American Express Basic Charge Card

chattychappy

rodmace wrote: »

Amex is trying to target the mass market not just the niche market they have been focusing on for years. It probably back-fired a bit.

Agree. Just to clarify what I meant. I think it's part of their marketing that you are getting something special and exclusive - when in fact, as you say, they are targeting the mass market (at least in the UK). I met quite a senior woman from Barclaycard about 20 years ago. She said that this was a conscious decision to change by Amex. They used to have a limited number of merchants and small cardholder (sorry card member) base. As a merchant I remember we had a separate contract and imprinter. Processing vouchers was complicated. They then decide to go mass-market. Lower fees to merchants and processing through the same PDQ machine as other cards. This was a time alot of shops started taking Amex for the first time. They could only make it pay by having more cardholders.

As a cardholder I found their service declined sharply. I got an inferior service from my Platinum card than I did from the Green card I started with. Stuff was put out to call centres and chopped and changed. Certainly not "world class" service!

thegoodman

I agree. Most people get the Amex card because it make them feel special, show off to friends and at work. Then find out a lot of places don't take it, try to get get visa or master card to find the way around it. Keep the Amex for few years then give up.
The customer service from Amex is no better than barclay or mbna cards unless you go for fee of £300 a year card.

A lot of people go on about the best reward from Amex when cash back cards from visa or master card are better

I call these type of people "amex fan boys"

chattychappy

thegoodman wrote: »

The customer service from Amex is no better than barclay or mbna cards unless you go for fee of £300 a year card.

Service is still no different. The extra gets you Priority Pass/insurance. But you're still dealing with call centres and people who who can't depart from a script. Same as anywhere else.

slackinside

American Express Platinum card well worthy IF you travel a lot and spend a minimum 15k a year and If you don't, the card is just not for you. Simple as that!

Regarding the service... Amex has great customer service but it's not a first class.

Membership reward scheme is great, travel insurance is great and the priority pass is okay.

I wouldn't keep the card if I would travel only 2,3 times a year and spend up to £5k a year. This would be a waste of money and just insanity to keep this card.

p.s. Usually everywhere I go they accept amex.

slackinside

chattychappy wrote: »

Service is still no different. The extra gets you Priority Pass/insurance. But you're still dealing with call centres and people who who can't depart from a script. Same as anywhere else.

I would say the amex service is one of the best in the UK.
I bet it's harder to get a job in Amex compared to Barclaycard, Halifax, MBNA, etc...

slackinside

thegoodman wrote: »

I agree. Most people get the Amex card because it make them feel special, show off to friends and at work. Then find out a lot of places don't take it, try to get get visa or master card to find the way around it. Keep the Amex for few years then give up.
The customer service from Amex is no better than barclay or mbna cards unless you go for fee of £300 a year card.

A lot of people go on about the best reward from Amex when cash back cards from visa or master card are better

I call these type of people "amex fan boys"

I don't really think most people get the Amex card to make them feel special. Having said that, I bet a lot of people but not most, do get the card only for insanity and to feel important. As long as they feel happy about it, fine lol :rotfl:

slackinside

jay87 wrote: »

I can use AMEX most places I go like high street shops, supermarkets, petrol etc and if you put a lot through them work expenses etc they are really rewarding with world class customer service. Top notch stuff!

Completly agree. It's just a matter to use it on the daily basis and accumulate the rewards point and the card will pay for itself.

thegoodman

slackinside wrote: »

I bet a lot of people but not most, do get the card only for insanity and to feel important. As long as they feel happy about it, fine lol :rotfl:

I agree. If it make you happy to keep the card on the right hand side on the bed when sleeping nothing wrong with that. Not harming anyone.

rodmace

slackinside wrote: »

I would say the amex service is one of the best in the UK.
I bet it's harder to get a job in Amex compared to Barclaycard, Halifax, MBNA, etc...

Agree. I have cards from Amex, Barclaycard, Tesco, MBNA, Llodys TSB, Halifax, HSBC, and First Direct. Only FD can compete with Amex in terms of service quality.

James_Hoehner

From a merchant perspective, it is usually more expensive to let a customer us an AMEX than a Visa/MC