Hitting Amex 3k spend

PRAISETHESUN

flopsy1973 said:

 Booked my flights but struggling with some of hotels as they don't accept amex. On a fixed dtariff with British gas paying by DD how can I make manual payment into that  

https://www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and-support/bills-and-payments/paying-your-energy-bill

With British Gas there is an option to pay by card through your online account.

flopsy1973 said:

I hear there is something with PayPal does anyone know more 

As above, you can link your Amex to your PayPal account. You can then use this to make payments using your Amex anywhere PayPal is accepted, even if they don't accept Amex directly.

DullGreyGuy

flopsy1973 said:

I hear there is something with PayPal does anyone know more 

Can you be any vaguer? 

you can buy stuff with PayPal? Some shops that dont accept AmEx directly do accept it via PayPal.

There's the old send some money with "Friends & Family" who then gives it you back but that probably breaches T&Cs and some credit cards now treat it as cash rather than a purchase.

pecunianonolet

Doing the Amex Paypal Friends & Family route may get your Amex account closed immediately. It may work as a one off for a reasonable amount but I would make sure you use Paypal often as they might get suspicious too and ask for details. 

- Pay Council tax if you can
- Buy gift cards
- Overpay energy suppliers (you may be able to ask for a refund at a later time)
- Top up Amazon balance
- Groceries
- Buy airmiles and redeem for reward flights if you travel a lot
- Gift cards for trains
- Fill up your car
- Stock up on things you are going to use in the future like dish washer tabs, washing powder/liquid, tins of soup, pasta sauce, bulk buy toilet paper, shampoo, fill the freezer, etc.

It all adds up quite quickly helping you to get closer to the target. Check out the Head for Points Forum, maybe you find other options and info there

flopsy1973

I think it was the paying family with PayPal I heard about does anyone know if this is allowed under the t and c anyone done it. Will take look at British gas 

DullGreyGuy

flopsy1973 said:

I think it was the paying family with PayPal I heard about does anyone know if this is allowed under the t and c anyone done it. Will take look at British gas 

You haven't even said which AmEx card it is? 

With my AmEx chargecard they have had no issues with the very occasional F&F payment and with my card there is no "cash like transaction" clause so no risk of them adding 3% for treating it as a cash advance. 

flopsy1973

It's the American express gold rewards card 

leonard_455

Manufactured spending with Amex is a slippery slope because they are notorious for cracking down if they suspect you’re gaming the system. PayPal used to be a common route (buying gift cards and then cashing them out) but most of those loopholes are closed now or will quickly trigger a review.

Area88

I always pay my council tax on a 0% credit card. That’s about 1500 already.

I put all my Octopus Energy bills on a credit card too. In theory, you could pay £3000 to them on a credit card and then request a refund after you meet the criteria and your bonus paid. 

You could buy online gift cards I.e Tesco - wherever you shop the most. 

PRAISETHESUN

Area88 said:

I always pay my council tax on a 0% credit card. That’s about 1500 already.

I put all my Octopus Energy bills on a credit card too. In theory, you could pay £3000 to them on a credit card and then request a refund after you meet the criteria and your bonus paid. 

You could buy online gift cards I.e Tesco - wherever you shop the most. 

All good ideas, just be careful with gift cards. Some gift card merchants can be treated as cash transactions, especially online ones.

WillPS

PRAISETHESUN said:

Area88 said:

I always pay my council tax on a 0% credit card. That’s about 1500 already.

I put all my Octopus Energy bills on a credit card too. In theory, you could pay £3000 to them on a credit card and then request a refund after you meet the criteria and your bonus paid. 

You could buy online gift cards I.e Tesco - wherever you shop the most. 

All good ideas, just be careful with gift cards. Some gift card merchants can be treated as cash transactions, especially online ones.

Not a thing with Amex.