AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[Flashback]

I called Amex Platinum Travel to book a hotel in Bangkok...

Guess what? 1.7% merchant fee to use my american express card with american express.

Jumped straight onto that site to report that my card wasn't welcomed and a surcharge was charged.

We'll see if I get a call...

I like your style!

 

[straitman]

I called Amex Platinum Travel to book a hotel in Bangkok...

Guess what? 1.7% merchant fee to use my american express card with american express.

Jumped straight onto that site to report that my card wasn't welcomed and a surcharge was charged.

We'll see if I get a call...

I will be very interested to hear the outcome of this one.

It really leaves me shaking my head :!:

 

[lovestotravel]

I called Amex Platinum Travel to book a hotel in Bangkok...

Guess what? 1.7% merchant fee to use my american express card with american express.

Jumped straight onto that site to report that my card wasn't welcomed and a surcharge was charged.

We'll see if I get a call...

You won't get a call, you'll get a few emails over the course of 6-12 months, with the outcome of "no change"

I think that having to pay a surcharge to use Amex travel is a BIG BIG FAIL

 

[lovestotravel]

A "new" airline flying internationally from Australia

Fly Strategic > Home

• American Express: 3.90% :shock:
• Diners Club: 3.90% :shock:
• MasterCard: 1.85% :shock:
• VISA: 1.85% :shock:

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Today I received emails from Amex stating that the surcharge at Wow Sight & Sound has now been removed - and I also noticed that in the WOW printed (junk mail) catalogue, the Amex logo is approx. 6x the size of any other card logo - obviously they've struck a deal (which is good, because I've been avoiding shopping there ever since)

On the other hand, McDonald's and Amex have been bombarding the radio waves with their latest joint advertisment - something like "turn your hamburgers in to a trip to Hamburg, and turn your french fries into a trip to France - American Express, now welcome at all McDonald's restaurants nationwide"... despite this, when trying to use Amex at Maccas today, the machine only gave me the options for Savings & Cheque (I know, what the???)... tried on more than one machine, and the same response... not impressed... (and yes, they have already been reported to Amex)

 

[lowan74]

Earlier this year I "reported" BP Northgate - Wollongong for charging a surcharge - recently I received a reply from Amex that they had stopped surcharging - was surprised to return to the store for the first time recently and find that they were still surcharging... Will fill out the form again..

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Was it an AMEX-specific surcharge, or did the same surcharge apply to Visa & MasterCard transactions? The emails back from AMEX generally refer only to AMEX-specific surcharges, so if a business charges the same for Visa, MasterCard & AMEX, then AMEX views it as having no "differential surcharge", and will then send the response you received.

 

[aasz1978]

Look, wouldn't it be easier to have a sticky thread where we all can list down all vendors that do accept AMEX and do not charge Surcharge.

That way, you are practically hurting where it matters.

Now, I have recently decided to go drastic and stopped services or stopped shopping in places where AMEX is not accepted or surcharged.

For example:
HBA Content Insurance -> GIO
RACV Home Insurance -> GIO
AAMI Car Insurance -> GIO
RACV Car Insurance -> GIO
HBA Health Insurance -> HCF
Simply Energy - Electricity -> Click Energy
Simply Energy - Gas -> Energy Australia
JB Hifi (Games) -> EBgames with Price Match
JB Hifi (Movie/Music) -> Imported from Overseas with AMEX ok (Yesasia.com)

Fast food choice - McD, Nandos (selected).

The only place where I probably have to use my Visa would be
Those chinese take aways / some stalls
Vicroads Rego
Council Rates
Water rates (monopoly)

So how about it. I've done my practical bit.

 

[Diesellife]

It's crazy to see a surcharge in BP. You may get better result by calling their headoffice.

I had an incident with 7-11 earlier this year. The counter had a sign that no Amex accepted for transport ticket purchase. And of course he refused to take my Amex at the checkout. I then used the concierge service and ask them to lookup 7-11's headoffice number. The counter guy who was actually the store owner then offered to accept my card and in return asked me to hang up the call. I refused and spoke to the general manager and explained the situation.

In the end the GM called the store directly and I got the weekly ticket for free. I also threaten the owner to put the sign away or I will keep calling until you lose your franchaise.

 

[lowan74]

Was it an AMEX-specific surcharge, or did the same surcharge apply to Visa & MasterCard transactions? The emails back from AMEX generally refer only to AMEX-specific surcharges, so if a business charges the same for Visa, MasterCard & AMEX, then AMEX views it as having no "differential surcharge", and will then send the response you received.

It was an Amex specific surcharge.. Visa/MC were not surcharged

 

[rechoboam]

I don't really understand how surcharging Amex is so unacceptable or what contract they are breaching. I don't surcharge anyone myself, I just say thanks for the income, but don't they have the ability to make foolish decisions like this? What are the Amex rules that they are contravening?

 

[aschmid]

Look, wouldn't it be easier to have a sticky thread where we all can list down all vendors that do accept AMEX and do not charge Surcharge.

That way, you are practically hurting where it matters.

Now, I have recently decided to go drastic and stopped services or stopped shopping in places where AMEX is not accepted or surcharged.

For example:
HBA Content Insurance -> GIO
RACV Home Insurance -> GIO
AAMI Car Insurance -> GIO
RACV Car Insurance -> GIO
HBA Health Insurance -> HCF
Simply Energy - Electricity -> Click Energy
Simply Energy - Gas -> Energy Australia
JB Hifi (Games) -> EBgames with Price Match
JB Hifi (Movie/Music) -> Imported from Overseas with AMEX ok (Yesasia.com)

Fast food choice - McD, Nandos (selected).

The only place where I probably have to use my Visa would be
Those chinese take aways / some stalls
Vicroads Rego
Council Rates
Water rates (monopoly)

So how about it. I've done my practical bit.

Does AAMI not accept or surcharge? I was just going to change to them and when I make a quote they show AMEX as an acceptable method of payment. Please let me know before I make the switch!

 

[docjames]

It's crazy to see a surcharge in BP. You may get better result by calling their headoffice.

I had an incident with 7-11 earlier this year. The counter had a sign that no Amex accepted for transport ticket purchase. And of course he refused to take my Amex at the checkout. I then used the concierge service and ask them to lookup 7-11's headoffice number. The counter guy who was actually the store owner then offered to accept my card and in return asked me to hang up the call. I refused and spoke to the general manager and explained the situation.

In the end the GM called the store directly and I got the weekly ticket for free. I also threaten the owner to put the sign away or I will keep calling until you lose your franchaise.

Wow, harsh (but probably fair!).

 

[auriga]

Does AAMI not accept or surcharge? I was just going to change to them and when I make a quote they show AMEX as an acceptable method of payment. Please let me know before I make the switch!

Heard ads on the radio about AAMI accepting Amex! Must be a new thing though.

 

[fjc]

This has probably been mentioned before, but Amex charge more to a retailer than other credit cards. When I had my business some 10 years ago, I definitely didn't take Amex (or Diners for that matter) but I did take both Visa and Mastercard.

CBA had a promotion some 6 months ago "Switch from my Gold Visa card to Amex + Mastercard and get x thousand points". After doing nothing about it for about 3 months, CBA called me and tried to promote it to me. I pointed out that my credit card is very important to me as I live out western NSW where ATMs are few and far between. If I have to do a sudden trip, then I must be able to buy fuel, accommodation, food etc purchases and very few places out here take either Amex or Mastercard. (Heavens, often we can't even buy fuel after 7-8pm.) Therefore, I wasn't switching.

We had quite a long discussion and the telemarketer said that she was aware of a number of people who had made the switch, then found they couldn't use their cards.

At the end of the day, a business is there to make money and that includes ensuring that their costs are as low as possible.

 

[one9]

If I have to do a sudden trip, then I must be able to buy fuel, accommodation, food etc purchases and very few places out here take either Amex or Mastercard. (Heavens, often we can't even buy fuel after 7-8pm.) Therefore, I wasn't switching.

I think the telemarketer was just agreeing with you to keep you happy. I think you may be wrong as all the major bank EFTPOS terminals that accept Visa, will also accept Mastercard. Visa & Mastercard are operated by the banks with agreements with Visa & Mastercard. So when you get a merchant agreement to accept credit cards with a bank, Visa & Mastercard are able to be accepted by default. It is only Amex & Diners that you need to apply for separately (and some banks can apply on your behalf for Amex).

It is a different story overseas as Visa & Mastercard are administrated a bit differently by some banks in some countries, and Visa generally has more acceptance in some countries.

 

[rwatts]

Now, I have recently decided to go drastic and stopped services or stopped shopping in places where AMEX is not accepted or surcharged.

For example:
..
Simply Energy - Electricity -> Click Energy
Simply Energy - Gas -> Energy Australia
..

I think I've mentioned before in this thread that I still pay my Simply Energy accounts for both gas and electricity with automatic debits from my Amex. Simply Energy took over my accounts from a previous supplier with whom the payment arrangements were set up. Just last week there was no quibble when I rang to change the card details (from charge to Platinum Edge).

You would think they could be convinced to accept Amex if it was a matter of losing a customer since they have the systems in place.

Richard.

 

[aasz1978]

You would think they could be convinced to accept Amex if it was a matter of losing a customer since they have the systems in place.

Richard.

If they do, they certainly didn't say it in my bill and their online payment didn't allow me too.

It's too late anyway, I've switched my electricity to Click. I am about to move Gas to Energy Australia. They are cheaper too...

I also didn't know AAMI accepts AMEX. Sounds like a new thing.

 

[Limewood]

I have AMEX and VISA, Found AMEX OK in many places I shop now and of course 1.5 QFF points per $ spent, Bunnings, BP, Office Works, Woolies, DSE and better for me is PO as I am a big customer.

 

[Fifa]

My home and contents insurance is due next month so I just checked on "Make a payment" on the AAMI website and am very pleased to be able to pay by Amex.

The paper renewal notice doesn't mention Amex payments anywhere (nor Visa or Mastercard for that matter).

So, thanks for the heads up.