American Express Credit Card Reviews

The American Express Gold dining credit gives Amex Gold cardholders $10 in statement credits each month that they spend $10 or more at select food-related merchants. That adds up to $120 each year on purchases with eligible merchants. These Amex Gold dining credit partners include:

• Grubhub
• Seamless
• The Cheesecake Factory
• Ruth's Chris Steak House
• Boxed
• Some Shake Shack locations

Keep in mind that you need to enroll in this benefit to get the statement credits. You can do this through the “Benefits” tab in your online Amex account.

The American Express payment address is P.O. Box 650448 Dallas, TX 75265. American Express accepts payments by check or money order mailed to this address, while cash payments are not accepted. Just be sure to allow enough time so that Amex receives your payment on or before the due date, and write your account number on the front of your payment to avoid any processing delays.

On that note, if you are in a rush, there's another Amex payment address you should know about, too. The Express mail address for overnight payment processing is: Attn: Express Mail Remittance Processing / 2050 Belshaw Ave / Carson, CA 90746.

American Express also offers a number of speedier alternatives to mailing your payment. You can make a payment through your online account or through the Amex mobile app. Or, you can call customer service at 1 (800) 472-9297 to pay your bill by phone. Any of these payments should post to your account within 24 to 36 hours. If your payment has not posted after 36 hours, you can log in to your online account and check the status through the “Payments” section at the top of the page.

To use the Amex ShopRunner benefit, sign up with an eligible American Express card and complete the ShopRunner online membership form. Cardholders will then have immediate access to the ShopRunner membership program, which offers free two-day shipping, free returns, and members-only deals at over 100 online retailers. All that's required to enroll is the e-mail address linked to your Amex account, the card number, and other card information to verify eligibility.

Any American Express-issued consumer or business card in the U.S. is considered eligible for a Shoprunner membership. Amex Corporate Cards, co-branded cards and pre-paid cards do not qualify, though. Neither do Amex cards issued by other banks and credit unions. ShopRunner typically charges a $79 annual membership fee, but Amex ShopRunner members enjoy free memberships every year, as long as their Amex account is active and in good standing.

You can begin shopping from your Amex ShopRunner account, from the ShopRunner website, or directly from the participating retailer's site. As long as you're signed in to your ShopRunner account when you check out, it doesn't matter where you start shopping. From the ShopRunner website, click the “Shop Now” button for your desired retailer and simply move items to your cart. Items eligible for ShopRunner will display the ShopRunner bold “S” logo on their product page or at checkout. Select “ShopRunner” on the checkout page in order to receive free two-day shipping.

ShopRunner's current list of participating stores includes Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus, Tommy Hilfiger, Under Armour, and American Eagle Outfitters, among others. Note that some retailers may have a minimum spending requirement, which is usually around $25.

The American Express Platinum card car rental insurance covers cardholders for up to $75,000 in collision damage and theft for vehicles rented with the American Express Platinum card or American Express rewards points. To get American Express Platinum card car rental insurance coverage, you must decline the rental agency's supplemental insurance policy. To make a American Express Platinum card rental car insurance claim, call (800) 338-1670 within 30 days of a covered incident.

There are a few exceptions you should be aware of, though. And there are more details about the process you'll need to follow to actually get your money. You can find the key points below.

Here's more info about the American Express Platinum card car rental insurance:

• You're covered up to $75,000 per claim for collision damage or theft.
• You must pay for the entire rental with your American Express Platinum card or rewards points.
• You must decline the rental agency's insurance policy.
• The following types of vehicles are not covered by American Express Platinum card rental car insurance: Cargo vans, vans that carry 9+ people, box trucks, trucks that weight 10k+ lbs., modified vehicles (except for handicapped accessibility), antiques, limos, off-road vehicles, motorcycles/motorbikes/mopeds, RVs, golf carts, and a few others.
• The following situations and types of damage are not covered by American Express Platinum card rental insurance: Manufacturing defects, wear and tear, damage from illegal activities, accidents caused by driver's intoxication, seizure by authorities, damage by war, and a few others.
• To make an American Express Platinum card rental car insurance claim, call (800) 338-1670 within 30 days of the incident. You can also call (216) 617-2500 collect from abroad. Amex will then mail you instructions for what to do next. You'll have 60 days to return any proof they request, which may include damage estimates, police reports, etc.

American Express Platinum card rental car insurance will reimburse you within 90 days of American Express receiving your proof of the incident. Before you rent a car with your Amex Platinum card, you should take some time to read through the benefits guide. It will give you the full information.

American Express no longer offers price protection on any of its cards. American Express discontinued the price protection benefit, which provided coverage up to $250 per item and $1,000 annually, in 2002. Prior to that, if a cardholder purchased an item with an eligible American Express card and any retailer advertised a lower price for the item within the next 30 days, American Express would have refunded the difference between the purchase price and the sale price.

American Express' lack of a price protection benefit is not uncommon these days, as more and more issuers have dropped the benefit from all of their credit cards. Recent advances in price-tracking technology have led to a dramatic increase in price protection claims, making the benefit too expensive for issuers to sustain.