Amex - enough places which accept it?

splatt30

I'd like a 0% on purchases card and the Amex popped up with a 95% chance of acceptance. The fact that you also get cashback really appeals but I have never had an Amex card before. Just wondering how people find it. Do you struggle because places won't accept it? Plan would be to do as much of my everyday spending on it.

grumbler

Define 'enough'.
Your plan is good, but most people with Amex in UK have a second Visa/Mastercard CC in their wallets.

splatt30

Oh I have a Tesco MasterCard and a 0% on spends Barclaycard but will fill that in a few months.
The reward on the Tesco card are so rubbish now (until November was getting a point per £2 spend as have had it since 2003, now it's a point per £8 spend).

So I have alternate credit cards to use for where Amex isn't accepted, was just wondering if the experience is one of mostly being able to use Amex or mostly Not being able to use Amex

reclusive46

From my personal usage over 90% of my transactions go on my Amex and when I can't use it, it's mostly for small value transactions where the amount of lost points is negligible. All the Major UK supermarket and petrol stations take it, as well as most major retailers. Small business acceptance will vary based on where you live.

Inner_Zone

The only places I find that don't accept it are B&Q, Burger King, Dominos, KFC and Smyths Toys. And a lot of independent hotels and shops, despite Amex's marketing campaigns.

reclusive46

Inner_Zone wrote: »

The only places I find that don't accept it are B&Q, Burger King, Dominos, KFC and Smyths Toys. And a lot of independent hotels and shops, despite Amex's marketing campaigns.

Something to bare in mind with KFC, Burger King and Dominoes is it depends on the franchise. My local Burger King does accept it but I know many don't. Dominoes lets you pay by PayPal online so you can use your Amex for that.

One tip if you get a card is to never ask if someone accepts it. As often staff are clueless about weather they accept it and will just say no. Just try to use the card.

splatt30

reclusive46 wrote: »

One tip if you get a card is to never ask if someone accepts it. As often staff are clueless about weather they accept it and will just say no. Just try to use the card.

Thant's interesting so try to use it and if it doesn't work just say "Oh sorry I didn't realise you didn't accept Amex"

reclusive46

splatt30 wrote: »

Thant's interesting so try to use it and if it doesn't work just say "Oh sorry I didn't realise you didn't accept Amex"

Pretty much yeah.

grumbler

reclusive46 wrote: »

All the Major UK supermarket and petrol stations take it,

Well, by my standards Aldi, BnQ and Screwfix are 'major', although the last two aren't supermarkets.

Pincher

Bizarrely, Costco accepts Amex, and debit cards, but not other credit cards. Probably, they have a special deal going, as they push a Costco Amex card.


I pay £30 extra for the Costco Executive membership, which gives 2% cashback for Costco spend, then I get 1.25% for using the Cashback Amex.


As there is an annual fee for the cashback Amex, I need to spend ~£2,000 a year at Costco just to break even. Lets just say that I spent enough to make it worthwhile.

reclusive46

grumbler wrote: »

Well, by my standards Aldi, BnQ and Screwfix are 'major', although the last two aren't supermarkets.

I forgot about Aldi (I don't live near any). Screwfix and B&Q are bit of an exception because they had a big dispute with Amex (Or rather Amex had a bone to pick with them about their old surcharging practice and PCI compliance).