Terms and Conditions

The INSIDE^® Rewards program from American Express ("AMEX", "we" or "us").

We reserve the right to add to and/or change the INSIDE^® Rewards Program ("Program") Terms & Conditions at any time. This means, for example, that we may change the number of points earned for spending, the number of points required to redeem rewards, impose caps and/or fees on earning and/or redeeming points, increase the annual and/or other Program fees and/or cancel rewards. In addition, we reserve the right to terminate the Program with three months’ prior notice. During the three-month notice period, we may change or cancel some or all of the then-current rewards. The Cardmember’s ("you", "your" or "CM") right to earn points and redeem accumulated points will terminate three months after we give you this notice.

Annual Fees		Back to top

There is no annual fee for participation in the Program.

Eligibility		Back to top

The Program is available only to holders of the INSIDE^® Rewards cards. Card eligibility is subject to change. A Card account must be billed in U.S. dollars from an AMEX Operations Center in the U.S. to be eligible for the Program. Additional CMs on a Basic Card account may not enroll in the Program on their own. If Additional CMs wish to participate in the Program, they must apply and be approved for a Basic Card, then apply for enrollment in the Program.

Point Accrual		Back to top

Each CM enrolled in the Program will accrue one point in their Program account for every eligible dollar charged and billed on their Card account provided the Card account is in good standing. Good standing is defined as the minimum due on the account is paid on time and that the account is not in default. CMs will accrue two points in their Program account for every eligible one dollar charged in the U.S. at dining establishments and movie theatres. CMs will also accrue two points for every eligible dollar charged in the U.S. for cell phone service, cable and satellite television service, Internet Service Provider (ISP) dial up service, gym memberships and magazine and newspaper subscriptions.

Points accrued in your Program account for any given year will be carried forward on each enrollment date anniversary, provided all other conditions set forth herein have been met.

You will not accrue points in your Program account for the following: Savings, Cash Advance Services and Balance Transfers; Privileged Assets® and Express Cash; AMEX Travelers Cheque and AMEX Gift Cheque Purchases; Cash Advances; Fees and Interest; Charges for Dishonored Checks; Finance Charges—including Line of Credit Finance Charges, Sign & Travel Account Finance Charges, Extended Payment Option Finance Charges, Business Payment Option Finance Charges and Eligible Optima Card Finance Charges; Delinquency Charges; Program annual fees; Card account annual fees; fees for Enrollment-Based CM Services.

Points accrued in any Program account do not constitute property of the CM.

Credits posted to your Card account, including those arising from returned goods or services, will reduce the points accrued in your Program account.

If a credit posted to your Card account reduces the Program account balance below the minimum required to redeem a reward, we reserve the right to decline your request to redeem a reward.

You can earn INSIDE^® Rewards points for every purchase you make, even if that purchase is made in a location not associated with the city on your actual Card.

You can earn double INSIDE^® Rewards points for city essentials, which include purchases for dining, movie tickets, cell phone service, cable and satellite TV service, internet service, gym and health club memberships, and newspaper and magazine subscriptions.

You can redeem points for rewards in any city in which American Express has issued Cards that currently participate in the INSIDE^® Rewards program, which is subject to change.

Purchase points		Back to top

You may purchase points in 1,000-point increments for $25 per 1,000 points, which will be billed on your Card account.

You may purchase a maximum of 500,000 points per calendar year.

You may purchase points only for your own Program account.

Points purchased are subject to all other Program Terms & Conditions applicable to points generally, including those concerning point forfeiture.

Point Transfer		Back to top

CMs may not convert points from the Program account to any other rewards program other than INSIDE^® Rewards.

CMs may not convert points from any other rewards program to the Program Account.

CMs may not sell points to any other party

CMs who have had a Program Account in good standing for a minimum of six months may transfer points into another CM’s eligible INSIDE^® Rewards account. CMs whose account is not in good standing may not transfer points.

To initiate a point transfer, CMs must call customer service. Point transfers may not be initiated online.

To transfer points, the transferring CM must have the name and INSIDE^® Rewards account number, card account number, or social security number of the CM to whom points will be transferred.

CMs must transfer a minimum of 1,000 points per transaction and may transfer a maximum of 40,000 points per transaction.

Once the point transfer is completed, it cannot be reversed by the CM who transferred points to another CM’s account

Point Forfeiture for Account Cancellation		Back to top

If for any reason we cancel your Card account (including because of your death, bankruptcy or insolvency), any points accrued in your Program account will be forfeited. If we reinstate the Card account within one year of cancellation, any points accrued in your Program account may be redeemed for a reward, provided all other conditions set forth herein have been met.

If you voluntarily cancel your Card account, all points accrued in the Program account will be forfeited immediately. All rewards are subject to availability. Certain rewards are available only during the time periods described in the Program communications. Certain restrictions apply to rewards. Terms & Conditions of each reward are set forth in Program communications and/or on the Certificates. Merchants participating in the Program are subject to change. Some Rewards have limited availability.

Redeemed Rewards are not refundable, exchangeable, replaceable, redeemable or transferable for cash, credit, other rewards or points under any circumstances.

By redeeming rewards, you release AMEX and its parent, subsidiaries and affiliates from any and all liability regarding the redemption or use of rewards or other participation in the Program.

Rewards must be redeemed in accordance with Program communications. AMEX and participating merchants are not responsible for replacing lost, stolen or mutilated Certificates or tickets.

We reserve the right to modify or cancel any reward at any time.

Any additional travel or accommodation arrangements made in connection with any reward will be your sole responsibility. Some rewards and/or Certificates require an additional charge for shipping and handling.

Rewards and Redemptions		Back to top

All rewards are subject to availability. Certain rewards are available only during the time periods described in the Program communications. Certain restrictions apply to rewards. Terms & Conditions of each reward are set forth in Program communications and/or on the Certificates. Merchants participating in the Program are subject to change. Some Rewards have limited availability.

Redeemed Rewards are not refundable, exchangeable, replaceable, redeemable or transferable for cash, credit, other rewards or points under any circumstances.

By redeeming rewards, you release AMEX and its parent, subsidiaries and affiliates from any and all liability regarding the redemption or use of rewards or other participation in the Program.

Rewards must be redeemed in accordance with Program communications. AMEX and participating merchants are not responsible for replacing lost, stolen or mutilated Certificates or tickets.

We reserve the right to modify or cancel any reward at any time.

Any additional travel or accommodation arrangements made in connection with any reward will be your sole responsibility.

Some rewards and/or Certificates require an additional charge for shipping and handling

Certificates and Gift Cards		Back to top

Rewards must be redeemed in accordance with Program Communications. We and participating merchants are not responsible for replacing lost, stolen or mutilated Certificates or Gift Cards.

Certificates and Gift Cards may be combined unless otherwise indicated, but Certificates and Gift Cards may not be combined with any other promotional offers from American Express or the participating retailer.

Certificates and Gift Cards are generally valid for six months from date of issuance, unless otherwise indicated. Expiration for Gift Cards can vary by merchant.

Certificates and Gift Cards are valid at participating merchants only through the expiration date printed on the front of the Certificate or Gift Card receipt.

Certificates and Gift Cards must be surrendered at redemption. No photocopies of Certificates or Gift Cards will be honored.

Acceptance of the Certificate or Gift Card is the sole responsibility of the participating merchant, not American Express.

Certificates and Gift Cards are not valid toward previous purchases and cannot be used as payment on existing account balances with either the participating merchant or American Express.

Certificates and Gift Cards have no cash value and may not be redeemed for cash or its equivalent, and any unused portion will not be returned as cash unless a Certificate stated otherwise.

Certificates and Gift Cards’ point value cannot be redeposited into your INSIDE^® Rewards account once issued.

Certificates and Gift Cards are transferable unless otherwise noted in the Certificate or Gift Card Terms and Conditions.

Expedited delivery of a Certificate and Gift Card may be available upon request. There is a fee associated with this service.

Certificates and Gift Cards are void where prohibited by law.

Unless otherwise stated in the Certificate or Gift Card terms and conditions, reward redemptions do not include any federal, state or local taxes, which are your sole responsibility at time of the redemption.

Use of any Certificate or Gift Card is subject to any additional restrictions which may be listed in the Certificate or Gift Card terms and conditions.

If applicable, Certificate and Gift Card rewards do not include gratuities.

Reward Packages		Back to top

Reward packages are subject to availability. Some restrictions may apply regarding location. Unless otherwise noted, all gratuities and taxes are included in the point value of the package.

General		Back to top

Fraud or abuse relating to the accrual of points or redemption of rewards may result in forfeiture of accrued points as well as cancellation of your Program account and any AMEX Card account.

The program is intended to be a service provided to an individual, not a company. It is therefore considered fraudulent and abusive for any individual or company to direct, encourage or allow a Corporate CM or other individuals to use a single Corporate Card account for the purpose of accumulating INSIDE^® Rewards points for company use.

All questions or disputes regarding eligibility for the Program, eligibility of points for accrual, conversion of points or redemptions of rewards will be resolved by AMEX at its sole discretion.

The determination of tax liability for any federal, state or local taxes (as may be applicable) arising out of the accrual or conversion of points or redemption of rewards in the Program shall be your sole responsibility.

We are not responsible for typographical errors and/or omissions in these Terms & Conditions.

These Terms & Conditions supersede all previous INSIDE^® Rewards program brochures and Terms & Conditions.

These Terms & Conditions are governed by and construed under the laws (excluding conflicts of law provisions) of New York.

Arbitration		Back to top

This Arbitration section sets forth the circumstances and procedures under which Claims (as defined below) may be arbitrated instead of litigated in court.

1. As used in this Arbitration section, the term "Claim" means any claim, dispute or controversy between you and us arising from or relating to your participation in the Program, these Terms & Conditions, any other related or prior agreement that you may have had with us or the relationships resulting from your participation in the Program, these Terms & Conditions or any prior agreement, including the validity, enforceability or scope of this Arbitration section, these Terms & Conditions or any prior agreement. "Claim" includes claims of every kind and nature, including but not limited to initial claims, counterclaims, cross-claims, third-party claims and claims based upon contract, tort, fraud and other intentional torts, statutes, regulations, common law and equity. "Claim" also includes claims by or against any third party using or providing any product, service or benefit in connection with the Program if and only if such third party is named as a co-party with you or us (or files a Claim with or against you or us) in connection with a Claim asserted by you or us against the other. The term "Claim" is to be given the broadest possible meaning that will be enforced and includes, by way of example and without limitation, any claim, dispute or controversy that arises from or relates to (a) the Program account or any point balances on the Program account, (b) advertisements, promotions or oral or written statements related to the Program or any reward or (c) the redemption for and use of any reward. We shall not elect to use arbitration under this Arbitration section for any Claim that you properly file and pursue in a small claims court in your state or municipality as long as the Claim is individual and pending only in that court. As used in this Arbitration section, “you” or "us" also includes any corporate parent, wholly or majority-owned subsidiaries, affiliates, licensees, predecessors, successors, assignees and all agents, employees, directors and representatives of any of the foregoing, and other persons referred to above in the definition of "Claim".
2. Any Claim shall be resolved, upon the election by you or us, by arbitration pursuant to this Arbitration section and the code of procedure of the national arbitration organization (the "Code") to which the Claim is referred in effect at the time the Claim is filed. Claims shall be referred to either the National Arbitration Forum ("NAF"), JAMS or the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") as selected by the party electing to use arbitration. If a selection by us of one of these organizations is unacceptable to you, you shall have the right within 30 days after you receive notice of our election to select either of the other organizations listed to serve as arbitration administrator. For a copy of the procedures, to file a Claim or for other information about these organizations, contact them as follows: NAF, P.O. Box 50191, Minneapolis, MN 55404; Web site: arbitration-forum.com. JAMS, 1920 Main Street, Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 92614; Web site: jamsadr.com. AAA, 335 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017; Web site: adr.org.
3. IF ARBITRATION IS CHOSEN BY ANY PARTY WITH RESPECT TO A CLAIM, NEITHER YOU NOR AMEX WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO LITIGATE THAT CLAIM IN COURT OR HAVE A JURY TRIAL ON THAT CLAIM OR TO HAVE THEIR CLAIMS RESOLVED EXCEPT AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE CODE. FURTHERMORE, YOU AND WE WILL NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY OR AS A MEMBER OF ANY CLASS OF CLAIMANTS PERTAINING TO ANY CLAIM SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, THE ARBITRATOR’S DECISION WILL BE FINAL AND BINDING. NOTE THAT OTHER RIGHTS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE IF YOU WENT TO COURT MAY ALSO NOT BE AVAILABLE IN ARBITRATION.
4. If either party elects to resolve a Claim by arbitration, that Claim shall be arbitrated on an individual basis. There shall be no right or authority for any Claims to be arbitrated on a class-action basis or on bases involving Claims brought in a purported representative capacity on behalf of the general public, other CMs or other persons similarly situated. The arbitrator’s authority to resolve Claims is limited to Claims between you and us alone, and the arbitrator’s authority to make awards is limited to awards to you and us alone. Furthermore, Claims brought by you against us or by us against you may not be joined or consolidated in arbitration with Claims brought by or against someone other than you, unless agreed to in writing by all parties.
5. This Arbitration section is made pursuant to a transaction involving interstate commerce and shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 USC Sections 1–16, as it may be amended (the “FAA”). The arbitration shall be governed by the applicable Code, except that (to the extent enforceable under the FAA) this Arbitration section shall control if it is inconsistent with the applicable Code. The arbitrator shall apply applicable substantive law consistent with the FAA and applicable statutes of limitations and shall honor claims of privilege recognized at law and, at the timely request of either party, shall provide a brief-written explanation of the basis for the award. The arbitration proceeding shall not be governed by any federal or state rules of civil procedure or rules of evidence. Either party may submit a request to the arbitrator with a copy of the request provided to the other party to expand the scope of discovery allowable under the applicable Code. The party submitting such a request must provide a copy to the other party, who may submit objections to the arbitrator with a copy of the objections provided to the requesting party within fifteen (15) days of receiving the requesting party’s notice. The granting or denial of either party’s request will be at the sole discretion of the arbitrator, who shall notify the parties of his/her decision within twenty (20) days of the objecting party’s submission. The arbitrator shall take reasonable steps to preserve the privacy of individuals and business matters. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. The arbitrator’s decision will be final and binding, except for any right of appeal provided by the FAA. However, any party can appeal that award to a three-arbitrator panel administered by the same arbitration organization, which shall reconsider anew any aspect of the initial award requested by the appealing party. The appealing party shall have thirty (30) days from the date of entry of the written arbitration award to notify the arbitration organization that it is exercising the right of appeal. The appeal shall be filed with the arbitration organization in the form of a dated writing. The arbitration organization will then notify the other party that the award has been appealed. The arbitration organization will appoint a three-arbitrator panel who will conduct an arbitration pursuant to its Code and issue its decision within one hundred twenty (120) days of the date of the appellant’s written notice. The decision of the panel shall be by majority vote and shall be final and binding.
6. Any arbitration hearing that you attend shall take place in the federal judicial district of your residence. You will be responsible for paying your share, if any, of the arbitration fees (including filing, administrative, hearing and/or other fees) provided by the Code, to the extent that such fees do not exceed the amount of the filing fees you would have incurred if the Claim had been brought in the federal or state court closest to your billing address that would have jurisdiction over the Claim. We will be responsible for paying the remainder of any arbitration fees. At your written request, we will consider in good faith making a temporary advance of all or part of your share of the arbitration fees for any Claim you initiate in which you or we seek arbitration. You will not be assessed any arbitration fees in excess of your share if you do not prevail in any arbitration with us.
7. This Arbitration section shall survive termination of the Program or your participation in it. If any portion of this Arbitration section is deemed invalid or unenforceable under any principle or provision of law or equity, consistent with the FAA, it shall not invalidate the remaining portions of this Arbitration section, these Terms & Conditions or any prior agreement you may have had with us, each of which shall be enforceable regardless of such invalidity.