AMEX 17,500 points offer

[dgruber]

andy

www.bfso.org.au is your answer as a "last resort" if you don't get anywhere...

 

[Ray Carty]

I have to admit that I too am becoming a bit of a card/points tart.

I also have no particular loyalty to organisations such as CommBank and Woolworths, which considerably inconvenience their customers and don't seem to lose a minute of sleep in the process. Its not rocket science that organisations have to not just make new customers, but try not to piss them off in the course of doing business. This principle seems not well understood at CommBank.

My money also goes with the organisation that rewards me use their product. I applied on 30 August, and my Qantas-Amex premium card is currently in the mail. I was not required to cancel my existing Amex card. (Thanks for your original post dgruber)

The 17500 points is certainly very appealing. So too is 1.25 points per dollar, and no annual fee for 1st year. However, for me the 2 x Qantas lounge access is the real icing on the cake.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

This is by the way just two single entries. You twice...or you and a mate once each.

...so perhaps only a thin icing????

I have to admit that I too am becoming a bit of a card/points tart.

. However, for me the 2 x Qantas lounge access is the real icing on the cake.

 

[coco50]

I applied online on 30th. Had call on mobile 31st that they had contacted paymaster and needed my authorisation for paymaster to release details. Haven't heard anything back, but expect some kind of notification soon. I agree with Mal - they do seem to be quick.

Got a phone call on Friday (Sept 8th) giving me a reference no. They said that a decision would be made on weekend and I could ring this number on Monday to find out decision. Rang this a.m. and they said that I had been approved and would receive my card this week. Thanks to all who have provided advice on this thread, because I will be making sure that I don't have any card fees etc. in first year

 

[Mal]

Maybe I should take back my comment about quickness!

Still waiting for the card (or rejection letter) to turn up!

10 Business days is around Thursday/Friday, so it could still show up soon. I was just expecting it a little quicker seeing some of the speed others had here and the quickness of Amex doing the credit check etc.

I havn't been notified that they did a salary check on me from my employer, so don't think they did that.

 

[coco50]

Rang Amex on Monday 11th and was told that I had been approved. Cards etc would be in the mail by Wednesday (today). Yesterday I had a call from Amex telling me: "Congratulations, your application has been approved" We discussed the benefits that would apply and why I wanted the card and what use would I make of it. No mention was made of the no $195 card fee for the first year, so I raised this point. The woman on the other end said that she would check that and get back to me later on that day. This didn't happen. Probably too busy ringing you Mal to congratulate you, too! Well today's another day. I asked about a 100 point check and no, this was not required. Does any Amex card holder know what happens here?

 

[ColinP]

"Does any Amex card holder know what happens here?"

Nothing!
When I recieved my card in the mail it had a sticker on the front with a phone no to call to activate the card. The call wasn't even to a person, it was automated. Couldn't be easier and no 100 point Id check required.

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[Andy]

Finally got my issue resolved yesterday with the PH call centre ringing me and telling me that they had corrected the fees and I would see the 15000 points in my first statement

 

[Mal]

Probably too busy ringing you Mal to congratulate you, too! Well today's another day.

Nope, still no phone call, no letter. Maybe tomorrow!

 

[tanewi]

Mine arrived yesterday, just about dead on the advertised 10 working days timeframe (which is fine by me). Interestingly they didn't contact my workplace to verify any details, but then again I didn't get a large credit limit either, not that I wanted one.

I'll certainly be keeping my eye out to see if I get "accidentally" charged the card fee for the first year.

Guess what?!? Got the card, and a whole swag of T&Cs. Included was a statement that $195 was chardgeable ofr the first year?!? So during the activation process, I asked the lady on the other about the fees - "yes sir you a $195 annual fee in the first year". Wasted a lot of time explaining that i responsed to an offer that clearly stated that there is no annual fee in the first year. Her suggestion was for me to fax a hard copy of the web page to her (she was in PH, I know because when i asked where she was she declined to tell me). I commented that i could do that, or alternatively she could find the Internet offer refernce and fix it herself. Being either incapable or unable to comprehend what I was saying, the discussion went around in circles. Finally achieved some traction by suggesting I could just refer this matter to the Office of Fair Trading, got transferred to a guy in OZ - who said he will refer it to the appropriate dept tommorrow morning.

As an aside, the T&C referred to 5k + 2.5k points not the 10k+5k+2.5k, so i suspect that I have been downsized to the "normal" offer. Which of course, is not legal.

Anyway, on a positive note, confirmed that it is possible to nominate your billing cycle and hence statement and due dates.

 

[tanewi]

Just found this banner:
Credit Cards - The Qantas American Express Premium Credit Card - American Express Australia

dgruber, where did you "find" this banner?

I just remembered, when i was stirring up the guy at AMEX, he did ask me if I worked at Qantas???? Was the link above only for Qantas employees?

Credit Cards - The Qantas American Express Premium Credit Card - American Express Australia

does TBIRD or CRTV mean anything in particular?

Given that we all applied for the 17.5k free first year card usingh the above link, it shouldn't come as a surprise if we all charged the $195!

JohnK was/is right, being a "card tart" isn't for everyone.

 

[dgruber]

dgruber, where did you "find" this banner?

Tanewi,

Just googled Thunderbird - Reclaim your inbox which I assume is TBIRD.

In regards to your question the answer is that I found it on theage.com.au - it was a banner and all I did was click on it

Cheers

 

[tanewi]

dgruber, where did you "find" this banner?

Tanewi,

Just googled Thunderbird - Reclaim your inbox which I assume is TBIRD.

In regards to your question the answer is that I found it on theage.com.au - it was a banner and all I did was click on it

Cheers

ta.. that is where i saw it also! did you apply and receive the first year free?

 

[dgruber]

yes the annual fee is waived for the first year
however the "brochure" enclosed with the letter only mentions 5,000 points plus 2,500 points (for qantas spend) but this seems to be more of a standard brochure.

i will have to wait and see what happens else i will have to call them to follow it up

 

[ColinP]

dgruber, where did you "find" this banner?

I just remembered, when i was stirring up the guy at AMEX, he did ask me if I worked at Qantas???? Was the link above only for Qantas employees?

Credit Cards - The Qantas American Express Premium Credit Card - American Express Australia

does TBIRD or CRTV mean anything in particular?

Given that we all applied for the 17.5k free first year card usingh the above link, it shouldn't come as a surprise if we all charged the $195!

JohnK was/is right, being a "card tart" isn't for everyone.

I used the same link and have NOT been charged the $195 fee . I HAVE been charged $30 for the supplementary card I requested, which leads me to believe that the first year's $195 fee HAS been waived.

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[kyle]

Offer letter says $0 annual fee for first year.

I've also saved a copy of the web page saying 10k + 5k +2.5k bonus points.

 

[JohnK]

JohnK was/is right, being a "card tart" isn't for everyone.

Ian, I never said I was right, I just don't think it is worth the time and effort.

I keep reading the hassles that most people have with applying and cancelling credit cards regularly for a few measly points and when you try to redeem points for flights you are slugged with exorbitant taxes and charges.

My own experiences are enough of a deterrent for me. Receive an offer from Amex in the mail that does not mention annual fees and when I call them to apply I find out that is was all a marketing mistake. I wouldn't be surprised if it was intentional to see if they can sucker anyone into applying!

Most of my mistakes end up being costly. How can a company like Amex make a mistake like this and get away with it?

 

[Mal]

Yeah, I also have a PDF of the offer web page. Can post here or available on request if things get tricky.

I'm not worried about the situation. The important place where the charge shouldn't be listed is on the "Offer" statement setting out the conditions of their offer of a card. It should have a statement about the fee and that it's waived for the first year.

As for the points, the webpage clearly says they are earnt, so if there are hassles there I have the proof.

Nothing to worry about

 

[coco50]

yes the annual fee is waived for the first year
however the "brochure" enclosed with the letter only mentions 5,000 points plus 2,500 points (for qantas spend) but this seems to be more of a standard brochure.

i will have to wait and see what happens else i will have to call them to follow it up

My wife got the paper offer in the mail which I still have at home. It clearly mentions the 17500 points and the waiver of the $195 fee for the first year. She would not have qualified on income grounds, and I was going to do nothing about it until I saw the link on dgruber's post. I even brought that link up on my screen when I received my congratulatory phone call on Tuesday and I was discussing the fact that the offer mentioned no fee for the first year. (see post #46 on this thread).

 

[SeatBackForward]

I received my card last night, there was no mention anywhere on the account details of the bonus 17,500 points, in fact the account letter stated a $195 annual fee (including the first year) and also stated supplemetnary cards are $30 extra.

However I rang up this morning and got the card activated and was reassured that the points would be given (after first spends etc..) and that there is no annual fee for the first year and no fee for supplementary cards.

So what manner your receive the card may depend on who processes it.