American Express Discussion Area

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Privateer wrote:

Hi,

Thanks to Martin and the community here, I’ve now got myself a Platinum American Express card for the 2% cashback. However not all places accept Amex, so I’m looking for a second cashback card as a backup. I currently have Barclay Card (Visa and MasterCard), but they don’t give cashback so I wish to use them as little as possible.

My question is this: Which is the best card type out of Visa or MasterCard for security, fraud protection, customer service, etc?

The current choice seems to be either the Conran Card (Visa) or the Morgan Stanley Card (MasterCard). Which would you folks recommend for me?

I only ever purchase on a credit card if I can pay the card off in full each and every month. I never have to pay interest (so far).

Thanks,

In terms of protection, security, etc Visa and MC are pretty much the same. In terms of CS, really depends on the institution issuing the card. Visa and MC in the UK don't issue their own cards, but leave it to the likes of HSBC, Egg, etc, etc (its a long list).

Doesn't really matter whether you get Visa or MC, because they are both pretty well accepted.

Conran in effect gives 1% a year, but guarantees 0.8% at the least.

Morgan Stanley, I think has a top limit of how much cashback you can get (I'm not aware of Conran having this limit).

Also don't forget the Egg Money card which gives 1% cashback, I think its MC.

cymro1170

Spam reported

wideboy1

i get this in my :spam: fillter all the time in my emails

Frugal_Sharky

Frugal_Sharky wrote:

A week to the day since applying online for the AMEX Platinum credit card and I have received a "welcome" phone call from American Express. After discussing my likely monthly spend on the card I have been assigned a sensible credit limit. I was also able to setup a direct debit to pay off the full balance on my card each month and was even given the option of choosing the day of the month that the statement is made up and therefore when payment is required. The caller was incredibly helpful and was instantly able to answer all the questions I threw at her. The call only took 5 mins of their and my precious time but already I feel like I have established a good relationship with this financial services company. Perhaps some of the others could take a leaf out of their book...

Would be interested to hear what others think of the AMEX service they've received?

Its now 11 days since I applied for my Amex Platinum credit card and it arrived today! I simply cannot fault the service I have received from them so far. My only gripe - the card looks and feels rather "cheap & tacky" compared to my other flexible friends. Is it just me? :think:

sondheimsoc

If you're thinking of transferring a balance to the Amex Nectar card and then transferring it on again, don't. None of the other companies recognise the Nectar card as I have been finding out. I transferred money to it last month and now want to put it on my new RBS 0% card but can't as it's not on their system, or on my other cards' system either. Apparently they will only put this new one on the system if they have at least 10 requests to do so.
Any suggestions as to how I can get this off this card? I did ask RBS about a balance transfer to my bank account but that's charged at 15.9%.
My other card is a Sainsbury's Visa.
Thanks
Lynne

sumlong

Thanks Martin.

Daniel_B

Bokken wrote:

Thanks for the above,I have also got the terms out and checked them again and clarified with the CS at Amex exactly what you do or don't get again.
I did all of this 6months ago so that I would know what cashback I would recieve and have told incorrectly " 2% on all of spend over £7501".
The CS have confirmed that the above % are correct which we knew anyway and that you will only get 2% on your spend on the amount above £7501 upto your total spend.
If you spend a total of £12000 you will get £89.98 cashback as this is the calculated 2% on £4499 the difference between £7501 -£12000.
I am very sorry for causing any confusion I did base my facts on the information given to me by CS.
Any way £89 is still better than a poke in the eye with a sharpe stick.

Bokken I am very confused, I have down that if you spent £12000 on a platinum you would get:

0.5% * 3000 = £15
1.0% * 4500 = £45
2.0% * 4500 = £90

Total = £150

If that wasn't correct, then the Blue card would still be better value, as you would have:

0.5% * 2000 = £10
1.0% * 10000 = £100

Total = £110 - way better than the £90 (£89.98) you qouted.

As shown here: http://www.americanexpress.com/pes/uk/benefits/compare_credit.shtml

Please tell me I have not gone mad!

I was planning on switching to Platinum in the summer, but only if the above details I posted are correct - otherwise not worth a thing.

Thanks

Dan

M_Thomson

Daniel_B wrote:

Bokken I am very confused, I have down that if you spent £12000 on a platinum you would get:

0.5% * 3000 = £15
1.0% * 4500 = £45
2.0% * 4500 = £90

Total = £150

If that wasn't correct, then the Blue card would still be better value, as you would have:

0.5% * 2000 = £10
1.0% * 10000 = £100

Total = £110 - way better than the £90 (£89.98) you qouted.

As shown here: http://www.americanexpress.com/pes/uk/benefits/compare_credit.shtml

Please tell me I have not gone mad!

I was planning on switching to Platinum in the summer, but only if the above details I posted are correct - otherwise not worth a thing.

Thanks

Dan

Hi,
Your sums are wrong because you only accrue cashback at the following rates: EG Blue Card if you spent 12K a year, 0.5% on the first £2000 would you would get £10 a year and the other 10K at 1% you would get earn £100 so you would get £110 in total.

On the Platinum on the first 3K you get 0.5% bringing in £15 then you get 1% on all spend from 3K to 7.5K you get 1% brining in £35 then after that your cashback gets 2% so you would get another £100 if you spent 12K in total making you £150 for a 12K spend on Platinum.

Daniel_B

M_Thomson wrote:

Hi,
Your sums are wrong because you only accrue cashback at the following rates: EG Blue Card if you spent 10K a year, 0.5% on the first £2000 would you would get £10 a year and the other 8K at 1% you would get £8000 earning £80 so you would get £90 in total.

On the Platinum on the first 3K you get 0.5% bringing in £15 then you get 1% on all spend from 3K to 7.5K you get 1% brining in £35 then after that your cashback gets 2% so you would get another £50 if you spent 10K in total making you £100 for a 10K spend on Platinum.

Hi M Thomson,
I don't think my sums are wrong, but I will happily be corrected.

Your stating the figure as 10K, but I was calculating, as was Bokken, on 12K:

Originally Posted by Daniel B
Bokken I am very confused, I have down that if you spent £12000 on a platinum you would get:

EDIT: Now I thought I was going mad, but I can see you have edited your post as I made this one - surely my sums were correct though?!

M_Thomson

Daniel_B wrote:

Hi M Thomson,
I don't think my sums are wrong, but I will happily be corrected.

Your stating the figure as 10K, but I was calculating, as was Bokken, on 12K:

Originally Posted by Daniel B
Bokken I am very confused, I have down that if you spent £12000 on a platinum you would get:

EDIT: Now I thought I was going mad, but I can see you have edited your post as I made this one - surely my sums were correct though?!

Sorry! I apoligise, I was having a funny 5 mins. Your sums are right, I have deleted my post.