What's so good about American Express?

gingercordial

I have had an Amex credit card for years, and it is absolutely worth it.

The cashback benefits are amazing. I am not talking about the 1% you get annually, though that's also a nice thing when it comes through. But routinely there are lots of offers which you can select on the app to have applied to your card, and they save a lot of money. For example, in December I redeemed:

- £5 cashback for £10 spent at the Post Office - so half price stamps for Christmas cards!
- £1 back for every £3 spent at Starbucks, max £5 credit - so bought a £15 gift card for £10 and, whilst I don't drink that kind of coffee very often as it isn't very MSE, that'll last me ages and it'll all be a third off when I do treat myself to one.
- £10 back for £30 spent at a particular restaurant chain which is local to us - boyfriend also has an Amex so we made sure to spend £30 each, split the bill and got £10 back each, really nice dinner out with wine for £40 between us instead of £60.
- Shop Small - £5 back from a £10 spend at loads of retailers through December, including various local pubs and so forth, redeemable once per shop so this can really rack up. Nice to get a fiver back on a round of drinks.

So that's £30 back just in December (£40 including the boyfriend's, but I don't know what else he got himself). I didn't even get round to taking up the similar offers for Argos, House of Fraser, Gap, World Duty Free etc.

I have also always experienced exemplary customer service from them with lost cards, additional cardholders, catching fraudulent transactions etc.

The downside is acceptance and I really don't find that to be too much of an issue in reality. All the supermarkets take Amex, as do petrol stations, Amazon, eBay, airlines, sites likes hotels.com, and these form the bulk of my spending. Even smaller websites which don't directly take Amex do generally take Paypal, which I have linked so can use it that way (I know there is a s.75 danger here of course).

Places that don't take it: Paperchase, one local butcher I like, my local independent garden centre, my local cab firm, my local ironmonger, occasionally a smaller restaurant. Not big spends there. I keep a Halifax Clarity card for these and it's no big deal to do so. Of course I also use the Clarity for overseas spends due to the no FX loading so I would have it anyway.

Excluding overseas transactions I'd say my spending is 90% or even 95% on the Amex.

Yes, you need a back up card, but you should always have a back up card in your wallet anyway in case one gets lost/scratched/declined. If it's a place I don't know, I try the Amex and if it doesn't work I am happy (and in no way embarrassed) to get out my other card.

It's definitely worth it for me.

tetley

I have one, simply because I like going to the USA for holidays

PeacefulWaters

tetley wrote: »

I have one, simply because I like going to the USA for holidays

Serious question. How is it advantageous in the USA?

Nick_C

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

Serious question. How is it advantageous in the USA?

I think this was an unsuccessful attempt at humour.

You shouldn't use a UK Amex for non sterling transactions. The forex fee is one of the worst.

Edit:- unless it's a Lloyds Avios Amex, which has a zero loading for non sterling transactions.

bengalknights

The one thing i really like are the reward offers you get monthly saved me a good £2k just this year alone using emirates and various hotel offers.

phillw

gingercordial wrote: »

I am not talking about the 1% you get annually, though that's also a nice thing when it comes through. But routinely there are lots of offers which you can select on the app to have applied to your card, and they save a lot of money.

A lot of cards have similar offers, the problem I find is it gets boring to scroll through trying to find the offers that I am prepared to pay for. I already have Nationwide and Halifax which I have made money in the past from but am too lax to go through anymore, plus you can link any old card up to topcashback.

What would be good is an aggregator app that pulls all offers in from all your cards, preferably you could even get it to notify you.

holidaysforme

Recently used the post office one, Starbucks, and Cote Brassiere one. I've just added the new Cafe Nero one, and Jaimie's restaurant on, from the new offers that appeared today.

Jasonh2015

I've been an Amex Platinum charge card holder since 2011, I've never had a problem booking airlines. I've noticed on Lufthansa via Expedia the transaction has to be over £200 for them to let you use it.

Since I live in London the only place that doesn't take it is my local Chinese. And if anyone retailer told me do I have anything else, I would report them.

People use Amex are higher spenders and if you're worried about the cost, it's not for you. I would prefer to shop somewhere that accepts Amex because that's what brings customers to their shop and it means the shop has been vetted as well.

As for spending I've never had a transition declined/refused. I called them in the early days twice to ask about a high ticket item I was buying and they simply said it wouldn't be a problem and there is really no need to call. Much like my travel I tried telling them I was off to Australia via Singapore and again, no need sir.

The service you get from them is very good, and it should for the annual fee 😂 It's not for everyone, but remember the charge cards are to be paid in full. I had Christmas offers one year, spend £50 at Argos and get £25 back, at this point I had 3 cards with them, that was a good Christmas present!

Any questions let me know.

PeacefulWaters

Jasonh2015 wrote: »

I've been an Amex Platinum charge card holder since 2011, I've never had a problem booking airlines. I've noticed on Lufthansa via Expedia the transaction has to be over £200 for them to let you use it.

Since I live in London the only place that doesn't take it is my local Chinese. And if anyone retailer told me do I have anything else, I would report them.

People use Amex are higher spenders and if you're worried about the cost, it's not for you. I would prefer to shop somewhere that accepts Amex because that's what brings customers to their shop and it means the shop has been vetted as well.

As for spending I've never had a transition declined/refused. I called them in the early days twice to ask about a high ticket item I was buying and they simply said it wouldn't be a problem and there is really no need to call. Much like my travel I tried telling them I was off to Australia via Singapore and again, no need sir.

The service you get from them is very good, and it should for the annual fee 😂 It's not for everyone, but remember the charge cards are to be paid in full. I had Christmas offers one year, spend £50 at Argos and get £25 back, at this point I had 3 cards with them, that was a good Christmas present!

Any questions let me know.

So you'd report KFC and B&Q for declining AMEX? They don't have to.

Who are you reporting them to?

wolvoman

On my Amex platinum I have 5 supplementary cards issued (all free) - 1 platinum for my wife and 4 for others.


All those card holders get travel insurance for their whole families.


So right now, my single £450 a year fee is providing travel insurance for 8 adults and 6 children.


It also includes car hire excess insurance for those 8 adults - how much would that be?


Oh and for me and my wife we each have a Priority Pass card which allows holder and guest to airport lounge access. So our family of 4 can access airport lounges without paying extra - for us that's probably saving us a £1,000 a year at least.