Changes to Amex Express Rewards points

itm2

Had a letter today advising me of a change to the points rewards on my Amex Rewards Credit Card. As far as I can tell, the only downside is a new minimum redemption threshold of 5,000 points. 
I was wondering whether anyone else had received this notification and if so, are there any other downsides to the revised scheme that I've missed?

TwiceNightly

Any chance you could tell us what's in the letter?

A minimum redemption of 5000 points sounds like a huge change

WillPS

TwiceNightly said:

A minimum redemption of 5000 points sounds like a huge change

5000 points = £25 worth of Nectar points, or if you go with a 1p valuation for most airmiles (I don't personally endorse that but it seems to be what people do) then £50 worth of credit.

It's not really a big deal, unless you spend such a small amount that an Amex isn't really the best option for rewards on day-to-day spending anyway.

TwiceNightly

So it is actually happening?

I can't see it anywhere on their website or the internet in general, except for in the US?

WillPS

TwiceNightly said:

So it is actually happening?

I'm not sure how you've come to that conclusion based on my post. I have no info, just challenging the notion this would be a "huge change".

TwiceNightly

I just got off the chat and they told me there is no change to the minimum threshold

itm2

Here's the full text of the letter. It seems that I'm actually being migrated to a different type of card (apologies - I should have noticed and clarified that earlier). My current card is an "Express Rewards" card, and the new one will be "The American Express® Rewards Credit Card". Spot the difference, anyone??

"We're writing to let you know about important changes to your card agreement and to your rewards

terms and conditions that will take effect from 17 February 2025. Following a review of our credit

cards, we have taken a decision to discontinue your existing card and switch you to The American

Express® Rewards Credit Card.

We understand this change is unexpected, however we're moving you to a card where you will be

rewarded on your spending through Membership Rewards® points, with enhanced redemption

options, more information is below.

The card agreement applicable to your new card will be the same as the agreement associated with

your existing card except for the changes set out in this letter.

Change to your rewards terms and conditions

As a result of us switching you to a different card, you will earn Membership Rewards points on purchases at a different earn rate to the rewards points currently earned with your existing card, as follows:

Rewards points earn rate with your new card, from 17 February 2025

You will earn points at the rate of 1 Membership Rewards point for every £1 spent on purchases using your card account.

In some circumstances minimum redemption thresholds may apply where you will need to redeem a minimum

number of points. If this is the case, we will tell you about any applicable minimum thresholds when you ask to redeem your points.

Rewards points earn rate with your current card, until 16 February 2025

You currently earn points at the rate of 1 point for every £1 spent on purchases using your card account and 1 point for every £2 spent on purchases at warehouse retailers in the United Kingdom.

You can also earn additional points for certain purchases at the following rates:

- 1 additional point for every £1 spent at major department stores in the United Kingdom that we may select from time to time; and
- 2 additional points for every £1 spent at major supermarkets in the United Kingdom that we may select from time to time (excluding all petrol station and franchise store transactions) up to a maximum of 1,000 points per calendar month (beyond which you earn reward points at the standard rate of 1 point for every full £1 spent).

A minimum redemption threshold of 5,000 points for a £25 Reward Voucher applies. You must redeem your points in increments of 5,000 points.

Redemption of current Express Rewards points

If you have met the minimum redemption threshold of 5,000 points on your existing card, you can log in to your online account at americanexpress.co.uk/login to view and redeem on a variety of gift voucher(s) by 16 February 2025. Alternatively, you may wish to wait until we switch you to your new card, and transfer your points, where you can also redeem Membership Rewards with a wide range of partners. Please visit go.amex/en-gh-membership-rewards for  ore information.

What do you need to do?

If you accept the changes, then you don't need to do anything, these changes will take effect automatically.

Opting out If you don't want to accept these changes, you should end your card agreement by telling us to

close your account any time before 17 February 2025 via Live Chat through our Online Services, or by calling 0800 917 8047. There will be no charge for closing your account and with immediate effect you'll no longer be able to use your card. Your card agreement at the point of cancellation will continue to apply until any remaining balances have been paid off in full. If we haven't heard from you by the effective date of 17 February 2025, we'll assume you've accepted these changes.

Important information

Rest assured that if you are on a payment plan/payment holiday/persistent debt repayment plan,

these will continue to apply to your account as previously notified to you.If you have any support needs that you feel we should be aware of, for example a disability or a life event, please get in contact with us so we can confidentially note any relevant, appropriate information to better service your account(s). If you need this communication in an  alternative format such as large print or braille, please contact us and we can provide one.
Please note the following:

o There is no change to the annual card membership fee, as the new card is also currently fee free
o We'll send you a new card when your existing card is up for renewal, which will have a different card design to the card you currently hold. In the meantime, you can continue to use your existing card
o Your Personal Identifiable Number (PIN) will remain the same

o Your credit limit will remain the same

o We'll automatically transfer your account, including any balances, any rewards points not redeemed and direct debit payments, without requiring you to do anything to facilitate this

To find out more about your new card benefits, please visit go.amex/arcc-benefits."!

WillPS

TwiceNightly said:

I just got off the chat and they told me there is no change to the minimum threshold

Amex have previous with not keeping their support staff in the loop. Appears to have happened once again.

WillPS

itm2 said:

Rewards points earn rate with your current card, until 16 February 2025

You currently earn points at the rate of 1 point for every £1 spent on purchases using your card account and 1 point for every £2 spent on purchases at warehouse retailers in the United Kingdom.

You can also earn additional points for certain purchases at the following rates:

- 1 additional point for every £1 spent at major department stores in the United Kingdom that we may select from time to time; and
- 2 additional points for every £1 spent at major supermarkets in the United Kingdom that we may select from time to time (excluding all petrol station and franchise store transactions) up to a maximum of 1,000 points per calendar month (beyond which you earn reward points at the standard rate of 1 point for every full £1 spent).

A minimum redemption threshold of 5,000 points for a £25 Reward Voucher applies. You must redeem your points in increments of 5,000 points.

Oh, that's worth knowing - so you'll get 3 pts per £ at supermarkets, or 1.5% equivalent. Makes the Reward card potentially a class leader.

Also what's a £25 reward voucher? MR points currently have different values depending on the redemption option...

itm2 said:

Redemption of current Express Rewards points

If you have met the minimum redemption threshold of 5,000 points on your existing card, you can log in to your online account at americanexpress.co.uk/login to view and redeem on a variety of gift voucher(s) by 16 February 2025. Alternatively, you may wish to wait until we switch you to your new card, and transfer your points, where you can also redeem Membership Rewards with a wide range of partners. Please visit go.amex/en-gh-membership-rewards for  ore information.

That to me implies you will no longer be earning MR with this card, and will instead be earning a different reward currency which can only be exchanged at a rate of 5000 points = £25. Possibly an attempt to stop people using the fee free Reward card to preserve MR balance earned on paid cards (green/gold/platinum).

Definitely a good news/bad news situation.

EDIT - I've got this all wrong, see page 2. Thanks @callum9999.

itm2

WillPS said:

itm2 said:

Rewards points earn rate with your current card, until 16 February 2025

You currently earn points at the rate of 1 point for every £1 spent on purchases using your card account and 1 point for every £2 spent on purchases at warehouse retailers in the United Kingdom.

You can also earn additional points for certain purchases at the following rates:

- 1 additional point for every £1 spent at major department stores in the United Kingdom that we may select from time to time; and
- 2 additional points for every £1 spent at major supermarkets in the United Kingdom that we may select from time to time (excluding all petrol station and franchise store transactions) up to a maximum of 1,000 points per calendar month (beyond which you earn reward points at the standard rate of 1 point for every full £1 spent).

A minimum redemption threshold of 5,000 points for a £25 Reward Voucher applies. You must redeem your points in increments of 5,000 points.

Oh, that's worth knowing - so you'll get 3 pts per £ at supermarkets, or 1.5% equivalent. Makes the Reward card potentially a class leader.

I'm not sure about that - it says "at major supermarkets in the United Kingdom that we may select from time to time". That's ambiguous, but I read it to mean that it's a "from time to time" offer, and only on "selected supermarkets". And how do we know which are the "selected supermarkets" ???

WillPS

itm2 said:

WillPS said:

itm2 said:

Rewards points earn rate with your current card, until 16 February 2025

You currently earn points at the rate of 1 point for every £1 spent on purchases using your card account and 1 point for every £2 spent on purchases at warehouse retailers in the United Kingdom.

You can also earn additional points for certain purchases at the following rates:

- 1 additional point for every £1 spent at major department stores in the United Kingdom that we may select from time to time; and
- 2 additional points for every £1 spent at major supermarkets in the United Kingdom that we may select from time to time (excluding all petrol station and franchise store transactions) up to a maximum of 1,000 points per calendar month (beyond which you earn reward points at the standard rate of 1 point for every full £1 spent).

A minimum redemption threshold of 5,000 points for a £25 Reward Voucher applies. You must redeem your points in increments of 5,000 points.

Oh, that's worth knowing - so you'll get 3 pts per £ at supermarkets, or 1.5% equivalent. Makes the Reward card potentially a class leader.

I'm not sure about that - it says "at major supermarkets in the United Kingdom that we may select from time to time". That's ambiguous, but I read it to mean that it's a "from time to time" offer, and only on "selected supermarkets". And how do we know which are the "selected supermarkets" ???

I read that as the selection will be varied from time to time, not that the offer will only run occasionally. I'm sure this will all be clarified in the months to come.