American Express Basic Charge Card

slackinside

chattychappy wrote: »

I was earning well over that when I got the Platinum card - but still assessed it (and later cancelled it) by reference to its value. £300 is no problem to me if I'm getting value. I sat next to the CEO of a listed PLC on a long haul business class flight. The guy owns a yacht and the island it's parked at! We were talking about CCs. He too gave up Amex. He used Diners (can't remember why) and Nationwide Gold/Flex debit (this was before they introduced charges). My experience of many rich people is that any amount is a problem if they don't get value. That's how some of them get rich.[/QUOTE]


Absolutely agree with you. I rarely fly in business so that's why PP works out pretty good for me and when I fly business I use my miles to upgrade it. p.s. The airline lounges are way better compared to PP lounges.

I always shop around before calling Amex and if they do offer me a better price then I buy the tickets from them.

Regarding the BA miles... it has saved my life a couple of times when I missed the plane and prices were extortionary to return to the UK. Went online and booked using the miles (free). Of course I have been lucky as by the time they had flights available on the same day.

If I wouldn't get at least 12k membership rewards a year I would cancel the card and I am sure if I threaten to close my account (not only me but everyone who uses the card on the daily basis) I am sure they would offer another year membership fee free.

chattychappy

slackinside wrote: »

I am sure if I threaten to close my account (not only me but everyone who uses the card on the daily basis) I am sure they would offer another year membership fee free.

In my case they offered it free for a year if I started spending on it again (there was zero spend during the previous year). I said I probably wouldn't spend, but would keep it open for a year if it was fee free. They said OK with no obligation.

A year later, I rang to cancel again. They said they saw that I'd already had a free year so wouldn't give me another year free. I said fine, just cancel. They then said on the basis of my previous spend over so many years I could have a gold card "free for life" whether or not I used it. I agreed but asked them to note this on their system so I wasn't charged.

One more year later, they put fees on it. I rang to complain and they said they couldn't do it free anymore. I asked them to check the record - the operator saw the note and put me through to a supervisor. The supervisor just said they couldn't do it free anymore so would have to charge me. I said OK cancel it and that was that.

To me the broken promise was quite a fitting end!

Ben8282

When I got my original Amex charge card I was not quite as young as chattychappy was but was nevertheless young. I think I was accepted because I was a homeowner in stable employment rather than because I had a large income which I did not. I would also add that Diners accepted me before Amex.

But once you get a card, I think it is a case of 'you can spend what you have shown you can afford' rather than actual income. When the Centurion card was launched in the UK in the late 90's and the black clad motor cycle messenger arrived at my place of employment with the box with two black coloured charge cards in it which I had never asked for (incidently almost causing a security scare as he failed to remove the helmet before entering the premises) my annual income could only have been around £30,000 if that.

But, since my first application for the green card a couple of decades before, Amex had never asked my income as the upgrades to Gold and Platinum were just a matter of signing something to accept the offer. I am gussing here that I got the black card because (a) they realised I was stupid enough to pay the annual fee (b) there had never been any payment problems over the 20 years of card membership (c) I had a vague impressive sounding job title and, most importantly, (d) the card was heavily used for work related expenses.

As a result of various problems mentioned in a previous post I gave the card up about 7 years ago now. I originally intended only to downgrade (new job; no more large travel expenses; annual fee too high to justify when paid out of my own pocket and not my expenses budget) but Amex got so funny about the idea of changing from black to green I cancelled the account.

As to the discussion about the various perks, the insurances were great ... I think I could claim something like hundreds of pounds for a meal if a flight was delayed for more than 4 hours etc. Plus the rewards points of course. But beyond that, the PP card was almost never used (I rarely travelled economy or had other method of lounge access) which I imagine is normal for most card holders. Amex travel service were hopeless and I don't actually remember getting any other perks ..... was offered some sort of charge card to hire private aircraft with which I ignored having never rented my own private aircraft.

I loved the centurion magazine though ...

thegoodman

The travel rewards are not much use. Even the reward points are worth less than0.5% when you try to book a flight via it's reward program. For some reason many Amex fanboys will go on and on about the card

Dabooka

thegoodman wrote: »

The travel rewards are not much use. Even the reward points are worth less than0.5% when you try to book a flight via it's reward program. For some reason many Amex fanboys will go on and on about the card

Best get the Cap One with 1.25% cash back etc etc......

Every time you mention fanboy for Amex, you weaken your argument. Now you're almost searching for Amex posts to reply to!

Lighten up old bean, you pay your money you take your choice.