New 1% cashback credit card !

lisyloo

I'm merely saying that people can do a bit of research before they go out.

Because often other aspects will be important criteria.
So as an example I won't ditch my local, good value and excellent hairdresser simply on method of payment.
I've had 3 dental implants and I have other criteria despite cashback for choosing the person that drills into my jawbone - can you understand that?
Most petrol station do indeed take it. For me location is my primary criteria and opening hours the second criteria, the third would be how long the queues are so cashback would be 4th at least for that one.

Let's let people make their own choices shall we?

Absolutely.
My point is that not everyone's choice is putting cashback above everything else, because aspects like location, price, quality, service, queues, parking etc. tend to matter to people AND cost money i.e. travel/parking.
I hope you at least get the dental example.

If someone's primary criteria is cashback, then yes of course they should research before they go out, but clearly it would be silly to drive 20 miles for say 50p cashback, so it still needs to be weighed up.

than_prutt

lisyloo wrote: »

Because often other aspects will be important criteria.
So as an example I won't ditch my local, good value and excellent hairdresser simply on method of payment.
I've had 3 dental implants and I have other criteria despite cashback for choosing the person that drills into my jawbone - can you understand that?
Most petrol station do indeed take it. For me location is my primary criteria and opening hours the second criteria, the third would be how long the queues are so cashback would be 4th at least for that one.

Absolutely.
My point is that not everyone's choice is putting cashback above everything else, because aspects like location, price, quality, service, queues, parking etc. tend to matter to people AND cost money i.e. travel/parking.
I hope you at least get the dental example.

If someone's primary criteria is cashback, then yes of course they should research before they go out, but clearly it would be silly to drive 20 miles for say 50p cashback, so it still needs to be weighed up.

Yes, I do get your point, definitely. I'm just sharing my personal experience that's all. I think I'm quite lucky that most of my local stores and restaurants accept Amex, including my favourite family run butchers!! (I don't live in London btw). I spend around £20-25k on my AMEX card so it's quite a considerable amount I get back, especially with the promotional rates.

lisyloo

Yes I'm doing well too.
You are indeed lucky if your local stores take it. I find it's the small shops often that don't.
I tend to keep up with their other promotions (like ironically the small shops one) and take advantage of those, so I agree it works better if you keep on top on the offers.

I've had Amex many years ago and I think it's definitely improved and it's worth being aware you can use it with paypal too.

derelyth

I don't find acceptance too bad - though I've taken to just trying it rather than asking otherwise some may say they don't take it whereas they're actually refusing it because of the cost to them. On my last statement, only ~9% was on Visa.

One thing to notice with Paypal is there is a conversion charge. I used mine via PayPal for a ~£14.30 transaction and it cost me £14.67

w211

than_prutt wrote: »

Which Amex card gives you 1.5% cashback? The Platinum Cashback I have only gives 1.25% and I can't find anything with 1.5%.

Depending when you applied for your Platinum Cashback card. The one I had gave 1.5% cashback (for the highest tier - spending over £10,000/year). I applied for mine in 2006.

I think when it first came out the top tier cashback rate was actually 2%.

Not sure if they've now lowered it to 1.25% for everyone.

than_prutt

w211 wrote: »

Depending when you applied for your Platinum Cashback card. The one I had gave 1.5% cashback (for the highest tier - spending over £10,000/year). I applied for mine in 2006.

I think when it first came out the top tier cashback rate was actually 2%.

Not sure if they've now lowered it to 1.25% for everyone.

Ah, I see. I got my current card only this year so that explains why...do you still have it? If so, so they still give you 1.5% or have they lowered it to 1.25%?

lisyloo

One thing to notice with Paypal is there is a conversion charge.

There is no conversion charge if you buy things in Sterling.
Did you buy from a foreign seller?
If you purchase in foreign currency then you need to go to "currency onversion options" link in paypal. If you choose to for Paypal to convert your money then there will be a conversion charge from paypal (this is almost certainly the default), Amex will get charged sterling so will not be charging anything in that case.
If you choose to put foreign currency on Amex then of course there will be a conversion charge from Amex from foreign to Sterling.
I use my Halifax Clarity for this where the conversion fee is 0%, but most cards/paypal will indeed charge you for conversion.

You should not get charged anything for buying in your own currency.

w211

than_prutt wrote: »

Ah, I see. I got my current card only this year so that explains why...do you still have it? If so, so they still give you 1.5% or have they lowered it to 1.25%?

I closed the account in February.

Anyway I had a look at the last statement, and indeed the cashback was 1.5% (if you spent over £10,000).

The rates/tiers were (for a year):

0.5% for the first £3,500
1% between £3,501 to £10000
1.5% over £10001

don9999

I forgot to say.....


The guy who 'upgraded' me from the Barclaycard Patinum to this new Cashback card also mentioned that an additional benefit would be that I would be able to check my Experian report as many times as I liked. I assume that this would be equivalent to me requesting a £2 report multiple times, but for free.


Again.....just to confirm this is only what I was told over the phone.
I will confirm the T&Cs etc. when I receive the documentation in a few days time.

john1002

I suspect the experian detail he talked about is your free score every two months, do a search as there is a big thread on this new service from Barclays. It is not your report only your experian score taken every 60 days and you need to apply it is not automatic.

John