American Express offers a large array of credit cards which often appeal to people who spend on travel and entertainment. Due to COVID-19 and the pandemic, people’s spending habits have changed, though. Recognizing this new scenario, American Express put together new perks offering various types of statement credits. These new AmEx statement credits can be used to offset the annual fees on cards.
The Amex statement credits include:
- expanded dining credits,
- increased Dell credits,
- new wireless telephone credits,
- streaming services credits,
- shipping credits.
There’s a lot to go over! Let’s get started so you can begin saving right now.
How to Use American Express Statement Credits: The Details
American Express Dining Credits
Dining statement credits were already in place. Now, however, they are easier to use.
Cards with Dining Credit Changes
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card comes with a $300 Marriott Bonvoy statement credit benefit. This credit resets every cardmember anniversary year. Now you can use the whole credit or a portion of this statement credit at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery.
American Express Increased Dell Credits
Card with Dell Credit Changes
There are many benefits of the Amex Business Platinum card. The Dell credit is a popular one. It is the only card offering a statement credit for Dell purchases.
Prior to the change, the Dell credit was split up into 2 equal credits of $100 each. You could use 1 credit from January to June and the other credit from July to December.
Now, you can earn up to $200 in additional statement credits. That brings the total to $400 in statement credits in 2020.
When is this Amex Dell credit valid?
You’ll receive up to $100 in statement credits from May 1 through June 30, 2020. There is another $100 in statement credits between July 1 and December 31, 2020, on top of the existing statement credits.
Which purchases qualify for the statement credit?
Good question and important to know.
This statement credit is valid only on purchases made directly with Dell or at dell.com in the U.S. and U.S. territories where Dell is the merchant of record for the purchase.
Also important to note is that the Dell credit is invalid on online purchases shipped outside of the United States.
Best Ways to Maximize Dell Credits
Enrollment is required for this Dell credit. Enroll by logging into your online Amex account. Once enrolled, shop online at dell.com and pay using your Amex Business Platinum card.
New Amex Wireless Credits
This wireless credit is an addition to statement credit options already offered. The wireless telephone credit gives you up to $20 per eligible card in monthly wireless credits for your cellular bills.
Card with Wireless Statement Credit Changes
The Platinum Card® from American Express
American Express has temporarily added wireless statement credits for up to $20 per month.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
In addition to the already existing buffet of perks on this card, you now get wireless statement credits for up to $20 per month.
The Amex Green card already offers value without a hefty price tag. It’s a well-rounded card for your spending. It offers bonus categories at restaurants worldwide and travel purchases.
To increase the card’s value even more, American Express has included an additional wireless statement for up to $10 per month.
When is this wireless statement credit valid?
The wireless credit is valid from May through December 2020.
Which purchases qualify for the statement credit?
Not all purchases will qualify for the credit.
According to American Express, wireless telephone service purchases must be made for monthly wireless telephone service charges. These charges must be made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
There are lots of exclusions, but here are some merchants that can qualify:
- AT&T
- Sprint
- T-Mobile
- Verizon Wireless
How to maximize these wireless credits on American Express cards
Making partial recurring payments on your recurring phone bill is the best way to make use of your wireless credits.
In other words, make the most of these credits by scheduling partial payments to your phone bill of either $20 or $10 to offset the actual cost of your wireless bill. When maximized properly via partial payments, you can definitely value these wireless credits at full value because it translates to saving cash on your wireless bill.
New American Express Streaming Credits
These new statement credits are primarily used offset the content you’re viewing. But they could also be valuable for trying something new.
Card with Streaming Statement Credit Changes
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Amex Platinum card currently offers up to $20 per month on select streaming services purchased directly from the service provider. In total, you can earn up to $160 in streaming statement credits.
When is this statement credit valid?
The streaming statement credit is valid from May through December 2020.
Which purchases qualify for the streaming credit?
Check the official Amex list of select U.S. Streaming Subscriptions.
What are the best ways to maximize streaming credits?
Everybody uses different services and consumes different content. However, some of the streaming providers listed are the most popular.
Some of these are:
- Apple Music
- Audible
- Disney+
- ESPN+
- HBO Now
- Netflix
- Showtime
- Spotify
- YouTube Premium
If you’re already a subscriber to these platforms, change your payment method to an eligible card.
If you’re not a subscriber to these platforms, this is a great way to check some of them out and see if they suit you.
New American Express Shipping Credits
This new Amex shipping credit is a good one, whether for yourself or your business.
Card with Shipping Credit Changes
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The only card that offers this new shipping credit is the Amex Business Platinum card. This is yet another benefit that makes this a popular card for business owners
When is this credit valid?
The shipping credit is valid from May through December 2020.
What purchases qualify for the statement credit?
Currently, only U.S. shipping purchases qualify. These include courier, postal, and freight shipping services.
Here are the most popular merchants:
- FedEx
- United States Postal Service
- UPS
It’s important to note that shipping costs for retail purchases won’t qualify, such as paying for shipping on your Amazon orders. The credit does not qualify with moving services, local trucking, and trash removal.
How to maximize shipping statement credits
The easiest way to make the most of this shipping credit is to pay for shipping.
If you don’t normally send packages or letters, you can try paying for printing services at FedEx, though it’s unclear if Amex will honor this shipping credit.
Amex Card Snapshots
For a closer look at these Amex cards and all the benefits they offer, especially for maximizing these new and improved statement credits, take a look at these snapshots. They give you all the information you’ll need!
Final Thoughts
American Express is smart to be stepping up to the plate during these challenging times. Obviously they want to keep our loyalty. Rolling out these new, increased, and expanded AmEx statement credits are part of their effort. Between these five statement credit options, there’s bound to be one or more of them you can put to good use and save some bucks. Maybe you can even use all of them and save big!
Gentle reminder that right now the American Express Gold Card, with its current Limited Time Only bonus offer of 60,000 Membership Reward Points, comes with unique, great benefits as well!
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