Amex preferred rewards gold - new cardholder eligibility

Emily_Joy

My OH has an Amex Rewards Credit Card (blue one) and has had it for some years, after he downgraded from Gold a few years back. Several days ago he received an invitation via online banking to apply for a Gold Card with some extra bonuses. Based on the Amex website, I deduce that he won't be treated as a "new customer" and he is in fact would not be eligible for extra bonus and will have to pay annual fee (195 GBP).

But what is confusing me is that he received this "offer" via online Amex account. Why would they be sending marketing like that to someone who is definitely non-eligible?

Apart from calling AMEX for clarification, any experience or suggestions?

QrizB

Your OH wouldn't qualify for the normal "new customer" bonuses, but Amex can offer him something different if they choose to.

Check the terms of the specific offer Amex have made, rather than the generic one. They might well be different.

GrubbyGirl_2

Maybe they rely on people not checking the T&Cs

Emily_Joy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82059839#Comment_82059839

I checked... it still says the fee is charged after the first year. I am not sure whether the first year refers to first year with Amex gold or first year with Amex in general...

NoodleDoodleMan

I've always found AMEX customer services answer 'phone calls quickly and efficiently - may I suggest that would be the best way to get an answer to this question ?

Maegi

Contact Amex as it might be a bespoke upgrade.

Emily_Joy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82060177#Comment_82060177

Alas my OH is traumatised at the moment after having spent 2.5 hours on a phone with HSBC who rejected his ISA transfer request for no good reason after sitting on it for 2 months and it would be difficult to convince him to call any financial institution unless there is a compelling reason such as fraud.

QrizB

it still says the fee is charged after the first year. I am not sure whether the first year refers to first year with Amex gold

It will be the first year with the Amex Gold.

I've always found AMEX customer services answer 'phone calls quickly and efficiently

I've also found Amex CS to be a breath of fresh air, but in this case I don't think you need to call them.

it would be difficult to convince him to call any financial institution unless there is a compelling reason such as fraud.

No-one is forcing him to take the Amex Gold offer. It's his choice.

Has he expressed an interest in it? Does he know you're asking questions her on his behalf? It seems almost as though you're trying to find problems where there are none?

Emily_Joy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82060872#Comment_82060872

Perhaps their customer service is good, but I have just spent good 20 minutes navigating Amex UK website trying to find details of my introductory Amex offer. I have not succeeded. There is a lot of information about offers I can take - but I was not able to find the part I am actually looking for.

Edit to add: I have checked all emails I have received from Amex so far to discover that there is no details of the Welcome Bonus offer in any of them! That's simply appalling. 😣

bozo007

I received an email in June from Amex offering a choice between the Gold Preferred Rewards card or the Platinum one; I currently have their cashback credit card. Both options had a pretty good bonus available if I hit the spending threshold in the period mentioned. The email specifically said it is a bespoke offer for me as an existing customer.