American Express - What's the point of it??

londonman81

Excuse me for being a bit naive but I've been comparing credit cards and I can't seem to get my head around the attraction of American Express for the following reasons:

1. The Platinum card costs £300 per year - most other cards have no charge.

2. American Express cards are not even as widely accepted as other credit cards.

3. Any cashback requires a £3000 minimum spend...

Given all these basic issues, can someone please explain what all the fuss is with AmEx cards...because I think it's just paying £300 a year for something which isn't even useful...am I missing something?!

Thanks!

P.S Seems that the credit card cashback article in the main site doesn't even mention that AmEx Platinum charges £300 pa...??

Almost_In_The_Black

Amex Platinium doesn't charge £300 a year, at least mine doesn't. And it's accepted in enough places that I use it for nearly all my spend, I pay in full and last year had around £250 in cashback. £250 for no effort on my part seems like a rather large point to me.

Kavanne

I have the nectar amex and I get points anywhere I use it. No annual fee and no minimum spend

lisyloo

The platinum credit card has no annual fee. Are you looking at the charge card and not the credit card? Make sure you looking at the right thing.
I got a 5% cashback rate for 3 months and received £200.

It was a small inconvenience that it was not accepted some places and I found it embarrassing when small retailers practically begged me not to use it, but nevertheless it was worth the hassle for £200 in my pocket.
They also have a UK call center so that was a good experience (I'm not racist but find Indian people hard to understand sometimes even though I work with them).

YorkshireBoy

The Amex 'Platinum' (the one with the fee) and Amex 'Platinum Cashback' are different products.

londonman81

https://www201.americanexpress.com/inga/uk/pers/begin.do?perform=IntlEapp:UK:platinum_charge&sourcecode=X69899IC35&nohdqs=yes&page=PR

Seems to mention £300 per year...or is this a different AmEx Platinum card?!

Hazzanet

londonman81 wrote: »

https://www201.americanexpress.com/inga/uk/pers/begin.do?perform=IntlEapp:UK:platinum_charge&sourcecode=X69899IC35&nohdqs=yes&page=PR

Seems to mention £300 per year...or is this a different AmEx Platinum card?!

You're looking at the charge card not the credit card .

Kavanne

londonman81 wrote: »

https://www201.americanexpress.com/inga/uk/pers/begin.do?perform=IntlEapp:UK:platinum_charge&sourcecode=X69899IC35&nohdqs=yes&page=PR

Seems to mention £300 per year...or is this a different AmEx Platinum card?!

Yes, the Amex Platinum and the Amex Platinum Cashback are DIFFERENT cards lol

londonman81

lisyloo wrote: »

I got a 5% cashback rate for 3 months and received £200.

How is that possible? It says you get 5% cashback in first three months to a maximum of £100...??

(I'm not racist but find Indian people hard to understand sometimes even though I work with them).

I find the same problem with people from Liverpool, Newcastle, Ireland & Scotland.

deedeeliz

It used to pay a higher amount for the first three months

Bob_the_Saver

I've bought things on E-bay and paid with an Amex credit card which charged it in US dollars. Due to the exchange rates AT THAT TIME, it worked out cheaper than if I'd paid with my UK Mastercard.
As my total spend was only a fiver I've never bothered trying to get my head around it though.