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

hippey

Don't forget though the AmEx card is widely accepted in the US (hence American Express) they are accepted as widely as Visa & Mastercard (And the locally issued DiscoverCard)

In the UK the rates are quite high for retailers accepting the card and it is a seperate agreement which is quite complicated for the retailer.

Also the Platinum Card (Credit Card) is introducing a Dormancy Fee, minimum cashback amounts & new charging structure, for those who use the card this should not cause any issues, but those who don't then you might get stung on the dormancy fee and / or lose your cashback.

agsnu

And if you're curious as to why people stump up the £300 for the Platinum Charge Card, it's probably something to do with the inclusive benefits, which a lot of people seem to think are worth it if you travel regularly.

londonman81

So in a nutshell - it is still less widley accepted than Visa/MasterCard, and I will get £100 cashback as long as I spend £3000 minimum and if I'm new to the card I will also get stung with a dormancy fee and possibly lose cashback.....

All in all it's a pretty useless credit card....I suspect it's just bragging rights which attracts people to it...

brightonman123

having worked at amex (many moons ago), i can say the 'proper' platinum charge card was aimed at high spend, high profile customers, but seen by many as some kind of status symbol.. how sad!

there was more emphasis on a personal rep service, though the (then) fee of £375 a year was a bit OTT, though if you are a sole trader, its works out as a cheap personal assitant service, if you're away from home/office..

you would not beleive the type of requests that came in, though most deals would have been offered direct to such clients anyway, if suppliers had any sense.. (mainly upgrades on flights, hotels, last minute tables at the fanciest restaurant of the moment, etc).
.
as a shop assistant, i am sure it doesnt really matter what colour/brand the card is, so long as it gets approved and doesnt hold up the queue!

regarding the fees charged to shops, i could not see how they justified it- (see last para).. rich peole are gonna buy rich stuff. does the card they use really matter? fees ceemed to be the biggest sticking point, when trying to recruit new stores!

Bob_the_Saver

Hands up those people on these forums who would have one if they could get one!

lisyloo

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

Hi Londonman,

I earned the cashback in the 3 months from March 2008 and received it in 2009.
You are right that it is no longer possible.
But I was truthful about getting it during that time period. The limit was higher back then. I also got quidco cashback - about £35 I think.
You are right that limit is now £100, but still worthwhile to my mind.

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

I adore Irish accents, but I agree some other accents can be hard to understand if they are very heavy.
I work with indian people all the time and also find another issue is that they cannot deviate from pretty precise instructions.
So in a call center they appear to be only able to work from their script.
I think this is a cultural issue as I find it with my Indian work colleagues who require reams of procedures to do the same job as UK people who use "common sense".
Not saying UK call center people are brilliant by any stretch but I mentioned it because for some people it may be a factor.
I believe my views are relatively normal and widely held in the UK.

p00hsticks

londonman81 wrote: »

if I'm new to the card I will also get stung with a dormancy fee and possibly lose cashback.....

No, if you don't use the card, you will pay a dormancy fee and you won't get any cashback. But then why would you apply for a card that you have no intention of using anyhow?

The cashback makes it worth having if you spend £3000 (which I find isn't that difficult if it's your main card).

Penty of places take it, and there are some good benefits that you don't usually see with other cards - for example 90 days theft and damage insurance on purchases made using the card.

brightonman123

i think the insusrance only covers what isnt in your home policy..?

purt

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

Hands up those people on these forums who would have one if they could get one!

I have an Amex Blue Card and have done since I was a student (circa 8 years ago). I like my Amex card as I get cashback, no annual fee and it's certainly accepted in a lot more places than it was when I first got it. Back in the day they also had refund protection insurance which I availed of on several occasions. If a retailer refused you a refund on a purchase for any reason, Amex would refund you it instead. You had to return the goods to their insurer but it was helpful nonetheless.

Dabooka

Travel.

If you travel a lot, it's worth it for the benefits.

If you don't think it's worth it don't bother with one. Simple really. I can't help but think your gripe is about something you'd like but can't justify. I have no idea what bragging rights you actually refer to, as I've has mine for 7 years and have no idea what the hell you're talking about.

Good customer service also helps, not that I've had to use them much, and I use it most days so there must be enough places that do accept them.

Incidentally, as a Geordie by adoption, the local accent is splendid along with any derivative of the Celt tongue. As for the M25 brigade, now that IS hard listening! :rotfl: