American Express charge card
Discussion
Beanbob said:
Looking to review my personal finances. Does anyone have an Amex charge card and if so, is it any good?
I currently have a cashback card (Amex and Visa), but the amounts received are quite insignificant in the grand scheme of things so looking for some more tangible reward scheme.
Always pay the balance monthly, so a charge card would work. I've been with Amex in one form or another for 15 years or so.
The Platinum charge card has a £450 annual fee but membership rewards (effectively cashback but via selected retailers?) offsets some of that and the unlimited access to airport lounges is appealing, as I've spent too many long hours waiting by the gate at an airport during a stopover. My partner also flies a fair amount and would be able to use it too which is a nice added bonus.
I currently pay for a packaged current account to include travel insurance and the Platinum includes that, albeit only if you book using the Amex which may be a bit restrictive as I have found travel agents tend to charge a transaction fee for Amex.
Looked at the Gold and the limit of 2x airport lounge passes was too restrictive, although it is fee-free for one year so I could try it and upgrade in a year.
Feedback gratefully received.
I had one (currently have a black) ..the coverage is similar, and it is very helpful if you travel a lot both for bookings and lounge access. You just need to be sure you understand their forex conversion as they tack on about 2% on the transaction ..should compare to your other card.I currently have a cashback card (Amex and Visa), but the amounts received are quite insignificant in the grand scheme of things so looking for some more tangible reward scheme.
Always pay the balance monthly, so a charge card would work. I've been with Amex in one form or another for 15 years or so.
The Platinum charge card has a £450 annual fee but membership rewards (effectively cashback but via selected retailers?) offsets some of that and the unlimited access to airport lounges is appealing, as I've spent too many long hours waiting by the gate at an airport during a stopover. My partner also flies a fair amount and would be able to use it too which is a nice added bonus.
I currently pay for a packaged current account to include travel insurance and the Platinum includes that, albeit only if you book using the Amex which may be a bit restrictive as I have found travel agents tend to charge a transaction fee for Amex.
Looked at the Gold and the limit of 2x airport lounge passes was too restrictive, although it is fee-free for one year so I could try it and upgrade in a year.
Feedback gratefully received.
I have an Amex Gold, and find it really good. Will likely cancel after 1 year, then reapply after the 6 month period to get another sign up bonus per the rules.
If you want to get the Amex Gold, feel free to use my referal link: you get an additional 2000 points (i.e. 22k instead of 20k).
http://amex.co.uk/refer/rafalgoJn1?CPID=100200078
If you want to get the Amex Gold, feel free to use my referal link: you get an additional 2000 points (i.e. 22k instead of 20k).
http://amex.co.uk/refer/rafalgoJn1?CPID=100200078
R33FAL said:
I have an Amex Gold, and find it really good. Will likely cancel after 1 year, then reapply after the 6 month period to get another sign up bonus per the rules.
I do something similar - switch between Gold and BA cards (the fee-paying one) every 6 months or so to receive the bonuses and avoid annual fees on the Gold card. Yes, I am a sad individual with too much free time...NickCQ said:
I do something similar - switch between Gold and BA cards (the fee-paying one) every 6 months or so to receive the bonuses and avoid annual fees on the Gold card. Yes, I am a sad individual with too much free time...
Amex is about to crack down on the practice...http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/churni...
My UK Plat card is really the one I wouldn't be without - I have other amex cards but it offers the best value combination of fee vs benefits. More than happy to refer you - bonus MR points for you and me - just PM me your email address and I will fill in the referral form.
Membership rewards are very flexible and useful, given how many partner schemes they have, with regular transfer bonuses, Airline benefits have been diluted somewhat in recent years, but the Delta lounge access is useful, as is the 2x full priority pass.
Travel insurance you are also covered if the merchant does not accept amex and you have been forced to use a different card as a result.
Also remember that medical/emergency insurance you and your family are covered regardless of payment method - ditto for the medical insurance for your supplementary card holders and their families.
If you have been with them 15 years already then you will probably be approved instantly too.
Rob on headforpoints has a few good round ups on his site that you may want to have a read of.
Much improved from years of old , and it really it is a bit daft not to accept it nowadays, with society heading more cashless.
If a merchant charges you to accept amex (vs not charging you for a visa/mastercard) then report it to amex, and they will credit you the fee, and then take it up with the retailer.
Membership rewards are very flexible and useful, given how many partner schemes they have, with regular transfer bonuses, Airline benefits have been diluted somewhat in recent years, but the Delta lounge access is useful, as is the 2x full priority pass.
Travel insurance you are also covered if the merchant does not accept amex and you have been forced to use a different card as a result.
Also remember that medical/emergency insurance you and your family are covered regardless of payment method - ditto for the medical insurance for your supplementary card holders and their families.
If you have been with them 15 years already then you will probably be approved instantly too.
Rob on headforpoints has a few good round ups on his site that you may want to have a read of.
Trabi601 said:
As you've already identified, Amex commission rates for retailers are significantly higher than for other card providers, so many smaller retailers won't take it. Make sure you have a backup card.
Have had this problem maybe a couple of times in the past year.Much improved from years of old , and it really it is a bit daft not to accept it nowadays, with society heading more cashless.
If a merchant charges you to accept amex (vs not charging you for a visa/mastercard) then report it to amex, and they will credit you the fee, and then take it up with the retailer.
Edited by GCH on Monday 13th March 03:39
Got a Platinum card and it's great if you travel a lot because you get premium membership status on a number of hotel chains as well as a lot of airline lounge access privileges. Probably not worth it if you are not a frequent traveller, but for me it is worth it....but the annual membership fees are pretty steep.
RDMcG said:
Amex is about to crack down on the practice...
http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/churni...
That was published in 2014...http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/churni...
I churn the gold card every six months for the points - it's great.
There's a tool on your account that let's you dry run a purchase to check whether it'll be approved also, which is handy given there's no formal limit to be aware of. It's been happy to let me put through 4x the limit on my BA premium card.
There's a tool on your account that let's you dry run a purchase to check whether it'll be approved also, which is handy given there's no formal limit to be aware of. It's been happy to let me put through 4x the limit on my BA premium card.
Beanbob said:
Thanks all.
Been doing some playing with the sums and I think the Amex Gold is likely to be the better bet. Although it only has two free lounge passes, I can buy others at £15 per time which is half-price compared to buying access online. That saving, plus the no-fee in year one and much lower fee after that makes for a better deal I think.
BEWARE- Amex charge 2.99% forex fee if you use the card abroad. That's why I changed from Amex Platinum to this:-Been doing some playing with the sums and I think the Amex Gold is likely to be the better bet. Although it only has two free lounge passes, I can buy others at £15 per time which is half-price compared to buying access online. That saving, plus the no-fee in year one and much lower fee after that makes for a better deal I think.
https://www.lloydsbank.com/credit-cards/avios-rewa...
bad company said:
BEWARE- Amex charge 2.99% forex fee if you use the card abroad.
This is the single biggest thing that bugs me about the UK card - a card remember that is targeted at frequent travellers. I mention it every time I am asked by customer service if I am happy with the card and the service provided.The US version of the card has no forex fee, so why the UK one still does remains a mystery...
The benefits are only as good as the use you'll get from them, I don't think the £450 fee on the platinum stacks up all that great unless you're travelling very very often.
I've put through a fairly modest sum in the last 9 months on my BA fee paying card, picked up a fair amount of avios, companion voucher etc, but not sure its anything to write home about. Same goes for the Gold one, got that for the initial offer then its just sat in my wallet (probably should cancel it actually).
Pretty much all major chains/eateries etc will take it. But there are still a lot of places that will not. And I'm in London, and still regularly get knocked back for it. Abokado being the most irritating, t
ts, they have about 50 shops, but they won't take it.
I've put through a fairly modest sum in the last 9 months on my BA fee paying card, picked up a fair amount of avios, companion voucher etc, but not sure its anything to write home about. Same goes for the Gold one, got that for the initial offer then its just sat in my wallet (probably should cancel it actually).
Pretty much all major chains/eateries etc will take it. But there are still a lot of places that will not. And I'm in London, and still regularly get knocked back for it. Abokado being the most irritating, t
ts, they have about 50 shops, but they won't take it.okgo said:
The benefits are only as good as the use you'll get from them, I don't think the £450 fee on the platinum stacks up all that great unless you're travelling very very often.
I'd agree. Unless you travel a lot, Platinum makes little sense. And Centurion makes even less sense.Another gold card member here- well worth doing. You build up a load of membership points which can be transferred to airlines rewards schemes or you can buy things through the AMEX online store. Lounge passes aren't really an issue as they only cost £15 a pop after you've used your two free ones- reality is you'd probably spend that in the airport anyway on breakfast so I wouldn't worry about it.
V12 Virgin said:
Another gold card member here- well worth doing. You build up a load of membership points which can be transferred to airlines rewards schemes or you can buy things through the AMEX online store. Lounge passes aren't really an issue as they only cost £15 a pop after you've used your two free ones- reality is you'd probably spend that in the airport anyway on breakfast so I wouldn't worry about it.
But you are paying 3% forex charges for the points. The Lloyds's card costs just £24 with no forex fees and Avios points.Gassing Station | Finance | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff