New surcharge for corpate card rewards membership

[aschmid]

Got a letter from AMEX today telling me about a $89 p.a. linkage fee for my Corporate Card to membership rewards Ascent.

I have not paid any fee for this in the past 5 years. Is AMEX now starting to get cracy and look for new way to squeeze money out of their cardhorlders?

Has anybody a similar exprience?

 

[straitman]

Got a letter from AMEX today telling me about a $89 p.a. linkage fee for my Corporate Card to membership rewards Ascent.

I have not paid any fee for this in the past 5 years. Is AMEX now starting to get cracy and look for new way to squeeze money out of their cardhorlders?

Has anybody a similar exprience?

I suspect that you may have been lucky.

Everyone that I know with a Corporate Card linked to rewards, (approx 25 people) has been hit for the $89 for at least the last 2 years. Mine dropped to $55 this year when I linked it with my Platinum Card rewards.

 

[oz_mark]

I only recently got a corporate card, and when I enquired about joining it, I was told about the fee (which was something like $80). I might follow them up again as I have changed to a platinum Credit card since that time, and maybe it is now cheaper.

 

[aschmid]

I am holding a Platinum Credit card as well and the Membership Rewards Ascent is included in that.

I don't think it's fair that I have to pay twice. If I assume that about $80 of my Platinum card fee are going to the rewards program plus another $89 for linking my corporate card that's about $160 a year!

In my opinion a rewards program should be exactly that - a reward for being a cardholder. Charging an enormous fee for it kind of defeats the purpuse of a rewards program, doesn't it?

 

[aus_flyer]

I've got an Amex that has no fees whatsoever - and yes, I get QF FF points!

And a guarantee of no fees for life!

 

[oz_mark]

I've got an Amex that has no fees whatsoever - and yes, I get QF FF points!

And a guarantee of no fees for life!

Is this through some deal that us mere mortals have access to?

 

[Damien]

Think yourself lucky. My corporate card cannot be linked to the rewards scheme because of some deal the company negotiated with Amex.

It brings me to tears when I think of all the extra points I could have right now.

 

[straitman]

I am holding a Platinum Credit card as well and the Membership Rewards Ascent is included in that.

I don't think it's fair that I have to pay twice. If I assume that about $80 of my Platinum card fee are going to the rewards program plus another $89 for linking my corporate card that's about $160 a year!

In my opinion a rewards program should be exactly that - a reward for being a cardholder. Charging an enormous fee for it kind of defeats the purpuse of a rewards program, doesn't it?

Maybe I should clarify what I said a little.

As per your post my Platinum Card has free rewards. My Corporate Card has a fee of $89 IF I wish to use the QF rewards program. If I link the two rewards programs then the $89 fee for my Corporate Card is reduced to $55. ie the total rewards fee becomes $55. This was organised through the Platinum desk and was offered when I simply asked about linking the two programs.

Good luck,

 

[jakeseven7]

I've got an Amex that has no fees whatsoever - and yes, I get QF FF points!

And a guarantee of no fees for life!

Is this through some deal that us mere mortals have access to?

yes... most people can access... at a cost.... do the math but if you intend to stay with amex it may add up for you:

http://www.apesma.asn.au/

click on member services and amex gold card

 

[beardoc]

Is this through some deal that us mere mortals have access to?

I suspect he might be referring to the Amex Gold cards that are given to various professional organisations, like the AMA. I have one at the moment, but I'm about to ditch it for the Platinum credit card (which they'll give me for $295 rather than the usual $395).