What's the easiest way of spending money on CC?

MagicByNature

Lazyloki wrote: »

Also, if anyone is thinking of doing this, I'd check with your bank to make sure that a) they accept deposits by TC and b) they don't charge any kind of processing/handling fee.

Yes, I tried to look up depositing travel cheques. The only info I found was that HSBC "will buy back unused travellers' cheques" - but no word on fees.

Bedsit_Bob wrote:

Are you sure you can't?

My Council will happily take rent, and CT payments, by card.

Private landlord.

DunPin

Lazyloki wrote: »

I'm not sure that purchasing TCs would qualify for the double points. I would plan on it only giving 1 point per pound.

You're right about the 1.5% fee, that's why I reckon this trick is only worth it to hit the minimum spend for introductory bonus on the Gold card - £30 (1.5% of £2000) is a great deal to earn 22,000 Amex MR points. However, once you have the intro bonus, this isn't such a good idea as the fee will outweigh the points.

Unfortunately I believe this only works with the Amex charge cards (Gold, Green or Platinum) so this isn't an easy was to get the companion voucher from spending £10k on the British Airways card.

Also, if anyone is thinking of doing this, I'd check with your bank to make sure that a) they accept deposits by TC and b) they don't charge any kind of processing/handling fee.

MR points aren't earnt with TCs at all from what I can tell although I could be wrong, that was just from a brief read through of the T&C at the bottom of the UK Gold information page. Perhaps someone that has bought TC can confirm?

It does appear to be the best way to hit the target if you cannot hit it in other ways and at £30, if you're not doing it every month it isn't too bad

[Deleted User]

DunPin wrote: »

MR points aren't earnt with TCs at all from what I can tell although I could be wrong, that was just from a brief read through of the T&C at the bottom of the UK Gold information page. Perhaps someone that has bought TC can confirm?

It does appear to be the best way to hit the target if you cannot hit it in other ways and at £30, if you're not doing it every month it isn't too bad

It may say that in the T&C but they do earn MR points. It's the exact same as ordering foreign currency via Amex FX. It says you don't earn points but you do - I have done this myself.

[Deleted User]

forgotmyname wrote: »

What is the 20,000 membership points actually worth?

Very subjective. They could be worth as little as £100 if you simply used them as a credit to your balance - 0.5p per 1 MR.

At the other end of the scale, they could be worth £300-ish if redeemed for a hotel room. 17,777MR points is enough for 50,000 Club Carlson points, which would get you a free night in the May Fair in London.

Or convert them to Avios and you could get two return flights to a European destination (although you would have to pay a fee of £17.50 per person each way).

DunPin

Lazyloki wrote: »

It may say that in the T&C but they do earn MR points. It's the exact same as ordering foreign currency via Amex FX. It says you don't earn points but you do - I have done this myself.

Really? Then I seriously hope that I can get the UK AMEX soon, my German one is good (I suppose I'd also get points for on the German one with TC too) but I'd prefer a UK one as Euro to GBP spend isn't at an attractive rate

[Deleted User]

DunPin wrote: »

Really? Then I seriously hope that I can get the UK AMEX soon, my German one is good (I suppose I'd also get points for on the German one with TC too) but I'd prefer a UK one as Euro to GBP spend isn't at an attractive rate

I don't know about the German card I'm afraid....

Couldn't you get a GBP card from your German Amex account? I know that if you have a UK account you can get a Euro or USD card, I'd have thought that would also be the case the other way around. That way you wouldn't have to pay an exchange fee.

DunPin

Lazyloki wrote: »

I don't know about the German card I'm afraid....

Couldn't you get a GBP card from your German Amex account? I know that if you have a UK account you can get a Euro or USD card, I'd have thought that would also be the case the other way around. That way you wouldn't have to pay an exchange fee.

I don't think they offer and International Pound Card, I'm quite happy to wait it out until 6 months is over and then do the international transfer to UK from German card