Barclaycard to start issuing Amex network cards

reclusive46

toasterman wrote: »

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).



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

Don't rely when checking retailers that take payments online as well. Its not uncommon for retailers to accept it in-store but not online. This is because until recently Amex didn't have a 3D secure system like Verified by Visa, so some merchants didn't want take the liability online. For example, Madame Tussauds in person definitely does as there was a 20% off offer for American Express card members last summer. Online isn't usually an issue though as a lot of retailers take PayPal and paypal takes Amex.

mikeeboy

yesitwasme wrote: »

Their way of dumping the agreement to pay 1% cash back to old Egg customers like me, been expecting it for a long time.
Who on earth wants to mess with with two cards, this is corperate cow plop.

I'm looking for an alternative but it's not easy cutting through all the er, cow plop.
I can't believe anyone gets taken in by the 5% for the first 3 months carrot........

Is it still the case Amex are not accepted everywhere?

I'm an old Egg customer too, and not too pleased with this. Had a look around but can't find a Visa or Mastercard with no annual fee that gives 1% cashback

planteria

reclusive46 wrote: »

It never said that they were getting rid of Visa, just not exclusive (Apart from some of the ones they took from egg).

Barclaycard have offered other Mastercards too.

planteria

i use Amex Cashback as my main spending card, with a Barclaycard High5 as a backup....looks as though the latter will be on the way out.

i am fairly comfortable with just using a debit card for the odd place that doesn't accept Amex (i don't find many).

as it stands there isn't a lot around that appeals..so shall concentrate on Amex. anyone that wants a referral, for £25, let me know:D

the Barclaycard changes, and efforts to and successes with getting a deal out of them, are discussed in detail here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4908850

Bloomberg

reclusive46 wrote: »

Just saw this on cards international site


"Barclaycard has become an American Express card issuing partner in the UK. The agreement enables Barclaycard to sell cards accepted by the American Express global network in the UK for the first time.
The announcement builds upon an existing business relationship between the two companies, which includes card issuing in the US and UK payment acceptance.
The two businesses claim that this agreement will increase the choice of products available to UK customers, revealing that product development would begin this year.
Valerie Soranno Keating, chief executive of Barclaycard said: "Today's news that two of the world's leading payments businesses will be working more closely in the UK will mean greater choice for UK consumers. It also reinforces Barclaycard's position as a partner of choice in the payments industry and as a leading innovator in UK payments.""

Looks like Barclaycard doesn't like Visa anymore :P Strange considering the fact they were the first issuer in the UK.

I am not happy about the prospect of having an American Express card. Although most of my monthly spend is in places that accept it there will no doubt be times when I will have to ask the cashier in smaller places if the establishment accepts American Express. I currently have the Barclaycard Cashback Visa card and love the fact that wherever I go it is accepted. Even if I go to a small establishment in a new town I just take it for granted that my card will be accepted.



Years ago I had an American Express and used it abroad, I was assured that there was no transaction fee. The devil was in the detail, they tucked me up on the exchange rate. I spent just over four thousand pounds and was done out of in excess of two hundred pounds.

sniperpenguin

I've had this notification too, and as an old Egg customer Im in two minds...

On one hand, this has been coming for a while - 1% cards are rare and the majority of Egg Users were savvy and paying little (if any) interest.

On the other hand, I *do* like the Barclaycard website for managing the card, so I see myself keeping it and just sticking to AMEX as much as possible.

toasterman

sniperpenguin wrote: »

I've had this notification too, and as an old Egg customer Im in two minds...

On one hand, this has been coming for a while - 1% cards are rare and the majority of Egg Users were savvy and paying little (if any) interest.

On the other hand, I *do* like the Barclaycard website for managing the card, so I see myself keeping it and just sticking to AMEX as much as possible.

I'm thinking the same. The Barclaycard website is quite nice (it's a nice layout and I like the way it categorises stuff), and it is one of the few pure-cashback setups left.
Think I might just keep my bank's Avios card in a drawer for emergencies, and take the second Barclaycard out with me instead.

You get potentially more with Amazon (minimum 1% Mastercard, anywhere, 2% on Amazon purchases) but you can only spend the resulting rewards back at Amazon. Although I do shop at Amazon a lot now I've bought a Kindle. Hmm..now I think about it, I'm surprised the supermarkets don't do the same. I'd be much more interested in money-off-instore than the usual pittance off fuel (as half the supermarkets near me don't even have petrol stations, and a lot of the ones branded Tesco, are run by Esso so you can't use/get clubcard points anyway).

willing_2

Amex is also accepted by Paypal so for online purchases where many sites dont take amex but take paypal you can use that option.

So far i find good places for amex are restaurants, hotels, cinemas, theatres , bad places are low end supermarkets and clothes shops.