Giving up on Amex cash back card.

Stooby2

I got one of the Amex Platinum Everyday Cash back cards after it was recommended by MSE. All went well until I actually tried to use it and retailer after retailer rejected it. Apparently Amex charge a small fortune to process payments.

I've just got back from Canada where it was rejected in several restaurants for the same reason (I enquired to find out why). The final straw came today when I tried to pay my closing bill with Npower, which should have got a good load of cashback and even they don't accept it.

The only good thing with this card was that it got me and Mrs Stooby2 into the Premium Lounge at Toronto Pearson airport - it doesn't qualify usually for this, but the very nice lady on the desk allowed a one time complimentary visit. I assume that as the card was swiped, this wouldn't happen again.

So I've just closed the account as I need a card I can actually use!

grumbler

It's a known fact that when using Amex one has to have at least one extra Visa/Mastercard card in the wallet. Most people with Amex spend 70-80% on it to earn the highest cashback.

Give up on Amex and casback if it's too hard for you.

BTW, there are much better cards for using abroad.

Also, Santander 123 current account pays 2% cashback on energy bills paid by DD.

Stooby2

Thanks for the reply, condescending as it was. I'm happy with cashback, been using the Capital One card since it came out.

The problem I have with Amex is that very few of the retailers I regularly use accept it, therefore I'm not getting the cashback on it for the money I'might spending. And I'm getting fed up with proffering the card to be told "we don't take Amex". Just found out Screwfix don't take it either and I use them a lot.

grumbler

Stooby2 wrote: »

The problem I have with Amex is that very few of the retailers I regularly use accept it,

For the majority of people it's the opposite: very few don't accept Amex:

Barclaycard Cashback
Do most retail outlets accept Amex?
Who Does/Does Not Accept Amex?

therefore I'm not getting the cashback on it for the money I'might spending.

You won't start getting it as a result of giving up on Amex.

And I'm getting fed up with proffering the card to be told "we don't take Amex". Just found out Screwfix don't take it either and I use them a lot.

That's what a second card, with a smaller cashback rate, is for.

For foreign use get Aqua Reward (Mastercard, no conversion fees, 0.5% cashback) or Halifax Clarity: Top Travel Spending Cards

You can't get all benefits you want in one card.

HHarry

Stooby,

I understand your fustration - it's a shame if your regularly transactions are with retailers that don't accept AMEX.

I put £20k through my M&S card last year - 75% of it through B&Q, who don't accept AMEX. Whilst the M&S vouchers are nice, I'd have been happier with a 2 for 1 BA voucher.

You just have to play the system where you can - I applied for my Gold Amex to pay for my BA holiday, and thanks to the sign up bonus got 25k Avios.

grumbler

HHarry wrote: »

...
I put £20k through my M&S card last year - 75% of it through B&Q, who don't accept AMEX.
Whilst the M&S vouchers are nice, I'd have been happier with a 2 for 1 BA voucher.

You just have to play the system where you can...

Would it not be better to get 5% cashback at B&Q by using Pockit prepaid card?

zerog

grumbler wrote: »

Would it not be better to get 5% cashback at B&Q by using Pockit prepaid card?

Or buy B&Q gift cards at Tesco for £1.50 clubcard (which I can usually get £2.25 of value from) per £50 plus the usual Amex cashback or points

planteria

i find Amex is rejected so rarely that i wasn't too bothered if CapOne stopped the cashback on my back up card.

planteria

it's clearly the case that everyone does not accept Amex..

i strongly assume that the OP is not lying, along with everyone else who, like me, are just sharing their thoughts/experiences..

and the point about CapOne is that i have an Amex backup but i find it's needed so rarely that i don't really need it.. i'm not showing any lack of care for other people that have been affected, i'm illustrating that in my experience Amex is almost all i need as a purchase card.

System

Don't you have to have a (fee charging) charge-card to get the lounge access...
They don't give it to 'plebs' on cashback credit cards.

lisyloo

Experiences with Amex vary.
I use mine for most of my spending, but I definitely need another card for small businesses like - dentists, hairdressers, farm shop, markets.
Where you shop will affect you experience. For example if you do your weekly shop in a supermarket then you can probably use Amex, but if you like farm shops and local markets then you probably can't.

I didn't find the reply condescending at all.
If you don't like the product then it makes sense to walk away.

They don't give it to 'plebs' on cashback credit cards.

Anyone can buy lounge access, sometimes from as little as £15/£20.
There do seem to be now two-tier of lounges though.
The £20 ones that are full of the hoi poloi and the proper "business class" ones.

If you mean as a benefit on a card, then I don't think card/credit is the deciding factor, but it is the "higher-end" Amex cards (often with high annual fees) that offer it.