CBA Diamond Awards MCard vs Amex

[Pukka]

Interesting - you are talking about the AMEX not MC?

CBA Amex works fine

 

[stux]

With the 3 points for $1 spent on the Diamond AMEX I think it actually works better than debit even if there is an AMEX charge of say 1%.

Each point (if doing a cash redemption of the points) is worth 0.5c. So 3 points is worth on a $1 spent is worth 1.5c, or 1.5%.

Is my reasoning right here?

But you're only earning an additional 1.75 points over the vanilla MC points. Often there will be an Amex surcharge and no MC surcharge so it makes sense to use the MC in those cases.

Places which surcharge MC, generally won't accept Amex, and if they do, then the surcharge is double.

I still use Amex for ATO tho

 

[Paddy55]

I still use Amex for ATO tho

Amen to that, brother!

 

[amaroo]

The Dia Amex is good for all x 1.5 that the normal Amex is no longer paying.

For QF/restaurants (x3) airfares, hotels, foreign spend (x2) I continue to use QF Ult Amex.

 

[noviceFF]

Can I check with the good people here whether CBA award points are awarded for paying ATO bills with the AMEX diamond card? Just received mine now and the online CBA chat guy wasn't sure.

 

[amaroo]

Can I check with the good people here whether CBA award points are awarded for paying ATO bills with the AMEX diamond card? Just received mine now and the online CBA chat guy wasn't sure.

Review your other post.

Multi posting is frown upon - don't worry, just about everyone does it in the early days....

 

[Mark3000]

You would have to spend $25K per month on the Amex or $60K per month on the MC to reach the points cap... Even if you hit the cap thats 1,000,000 CBA points or 500K QFF points. Easy to find places that don't charge Amex fees, less than 20% of my spend is on MC. Just spend smart!

Does anyone know if the 1 000 000 points cap applies to both cards if you have a supplementary card. I've been assuming it is 1 million total for the account, but just thought I would double check if the supplementary card has it's own limit. I know that is wishful thinking

 

[amaroo]

Does anyone know if the 1 000 000 points cap applies to both cards if you have a supplementary card. I've been assuming it is 1 million total for the account, but just thought I would double check if the supplementary card has it's own limit. I know that is wishful thinking

Yes, buggered once the 1,000,000 is racked up. It's a great card for about 2-3 months...

 

[Mark3000]

Yes, buggered once the 1,000,000 is racked up. It's a great card for about 2-3 months...

Thanks Amaroo
I thought as much. I will do a small tester just to double check and report back.

I wonder if I could cancel my wife's supplementary card and get one in her own name...

 

[Moindardt]

Very interested to see what results you get Mark3000. I find the card to be the best one for earn, despite the limited partners. The 1mil is a problem though. My banker said that in its first year (2012 I think) it only had 8 ppl reach the max. Last year there were still only 80 or so. Hence they aren't looking at increasing the limit. I reckon there was also a lot of people in the 950k+ bracket as well.

 

[Mark3000]

I think you're exactly right, most of the clever people would stop just before they cross the limit

 

[Moindardt]

Thanks Amaroo
I thought as much. I will do a small tester just to double check and report back.

I wonder if I could cancel my wife's supplementary card and get one in her own name...

Spoke to my banker and he said you didn't need to cancel the supplementary card, she can just apply in her own right.

 

[New Chump]

Spoke to my banker and he said you didn't need to cancel the supplementary card, she can just apply in her own right.

Or just apply in your own right for a second. I run two Diamond cards in my own name (mostly to help juggle ATO payments). Double the annual fee, but double the points caps too.

NC