AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[SOPOOR]

I just paid another council 2296 and was surcharged 1% too for PayPal.. so 0589 and 2296.

edit: 0589 was 1% and 2296 was 0.8% for PayPal

This is very disturbing since i spend hraps via paypal and billpay.

If surchargibg is going to become the norm ill have to bite the bullet and use prepaid cards

Less effectivr and a hell of a lot more headaches

 

[Mr_Orange]

The tale of lying private health professionals continues....

Two instances recently where I was told that they do not accept Amex, the dentist and an allergy clinic. On both occasions I told them Amex is my only card and both times they admitted to taking Amex but didn't like the surcharge. The dentist was most resistant involving phone calls to the off-site boss. I was even told this would be a once off, never to be repeated. I helpfully suggested they contact Amex to negotiate a lower merchant fee.

A third, an obstetrician, claims not to take Amex also (having done so a couple of years ago) but when I gave card details over the phone, ran it through no problem.

The Take Amex site is no good for reporting this sort of behaviour. What bit of Amex do you think I should call?

 

[Colin 2905]

Now here's something that I hadn't encountered before......

I bought a replacement mower part from Canberra Mower Centre in Fyshwick last week. When I saw the Amex logo on the screen of their EFTPOS terminal, I thought, "Beauty, I'll pay by Amex and get a few extra points".

Transaction failed..... because they don't take Amex. WTF?!?

 

[Mr_Orange]

Now here's something that I hadn't encountered before......

I bought a replacement mower part from Canberra Mower Centre in Fyshwick last week. When I saw the Amex logo on the screen of their EFTPOS terminal, I thought, "Beauty, I'll pay by Amex and get a few extra points".

Transaction failed..... because they don't take Amex. WTF?!?

I have seen that many times, particularly with the new CBA 'tablet' terminal. It seems the Amex logo is there by default and is difficult to switch off.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Does anyone else actually believe that Vodafone pays 2.365% (2.15% +GST) to Amex?

Now that it is after 1st September, I would like to challenge that figure, but who on earth do you talk to? Calling the overseas call centre will be a complete waste of time and just drive me up the wall.....

Any ideas from the brains trust?

 

[Jacques Vert]

Does anyone else actually believe that Vodafone pays 2.365% (2.15% +GST) to Amex?

Now that it is after 1st September, I would like to challenge that figure, but who on earth do you talk to? Calling the overseas call centre will be a complete waste of time and just drive me up the wall.....

Any ideas from the brains trust?

I found a page on-line in relation to reporting unreasonable AMEX surcharges; it said ring the number on the back of your card. I rang and the chap emailed me a link for reporting surcharges. I clicked on the link...........and it took me to the page that said "ring the phone number on the back of your card".

Very helpful.

 

[wxxnxs]

Does anyone else actually believe that Vodafone pays 2.365% (2.15% +GST) to Amex?

Now that it is after 1st September, I would like to challenge that figure, but who on earth do you talk to? Calling the overseas call centre will be a complete waste of time and just drive me up the wall.....

Any ideas from the brains trust?

Don't even bother to challenge, I have logged a complaint to ACCC for DEFT, as well as other merchants which charge excessive surcharges on credit cards, however, there is no action so far from ACCC, and all of those merchants are doing exactly the same as they used to be. I guess there is no enforcement for any of the business to follow the rule, the new credit card surcharge rule is a joke.

 

[cove]

Our business is compliant. No need to charge any more than it costs. Often we don’t recover the cost.

 

[BettyB]

Got an insurance bill for NRMA ($800). They don't take AMEX. Was told I couldn't split the payment over multiple cards like Visa 1 cards or similar pre-paid gift cards. Any suggestions of how to get around it?

 

[serfty]

Got an insurance bill for NRMA ($800). They don't take AMEX. Was told I couldn't split the payment over multiple cards like Visa 1 cards or similar pre-paid gift cards. Any suggestions of how to get around it?

Can you pay online?

 

[BettyB]

Can you pay online?

VISA, MasterCard and BPay only. I'd like to use my AMEX for maximum points.

 

[daft009]

VISA, MasterCard and BPay only. I'd like to use my AMEX for maximum points.

Nrma I use PayPal and then Amex that way

 

[blueythecat]

Nrma I use PayPal and then Amex that way

Me too, works a treat!

 

[Jacques Vert]

Nrma I use PayPal and then Amex that way

Me too.

Note: you need to set up a log in to My NRMA to see the Pay Pal option. (At least, that's what I had to do.)

 

[BettyB]

Me too.

Note: you need to set up a log in to My NRMA to see the Pay Pal option. (At least, that's what I had to do.)

Nrma I use PayPal and then Amex that way

Thanks! Hadn't even seen that option. So many points that I appear to have missed out on earning over the years

 

[Mrmaxwell]

I recently got my first AMEX card (late to the party) and have found it very interesting in the way business is using AMEX payments to profit and/or give a terrible customer service experience.

A few hotels I have stayed at across different brands have all charged a 3% surcharge which adds up over time ($15-$40 charge per night!) while some fine dine establishments have listed 4% surcharge when trying to pay for a bill. One restaurant waiter made a big deal of my attempt to pay with AMEX by exclaiming to the table 'if you pay with that card I'll have to go back and re-print the bill with the large surcharge sir' - I called over the manager to ask why they were trying to ruin a great meal by doing this during payment - the manager happily put the transaction through with a 1% surcharge.

I have called AMEX to discuss and was basically told the new surcharge rule does not apply to AMEX as they are not under APRA authority (only financial bodies with banking licenses?) and all I can do is complain to each merchant to lower the surcharge. Not exactly a solution.

 

[Mr_Orange]

I have called AMEX to discuss and was basically told the new surcharge rule does not apply to AMEX as they are not under APRA authority (only financial bodies with banking licenses?) and all I can do is complain to each merchant to lower the surcharge. Not exactly a solution.

This is true, however bank-issued Amex cards do fall under the new regulations so I don't see how a business can surcharge more for one type of Amex compared to another.

By charging 4% to a holder of a bank-issued Amex, the business would in all likelihood be in contravention of the regulations.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Thanks! Hadn't even seen that option. So many points that I appear to have missed out on earning over the years

I wouldn't be too hard on yourself. I've only been doing this for the last 18 months. Not sure how long it has been an option.

 

[BettyB]

Thanks! Hadn't even seen that option. So many points that I appear to have missed out on earning over the years

Just reporting back that this worked no problems at all. Thanks again for the tip. Showed up on my statement as...

'PAYPAL* SAN JOSE'

It did only generate 1 point per dollar.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Just reporting back that this worked no problems at all. Thanks again for the tip. Showed up on my statement as...

'PAYPAL* SAN JOSE'

It did only generate 1 point per dollar.

Paypal will only ever yield 1ppd so don't be tempted to use Paypal for an online hotel booking, for example, as you will not get your bonus ppd.