AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[hollydavid69]

You gotta love the 28 degrees card when your o/seas .

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Yeah, you gotta love that. How many restaurants do I visit that are more than happy to use the amex 'folder' for presenting the bill yet don't actually accept Amex.

I had one of those in ADL (just around the corner from the Hilton)... they were quite happy to use the Amex bill folder (with an 'X' drawn over the Amex logos with a red permanent marker), use the Amex reserved table signs with a piece of white paper sticky-taped over each one, and use the Amex change/tip trays with the logo mostly scribbled over in black...

It's almost like they only accepted it in the first place for the freebies!!

They probably should look into getting some folders (etc) from Visa/MC... they're also free, and would have saved them the hassle haha!

 

[Flashback]

Not relevant to Australia, but kind of relevant in principle to this thread.

Rip off card charges - Track our progress - Which?

 

[whatmeworry]

Just received my renewal notice for my rego.

There is no mention that I can pay by postbillpay. However there is a Aus post symbol and a barcode indicating that I can pay instore at the post office but only with Mastercard or Visa.
The first three numbers is the biller's code, which is 374. If you add a zero that is the code you use at the postbillpay website. However 0374 does not allow you to pay online.

So I the checked online payment methods for vicroads that you can do with postbillpay.

View attachment 18591

As you can see in the image above, there is one VicRoads Registration Renewal that still allows payment via postbillpay.com.au and thus paypal.

Intrigued by this I looked back on some old rego renewal letters and found one with the option of payment by postbillpay?

The code was different. So I checked the code with postbillpay and it indicated it was "VicRoads - Registration Renewal". Mmmm

I did a dummy payment but did not go through with it but it seems I could may be pay my rego with paypal and thus Amex.

I just wonder if my payment will go through or be allowed?

Paid my rego with the old postbillpay code 3 weeks ago. Went through on the AMEX side and got a confirmation receipt from paypal.

 

[Holly]

Paid my rego with the old postbillpay code 3 weeks ago. Went through on the AMEX side and got a confirmation receipt from paypal.

Thanks for the insights, whatmeworry.

I've tried to pay a bill from EnergyAustralia using Postbillpay code 3248 ("EnergyAustralia - Bill") but was knocked back - "
The biller does not accept payment by this payment method."

Using your line of thinking, I looked up an alternative biller code.

According to the biller search (Australia Post : POSTbillpay - Search List of Billers), both EnergyAustralia Payment (0267) and EnergyAustralia - Account Payment (2183) accepts payment available by Visa, MasterCard or PayPal.

Yet I still get the same error message! Any ideas?

 

[ChrisFlyer]

IIRC Energy Australia accept Amex over the phone?

 

[k3nnis]

I think the issue may be only half points for Amex branded cards.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Ahh, fair enough!

On an unrelated matter, I received an SMS from Optus billing the other day to announce that all credit card fees were being removed from direct debit payments. Nice one!

 

[blackcat20]

Mazda wouldnt take my Amex when I had to pay for an expensive part; that one surprised me.

 

[whatmeworry]

Thanks for the insights, whatmeworry.

I've tried to pay a bill from EnergyAustralia using Postbillpay code 3248 ("EnergyAustralia - Bill") but was knocked back - "
The biller does not accept payment by this payment method."

Using your line of thinking, I looked up an alternative biller code.

According to the biller search (Australia Post : POSTbillpay - Search List of Billers), both EnergyAustralia Payment (0267) and EnergyAustralia - Account Payment (2183) accepts payment available by Visa, MasterCard or PayPal.

Yet I still get the same error message! Any ideas?

Sorry no idea. Every biller I have that accepts paypal has no problems with it being linked to a Amex.

 

[KLN]

IIRC Energy Australia accept Amex over the phone?

Yes, will concur. over the phone accepts AMEX

 

[Holly]

Yes, will concur. over the phone accepts AMEX

Thanks ChrisFlyer and KLN for your reply! What's the number to call? I'm overseas at the moment so relying on family members to check my mail!

 

[gizzard]

South East Water (Melbourne)

There was a time that I paid my bills with this organisation using Amex but they no longer present that option on their bills. However, there may be a way around it.

Today I used Postbillpay with biller code 0361 - South East Water Rates & Charges and entered as a reference number the 15 digit reference number that is shown against my BPay option on my bill. Postbillpay allows payment by Paypal and you can use that to pay by Amex. The payment went through without a problem but I still have to check my account to ensure that all was ok.

SE Water's T&Cs indicate that Postbillpay is an option but they have decided not to print it on the bill. Hopefully the payment will go through ok.


......I can confirm that this Postbillpay/Paypal/Amex transaction has successfully reached my South East Water a/c.

 

[KLN]

Sorry Holly, didn't see this question. will go thru the filing..................................................... 1300 653 343

 

[mark_syd]

I'm aware that the 'spend $20 or more and receive $10 statement credit' promotion hasn't commenced yet, but was just having a look through the recently released Amex Shop Small site at the merchants that accept AMEX and listed was a restaurant in Newtown (Sydney) that we hadn't eaten at for a while and so thought we would try it again (and all the better that they now appear to accept Amex). When I handed over my Amex to pay, I was told the standard 'Visa, MasterCard only, no Amex'. I mentioned that the restaurant was listed on the Amex website as a merchant and was told 'the website's lying'.

Whist there wasn't any Amex (nor MasterCard/Visa for that matter) signage around, the restaurant name and address are both listed on the Amex site as merchants, so the owner must have gone through the process with Amex in order to accept Amex and appear as a merchant? Or do Amex just sign up businesses without their knowledge (like an agreement Amex may have with the bank who provides the EFTPOS merchant facilities)???

 

[eastwest101]

...the restaurant name and address are both listed on the Amex site as merchants, so the owner must have gone through the process with Amex in order to accept Amex and appear as a merchant? Or do Amex just sign up businesses without their knowledge (like an agreement Amex may have with the bank who provides the EFTPOS merchant facilities)???

Very very good question. I wonder if there are any small business owners here whom can say if they have or haven't been approached by Amex. From what I can see on the Amex Shop Small web site - it looks like an "opt in" system - which very curiosly closed off on a completely arbitrary date of 01 Sept 2013 befor a lot of people were even aware of the promotion.... See below:

7. My business is not on the map?
A: The map is a reflection of eligible businesses as of 1 September 2013. Additional businesses cannot be added after this time. That said, there are a number of other benefits you can receive for participating in this program. Visit www.shopsmallaustralia.comand let us know so you can be part of future campaigns.

 

[Astroboi82]

Incase everyone hasnt seen it, Amex is doing a promotion starting soon called "Shop Small" I have registered my card and on friday I went into one of the business listed on their website in my area and i was told "we dont accept amex" mind you they have the sign in the window and they also have the Amex cheque folders !

 

[Chicken]

I wonder if there are any small business owners here whom can say if they have or haven't been approached by Amex. From what I can see on the Amex Shop Small web site - it looks like an "opt in" system - which very curiosly closed off on a completely arbitrary date of 01 Sept 2013 befor a lot of people were even aware of the promotion....

I got it. It simply says AmEx is running this promotion, and we have been selected to participate, and what cardholders get when they spend here. That's it. And a door sticker.

It was all automated, no action required from merchant.

 

[drron]

And I went to a local restaurant that had an Amex shop small poster up in the window and told we don't accept Amex when paying.

 

[quokka77]

Obviously the small business proprietors are a bit confused... Amex customers won't be getting their statement credit if they can't spend more than $20 on amex... v strange.

I was thinking about the rationale behind this. I am guessing that Amex run the promotion in order to demonstrate to business owners the dedication and loyalty of Amex users. They would hope that included businesses are flooded by a whole bunch of new customers, and think to themselves, "wow if x% of these people could be converted into regular customers, I could add y% to my bottom line, I better start accepting Amex / I'm glad I already accept Amex". Of course how many of us (the Amex users) are simply there for the statement credits is the reality check. If I were a small business, I would certainly accept Amex, but I think I would be passing on a surcharge commensurate with the fee charged by Amex (incorporating a smaller discount to account the lesser cost of visa/mc and the annoyance of cash).