American Express in the UK

safe_hands2

I had same worry when I applied for AMEX at start of this year. However, can use it in most places and use my second card for any other smaller places that don't accept. The best thing for me has been the customer service - very fast, even in middle of Covid crisis, and very responsive and helpful.

blue.peter

quackers82 said:

not found an insurer who takes Amex yet. 

I use AmEx to pay Churchill for both my home and motor insurance, and have done for a couple of years now.

wiseonesomeofthetime

Not accepted by Ford / Bristol Street Motors.

NonGeographicalMan

List of where doesn't accept Amex is actually much, much longer than stated but in the main its locations that accept credit and debit cards that are not on the high street such as all uk councils and almost all uk government services and people like accountants and solicitors that all take Visa and Mastercard debit payments but some will and some won't accept Visa and Mastercard credit cards but none will accept Amex.

For instance try paying your council tax with Amex at all and no luck but you can pay month by month using Visa or Mastercard a months at a time but not a continuous credit card authority but not with Amex at all. Almost no UK council accepts Amex to pay parking charges either.

Also not accepted by not just B&Q but also BT, B&M Stores, Pets At Home, Screwfix, Plusnet Saga Insurance (but not Saga Travel who do accept it despite having the same CEO) and Sky amongst major national brands I can think of.  Also not accepted my most electricity, gas or broadband suppliers.  Accepted by Now Tv for a monthly Sky Sports Pass but not by Now or Sky (who own Now) for recurring charges covering most other aspects of the subscription.

Emmia

D3xt3r5L4b said:

Only B&Q is the major retailer to not accept it.
So the solution is to buy a B&Q giftcard from a shop that does accept Amex then use the gift card. 

Doesn't that remove the S.75 protection that you get by using a credit card for payment though?

2021BJ

NonGeographicalMan said:

For instance try paying your council tax with Amex at all and no luck but you can pay month by month using Visa or Mastercard a months at a time but not a continuous credit card authority but not with Amex at all. Almost no UK council accepts Amex to pay parking charges either.

I pay my council tax with PayPal, who I pay with AMEX.

geraint83

NonGeographicalMan said:

Also not accepted by not just B&Q but also BT, B&M Stores, Pets At Home, Screwfix, Plusnet Saga Insurance (but not Saga Travel who do accept it despite having the same CEO) and Sky amongst major national brands I can think of.  Also not accepted my most electricity, gas or broadband suppliers.  Accepted by Now Tv for a monthly Sky Sports Pass but not by Now or Sky (who own Now) for recurring charges covering most other aspects of the subscription.

I haven't had any problem using my AmEx with Pets at Home and Now TV (for recurring charges).
For Screwfix, I just use PayPal.
I'd say 98% of my monthly spend is on AmEx.
Even pay for kids school meals (when schools are open!) using my AmEx through Parent Pay.

knightfox

If I need to check who takes my amex cards I use the map on their site
https://www.americanexpress.com/en-GB/maps

Sandtree

Emmia said:

D3xt3r5L4b said:

Only B&Q is the major retailer to not accept it.
So the solution is to buy a B&Q giftcard from a shop that does accept Amex then use the gift card. 

Doesn't that remove the S.75 protection that you get by using a credit card for payment though?

Using PayPal itself would if you are using your account but gift card certainly do too... guess it depends what you are buying at B&Q but in my experience there isnt that much where the per item price is over £100 anyway.

It also depends which AmEx card you have, some cards are charge cards not credit cards and therefore dont have S75 protection anyway.

Alex9384

It's pretty pathetic that you can't pay tax or insurance with Amex.
It's not like they are selling you products that have tight margins so they can't afford it. Taxes are just leeching your money and insurance companies charge you pretty much whatever they wish so.. not accepting Amex is really ridiculous.