Amex India reward points deducted, then restored: what cardholders should check
Amex India reversed its 9 November reward point deductions. Balances return to 8 November levels. What to check before pooled points end on 15 November.
Many American Express India cardholders saw their Membership Rewards points drop on 9 November 2026. Some lost thousands of points, a few lost lakhs, and some balances showed as negative. Amex has now said it will reverse the deductions. Here is what was reported and what you can check.
What happened
As reported by Mint and Moneycontrol on 10 and 11 November 2026, Amex deducted points that were linked to cards that had been cancelled. Amex says its terms say unredeemed points on a cancelled card are forfeited 30 days after cancellation, and that the adjustments on 9 November were in line with those terms. Moneycontrol reports the deductions followed a fix to a technical glitch that had let such points stay in accounts beyond the 30 days.
Cardholders told Mint that Amex had long said points do not expire while at least one card is active, and that points from several cards sat in one common pool. Some said points on their active or upgraded cards were also deducted.
What Amex has said
In a statement quoted by both publications, Amex said: affected Card Members' points balances will be restored to their 8 November 2026 levels, taking into account any points earned or redeemed since then. Mint saw an email from the head of American Express Banking Corp. India dated 10 November saying the points would be credited to one of the cardholder's active Amex cards within 48 to 72 hours.
What changes on 15 November 2026
Amex is moving to a new online portal on 15 November 2026. Mint reports that points which were pooled across several cards will then be shown separately for each card. Amex has said the existing terms will continue to apply to cards cancelled on or after 15 November 2026. Our card changes page lists the other Amex changes from 15 November, including the new late fee rule.
What you can do
- Note your points balance now and compare it with your balance on 8 November 2026 after 72 hours. Remember to allow for points earned or redeemed since.
- If the balance is still short, raise a written complaint with Amex and ask for a card-wise calculation. If you do not get a reply, you can approach the RBI Ombudsman.
- If you plan to cancel a card, redeem its points first, because unredeemed points on a cancelled card can be forfeited after 30 days under the terms Amex quotes.
- Amex has not said how accounts closed in the meantime, or charges linked to negative balances, will be treated. Check with Amex before you close a card.
This guide is for information only. We have not seen an Amex notice on its own site about this reversal, so the details above come from the press reports named below.
Sources: Mint, 11 November 2026: Amex makes U-turn on reward points deductions, Moneycontrol, 11 November 2026: Amex to restore reward points deducted from cancelled credit cards, American Express India: Consumer experience updates
Card terms change. Check the bank's own page before you rely on a figure here. Posts never contain referral or affiliate links from the writer.
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