AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[rhjames]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

I don't know about late payment for Amex. I have automatic payment of the account each month to be sure I never miss payment. Never in my life have I paid interest or late penalty on a credit card. I try to use Amex when travelling overseas on business just to keep the charges separate from personal charges which I put on visa. If the exchange rates are better, it looks like I'm doing the right thing. I normally don't bother with Amex in Australia - to many rejects or 5% charge.

 

[ethernet]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

To re-iterate, the main AMEX advantage is having an American issued one, not an Australian one, because on hire cars you get free CDW and insurance of sorts. Plus if you are an accountant, sometimes they offer you deals not available to others - discounted interst rate yada yada.

The car hire insurance in aussie is a scam - overpriced, 'comprensive' is not and does not include rooftop or underbody damage - ie hail or massive potholes. Also breaking TPA - try declining THEIR insurance, and using another.

There was some talk of Visa/Banks offering Car Hire Insurance products, but looks like a behind the scenes deal was struck. So looks line AMEX just bleeds market share.

 

[imbruce]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Ethernet you said you have an USA Amex Card, how did you get it?
also just another thing I forgot to mention I have a UK BA Amex card and also I am a member of BA's Executive FF program and there is no annual card Amex fee or BA fee all our cards are fee free must be another Aussie con.

 

[pauly7]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

I normally don't bother with Amex in Australia - to many rejects or 5% charge.

That's quite bizarre, I get 8/10 purchases on my Amex nowdays, they are really rolling out aggresively.

However I do notice certain 'areas' of Australia are not targetted by Amex. At a function recently I spoke to a Cards manager from Amex, and thought everyone might find this interesting but Amex targets retailers by demographic area as well.... so for example, where I live in Sydney, nearly every store now accepts Amex, where as some other parts (dare I say out west! ) will not have such a high acceptance rate.

Might help to explain why some people here are finding them harder to use than others.

 

[JohnK]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

I find that Amex is accepted at more places all the time in Australia. Some have a surcharge but the majority do not have a surcharge and where they do have a surcharge it is for all credit cards.

I can now pay Medibank Private with Amex and most doctors surgeries accept Amex as well. Major Supermarkets, petrol stations, department stores, computer stores, car hire companies, airlines and hotels also accept Amex. Just about covers most of the places I want to use a credit card. It is strange that business like McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut etc do not accept Amex.

In SE Asia Amex is not accepted as much but I do not use credit cards that often over there anyway. I have noticed that most travel shops do not accept Amex and if they do accept Amex it occurs a 3% surcharge. Accommodation is almost split 50/50 on Amex acceptance but most major hotel chains accept Amex. Also strange that the JQ website does not accept Amex if travel is originated from overseas.

 

[rhjames]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

That's quite bizarre, I get 8/10 purchases on my Amex nowdays, they are really rolling out aggresively.
.

Come to think of it, the only thing I buy when at home is groceries and petrol. I detest going to shopping centres. I rarely buy clothes (rely on Christmas presents for that and bulk purchase in Asia). Petrol stations are often a problem, but I thing supermarkets might be ok - haven't tried for a few years, so I'll give it a go. Taxi is a pain - over $100, they have to ring for approval - normally when I'm rushing for a plane.

France for example, I don't think you can find a taxi to take any credit card. Japan it's all cash. I'll try Amex more often, rather than just assume it's not accepted and see how I go.

 

[imbruce]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

[France for example, I don't think you can find a taxi to take any credit card. Japan it's all cash. I'll try Amex more often, rather than just assume it's not accepted and see how I go.[/quote]

If u are coming to the UK Amex is accepted, not sure about Black cabs though and only some take credit cards, best to have cash in case.
Shell & BP will take credit cards both in Aus and UK.

 

[NYCguy]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

France for example, I don't think you can find a taxi to take any credit card. Japan it's all cash.

And watch what happens when you hand the average New York cabbie a credit-card. Technically they are supposed to accept them, but in practice...

 

[Mal]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

And watch what happens when you hand the average New York cabbie a credit-card. Technically they are supposed to accept them, but in practice...

The Taxi Licensing Commission are doing a crackdown on cabbies not accepting Credit Cards in NY at the moment by 'mystery shopping' cabs. According to some reports, people are surprisingly having a lot less issues with using credit cards as a result... (although, if you look like a tourist, then you're easy prey)

 

[StevePER]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Their cust serv is also ok in my opinion but their late charge policy is really crazy. One missed payment and not only you'll get $30 late fee, interest backdated since day 1 (ie: 55 days) as if you never benefited from that 55 days interest free days.

Amusingly our finance department at work forgot to pay the December Amex bill for the entire company and got hit with a late fee + interest on every card!

 

[rhjames]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Amusingly our finance department at work forgot to pay the December Amex bill for the entire company and got hit with a late fee + interest on every card!

I wonder how your ex accountant is getting on?

 

[NYCguy]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

The Taxi Licensing Commission are doing a crackdown on cabbies not accepting Credit Cards in NY at the moment by 'mystery shopping' cabs. According to some reports, people are surprisingly having a lot less issues with using credit cards as a result... (although, if you look like a tourist, then you're easy prey)

Well, the crackdown is reassuring, but in the end "accepting" the card doesn't mean that they will accept it graciously!

 

[Mal]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Amusingly our finance department at work forgot to pay the December Amex bill for the entire company and got hit with a late fee + interest on every card!

Ouch, do you earn MR points from your work card? They also may not be credited for that month as well without a reinstatement fee of $20 per card due to the payment not being made in 40 days from statement date. (per https://www.mronline.americanexpress.com/PF/FrontServlet?request_type=FAQ#1 )

 

[oz_mark]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Amusingly our finance department at work forgot to pay the December Amex bill for the entire company and got hit with a late fee + interest on every card!

Happened in the company I worked for, then the comapny tried to pin the late fees on the employees, with a 'your personally liable for your card' type missive. They backed down quick smart.

 

[StevePER]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Ouch, do you earn MR points from your work card? They also may not be credited for that month as well without a reinstatement fee of $20 per card due to the payment not being made in 40 days from statement date. (per https://www.mronline.americanexpress.com/PF/FrontServlet?request_type=FAQ#1 )

No MR on that card, until they start putting flights and accommodation on the card it's not worth it. Even then the MR annual fee would make me think twice.

 

[Chicken]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

France for example, I don't think you can find a taxi to take any credit card.

Forget AmEx. The French don't even like MasterCard. I learnt this last month, going there first time.

When I was at the metro station, tried using my MasterCard at automatic ticket machine, just won't work. So I went to the counter. I asked her if I could pay by card. She told me yes. Gave her my AmEx, and she said Visa. So I thought, OK, gave her my Earth+ MasterCard, since there is no commission on this WBC Earth+. She said no again. I was confused. So I asked again in case she was not good with English, and she said I could pay by plastic. So I repeated "No MasterCard?" She said "No, Visa". Now this is starting to sink in, so I shown her my Citibank Visa card, she said yes, but I need to use automatic ticket machines because she does not have EFTPOS at counter.

Guess what? My Citibank free for life Visa with 3.4% commission worked!

So I went to another restaurant, again, no AmEx, no MasterCard, only Visa.

 

[serfty]

Noted on my MEL Airport long term parking slip this weekend a 2% surcharge on Diners and AMEX.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Noted on my MEL Airport long term parking slip this weekend a 2% surcharge on Diners and AMEX.

thanks for that...


That must be new as I have been paying with my Amex fora while....and I don't recall seeinga surcharge.

Will have to use my Citibank in March.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Noted on my MEL Airport long term parking slip this weekend a 2% surcharge on Diners and AMEX.

I guess it won't be long till that little money earner spreads to other areas of the airport, and to other airports around Australia.

(As a side note, at Perth Airport (that epitome of world best practice in airport operations), at car parking stations, credit cards are classed as expired from the start of the month they expire, not the end!)

 

[serfty]

Yes, even stranger was the expected $40 cost was actually $39 and while paying with AMEX, no 2% surcharge was evident. Perhaps they are still updating their systems.