Amex/credit cards

[Jimmytno1]

Evening all, I currently have a bog standard HSBC credit card that I pay off in full every month, I don't get any benefits with the card at all. I have been looking at an Amex card that offers up to 5% cash back for the first few months and then something like 1.25% after that. Someone has told me that you need a perfect credit score to be issued with this card, does anyone know if this is true? Or can anyone recommend another card with some perks attached to it? I spend anywhere between £500 and £2000 a month at the moment.

[Jimmytno1]

Just to add, my credit score is 892, I have had no late payments for over 12 months and am a homeowner (still paying mortgage)

[croyde]

The one problem with Amex is that it appears to be very hard to find anyone that accepts them. I got a BA one in order to bump up my airmiles but I have given up on it.

[Jimmytno1]

We don't accept it at work because the fees are so high but unfortunately we do most of our spending at the big chains who I imagine all accept it, it's hard to find and shop at independent, local outlets where I live.

[KelWedge]

Not many people accept them, because if you do accept them the charges are higher than normal Visa/ Mastercard cards.

[fadeaway]

croyde said:

The one problem with Amex is that it appears to be very hard to find anyone that accepts them. I got a BA one in order to bump up my airmiles but I have given up on it.

This gets over played a bit. If you have an Amex you definitely need to carry a second Visa/Mastercard credit card because you will find yourself in places which won't take it. But most places are fine; supermarkets, petrol stations, department stores, high street chain shops and cafes etc...

Generally it's smaller specialist or independent shops which don't take amex.

[Jimmytno1]

So does anyone know what the criteria for obtaining one is?

[sinizter]

croyde said:

The one problem with Amex is that it appears to be very hard to find anyone that accepts them. I got a BA one in order to bump up my airmiles but I have given up on it.

Rubbish. Except for the smaller independent stores and Costa/Nero everyone takes them. All your major spending can be done on it.

Personally, I have an Amex which pay up to 1.5% (previous deal), Egg Money (1%) and a Barclaycard.

And that's the order I prefer to use them in. A year's worth of cashback can add up to a nice amount.

[croyde]

sinizter said:

croyde said:

The one problem with Amex is that it appears to be very hard to find anyone that accepts them. I got a BA one in order to bump up my airmiles but I have given up on it.

Rubbish. Except for the smaller independent stores and Costa/Nero everyone takes them. All your major spending can be done on it.

Personally, I have an Amex which pay up to 1.5% (previous deal), Egg Money (1%) and a Barclaycard.

And that's the order I prefer to use them in. A year's worth of cashback can add up to a nice amount.

Well non of the restaurants around here accept them and I just got a bit miffed with being told "Sorry we don't accept those, Sir".

Always seems to be said loud enough for the other diners to hear and stare, like some one has cancelled my credit

[ViperDave]

Jimmytno1 said:

So does anyone know what the criteria for obtaining one is?

your probably not going to find out if you qualify until you apply, there is a minimum income for some of them though but that will be listed on the amex web site. Chances are you will get a card you just might not get much of a credit limit to make it useful but then you can build that up once you have a history with them.

[Jimmytno1]

ViperDave said:

your probably not going to find out if you qualify until you apply, there is a minimum income for some of them though but that will be listed on the amex web site. Chances are you will

get a card you just might not get much
of a credit limit to make it useful but then
you can build that up once you have a
history with them.

The thing is, I don't want to be declined and for that to have a negative impact on my credit score.

[Jakg]

Jimmytno1 said:

Someone has told me that you need a perfect credit score to be issued with this card

Not really - all you need is a high (over £30k) household income.

I'm 19 and have got one so it can't be that hard to get.

[ViperDave]

Do you meet their criteria? Below is taken directly from their web site, I doubt anyone will give you a definitive answer that you will be approved without them a) working for amex and b) you putting in an application. Do you have bad debt history or less than £30k income, if yes then don't apply otherwise providing you meet the other criteria, take a chance.

amex website said:

To apply online for the Platinum Cashback Credit Card, you will need to confirm the following information:

I am aged 18 or over
I have a current UK bank or building society account
I have a permanent UK home address
I have a household income of at least £30,000
I have no history of bad debt
And if I am self-employed, my company must have been trading for more than one year
If you satisfy these requirements, an application takes less than 10 minutes and you can get a response in 60 seconds – so apply now for your Platinum Cashback Credit Card.

[The Leaper]

I don't understand this "AMEX is not taken anywhere" stuff. I've had an Amex card for over 25 years, I've used it all over the UK, and I make about 20 or so transactions a month with it. I use it for petrol, restaurants, shoping, anything. I will agree there are the occasional times when it is not taken. If I did not get BA miles I'd probably not use it however.

R.

[rfisher]

The Leaper said:

I don't understand this "AMEX is not taken anywhere" stuff. I've had an Amex card for over 25 years, I've used it all over the UK, and I make about 20 or so transactions a month with it. I use it for petrol, restaurants, shoping, anything. I will agree there are the occasional times when it is not taken. If I did not get BA miles I'd probably not use it however.

R.

OK how about;

B&Q
Most car insurance companies
Most restaurants
Many cinemas

and that's just my recent experience.

However, when I noticed an unauthorised payment a few weeks ago and phoned them I was reimbursed instantly.

And the moneyback credit is a nice bonus (even though it's only around 2% of your annual spend).

[sinizter]

rfisher said:

B&Q
Most car insurance companies
Most restaurants

B+Q - Not my regular haunt, I go there once a year, so it is of no great concern.
Admiral group, Zurich both take Amex - Haven't had to use any others.
A lot of the restaurants I go to do take Amex.
Both Vue and Odeon take Amex, both for tickets at snacks.

I agree there are places which don't accept it, like my local pub, but it's not a majority in any way.

Anyway, I have had Amex for a few years now and it has been fine. You need a backup, of course. But it is definitely not as bad as it is being made out.

Edited by sinizter on Tuesday 7th June 22:11

[tali1]

Jakg said:

Jimmytno1 said:

Someone has told me that you need a perfect credit score to be issued with this card

Not really - all you need is a high (over £30k) household income.

I'm 19 and have got one so it can't be that hard to get.

Yes.
I'm under 30k earnings and i got 2Amex no probs
Also max out the card in first 3 months to get the max amount for the 5%
Amex only has 80% coverage - but you do benefit from special offers aswell at selected retailers
I also have 3 halifax cashback cards-which also are very handy
Barclaycard also have good 3 months offer
In fact be a card tart and go for all the cashback cards to grab the opening offers (moneysavingexpert is best website)

[Jimmytno1]

I applied online this morning for the platinum cash back card and the message came back saying something like "we are unable to give you an instant decision this time, we will write to you in 10 days to let you know if your application is successful ". Did anyone else get this?

[sinizter]

Jimmytno1 said:

I applied online this morning for the platinum cash back card and the message came back saying something like "we are unable to give you an instant decision this time, we will write to you in 10 days to let you know if your application is successful ". Did anyone else get this?

I did. I had to send them a copy of my ID and the card came through.

[tali1]

sinizter said:

Jimmytno1 said:

I applied online this morning for the platinum cash back card and the message came back saying something like "we are unable to give you an instant decision this time, we will write to you in 10 days to let you know if your application is successful ". Did anyone else get this?

I did. I had to send them a copy of my ID and the card came through.

Same here - but no ID request or anything- just acceptance