily compounding

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 prior period's ending balance, including unpaid interest. For the rest of the period, it is the previous day's daily balance plus interest equal to that balance multiplied by the DPR, which the agreement says results in daily compounding of interest.

Details
What it does
Daily balance = beginning balance + new charges - payments or credits +/- adjustments
When
New charges counted from the transaction date
Condition
Interest is added to the next day's beginning balance, producing daily compounding

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.

Not stated here

  • "Appropriate adjustments" is not defined in this passage.
Also annotated in the same passage (1)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Permission or license

American Express may use equivalent methods and may skip 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.

Details
Who
American Express
What it does
may use other equivalent formulas; may 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.

Not stated here

  • Which types of charges might carry no interest is not stated.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Restriction or exception

You agree to pay 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.

Details
Who
You (the Card Member)
What it covers
Reasonable costs, including attorneys' fees, incurred 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.

Charges & Financial Obligations · User right or choice

You may close the Account; Annual Fee refund within 30 days, with a Massachusetts exception

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 that 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 at the time you close your Account, this policy will 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.

Details
Who
You (the Card Member)
Condition
Notice of voluntary closing within 30 days after the Closing Date of the statement on which the Annual Fee appears
Exception
Massachusetts billing addresses are outside this refund policy
What it covers
$25 fee if a cancelled account is re-opened at your request

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.

Not stated here

  • The passage does not say what refund applies to a Massachusetts billing address, since the refund policy "will not apply" to it; other Massachusetts terms are not in this passage.

Cross-references

  • qualifies (model-proposed): Annual fee is $650; $0 for additional cards — The Annual Fee is refundable if you close the Account within 30 days after the Closing Date of the statement on which it appears, except for Massachusetts billing addresses.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Foreign currency charges are converted to U.S. dollars by AEEML

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 American Express bills you in U.S. dollars based 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 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.

Details
Who
AE Exposure Management Ltd. (AEEML)
When
Converted on the date American Express or its agents process the charge
What it covers
Conversion rate: no more than the highest official or interbank rate on the conversion date or prior business day
Exception
Charges converted by establishments such as airlines are billed at their rates

Supporting quotations

If you make a charge in a foreign currency, AE Exposure Management Ltd. ("AEEML") 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

  • This concerns the exchange rate used; the Rates and Fees Table lists no Foreign Transaction fee for this Card.

Not stated here

  • The rate AEEML actually uses on a given day is not stated, and the passage says only that it is "no more than" the stated ceilings.

Cross-references

  • qualifies (model-proposed): No foreign transaction fee is listed — No Foreign Transaction fee is listed, but foreign currency charges are still converted at a rate AEEML chooses, so the conversion rate is a separate point from the fee.
Also annotated in the same passage (1)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

American Express and affiliates may tell you about insurance and other products and may be compensated

American Express or its affiliates may tell you about insurance and non-insurance products, services or features that may have a fee. One affiliate may act on behalf of a provider of these products and may be compensated for this. The insurance products are not offered or sold by American Express or on its behalf. Its affiliates may get additional compensation when AMEX Assurance Company or another affiliate is the insurer or reinsurer. Compensation may influence what products and providers American Express or its affiliates tell you about.

Details
Who
American Express and its affiliates
What it does
may tell you about insurance and non-insurance products that may have a fee
Condition
Affiliates may be compensated, which may influence what is promoted

Supporting quotations

We or our affiliates may tell you about insurance and non-insurance products, services or features that may have a fee. One of our affiliates may act on behalf of a provider of these products. The affiliate may be compensated for this. The insurance products are not offered or sold by us or on our behalf. Our affiliates may get additional compensation when AMEX Assurance Company or another affiliate is the insurer or reinsurer. Compensation may influence what products and providers we or our affiliates tell you about.

Not stated here

  • The passage does not name the products or providers or state the amount of compensation.

Charges & Financial Obligations · User right or choice

Notice to Oregon residents: service charges and paying more than the minimum

For Oregon residents, the notice says 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.

Details
Where
Oregon residents
What it does
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.

Not stated here

  • The passage does not say what the limit on permitted service charges is.
Also annotated in the same passage (1)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Purchase APR is variable, Prime Rate plus 12.74% to 21.74%

The Annual Percentage Rate for purchases is not a fixed number. The table gives it as the Prime Rate plus a margin, in a range from Prime Rate + 12.74% to Prime Rate + 21.74%, and says it is a variable APR. The table points to the Explanation of Variable Rates for how it varies.

Details
What it covers
Annual Percentage Rate for purchases
Condition
Variable APR; changes with the Prime Rate

Supporting quotations

Prime Rate + 12.74% to Prime Rate + 21.74%
This is a variable APR. See Explanation of Variable Rates below.

Qualifications & exceptions

  • The APR is stated as a margin over the Prime Rate, not as a percentage on its own.
  • Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99% (see the Explanation of Variable Rates card).

Not stated here

  • This passage does not say what determines where within the 12.74% to 21.74% margin range a Card Member's APR falls.
  • The Rates and Fees Table shows no Daily Periodic Rate (DPR) values; it gives APRs only.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Cash advance APR is variable, Prime Rate plus 21.99%

The APR for cash advances is the Prime Rate plus 21.99%. The table says it is a variable APR and points to the Explanation of Variable Rates.

Details
What it covers
APR for cash advances
Condition
Variable APR

Supporting quotations

Prime Rate + 21.99%
This is a variable APR. See Explanation of Variable Rates below.

Qualifications & exceptions

  • What counts as a cash advance is defined in Part 2 (see the cash advance fee card).

Charges & Financial Obligations · Permission or license

Penalty APR of Prime Rate plus 26.74% may be applied after a missed or returned payment

The Penalty APR is the Prime Rate plus 26.74%, and it is a variable APR. American Express says it has 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, or if your payment is returned by your bank. The wording is a right to apply it, not a statement that it applies automatically.

Details
Who
American Express
What it does
may apply the Penalty APR
What it covers
new Transactions
Condition
Minimum Payment Due not paid by the Payment Due Date, or a payment returned by the bank

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; or • your payment is returned by your bank and we will notify you if we do.

Qualifications & exceptions

  • The passage applies the Penalty APR to new Transactions; it does not say the Penalty APR is applied to balances that already exist.

Not stated here

  • The phrase "we will notify you if we do" follows the returned-payment condition; it most naturally means American Express will notify you if it applies the Penalty APR, but the sentence does not say so in so many words, and this passage does not state how or when notice is given.

Cross-references

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

How long the Penalty APR applies and how it ends

If the Penalty APR is applied, it applies for at least 6 months. American Express will review the Account every 6 months after the Penalty APR is applied. The Penalty APR continues to apply until you have made timely payments with no returned payments during the 6 months being reviewed.

Details
When
At least 6 months; reviewed every 6 months
Condition
Timely payments and no returned payments during the 6 months being reviewed

Supporting quotations

If the penalty APR is applied, 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.

Not stated here

  • The passage does not define "timely payments" beyond the earlier trigger (at least the Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date).

Cross-references

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

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

If the Prime Rate increases, variable APRs (and the corresponding DPRs) will increase, so you may pay more interest and may have a higher Minimum Payment Due. 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%.

Details
Condition
Prime Rate changes
When
Changes take effect on the first day of the billing period in which the Prime Rate changed
What it covers
Variable APRs, capped at 29.99%

Supporting quotations

If the Prime Rate increases, variable APRs (and corresponding DPRs) will increase. In that case, you may pay more interest and may have a higher Minimum Payment Due.
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%.

Qualifications & exceptions

  • The 29.99% cap is stated for "variable APRs"; the Rates and Fees Table also describes the Penalty APR as a variable APR.

Not stated here

  • The passage mentions DPRs, but the Rates and Fees Table in Part 1 lists no DPR values. This card does not compute DPRs from the APRs.
Also annotated in the same passage (1)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

How the Prime Rate is determined

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 the Prime Rate that day, American Express uses the rate from the previous day it was published. If the Journal is no longer published or stops publishing the Prime Rate, American Express may use the Prime Rate published in another newspaper of general circulation.

Details
What it covers
Prime Rate: highest U.S. Prime Rate in The Wall Street Journal
When
On the Closing Date of the billing period; previous publication day if none
Exception
If the Journal stops publishing the rate, another newspaper may be used

Supporting quotations

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.

Not stated here

  • Which other newspaper would be used is not stated; the wording is permissive ("may").

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company commitment

Paying in full avoids purchase interest; cash advance interest starts on the transaction date

Your Due Date is at least 25 days after each billing period closes. American Express will not charge interest on purchases if you pay your entire balance each month by the due date. If you have a plan outstanding, the amount that must be paid is your balance adjusted for plans, and an active Plan It plan allows an Interest Free Period by paying at least the Balance Adjusted for Plans (or Adjusted Balance) by the Payment Due Date. Interest on cash advances begins on the transaction date.

Details
Condition
Entire balance (or balance adjusted for plans) paid each month by the due date
What it covers
Interest on purchases
When
Cash advance interest begins on the transaction date
When
Due Date at least 25 days after the close of each billing period

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 promise covers purchases only and depends on paying the entire balance each month.

Not stated here

  • This table row does not say how interest on purchases is charged when the entire balance is not paid; the interest sections of Part 1 and Part 2 are analyzed from their own text.

Cross-references

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Plan It plans carry a monthly plan fee of up to 1.33% instead of the purchase APR

A Plan It plan has a monthly fee, called a Plan Fee (Fixed Finance Charge), of up to 1.33% of each purchase or amount moved into a plan. The fee depends 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 the dollar amount is disclosed before you set up a plan. When you set up a plan, the purchases or amount go into a plan balance and are subject to a plan fee instead of the APR for purchases.

Details
What it covers
Plan Fee (Fixed Finance Charge), up to 1.33% monthly
When
Each month a plan is active
Condition
Disclosed before the plan is set up
Why
Charged instead of the APR for purchases on the planned amount

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.
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.

Not stated here

  • The "other factors" that set the plan fee are not listed in these passages.
  • The actual percentage for a specific plan is not in the agreement; the passage says the dollar amount is disclosed before you set up a plan.

Cross-references

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Annual fee is $650; $0 for additional cards

The Annual Fee is $650, shown in the Rates and Fees Table. The Fees section points back to that table. The Annual Fee for Additional Cards is listed as None. Fees are added to the purchase balance unless American Express tells you otherwise.

Details
What it covers
Annual Fee $650; additional cards none
What it does
Fees are added to the purchase balance
Exception
Unless American Express tells you otherwise

Supporting quotations

Annual Fee | $650
This fee is on the Rates and Fees Table on page 1 of Part 1.
Annual Fee for Additional Cards: None.
We add fees to a purchase balance, unless we tell you otherwise.

Not stated here

  • The passages do not say when during the year the Annual Fee is charged.
  • What "unless we tell you otherwise" would involve is not described in this passage.

Cross-references

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Cash advance fee: the greater of $10 or 5%

The fee for each cash advance is either $10 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater. The Fees section says the 5% is calculated on the cash advance transaction including any fees charged by the ATM operator, with a minimum of $10, and the fee is added to the Cash Advance balance. Part 2 defines a cash advance as a charge to get cash or cash equivalents, with examples that include travelers cheques, gift cheques, foreign currency, money orders, digital currency, casino gaming chips, race track wagers, and other offline and online betting transactions.

Details
What it covers
Cash advance fee: greater of $10 or 5%
What it does
Fee added to the Cash Advance balance
Condition
Includes ATM operator fees in the 5% base

Supporting quotations

Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
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.
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.

Qualifications & exceptions

  • Cash advances also have their own APR and interest starts on the transaction date (see the other cards).

Cross-references

Also annotated in the same passage (5)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

No foreign transaction fee is listed

The Rates and Fees Table and the Fees section both show Foreign Transaction as None, meaning this agreement lists no foreign transaction fee for the Card.

Details
What it covers
Foreign Transaction fee: None

Supporting quotations

None
Foreign Transaction: None.

Qualifications & exceptions

  • In the combined table row, the values follow the order of the labels: the cash advance fee first, then None for Foreign Transaction.

Not stated here

  • The passage speaks only to a fee this agreement charges; it does not describe how foreign-currency charges are converted or whether others (such as merchants or networks) add charges.

Cross-references

Also annotated in the same passage (1)

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Late payment fee: $29, then $40 for a repeat within 6 billing periods

The late payment fee is up to $40. If American Express does 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. The late fee on a billing statement will not exceed the Minimum Payment Due on your prior billing statement.

Details
Condition
Minimum Payment Due not received by its Payment Due Date
When
Repeat within the next 6 billing periods raises the fee to $40
Exception
Fee capped at the Minimum Payment Due on the prior billing statement

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.

Qualifications & exceptions

  • In the table row, the values follow the order of the labels: Late Payment up to $40, Returned Payment up to $40, Overlimit None.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Returned payment fee: $29, then $40 for a repeat

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

Details
Condition
Payment returned unpaid when presented to the bank
When
Repeat in the same billing period or next 6 billing periods
Exception
Fee capped at the applicable Minimum Payment Due on the prior statement

Supporting quotations

Up to $40. 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.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Returned check fee: $38 plus the unpaid amount

If you use your card to cash a check at one of the approved locations and the check is returned unpaid, the fee is $38. American Express will also charge you the unpaid amount.

Details
Condition
Card used to cash a check at an approved location and the check is returned unpaid
What it covers
$38 fee plus the unpaid amount

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.

Not stated here

  • The list of approved locations is not in this passage.

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

No overlimit fee

The Overlimit fee is None. The Fees section directs you to Credit Limit and Cash Advance Limit in Part 1 for how limits work.

Details
What it covers
Overlimit fee: None

Supporting quotations

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

Not stated here

  • The cited label "Credit Limit and Cash Advance Limit" matches the lead-in "Credit limit and Cash Advance Limit:" of the Part 1 limits section, which is analyzed from its own text.

Cross-references

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Account re-opening fee: $25

If your Account is cancelled, you ask American Express to re-open it, and it does so, the fee is $25.

Details
Condition
Account cancelled, re-opening requested, and re-opened
What it covers
$25 fee

Supporting quotations

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

Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice

Interest is calculated by the average daily balance method (including new purchases)

American Express uses the average daily balance method (including new purchases) to calculate interest, and points to the How we calculate interest section in Part 2 for details.

Details
What it covers
Average daily balance method (including new purchases)

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 details are in Part 2 and are analyzed from that text.