10,000 bonus points per 20 transactions

[oz_mark]

Thanks, now it is just a waiting game.

It was also interesting to hear from the chap at ACCC that they have recieved hundreds of complaints re this promotion, so who knows what may come of things.

I certainly wouldnt want to be part of the Amex think tank who came out with the almost non-existent T&C from the outset

Depending on what view they come to, it could be an expensive exercise. I once got compensated with points in another rewards scheme due to apparently being mislead over the T&C's of a bonus promotion.

 

[one9]

With my increased spending on Amex, I thought I would ring up Amex to make sure that everything was OK and confirm my previous enrollment in the pre-20th September EARNPOINTS promotion.

I rang up today and was told that I was not enrolled in any of the bonus points offers. I told the consultant that I had registered on 17th September.

He then looked at my notes, and saw a note that I called on the 21st September to request to be changed from the EARNPOINTS promtion to the MYBONUS promotion but was told that they could not do this as I was already registered in the EARNPOINTS promotion.

So I asked how could I not be registered in any promotion if they told me on 21st September that I was already registered in the EARNPOINTS promtion. He said it should be OK, but to call back tomorrow to speak to the department handling this matter.

Hopefully I also won't be having to make a complaint to the ACCC.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Depending on what view they come to, it could be an expensive exercise. .

Going by the amended T&C it will be IMO an expensive exercise for Amex, or at least when you compare it to any of their other bonus promotions that I am aware of.

If Amex has to broaden those T&C for any or all of multi-enrolements, enrolements after Sept, for points beyond 10K a month (for post Sep 20) then it will be very expensive for them.

 

[Mal]

If Amex has to broaden those T&C for any or all of multi-enrolments, enrolements after Sept, for points beyond 10K a month then it will be very expensive for them.

Let me put it this way.

The T&C's and internal Amex systems did not prevent me from signing up for all three *seperate* promotions, or indeed one of the three promotions.

In the spirit of the promo, I have used my card to provide Amex with commission.

Amex has twice dipped into my account and removed points without explanation, and IMHO against the T&C's of the promotion, and federal/state law.

As I've indicated previously, I have not called Amex (as I don't want them to be able to verbally change the T&C's), nor have I contacted any federal or state bodies about this promotion. Instead, I'm taking notes and printouts, watching this thread and will take my action as I feel is appropriate at the time I choose to take it.

It is very poor that Amex has not sought to clarify the promotion at all to me.

I'm not normally a B@STARD, but for this particular promo, Amex have annoyed me so much that I reserve the right to deal with them how I feel.

Shoddy marketing and half baked coverup from Amex just doesn't cut it with me, nor is it acceptable under various laws.

 

[QF WP]

eeewww, wash your mouth out Mr Mod :mrgreen:

Well, it looks like I'm not the only one . I haven't walked out of any places, however I have asked more often do they accept Amex (if I can't see the "Amex accepted here" signs), or I've made sure that I am shopping in places that I know accept Amex.

I've had trouble using the merchant map - it really needs to have a "north, south, east or western suburbs" options or perhaps a postcode grouping (say between 5 to 10). If one happens to be shopping in an unfamiliar city and/or don't know suburbs, it really makes it hard to find.

 

[alemdohorizonte]

I've had trouble using the merchant map - it really needs to have a "north, south, east or western suburbs" options or perhaps a postcode grouping (say between 5 to 10). If one happens to be shopping in an unfamiliar city and/or don't know suburbs, it really makes it hard to find.

i agree. i find the merchant map to be very user un-friendly and difficult to use.

 

[straitman]

Well, it looks like I'm not the only one . I haven't walked out of any places, however I have asked more often do they accept Amex (if I can't see the "Amex accepted here" signs), or I've made sure that I am shopping in places that I know accept Amex.

I've had trouble using the merchant map - it really needs to have a "north, south, east or western suburbs" options or perhaps a postcode grouping (say between 5 to 10). If one happens to be shopping in an unfamiliar city and/or don't know suburbs, it really makes it hard to find.

In my little town of Sale the merchant map is incorrect so is next to useless :!:

 

[vet]

I'm surprised at the number of places, from the alps to my local strip shopping centre that are taking Amex. I was tempted in mid September to dump what I thought was a widely un-accepted card except the lass's explanation of the 5k/5t deal was too good to refuse.

I am annoyed though with a few shops displaying brand new "Open/Closed, Amex Welcome" flip signs on their door - and then refusing Amex. (Yes I walked out: luckily they wanted payment at the time of ordering rather than after serving lunch).

Then an alarm company's bill had a box to tick for paying on Amex, and they rang insisting on a cheque or visa. Why are these places refusing Amex so early in a 4 month promo? Our manager tells me the bars, restaurants and hotels are on the same deal we have m/c and visa so I assume shops are the same.

 

[nlagalle]

I'm surprised at the number of places, from the alps to my local strip shopping centre that are taking Amex. I was tempted in mid September to dump what I thought was a widely un-accepted card except the lass's explanation of the 5k/5t deal was too good to refuse.

I am annoyed though with a few shops displaying brand new "Open/Closed, Amex Welcome" flip signs on their door - and then refusing Amex. (Yes I walked out: luckily they wanted payment at the time of ordering rather than after serving lunch).

Then an alarm company's bill had a box to tick for paying on Amex, and they rang insisting on a cheque or visa. Why are these places refusing Amex so early in a 4 month promo? Our manager tells me the bars, restaurants and hotels are on the same deal we have m/c and visa so I assume shops are the same.

Depends on the deal you get, although we were offered 1.1% for Amex. The problem for small business is that amex take their cut before depositing the money into your account, so the bookkeeping side is harder. you have to work out the merchant fees etc. I know on our Visa/MC we get the full amount deposited into the account and at the end of the month the fees etc are taken out.

Now whether they have tools online to give you all the figures I don't know, but this was what a shop owner was telling me on Ssturday.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

. Why are these places refusing Amex so early in a 4 month promo?

1/ The businesses are not related to the Promo. That is all Amex's doing.

2/ One reason may be as related to me by a restaurant last week is that they said that Amex are very slow to pay. I only wanted a single coffee and the waiter was reluctant, but the owner standing next to him then said ok. I chatted to the owner and asked him why he was reluctant to accept Amex and he indiacted it was beacuse Amex were very slow to pay.

 

[edman]

Depends on the deal you get, although we were offered 1.1% for Amex. The problem for small business is that amex take their cut before depositing the money into your account, so the bookkeeping side is harder. you have to work out the merchant fees etc. I know on our Visa/MC we get the full amount deposited into the account and at the end of the month the fees etc are taken out.

Now whether they have tools online to give you all the figures I don't know, but this was what a shop owner was telling me on Ssturday.

Yes that is correct in the way that Amex deal with things, same with Diners. Not sure if they have online tools to check, but you get a monthly statement that summarises it so its easy to gross up (1 journal in the accounting software fixes it).

I think it also depends on how recently the small business has had dealings with Amex, as they have traditionally been expensive compared to Mastercard/Visa, so some of the may be working on historic info when making a decision not to take Amex/Diners.

 

[edman]

1/ The businesses are not related to the Promo. That is all Amex's doing.

2/ One reason may be as realted to me by a restaurant last week is that they said that Amex are very slow to pay. I only wanted a single coffee and the waiter was reluctant, but the oner standing next to him then said ok. I chatted to the owner and asked him why he was reluctant to accept Amex and he indiacted it was beacuse Amex were very slow to pay.

I don't take Amex in my accounting business, but in my Restaurant business the difference is only an extra day over Mastercard/Visa/EFTPOS.

 

[bravoecho1]

We use NAB as our EFTPOS provider and as part of that package we get the AMEX offering.

Settlement is next day for us so no difference whether its Visa, Mastercard or AMEX.

 

[nlagalle]

We use NAB as our EFTPOS provider and as part of that package we get the AMEX offering.

Settlement is next day for us so no difference whether its Visa, Mastercard or AMEX.

I believe that is fairly new. NAB have offered it to my business too.

The place I was talking to only ditched it a month ago, so was fairly recent.

 

[rodgerbranch]

With my increased spending on Amex, I thought I would ring up Amex to make sure that everything was OK and confirm my previous enrollment in the pre-20th September EARNPOINTS promotion.

I rang up today and was told that I was not enrolled in any of the bonus points offers. I told the consultant that I had registered on 17th September.

He then looked at my notes, and saw a note that I called on the 21st September to request to be changed from the EARNPOINTS promtion to the MYBONUS promotion but was told that they could not do this as I was already registered in the EARNPOINTS promotion.

So I asked how could I not be registered in any promotion if they told me on 21st September that I was already registered in the EARNPOINTS promtion. He said it should be OK, but to call back tomorrow to speak to the department handling this matter.

Hopefully I also won't be having to make a complaint to the ACCC.

Hi One9,

Did you get any Bonus Points credited to your account before the 20th of September ?

 

[one9]

Hi One9,

Did you get any Bonus Points credited to your account before the 20th of September ?

No, I only registered on 17th September and did not make many transactions in September.

But the good news is that I called up today and they confirm that they see my registration from pre-20th September and they said it should be fine and that all "eligable" transactions should count.

So now I can only wait the 6-8 weeks from end of each month to see if they classify my transactions as eligible.

 

[beardoc]

I'm surprised at the number of places, from the alps to my local strip shopping centre that are taking Amex. I was tempted in mid September to dump what I thought was a widely un-accepted card except the lass's explanation of the 5k/5t deal was too good to refuse.

I am annoyed though with a few shops displaying brand new "Open/Closed, Amex Welcome" flip signs on their door - and then refusing Amex. (Yes I walked out: luckily they wanted payment at the time of ordering rather than after serving lunch).

If this happens, then you should go to https://www152.americanexpress.com/eforms/un/en_AU/eformsPage.do?face=en_AU&prod=Rapid&todo=view and fill in the form (use Internet Explorer as Firefox seems to do badly on this page). I have found that Amex follows up people that advertise Amex and then refuse to take it fairly quickly - I've had emails back from Amex to say that all is good and I should try again. Perhaps they beat the businesses into submission?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

. Perhaps they beat the businesses into submission?

Or maybe they give them a better deal to encourage/allow use of Amex

 

[simongr]

If this happens, then you should go to https://www152.americanexpress.com/eforms/un/en_AU/eformsPage.do?face=en_AU&prod=Rapid&todo=view and fill in the form (use Internet Explorer as Firefox seems to do badly on this page). I have found that Amex follows up people that advertise Amex and then refuse to take it fairly quickly - I've had emails back from Amex to say that all is good and I should try again. Perhaps they beat the businesses into submission?

Sadly they cant seem to convince JB HiFi

Mind you if buying computer games in [insert name of suburb here] I just go to another store where my bags arent searched and I get decent service, can use Amex and get a price match

 

[rodgerbranch]

No, I only registered on 17th September and did not make many transactions in September.

But the good news is that I called up today and they confirm that they see my registration from pre-20th September and they said it should be fine and that all "eligable" transactions should count.

So now I can only wait the 6-8 weeks from end of each month to see if they classify my transactions as eligible.

This is interesting...

So, you wont get your September points until mid December, and your bunus points from December until mid March 2009....

I was hoping to transfer all points to QFF, but I think they are going to stop QFF transfers before March 2009

Not happy