Amex Will Turn On ‘Pay Over Time’ Automatically in 2027 — Why You Might Prefer to Opt Out

American Express is changing how some cardholders handle their bills, and the switch will happen automatically.

Beginning on February 1, 2027, Amex will enable Pay Over Time on eligible accounts. The feature gives cardholders the option to carry a balance instead of paying the full statement amount each month.

Here’s what that means, why some people may want to disable it, and how leaving it off could help position you for bonus points later.

American Express is also letting eligible cardholders know that Pay Over Time will be turned on automatically starting on February 1, 2027.

If you’re not familiar with it, Pay Over Time lets you roll eligible charges into a balance, up to your Pay Over Time limit, rather than paying everything at once.

Once the feature is active, cardholders can choose to do one of the following with their bill:

• Pay the full balance.
• Make the minimum payment.
• Pay any amount in between.

Keep in mind that Pay Over Time does not require you to carry a balance. You can still pay your bill in full each month, which is generally the best approach, and avoid interest charges. But if you do carry a balance, interest will usually apply, and those costs can grow quickly depending on how much you owe.

This is where things get more interesting, especially for cardholders who value Amex Membership Rewards points.

In the past, American Express has sent some cardholders targeted offers of bonus points just for turning on Pay Over Time. Those offers have sometimes been worth thousands of points, making them an easy way to earn extra rewards without additional spending.

That is why it may make sense to switch the feature off after Amex enables it automatically. There is no promise that you will receive a targeted offer for activating Pay Over Time, but leaving it on could make you ineligible for a future promotion.

Hot Tip: You can check your Pay Over Time status in your American Express online account or mobile app. If you want it disabled, look for the setting that lets you manage Pay Over Time. Just note that turning it off will not remove any existing balance or interest charges.

Final Thoughts

Amex is giving cardholders more flexibility in how they pay starting in 2027, but that does not mean everyone needs to use the feature.

If you pay your bill in full each month, it may be worth considering whether to leave Pay Over Time enabled, especially if American Express brings back targeted bonus-point offers for activating it later on.