MSE News: Aqua axes 3% cashback credit card – should you ditch and switch?

Atidi

reclusive46 wrote: »

Amex acceptance is really quite acceptable these days. Much better than it used to be. Most major retailers accept the card as do many medium and smaller retailers. Although for small retailers it does depend on where you live.

I don't think B&Q accept Amex either in store or on-line.

How does a shop know where you live (unless you are having the goods delivered, and you give them your home address)? :huh:

Don't think kwik-fit accept Amex either.

aleph_0

Atidi wrote: »

I don't think B&Q accept Amex either in store or on-line.

How does a shop know where you live (unless you are having the goods delivered, and you give them your home address)? :huh:

Don't think kwik-fit accept Amex either.

I assume that the implication is there might be places where small retailers widely accept Amex, and other areas where they are less keen, for rational or irrational reasons.

For B&Q - Tesco accept Amex, and sell B&Q gift cards (which activate immediately), giving a workaround.

lisyloo

How does a shop know where you live

They don't, but someone who lives (and spends) in a busy place like London is more likely to find shops and restaurants that accept Amex because they probably have highler footfall/turnover than shops in remote areas.

Of course, people do not always shop where they live and many of us shop on-line, but I'd certainly say you'd find it easier to use in London.

For B&Q - Tesco accept Amex, and sell B&Q gift cards (which activate immediately), giving a workaround.

Probably fine if you are planning a large purchase, but it's not going to work if you just pop down for some weed killer and don't live near a Tescos.

One other tip - you can use Amex with paypal although not always if you login (do it as a guest checkout).

Amex isn't suitable for everyone, so of course it's important to pick a card where you are going to meet any minimum spend requirements.

sueh6

Nessie23 wrote: »

Just bear in mind that you actually need to apply for a new card and will still have to undergo a credit check. So you might want to consider instead a Luma card which can give you up to 4% cashback on supermarket and petrol spend - your choice

Not correct - have contacted them today as my primary use for the card is overseas spending. If you return the agreement there is no credit check, you don't even get a new card. Everything remains the same except for the cash back. On that basis I'm keeping mine and signing the new agreement.

Anthorn

I'd say if you can't get a prime card switch to the Advance card because an annual decrease in interest rate and the eventual at or near prime rate is more valuable than a sub-prime card.

Atidi

aleph_0 wrote: »

...
For B&Q - Tesco accept Amex, and sell B&Q gift cards (which activate immediately), giving a workaround.

Great, like people always go to Tesco to buy vouchers to pay for the B&Q shopping.

So Tesco sell B&Q vouchers of any value, or is it just the usual £5, £10 etc

What if that post of pain costs £7.89? What if when I'm there, I see some paintbushes on offer and I want those too? Do I pop back to Tesco to buy another B&Q voucher? Otherwise how do I know what value of couchers to buy in Tesco until I've finished my shopping in B&Q?

Do Tesco also sell Co-op vouchers, because I'm sure our local co-op don't accept Amex

What about H&M? Again I don't think Amex are accepted there.

Do Amazon (or anyone else who accept Amex) sell Play.com vouchers? Because again, I don't think Anmex are accepted there either.

In all cases, please confirm such vouchers are available in the exact value I would require, explain how I know what value I require before I actually go shopping at the respective outlets, and that they are available at nil additional cost and immediately redeemable.

Atidi

sueh6 wrote: »

Not correct - have contacted them today as my primary use for the card is overseas spending. If you return the agreement there is no credit check, you don't even get a new card. Everything remains the same except for the cash back. On that basis I'm keeping mine and signing the new agreement.

Then why do they use the words 'if your application is approved by us' in their letter? :huh:

Any why does term 9.2 of the agreement you will sign say what it does??? :huh:
Will you be crossing that out before signing? (at least the first sentance)

Also why does question 6 of their leaflet refer to 'the new Reward Card'?

lisyloo

Great, like people always go to Tesco to buy vouchers to pay for the B&Q shopping.

I agree it's not going to work for day-to-day stuff, but if someone was doing a large bathroom or kitchen spend it might be worthwhile.

All suggestions should be welcome as it might help someone :-)

sueh6

Atidi wrote: »

Then why do they use the words 'if your application is approved by us' in their letter? :huh:

Any why does term 9.2 of the agreement you will sign say what it does??? :huh:
Will you be crossing that out before signing? (at least the first sentance)

Also why does question 6 of their leaflet refer to 'the new Reward Card'?

Don't shoot the messenger ...... Simply relaying exactly what I was told after contacting them rather than 'assuming' this or that.

adindas

sueh6 wrote: »

Don't shoot the messenger ...... Simply relaying exactly what I was told after contacting them rather than 'assuming' this or that.

Good to let us know. Yes you are just repeating what you have been told.
But I will be very careful if I do not get it in writing and ensure that they will not do credit check again. Very often the information from the CS especially the one who is working in the call center, is inaccurate. If you get another person on the phone they might say another thing.

When I got an offer from Santader Zero Credit Card a while ago (previously I already had A&L credit card managed by MBNA. Later A&L was acquired by Santander). It was clearly stated, there would not be any credit check, guaranteed approved with up to certain limit (Stated).

I am quite worry about this because:
- In the letter that I received there is not any paragraph mentioning that they will not do any credit check.
- Also there is not any paragraph or sentence mentioning that my application is guaranteed to be approved.