American Express Discussion Area

eagle

Saucepot wrote:

If your spend is just under the 2% threshold, then it doesn't matter which card you have. If it occasionaly goes over then you might aswell have the platinum.

If your spend is likely to be 2k or 3k then it makes a difference as the point at which the 0.5% kicks into 1% is lower for the blue.

You can change cards easily if you phone them up.

I am actually using the BA Premium Plus and have been considering ditching my Platinum credit card for the Platinum charge card, although the Blue card has always been an option for me. I am unlikely to spend on either right now, as I have the BA AmEx to spend on. I'll only have the Platinum [charge/credit] or the Blue in order to get the BA AmEx at a reduced rate annual fee. I might make the minimum £500 spend on the Blue or Platinum credit if I decide to have either of those, so I don't get charged the £15 admin charge annually.

I should have mentioned before, the Platinum credit card has better [travel] insurance protection incentives than the Blue card. See here.

M_Thomson

Saucepot wrote:

You can change cards easily if you phone them up.

It isn't as straightforward as that anymore, you have to do a new application.

eagle

M_Thomson wrote:

It isn't as straightforward as that anymore, you have to do a new application.

Yes, but when I got my BA card, I didn't actually have to sign anything. Existing cardmember for just over 2 years, they sent me the card in the post after I completed the online application form.

JoseChungsDoomsday

I have a blue card and I'm planning on taking it to the states with me... but I've heard that amex exchange rates are nowhere near as good as visa and mastercards, is this true?

jimmyjim_uk

JoseChungsDoomsday wrote:

I have a blue card and I'm planning on taking it to the states with me... but I've heard that amex exchange rates are nowhere near as good as visa and mastercards, is this true?

Yeah I've heard it is expensive too. They charge comission of 2.73% on every transaction.

http://www.americanexpress.com/uk/blue/tandcs/blue_card.html

They don't really say which method they use to convert from sterling to US dollars.

phoebe03cat

save4u wrote:

This situation has happened before when they last put the higher spend limits up from 5k to 7.5k a couple of years ago. They suck you in with the special offer and once in they apply these new (reduced cashback) rates retrospectively.
My anniversary cashback date is in February and the new limits apply to all expenditure in the previous year since this date. This is a repeat of the last hike and I am currently getting cashback at these lower rates which have not been announced yet. What company applies reduced rates retrospectively..even this government doesnt do that yet?

I took this up with Amex last time and they just did not want to know.

I suggest we all dump this card when the next cashback is received and use a combination of GE money (3%) for groceries/petrol and Egg or Capital One Circle (1%) for other spending.

I thought on Martin's board it said that if you were an existing customer the new rates will apply from October?

gingercordial

Anyone else had their new chip & pin Amex Blue through yet? I don't like the fact that it's see-through!

No, there's no money saving aspect to this post, sorry.

sloughflint

phoebe03cat wrote:

I thought on Martin's board it said that if you were an existing customer the new rates will apply from October?

Yes but unlike most other credit cards which calculate the value of cashback earned each month, amex only calulates "total eligible spend" so whenever your cashback is due, the whole of this ES will be used to calculate your cashback at whatever rate is applicable at that time.

phoebe03cat

Doh-think I've had enough of this card then like a lot of other people.
Will any of the old thresholds still apply then -like the 0.5% for the first three thousand or do the new rates apply to that as well?
Have just reread the new article SO....as this is my first year should I be able to in fact benefit from these changes as my annual spend on this card is over £13000. (Why am I so doubtful?) In which case I will take the first cashback (of course) and then move on. I also have an egg money card. Would appreciate any help on this please.

sloughflint

phoebe03cat wrote:

Doh-think I've had enough of this card then like a lot of other people.
Will any of the old thresholds still apply then -like the 0.5% for the first three thousand or do the new rates apply to that as well?
Have just reread the new article SO....as this is my first year should I be able to in fact benefit from these changes as my annual spend on this card is over £13000. (Why am I so doubtful?) In which case I will take the first cashback (of course) and then move on. I also have an egg money card. Would appreciate any help on this please.

see last post on:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=248576

It's barely any more than Egg would give you. I'm not using mine anymore. Cheesed off with amex.