Credit Card Reward Schemes Discussion Area

CashBash

AMEX recently sent me amended T&C's, effective from 22 November 2011, and I noticed an amendment to the number of Nectar points they issue which I thought I would highlight.

Currently, you get 1 Nectar point for every full £1 you spend on your AMEX Nectar credit card.

From 22 November 2011, this will exclude what American Express now calls "warehouse retailers".

From then, when shopping at a "warehouse retailer" you will need to spend £2 to earn 1 Nectar point.

I logged onto the AMEX website to see which retailers they classify as warehouses and, as yet, they haven't but they do have until 22 November 2011 to do so.

So, why would they make this change?

I'm guessing that most of the retailers that will be classified as warehouses will be the likes of B&Q, Comet, Currys, Wickes etc where people tend to make large value purchases thus earning more Nectar points when paid for using an AMEX Nectar credit card. e.g A £500 flat screen TV currently earns £500 nectar points. From the 22 November 2011, that will halve to 250 nectar points.

So, by making this change, AMEX are issuing fewer Nectar points to holders of their nectar credit card at retailers they classify as "warehouses".

Anyway, I thought I would share this information which was 'conveniently' tucked away in the T&C's which not many people read.

[Deleted User]

I would have thought they mean Costco.

Maybe some kind of offshoot of Costco's USA affiliation with Amex?
(http://www304.americanexpress.com/getthecard/learn-about/Costco-TrueEarnings)

malcolmffc

Unlikely to be Costco; they don't take credit cards.

aleph_0

The latest update of the article claims:

"Points per £100: 100"

This is incorrect, one gets 1 point for each £4 spent, so it should be 25.

It also seems strange that the amazon.co.uk credit card isn't included. This gives a 1% back in Amazon vouchers on spending anywhere (and 2% back on amazon.co.uk spending), which competes well with the BHS and Tesco cards.

Jimsum_2

Costco take Amex whether credit or charge and debit cards
They do not take Mastercard or Visa Credit Cards

bccostin

Warning for MyWickes Card users - loyalty scheme is just a marketing trick. Please find below my complaint sent to them today.

"To: Wickes Customer Service

Following up my telephone enquiry on 24.05.12 regarding the expired 1400 or so points on my MyWickes Card, I will endeavour to post the said card, cut up.
Your Loyalty scheme is complete and utter rubbish. You mention so many benefits in spending my money as a customer in your Wickes shops, but in the same time make the loyalty points’ very short expiry date hidden deep in the terms and conditions. It should have been clearly written in your FAQ, at least.
I cannot use the card directly to spend my points, since I have to contact you to issue me with a voucher? I should have been sent the vouchers automatically, there’s nothing in your terms and conditions that state that, I only found out when complaining!

Not only have you lost me as a loyal customer for the meagre amount 14 pounds worth of points, but I will make it a purpose to ensure your company loses as many of my friends, relatives and acquaintances that will ever discuss purchasing building/DIY materials from Wickes in my presence.

Even more, I will attempt to liaise with Trading Standards, since you ply for business using misleading advertising. For this I will quote from your website’s Redemption paragraph, “Vouchers will be sent to the Cardholder’s address”.

In conclusion, I feel I have been tricked by your marketing exercise. As a company, you should be ashamed of yourselves for resorting to this kind of behaviour.

C.B."

lauracs

Hi

I am wondering why the amazon card hasn't been used as an example of a rewards card. I am concerned I have got the figures incorrect as it would seem like it is a fairly good option.

We pay our bill every month without fail and spend up to £3000 per month so it would seem that amazon rewards could offer us a good return. Could someone please let me know if i'm missing something about this one?

Many thanks

aleph_0

lauracs wrote: »

Hi

I am wondering why the amazon card hasn't been used as an example of a rewards card. I am concerned I have got the figures incorrect as it would seem like it is a fairly good option.

We pay our bill every month without fail and spend up to £3000 per month so it would seem that amazon rewards could offer us a good return. Could someone please let me know if i'm missing something about this one?

Many thanks

Agreed. I suggested the same above in May, as well as a mistake in the article, but it seems they don't check the thread linked to the article (which seems a bit silly), so I've sent an e-mail to point them in the direction of the suggestions.

mikeprice

The information on MSE re: reward card benefits is outdated. For example, when you check the T&Cs of the Amazon UK credit card, it now states: "You will earn 1 Point for every £1 of Card Purchases made on the Amazon.co.uk website, and 1 Point for every £2 of Card Purchases made anywhere else."

Also there is no longer any reference to some of the other benefits for the Amazon card stated on the MSE website.

Therefore, Amazon and their partners at MBNA / Bank of America have suddenly reduced the value of the rewards by a humongous 50% and gotten rid of other perks as well.

Also, the customer service offered for the Amazon credit card is abysmal - you will be wasting a significant chunk of your life going through call menu options and senseless automated systems if you ever try to contact them.

Never trust these corporates!! They will 'do the dirty' on their customers whenever they want.

OllyM

That's an old link which has information about the old card.

From https://www.amazon.co.uk/mastercard

Earn 2 Loyalty Points for every £1 spent at Amazon.co.uk and 1 Loyalty Point for every £1 spent everywhere else¹
For every 1,000 Loyalty Points that you earn, you will automatically be emailed a £10 Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate

I've never had an issue with MBNA customer service either.