Refunds: Do MR points get taken back?

[QF009]

I was just wondering if AMEX will take back my MR points when the transaction which earns the points has been refunded?

I am about to put down a refundable (in the event that I fail to enter into a contract) reservation fee on an apartment to take it off the market for 7 days whilst I go through the fine print, and the vendor's solicitor takes AMEX. It's quite a large sum so it'd boost my points balance quite nicely.

[JohnK]

Sorry to say but yes Amex takes back MR points if a refund is issued.

I pre-paid a stay at Conrad Jupiters on the Gold Coast and earned MR points for the transaction and then was refunded 20% off for HPC and Amex took off the MR points earned previously for the amount of the refund....

[QF009]

Thanks JohnK.

I hope the refund doesn't occur if my solicitor okays the contract, I mean - hopefully it counts towards the deposit I have to put down rather than being refunded to my card at the end of the reservation period.

[QF009]

Eeeek I just noticed that there's a 3.025% surcharge for AMEX. Only 0.8% for VI/MC.

Given the amount is $2000, is the $60.50 surcharge worth it? I'd get 2060.50 x 1.5 = 3090 points.

Or should I just use my Visa debit card instead?

And no this isn't the same thing as a retailer I can simply walk away from.

[Flashware]

IME while the points will be reversed, the bonus points will not

[oz_mark]

IME while the points will be reversed, the bonus points will not

Not at the time of the refund. IME subsequent transactions get underpaid on the bonus till you've 'paid' the bonus points back

[Flashware]

Not at the time of the refund. IME subsequent transactions get underpaid on the bonus till you've 'paid' the bonus points back

Maybe I've just been lucky then, as I've not noticed that on any of my Tx...

[JohnK]

Eeeek I just noticed that there's a 3.025% surcharge for AMEX. Only 0.8% for VI/MC.

Given the amount is $2000, is the $60.50 surcharge worth it? I'd get 2060.50 x 1.5 = 3090 points.

It all depends on how much you value the MR points and whether you are in urgent need of MR points.

Generally I value MR points at 1c each so the surcharge would not be worth it but others value MR points more highly....

[serfty]

Maybe I've just been lucky then, as I've not noticed that on any of my Tx...

It does happen as oz_mark described; not obvious and quite weird!

[Flying Fox]

Normally transaction refunds are matched against the initial purchase transaction and therefore all activity related to the initial purchase is refunded (points and all).

Alternatively, you could ask for a refund via cheque and see if your vendor will allow it?