10,000 bonus points per 20 transactions

[lovetravellingoz]

Apologies if this is already covered earlier - I just cannot bother sifting through 43 pages of posts (and still increasing as I type).

It seems there are different promotions happening, eg 5000 pts for 5 transactions (MYREWARD), 5000 pts for 10 transactions (MYBONUS) and 10000 pts for 20 transactions (???).

In the spirit of ultimate dodginess.... do the codes "stack" and has anyone tried to enrolled in all three?

According the AMEX rep that posted via the Admin = no.

You might want to read Luisa's letter before you act.

 

[austrider]

According the AMEX rep that posted via the Admin = no.

You might want to read Luisa's letter before you act.

That's ok - I really cannot be bother sifting through to find Luisa's letter. I've actually got the myreward postcard and just enrolled this morning over the phone (no mentioning of points cap though).

 

[Flashback]

That's ok - I really cannot be bother sifting through to find Luisa's letter. I've actually got the myreward postcard and just enrolled this morning over the phone (no mentioning of points cap though).

Try Page 27.

 

[Flashback]

I wonder if it starts counting from when you register, or from Sep 1.... having just spent a week on the gold coast, I've done around 30 transactions (meals, etc.). Would be a real shame to miss out on those ones..

 

[Tiki]

I wonder if it starts counting from when you register, or from Sep 1.... having just spent a week on the gold coast, I've done around 30 transactions (meals, etc.). Would be a real shame to miss out on those ones..

Only from when you register. I bought some stuff from the USA-Amazon.com (which I was going to buy anyways as I am going there next month), will be interesting to see if I get transaction credit for them.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

One of the few T&C in the offer is:

Subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Membership Rewards program. American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 108 952 085). ®Registered Trademark of American Express Company. americanexpress.com.au

(note that depending on when you join different T&C applies)

14.7 All questions or disputes regarding eligibility for the program, the eligibility of
points for accrual or redemption of points or rewards including transfer of
points to a participating frequent traveller program, will be resolved by us at
our sole discretion. Any such questions or disputes must be brought to our
attention and resolved within 12 months. Additionally, any points disputes
must be raised and resolved within 12 months from when the points are first​

credited to or deducted from the program account.


So AMEX has kept the right to decide what points are eligible for accrual. So if anyone has bought 200 Mushrooms (or whatever) repeatedly then I think AMEX is going to argue that they have decided that that is abuse.

And for abuse you can lose ALL your points and not just the ones for that transaction.

 

[austrider]

I wonder if it starts counting from when you register, or from Sep 1.... having just spent a week on the gold coast, I've done around 30 transactions (meals, etc.). Would be a real shame to miss out on those ones..

The rep over the phone indicated it's when you register. This is similar to previous AMEX promo as well.

Btw the promo officially started on 10/09, not 01/09.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Only from when you register. I bought some stuff from the USA-Amazon.com (which I was going to buy anyways as I am going there next month), will be interesting to see if I get transaction credit for them.

One of the few T&C is that it is for Australian purchases in Australian Dollars.
So if you have nought from a USA operation then one would think no.

 

[holo]

Only from when you register. I bought some stuff from the USA-Amazon (which I was going to buy anyways as I am going there next month), will be interesting to see if I get transaction credit for them.

I seem to recall overseas transactions don't count. Only Aus purchases.

For me, all it has done is persuade me to use Amex for all my smaller purchases where I would normally use cash.

 

[austrider]

Only from when you register. I bought some stuff from the USA-Amazon.com (which I was going to buy anyways as I am going there next month), will be interesting to see if I get transaction credit for them.

According to the T&C on the postcard it's only "valid for purchases made in Australia and charged to an eligible Australian dollar American Express Card".

I suspect Internet-based purchase from o/s merchants may not be valid... I could be wrong though...

 

[austrider]

Try Page 27.

Ah cool - thanks! Well she sounded very reasonable - and there's no metioning of any points cap (where did the 40k points cap come from?)

My minimum spend on AMEX is usually $6 (car parks that accepts cc payments - it's really quick and easy!). But given I just put 2 x DONE4 on it ($400+ on currency conversion fee) I think I deserve some bonus points...

Given the promo I may also consider using the AMEX where there's 3% surcharge during this period (eg JB, Safeway Caltex) as it may be worth it is the amount is small (therefore 3% fee is small compare to the bonus points).

In replying to a previous post on how AMEX can fund this promo, personally I think it's a really smart idea. AMEX has been unforutnately stuck in a vicious cycle where:

1. not many customers has/uses amex (compare to visa)
2. therefore the merchants do not have many amex transactions
3. therefore merchants pay amex a higher fee
4. therefore merchants charge the customer additional handling fee, or decline to accept amex
5. therefore not many customer has/uses amex

AMEX can try to break the cycle via the merchants, or the customers. I agree with them that investing in the customers is a better idea - ie get the market (customer) to drive/change the merchants.

 

[Tiki]

Yeah, I'm not expecting to get the bonus, just the usual 1.5 per Aus $ after they convert it. But at least Amex may look more kindly on me buying my groceries daily instead of weekly! I will have 3 weeks in the USA charging everything humanely possible to the card and buying all the stuff I can't get here or would be expensive to ship here.

ITunes still hasn't invoiced me and I bought 2 songs on Friday night. $1.69 AUD per song.

 

[Tiki]

I wish they could get Aussie Paypal to accept Aussie Amex cards. Paypal is converting my US Ebay purchases to Aussie $ and charging my Visa in Aussie $. Would be nice to do that with Amex!

 

[austrider]

ITunes still hasn't invoiced me and I bought 2 songs on Friday night. $1.69 AUD per song.

That's a good point - I may buy my music from iTunes AU instead of Amazon.

 

[skeltonl]

Re: Post Card

Umm that's only 100 transactions, which is far from abuse over a 3 month period

I think this is a very good point. I currently do 45 transactions a month on the card so even if I didn't increase my spending would have been eligible for 135,000 points.

I also got the postcard so AMEX knew this when they sent it to me.

So any cap of 40,000 points is a ridiculous amount. What AMEX should do is cap your limit to the amount of points you would have earned based on your previous 3 months spending.

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: Post Card

I think this is a very good point. I currently do 45 transactions a month on the card so even if I didn't increase my spending would have been eligible for 135,000 points.

I also got the postcard so AMEX knew this when they sent it to me.

So any cap of 40,000 points is a ridiculous amount. What AMEX should do is cap your limit to the amount of points you would have earned based on your previous 3 months spending.

Exactly right!!!!

I have walked out of 5 shops over the past few days now that don't accept AMEX.

One was Cellarbrations - A fairly major liquor shop, which surprised me that they dont' accept AMEX.

 

[kdser]

One of the few T&C in the offer is:

Subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Membership Rewards program. American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 108 952 085). ®Registered Trademark of American Express Company.

(note that depending on when you join different T&C applies)

14.7 All questions or disputes regarding eligibility for the program, the eligibility of
points for accrual or redemption of points or rewards including transfer of
points to a participating frequent traveller program, will be resolved by us at
our sole discretion. Any such questions or disputes must be brought to our
attention and resolved within 12 months. Additionally, any points disputes
must be raised and resolved within 12 months from when the points are first​

credited to or deducted from the program account.


So AMEX has kept the right to decide what points are eligible for accrual. So if anyone has bought 200 Mushrooms (or whatever) repeatedly then I think AMEX is going to argue that they have decided that that is abuse.

And for abuse you can lose ALL your points and not just the ones for that transaction.

Don't be fooled by this kind of T&C. Say a retail shop put up a sign "Please choose carefully, no refund will be given after you leave this shop". The sign is illegal and is override by the Trade Practice Act.

"Sole discretion" clause is the same. As we have seen in the Citibank promotion case, Citibank has entered a contract with its clients by enrolling its clients on the promotion program. Apparently, Citibank could not defend itself by quoting its "Sole discretion" clause in the T&C. The verdict was that Citibank had to honor its contract.

 

[austrider]

HOWTO Increase the amount of AMEX transactions

This may deserve a separate thread but what the heck.

Just thought to bounce off some ideas on how to increase the number of AMEX transactions (not necessarily spending) in a non-abusing manner. Essentially, what are the everyday low-cost spending that you'd usually pay with cash but could pay with AMEX?

So far I think buying songs from iTunes is a good one. Tipping using AMEX instead of cash is another good idea.

Another is that now Citylink accepts AMEX for direct debit, it'd be a good time to sign up. Choose the minimum auto-recharge amount to increase the number of transactions.

Personally I also use AMEX to pay for car parks (that accepts credit cards).

Anything else?

 

[lovestotravel]

Thank you for the tip about City Link!! That's great !

Tips - Yep used to pay cash now putting it on AMEX

I am walking out of shops that don't accept AMEX now!

Cellarbrations - I did feel bad last night as they aren't doing very well in the location they have just opened in!

Aldi - I like the cheap prices, about 30% cheaper than Coles/Safeway, but they dont' accept AMEX so left the products at the checkout and walked off, pretending I didn't have any other way to pay.

La Porchetta - Heck the one near me doesn't accept credit cards/EFTPOS at all. Seems to be alot of cash just going into the register and not being rung through as well So no La Porchetta for the duration of this promotion

 

[PaulZ]

was at one point advertised on the Amex website.

Still is on their website...

American Express