Amex platinum Charge annual fee increase

[mini2]

I thought the lifestyle team is still local (and useless)?

 

[dcooper]

After hours is outsourced to uk who are even worse

 

[vet]

In one action in the US, Amex was penalized with $88m compensation to merchants and $27m in officials' legal fees. Are merchants revolting too, ie by charging surcharges again?

 

[THE TRIMMER]

Let,s tell them we,ve had enough & we are not gunna take it any more!!!!! sij

 

[Ricardo]

Basso part of the reason I had a platinum card was for the localised experience. The US call centre so far hasn't been able to solve anything. There last comment was I'll log an issue but no one will get back to you. The Australian call centre would have followed it through. The guys in the us don't really care about surcharging etc. if it's cheaper to process a call in the us then why the increase in fees? It's all about minimising costs for Amex it seems. Plus if I've been dealing with the Australian call centre for the last 12 years then I do expect some sort of communication as it has been a selling point of platinum for a very long time

I agree, this was also a consideration for me as well, local 'premium card' = local service in my book.

Amex have kept it all quiet from what I am reading here, if we pay the new fee we have a the right to know what the service offering is in my opinion, how are the Yanks or Asian call centres going to handle my request for about 40 tickets to various cricket world cup matches in Aust and NZ when they go on sale next week ??

 

[WA flyer]

Let,s tell them we,ve had enough & we are not gunna take it any more!!!!! sij

i think most on here already have.
I was considering applying again (after my cancellation anniversary) for the benefit of 80,000 bonus points, but am still struggling to find value in it!

 

[dcooper]

How do we do this? Surely there has to be a way to petition Amex? They simply are not listening

 

[vet]

I'd say bombard FOS with grievances about unilateral increases in fees with arbitrary reductions in benefits with no fanfare: they don't explain reduced benefits at all do they?

According to numerous comments in the financial press, and a transcript from their head fellow in 2010 (iirc), their entire business model is - still - 'under attack' by the US Dept of Justice and US Asst Att General Baer over surcharges and tactics used with merchants. Sounds like Amex refuse to agree to laws that Visa and Mcard agree to follow.

 

[dcooper]

OMG i got an australian today and guess what? they solved my issue first go. I've been working with the american call centre for the last 2 weeks on this.

 

[fersea]

I'd say bombard FOS with grievances about unilateral increases in fees with arbitrary reductions in benefits with no fanfare: they don't explain reduced benefits at all do they?

According to numerous comments in the financial press, and a transcript from their head fellow in 2010 (iirc), their entire business model is - still - 'under attack' by the US Dept of Justice and US Asst Att General Baer over surcharges and tactics used with merchants. Sounds like Amex refuse to agree to laws that Visa and Mcard agree to follow.

like the government body is going to worry too much about this. I would imagine they would say If you can afford $1200 for a credit card you can probably fight your own battles. Is there anything that Amex are doing to stop you from leaving their product? No.

I would argue in many ways this is a lifestyle card rather than the provision of a financial service. There are plenty of other credit cards on the market far cheaper. The value if the card or otherwise is determined by your interpretation of the other benefits and if you are not happy choose not to continue to purchase the service.

 

[mini2]

I am with fersea on this one. Complaining to ACCC/FOS seems to be pointless given they haven't done anything wrong from a regulatory perspective...they didn't overcharge fees, whack a default on your credit file etc. Maybe start hammering them here - [email protected]?

 

[ronnie66]

I think thats the reason nothing happens. If you feel you need to take action - you should. I am also in the process and it is taken to the next level. At least you can say you tried. I feel it is far too easy to run. Go for it but don't wait for others to do it. You might get half of the fee waived - which makes it worth the action as well.

FOS worked for me. Stick to the facts.

 

[mini2]

I think thats the reason nothing happens. If you feel you need to take action - you should. I am also in the process and it is taken to the next level. At least you can say you tried. I feel it is far too easy to run. Go for it but don't wait for others to do it. You might get half of the fee waived - which makes it worth the action as well.

FOS worked for me. Stick to the facts.

Have you managed to resolve your outstanding issues with the FOS?

 

[dcooper]

How did you go with fos?

 

[mitwg]

I think thats the reason nothing happens. If you feel you need to take action - you should. I am also in the process and it is taken to the next level. At least you can say you tried. I feel it is far too easy to run. Go for it but don't wait for others to do it. You might get half of the fee waived - which makes it worth the action as well.

FOS worked for me. Stick to the facts.

From what I hear at work (I work for a Swiss based investment firm that partly operates in Australia, so we are subject to 'some' Australian regulations, including FOS), FOS generally works lol. I heard in most cases, it is cheaper to pay out whatever damages to the client than let it go to FOS because the cost of registering the complaint is huge and the decision isn't even binding on the client anyway (binding on the firm though).

 

[vet]

FOS worked for me. Stick to the facts.

I recall a lot of people on the infamous '5k/5t' and '5k/10t' promo went to FOS etc and stopped getting shafted. I know that when they tried to invoke the 'we can turn off the 3 month promo after a week' clause, someone went to the Casino & Gaming Authority because its permission was needed to 'turn off' and defer points needed to enter Amex's promo to Win Flights. And the promo was re-instated . Amex still played games but those who went to FOS and weren't intimidated and who kept shopping ended up with a 'kerzillion' points. And it's free!

 

[Rono]

Vet,

I may have missed something here... what is FOS..can you send me a link or something explaining the background?

regards

Rono

I recall a lot of people on the infamous '5k/5t' and '5k/10t' promo went to FOS etc and stopped getting shafted. I know that when they tried to invoke the 'we can turn off the 3 month promo after a week' clause, someone went to the Casino & Gaming Authority because its permission was needed to 'turn off' and defer points needed to enter Amex's promo to Win Flights. And the promo was re-instated . Amex still played games but those who went to FOS and weren't intimidated and who kept shopping ended up with a 'kerzillion' points. And it's free!

 

[vet]

[h=3]Financial Ombudsman Service

[/h]www.fos.org.au/‎

The Financial Ombudsman Service offers a free, fair & accessible service to consumers who are unable to resolve a dispute with a financial services provider.

​

[h=3]Contact details [/h]Our postal address, email addresses by department ...	[h=3]What we do [/h]We provide accessible, fair and independent dispute resolution ...
[h=3]Before you lodge a dispute [/h]Before you lodge a dispute please read some simple steps you can ...	[h=3]Members [/h]An overview of content on the Members section of the FOS ...
[h=3]Our dispute handling process [/h]... we take to resolve a dispute. Learn more about our dispute ...	[h=3]Frequently asked questions [/h]This section provides answers to questions that many people ask ...

Iirc one can lodge a complaint up to 6 years. I'll be going for 'loss of opportunity' because they delayed awarding points (and breached their contract).

 

[Cynicor]

Can I get a quick check on the priority pass changes with the plat charge?

Has it actually been improved to a full membership for yourself and a supp for unlimited entries, plus some guest entries (not sure of number)?

While not the most useful to me, it's always good to know.

 

[equus]

Yes it has. Instead of one full membership for primary, and ability to purchase discounted membership for supp, it is now full membership for primary, and also full membership for one supplementary (these are the unlimited entries for PP cardholder, pay for guests). Not sure if discounted membership option for other supplementaries still exists.

Have applied for and received the second PP (not used it though), so it is available.