10,000 bonus points per 20 transactions

[QF WP]

It is truly amazing that despite the number of times people post the T&C and how many times explanations are given that some people here are so wound up by all this that they continue to post inaccurate information. Some of the recent round of posts are sufficiently off the mark, repetitive and misleading that I seriously suspect they must be deliberately misleading.

It's very frustrating for those who are attempting to get to the facts here. At the same time I say thanks to all who are delving and posting correct information and keeping the balance correct.

Can't help but agree with you, straitman (as I know others in another thread have also said the same thing ). However, from reading the posts it does help me work out which member's opinion I regard highly and those I don't. My moderation job would be a lot easier if people stopped posting fluff :shock:...but read on I must

 

[lovetravellingoz]

At the risk of generalising here I do note that it seems to be mainly the "new" members to the forum that think paying a $1200 phone bill in $1 was a good (well that depends on ones own ethics) or smart thing (T&C would say no) to do.....

Or that doing vast numbers of small transactions at the one Coles or Kmart was a loophole (forgetting that the MR had its own terms and conditions which take precedence over the ones listed on the postcard).

Personally what I have done is to make more transactions by simply visiting more stores. This is obviously in keeping with the spirit of the promotion and should result still in a large point earn. At least I am hoping it will.

The promo was aimed at getting cardholders to transact more often with more stores.

It was not about making more transactions at only one store or business. Those that have gone to town on this will most likely be in for a surprise...and not the 1,000,000 point one they were hoping for.

 

[glass]

I do not understand this statement at all. If you spend $1 at a store that takes Amex but you dont get the bonus you still get the $1 worth of product that you bought. The only issue arises if you either buy things that you dont need to get the bonus or change time f purchases to get the correct number of purchases in the right period.

I you making general buying decisions based on this promo then Amex are not at fault - they clearly said that points would post in 8-10 weeks (even though they posted ahead of time).

If you are choosing where to buy based on this promo and with price parity between stores you are better to buy from the Amex friendly store as you will earn normal points.

I am saying, if I buy eg a 2L bottle of coke from shop A by cash for $3, and shop B by amex for $4, then I've got the same product but spent $1 more for the bonus.
Or it could just be a surcharge or whatever diff but that choice is made by balancing 'extra cost' vs 'extra points'?

 

[rodgerbranch]

Do not acept T&C explained over the Phone unless they send you a Written Copy

Hi all,

I just phoned Amex Plat service and was put through to MR. The lady on the phone confirmed I am enrolled in 5K/5T and because I enrolled on 16th I am still enrolled, however she did say that everyone enrolled will get a phone call to clarify the situation and I am due to get my call tomorrow AM.

Furthermore she commented the program was canned due to a high number of people abusing the system. She commented one person had paid $1200 phone bill in $1 payments and furthermore Coles and wollies had both complained about the number of multiple small transactions. Seems someone had told them about the program and they didn't like having their time wasted.

I await the phonecall from amex for further information.

ejb

Well, I dont know how good is to get a PHONE CALL from AMEX and get the new T&C explained Verbaly...

Remember??? Originally they explain to all of us the T&C over the Phone and that counts for very little right now
I am sure that many people also asked "ARE YOU SURE IT IS UNLIMITED??? AND NO MINIMUM PURCHASE VALUE???"

 

[deploy]

After reading a number of posts (post 1462 & 1464)

I advised my wife to call AMEX again.
And this time an AMEX CSR (Adrian) advised my wife the following:

AMEX CSR who told me that we are on the old T&Cs with unlimited bonus points is Adrian. He gave me a case number to confirm that I've been told that I'm on the unlimited T&Cs. Case number is xx_xx_xx_. (i purposely replaced case#)

It seems different AMEX CSRs are providing us different information.

AMEX CSRs are confused, however, its not them to blame, its the upper management at AMEX that arent providing their staff clear directions. Hence, no wonder we are all confused.
Unless AMEX come clean with the whole process & direction, we can only guess at this stage.

As 'pwanda' mentioned earlier, otherwise will have to wait 8-10 weeks to determine result. I will continue to use my AMEX as in the past, if i receive no additional bonus points (i will be disappointed - but i guess tough luck to me), and will take with me a lasting impression of AMEX as an unorganised/ untrusting ENTITY (bads news travels much faster than good news)

 

[lovetravellingoz]

What is a loophole?

Something that you can take advantage of.

However a loophole is not a loophole if there is in fact something which prevents it being a loophole. The general provisions on abuse, and that Amex gets to determine what is abuse, means that for this promotion what many thought was a loophole was instead an express ticket to get excluded from the promotion.

The abuse provision being Amex's own loophole for those overdoing what they thought were loopholes..!!!

 

[asdfghjkl32]

Now when I call them, they just say that it's experiencing problem in the system, always ask me to call back in 3 or 4 hours.... today is better..... 1 or 2 hours they have asked.

Finally their system is back ON, however, they can't sign me up, said I'm not eligible to this program... I have a Qantas AMEX card, although I did not receive the letter or postcard.

Did anyone successfully sign up with my case??

 

[file51]

Can't help but agree with you, straitman (as I know others in another thread have also said the same thing ). However, from reading the posts it does help me work out which member's opinion I regard highly and those I don't. My moderation job would be a lot easier if people stopped posting fluff :shock:...but read on I must

Agree 100%

Instead of getting all sooky and whine about what could have been, firstly wait till something comes from Amex (phone or letter), or use the current amended T&C, and put something in writing.

By ringing up the MR service centre every day is not going to assist in any way, and whilst new and valid information is encouraged, for those that don't agree with what is going on, send a letter of complaint. I don't agree and have sent a letter, can't really do much else.

You can't open up a complaint effectively with bodies such as ACCC until this is done, and whilst I have no idea of the reply, if your complaint is worded correctly, and you registered on the day before/during or after the changes have been set at, you may be surprised at the response.

By no means am I saying an exception will be made, or you will suddenly become a "have" and not a "have not", or vice-versa. However you will then know exactly where you stand and if you wish to take things further, then so be it.

 

[rodgerbranch]

Unlimited means Unlimited

What is a loophole?

Something that you can take advantage of.

However a loophole is not a loophole if there is in fact something which prevents it being a loophole. The general provisions on abuse, and that Amex gets to determine what is abuse, means that for this promotion what many thought was a loophole was instead an express ticket to get excluded from the promotion.

I agree with that... The Promo was to end up like this since day 1... It is human nature to try to get the best out of any oportunity you are given....

I think (correct me if I am wrong) that most of us realized that Unlimited sound too good therefore we asked as many questions as possible while signing to acertain if Unlimited was really Unlimited and maybe many of us also ask: What is the Minimum purchase required ?????

If you are reassured by Amex that you are enrolled in a promo that is designed to give you UNLIMITED points and the only requirement to get as many points as possible is to make as many transactions as possible without any kind of limit to how many times a day you can visit the same shop or what is the minimum purchase or if you can or not pay a $1200 bill in 1200 $1 payments.... then they did very wrong there and customers can not be acused of abuse... They told us to make as many transactions as possible... It was an implied sugestion by publishing their T&C containing the wording 5kPoints for 5transactions Unlimited or No Cap monthly points until 31DEC

In my View Customers have been abuse... Some of us (like in my personal case) would decide to buy something for a couple or more than a couple dollars more from a shop where Amex was acepted instead of buying it cheaper from another shop with you Visa or MAster Card Just Becuse we were going to receive something that may now be taken away ...

In summary we did play by their rules ... they made a misstake by not limiting the Promo... They Bridged some Consumer's laws by making people buy buy buy and then removing retrospectivelly the offer and change it... For sure we wont be able to get back any monies we lost on this....

 

[deploy]

I am having problems responding to post.
Tried to post 2, without luck

 

[QF WP]

deploy, the problem has been fixed. As a new member, your first post has to be confirmed by a moderator and then officially becomes your post #1. Sorry, I missed seeing the little symbol in your first post earlier (#1477 now), hence your confusion with posting the same message again (#1507). Now you can post away...

 

[deploy]

Obivously the last post worked.

Is their things i can say or cant say about AMEX. (Surely i didnt mention anything out of line)
Just wondering do messages get Quarantine?

 

[vet]

Just some quick observations: The 'one day' for points to be allocated and transferrable to velocity is also in amex's web promo of the prizes if 2000 pts or more are transferred to velocity. I can't imagine lottery permits allowed amex to change terms (and another promoter was convicted for changing terms) or to take 8-10 weeks before deciding if you are in or out of a lottery drawn on 30th Sept. Obviously if one has 5 transactions, one will want to transfer those points as 2,000 and 3,000 points to get 2 entries into the draw, and amex's logistical problems in checking transactions is their problem caused, I'd say, by not defining 'fraud or abuse..' or defining transactions. A purchase is a purchase whereas a financial transaction might be $1 financial transactions. The ACCC's laws might not apply if amex is covered by s51AF trade practices act. ASIC might be the body to look into things, but it'll only do so if there are enough complaints on www.asic.gov.au. The people at fob.org.au say they can mediate disputes over terms and conditions, eg if amex can retrospectively amend terms and decide whether people with/without postcards cards are in or out, etc. Do I bother changing over from citibank platinum/qantas to amex/virgin.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Re: Unlimited means Unlimited

any kind of limit to how many times a day you can visit the same shop or what is the minimum purchase or if you can or not pay a $1200 bill in 1200 $1 payments.... then they did very wrong there and customers can not be accused of abuse...

Why can't they when the facts would show that they clearly did.

Also apart from the MR T&C...how about a bit of common sense?

Did you really really think that Amex wanted to reward people with 1,200,000 points for paying what should really have only been one transaction of $1200??? Or that some exception report might not pop up?

A contract has to deliver benefit to each party. What do Amex gain by you making one transaction into 1200? = zero additional benefit.

If on the other hand you visit 1200 different stores...what do Amex gain? They gain transactions at all those 26,000 business they just signed where Amex had told them that it would deliver to them customers.

As to visiting the same shop..as per early in the thread that no doubt will get back to what is reasonable. Can you reasonably explain 300 transactions of $1.99 at the one Coles in one day? Me thinks not.

 

[oz_mark]

Just some quick observations: The 'one day' for points to be allocated and transferrable to velocity is also in amex's web promo of the prizes if 2000 pts or more are transferred to velocity. I can't imagine lottery permits allowed amex to change terms (and another promoter was convicted for changing terms) or to take 8-10 weeks before deciding if you are in or out of a lottery drawn on 30th Sept. Obviously if one has 5 transactions, one will want to transfer those points as 2,000 and 3,000 points to get 2 entries into the draw, and amex's logistical problems in checking transactions is their problem caused, I'd say, by not defining 'fraud or abuse..' or defining transactions. A purchase is a purchase whereas a financial transaction might be $1 financial transactions. The ACCC's laws might not apply if amex is covered by s51AF trade practices act. ASIC might be the body to look into things, but it'll only do so if there are enough complaints on www.asic.gov.au. The people at fob.org.au say they can mediate disputes over terms and conditions, eg if amex can retrospectively amend terms and decide whether people with/without postcards cards are in or out, etc. Do I bother changing over from citibank platinum/qantas to amex/virgin.

I think you are confusing two issues:

1) The time taken to transfer from MR across to Velocity (may well be a day)
2) The time taken to transfer bonus points from the promotion into MR.

The two are not linked, and you cannot post from MR to Velocity until the points have been creditted to your MR account. The posting of points _into_ MR is not bound by the conditions of the competition.

 

[LDJordan]

Called AMEX

NEW T&C already appears on AMEX website.

The amended terms and conditions apply to all Cardmembers who enrolled in the offer from Saturday, 20 September, as advised at the time of enrolment.

The main change is that we have introduced a maximum of 10,000 bonus points per month.

Please allow 8 to 10 weeks for the bonus points to be credited to your account.

.....

 

[Mal]

Furthermore she commented the program was canned due to a high number of people abusing the system. She commented one person had paid $1200 phone bill in $1 payments and furthermore Coles and wollies had both complained about the number of multiple small transactions. Seems someone had told them about the program and they didn't like having their time wasted.

Perhaps these were just examples given by higher up Amex staff as to how abuse could occur. Not everything told to low-level CSA's is as it seems.

Would Coles/Woolies complain? Do they have the visibility over Amex transactions to tell?

Can't wait till my phone call. Perhaps then I can get some clarity over the situation and what Amex have in store for me.

Just like 'fraud', 'abuse' is also a strong term to use. Amex had better be careful as to what they accuse cardmembers of doing.

 

[Mal]

Amex tell me they've deregistered people from the 5k/5t promo., and put them on a $1/1 point deal, yet they've wiped off my points for petrol, and pre-lunch drinks yesterday and lunch yesterday. Now that'll be litigated.

That is just plain weird, and I would be interested in the situation behind their de-registering. Have you asked? If they quote anything that can be portrayed negatively towards you (from another person's opinion), make sure you write it down for later reference!

 

[warrenkole]

Re: Unlimited means Unlimited

A contract has to deliver benefit to each party. What do Amex gain by you making one transaction into 1200? = zero additional benefit.

I don't agree with you on this point. Amex would most likely receive the same amount of merchant fees from the 1 transaction @ $1200 as they would for the 1200 transactions @ $1.

In many cases, people have fee-free amex cards and pay off their outstanding balances each month, hence not incurring any interest charges. So Amex keep rewarding these customers with free MR points just like they do with everybody else.

Amex should be careful when using terms such as abuse or fraud. A $1 transaction is just as legal as a $1200 transaction aswell as a $0.01 transaction. And yes, I have received bills in the past for $0.01, $0.02 and even $0.00 ! The $0.00 bills kept coming for many months due to this particular merchant's inability to round off.

All of this mess is Amex's own doing. They should have imposed stricter T&C's with this promotion.

I wonder if my next door neighbor who works for Today Tonight would be interested in this story

 

[file51]

Called AMEX

NEW T&C already appears on AMEX website.

The amended terms and conditions apply to all Cardmembers who enrolled in the offer from Saturday, 20 September, as advised at the time of enrolment......

Interesting considering people here, including myself were being told (or sorry, were advised) at the time of enrolment that the no limit on bonus points was correct, and this was done till at least the 24th of September.