Any way to top up spend on Amex?

[Deleted User]

Manufacture may not be the right word – given the insane Avios bonus on the BA PP card, I’m tempted to sign up but may not hit the £3000 spend limit. 

Is there a reliable way to “manufacture” spending to hit the £3000 goal without having to spend on stuff I wouldn’t normally? Eg a savings account that supports PayPal top ups, or buying Tesco vouchers to be used later? Anyone got any experience that works?

jay1804

You could buy gift cards, Top up your amazon account, some energy providers accept AmEx you could pre pay the account.

WillPS

Co-op Group food stores (i.e. Co-ops with this logo on their signage, but not Co-ops run by other societies) don't stop you from settling PayPoint with Amex. There are some interesting possibilities there, but an easy one is that many councils etc support payment via PayPoint so that's a win. I think the big utility companies will do this too but be careful to make sure you don't end up on a more expensive tariff - not all will support non-direct debit payment.

Octopus (and Bulb) allow you to make payments with Amex online. Most streaming services accept Amex either directly or via PayPal.

Gift cards are a particularly easy way to get to the threshold.

[Deleted User]

WillPS said:

Co-op Group food stores (i.e. Co-ops with this logo on their signage, but not Co-ops run by other societies) don't stop you from settling PayPoint with Amex. There are some interesting possibilities there, but an easy one is that many councils etc support payment via PayPoint so that's a win. I think the big utility companies will do this too but be careful to make sure you don't end up on a more expensive tariff - not all will support non-direct debit payment.

Octopus (and Bulb) allow you to make payments with Amex online. Most streaming services accept Amex either directly or via PayPal.

Gift cards are a particularly easy way to get to the threshold.

Thanks! I am with Bulb so that would actually be an easy way. If I was, let's say, £500 off the spend limit, could I top up my Bulb account by that amount and reduce my monthly DD by £100?

Would Amex not charge a cash fee for such a transaction?

Would Bulb not freak out if I don't meet my monthly spend because my DD is lower? Would I not be put on a prepayment meter?

WillPS

[Deleted User] said:

WillPS said:

Co-op Group food stores (i.e. Co-ops with this logo on their signage, but not Co-ops run by other societies) don't stop you from settling PayPoint with Amex. There are some interesting possibilities there, but an easy one is that many councils etc support payment via PayPoint so that's a win. I think the big utility companies will do this too but be careful to make sure you don't end up on a more expensive tariff - not all will support non-direct debit payment.

Octopus (and Bulb) allow you to make payments with Amex online. Most streaming services accept Amex either directly or via PayPal.

Gift cards are a particularly easy way to get to the threshold.

Thanks! I am with Bulb so that would actually be an easy way. If I was, let's say, £500 off the spend limit, could I top up my Bulb account by that amount and reduce my monthly DD by £100?

Yes, although it might just be easier to bin off your DD altogether while you work through the balance, providing regular meter readings and setting up a new DD when it is about to be depleted.

[Deleted User] said:

Would Amex not charge a cash fee for such a transaction?

No. Bill payments, other than to government entities, are not treated as cash transactions.

ndrw said:

Would Bulb not freak out if I don't meet my monthly spend because my DD is lower? Would I not be put on a prepayment meter?

Not entirely sure what you mean, but there is no chance of Bulb getting permission for a prepayment meter to be fitted if you are in credit, no. Credit meters are usually fitted to ensure an unpaid or growing debt is addressed.

[Deleted User]

Thanks, that sounds good. 

I was only asking as I read online that some suppliers charge higher fees/put you on a prepaid tariff if you don’t pay by Direct Debit. 

WillPS

[Deleted User] said:

Thanks, that sounds good. 

I was only asking as I read online that some suppliers charge higher fees/put you on a prepaid tariff if you don’t pay by Direct Debit. 

Suppliers might stipulate that payment must be by Direct Debit, and might bin you out on a standard tariff if you choose not to. That standard tariff would absolutely not be a prepayment meter tariff though.

Bulb only have one tariff, so there's nothing to worry about.

silvercar

[Deleted User] said:

Thanks, that sounds good. 

I was only asking as I read online that some suppliers charge higher fees/put you on a prepaid tariff if you don’t pay by Direct Debit. 

Keep your direct debit running, but reduce it to a nominal amount.

Buy supermarket vouchers. Move all your everyday spending to the card and pay off monthly.

In desperation buy a fully refundable flight and then cancel it.

WillPS

silvercar said:

In desperation buy a fully refundable flight and then cancel it.

This one veers a little far in to straight up grifting Amex for my liking, but reportedly it does work. The important thing is to ensure the bonus is paid out and sitting in your BA account otherwise Amex will claw it back.

I wouldn't do it myself, it's unethical and it's also a behaviour pattern Amex could very easily report on and block people from opening accounts in future (and I wouldn't blame them a bit).

Zuzi

I managed to reach the spend by buying several gift cards (a small shop in Sainsburys incl a 200GBP M&S gift card, or a Waitrose gift card of similar value) but also paying in bulk in advance for my personal trainer sessions - I appreciate that won't suit everyone but whatever services you use that you may pre-pay in this way...

DullGreyGuy

Start your Xmas present buying early?