Who Does/Does Not Accept Amex?

InsuranceLiability

The disney store does
Papa John's Pizza doesn't

It isn't necessarily the greed of Amex keeping the merchant fees up.

Amex is currently prosecuting several financial services companies, aquirers and issuers under anti-trust laws in the US.

I think (imho) it is more likely that mastercard and a couple of other big players are fixing prices and trying to keep Amex out of the competition

See how the court case pans out...

JohalaReewi

I do a lot of shopping in France and I know AMEX is accepted by places like petrol stations and hotels but I can't get any major Supermarket like Carrefore, LeClerc, Cora and Intermarche to accept it.

You need to be careful using a UK Amex card overseas. If you check the Amex small print you will find that all non GBP transactions are converted to US dollars and the US dollars are then converted to GBP and there is a 2.73% commission charge. Why not get a Nationwide VISA card? Accepted all over France and 0% commission on non GBP transactions.

JohalaReewi

Tried to use Amex to purchase pay as you talk topup from Vodafone. Vodafone don't accept Amex

paulv9prm

Tried to use Amex to purchase pay as you talk topup from Vodafone.  Vodafone don't accept Amex

Hold on. I have a Vodaphone " Anytime " tariff and pay by Amex Blue on direct debit - therefore no Vodaphone non direct debit surcharging, 1% cashback and Nectar points.
Re. your good advice on Nationwide credit card 0% commission outside U.K. usage.
I use this card now but it's only 0.5% cashback and I know Amex currency conversion loading makes it uncompetetive by comparison but I use Amex Blue 1st and NW 2nd in U.K. and therefore would wish to use Amex as back up to NW abroad.

JimArnold

Add Matalan to the list of those that don't
- oh and my local council (West Sussex) who wrote me a letter which took 5 days to arrive (XMAS post) to tell me that they had accepted AMEX payment in error and could I repay by something else

JohalaReewi

Hold on. I have a Vodaphone " Anytime " tariff and pay by Amex Blue on direct debit - therefore no Vodaphone non direct debit surcharging, 1% cashback and Nectar points.

I have Pay as you Talk and tried to register my AMEX blue as a top up credit card. No dice Nice idea about direct debit to your Amex though. However, this is probably a continuous payment authority not a true direct debit (beware).

WTPooh

Some of the stores that do and do not accept Amex are Franchises i.e. Richer Sounds

The shop is a franchise of the Bigger Brand and so makes a local decision to accept Amex or not.

With some franchises they have a central policy on credit card acceptance and have negotiated a lower merchant charge for the whole franchise, but the vast majority of the ones I have worked for don't. So it's a case of local knowledge and previous history for the smaller type of brands and shops.

mark_jones13

If somewhere doesn't accept AMEX I just don't shop there. I have a Gold Chargecard and I'm not interested in cashback I just want to get my MR points.

How dare Boots not take my card and still expect me to shop there. AMEX charge cardholders (not credit cardholders) have higher incomes and spend triple what Mastercard and Visa cardholders spend.

Barneygirl

I find most small restaurants or cafes don't accept it - sometimes they even have an American Express sign on the table or a sticker but they still don't take it. Make sure you check before you order!

mark_jones13

All GOOD restaurants accept The American Express Card, if its not a good restaurant, then a typical American express cardmember would not dine there anyway.