Barclaycard to start issuing Amex network cards

Doshwaster

toasterman wrote: »

According to this website: http://www.whoacceptsamex.co.uk/a-z-who-accepts-amex/ B&Q, O2, H&M, Play.com, and various parts of the Co-op group, don't accept it.
However, it only lists chains/large websites really. At a guess, I'd expect the majority of places that might not take it are smaller independent businesses, tourist attractions, and charities.

I have found that a lot of smaller shops and restaurants do accept Amex even if they don't advertise the fact. Amex not as universal as Visa/MC but it's still a lot better than it was a few years ago.

I tend to use an Amex for business expenses as the type of spending I do - hotels, airlines and restaurants - mostly accept it. I wouldn't want to use it as my main household card though.

Jennifer_Jane

yesitwasme wrote: »

Showing my dumbness now....
So are getting the 2 cards because one of them is not accepted everywhere, not allowing for cash back, just coverage?

Please will someone tell what the green or red dot bottom left signifies? Thank you

Yes, I think that is so.


Re the red and green buttons: did you "hover" over the button to see what it said? If so you will have seen that the green button shows that someone has logged on, and the red button, shows that the person has logged off.


Don't think this is going to make too much difference in my life: I use Luma for supermarket and petrol and will use this for other purchases.

reclusive46

Doshwaster wrote: »

I have found that a lot of smaller shops and restaurants do accept Amex even if they don't advertise the fact. Amex not as universal as Visa/MC but it's still a lot better than it was a few years ago.

This is something that is quite important to pay attention to. A lot of credit card terminal providers don't send the Amex logo with the other card sticker logos (Amex send them instead), so a lot of places never actually put up the Amex logo.

My advice is to always insert the card or swipe (If abroad) and then see if its accepted. Don't ask staff if they accept it because many will say 'no' when they do.

reclusive46

toasterman wrote: »

According to this website: http://www.whoacceptsamex.co.uk/a-z-who-accepts-amex/ B&Q, O2, H&M, Play.com, and various parts of the Co-op group, don't accept it.
However, it only lists chains/large websites really. At a guess, I'd expect the majority of places that might not take it are smaller independent businesses, tourist attractions, and charities.

Thats incredibly outdated. H&M I think do now (Although I could be thinking about the US) and all Co-op supermarkets that are corporately owned it down (I've only ever encountered one franchise that didn't accept it and they do now).

Touristy places generally accept it as after all American Express was designed as a travel card. Especially if Americans are likely to be at the attraction (Places in big cities like London) where its not uncommon for an American traveller to carry both an American Express based debit card and credit card.

reclusive46

OverlandLandy wrote: »

Thanks Amazon is certainly worth a look OR is Tesco Better?
OR How about the Santander 123 and change how I pay for some things?

The new cards are arriving 'a week to 10 days after the May 2014 statement'

Also -'As a WELCOME (yeh right) we will be giving you £15 when you spend £300 within the first three months of receiving your card'

'Cash back can also be paid on the next months statement'

SO If I am right ..the best strategy is
1. Get the cards
2. Spend £300
3. Get £15 cash back (equivalent to 5% cash back)
4. Cancel both cards
5. Use NEW (Amazon or what have you card?)

The Tesco credit card works out at about 1% in Tesco and about 0.5% outside of Tesco if I remember correctly. It doubles in Value if your changing them into Avios. You'd get 1% with the new Amex card anyway in the majority of places instead of just Tesco. For now, I'd keep the account and wait and see if anything better comes along.

Unfortunately with the new EU merchant caps from January next year, merchants won't be charged more than 0.3% when accepting an EU issued Visa or MasterCard for cross border transactions and then shortly after it will apply to domestic transactions. So realistically an Amex card is going to be the only reward worth having.

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

yesitwasme wrote: »

Please will someone tell what the green or red dot bottom left signifies? Thank you

Hover over it and you will magically get a message to tell you.

Oops, already answered.

OverlandLandy

Gordon861 wrote: »

We should all do this and try to make sure that it is exactly £300 we spend just to make the point.

A good point... on making a point :money:

OverlandLandy

I applied for an Amazon one tonight...got accepted in under 60 Seconds....

Will spend the £300 (to the penny) get the £15 and then Ditch..

Will we all become known as the Barclays £300?

Fingerbobs

reclusive46 wrote: »

Unfortunately with the new EU merchant caps from January next year, merchants won't be charged more than 0.3% when accepting an EU issued Visa or MasterCard for cross border transactions and then shortly after it will apply to domestic transactions.

Do you have a reference to confirm the January 2015 date? I've spent the last 20 minutes Googling and have found no reference to any definite implementation dates. In fact, I can't find anything that says it's definitely going to happen - it's all "would" and "could", not "will".

toasterman

Aquamania wrote: »

According to MSE,
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/amex-acceptance#h

But according to that post "Last edited by MSE Andrea; 06-01-2014 at 9:13 AM. " it says B&Q, H&M and possibly the Co-op do accept Amex. It does confirm play.com do not accept Amex. No mention of O2.

In the MSE article, it mentions MMO2 accept Amex - wasn't that the former name of O2?

B&Q say: "What cards do you accept?
We currently accept Visa credit cards, Visa debit cards including Delta and Electron, Mastercard, Maestro (UK) & International Maestro debit cards, B&Q Account Card and B&Q Trade cards."
( http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/templates/content_lookup.jsp?content=/content/support/shopping_at_bq/payment.jsp#cardsAccepted ) so I would assume they don't, as they don't say they do.

H&M UK: "We accept any card with a Mastercard or Visa symbol." (from: https://www.hm.com/gb/customer-service/faq/payments )

Other places that don't accept it include:
Ikea: "we do not accept American Express"
( http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_AA/customer_service/how_to_e-shop/faq.html )

West Midland Safari Park:
"We accept all major credit and debit cards (except American Express)." (taken from a .pdf on their website)

RingGo's parking ticket service ( https://www.myringgo.co.uk/help/article/52 )

My local council won't accept it for payments of anything (council tax, parking fines, etc.)
Also the garage where I get my car serviced doesn't take it, and I'm pretty sure my preferred local Indian takeaway doesn't accept it.
On holiday in Corfu about 18 months ago, loads of places didn't take cards at all, and the ones that did seemed to favour Visa (some didn't even take Mastercard, bizarrely - which is why I've still got about £9 on one of those silly travel money cards).

reclusive46 wrote: »

Thats incredibly outdated. H&M I think do now (Although I could be thinking about the US) and all Co-op supermarkets that are corporately owned it down (I've only ever encountered one franchise that didn't accept it and they do now).

Touristy places generally accept it as after all American Express was designed as a travel card. Especially if Americans are likely to be at the attraction (Places in big cities like London) where its not uncommon for an American traveller to carry both an American Express based debit card and credit card.

Madame Tussauds (London) don't: ( http://www.madametussauds.com/london/buytickets/help/default.aspx )

The SS Great Britain (Bristol) doesn't: ( http://shop.ssgreatbritain.org/pages/terms.php )

Downton Abbey (aka Highclere Castle) doesn't:
"All major credit and debit cards are accepted (VISA, MasterCard, Maestro) excluding American Express."
( http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk/terms-and-conditions.html )

The Tower of London doesn't:
"Please note we cannot accept American Express"
( http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/LearnAtTowerOfLondon.aspx )

Sealife centres don't:
"Unfortunately we do not accept these card types for payment."
( http://www.visitsealife.com/london/plan-your-visit/faqs/ )


It's clearly better than it used to be, but it's still nothing like as prevalent as Visa/Mastercard.

This is an interesting mini-survey from August 2012 (old, but not as old as that MSE article), which says that about 50% of places they tried (admittedly only 15 businesses tested) accepted it.
http://www.choose.net/money/guide/faqs/american-express-retailer-acceptance.html