AMEX 17,500 points offer

[JohnK]

Strange ... if I BPay an Amex payment before 6pm Mon-Thu it normally shows up the next Day. (public holidays excluded)

Same for me.

 

[coco50]

Just bought my first flight on it today so I'll let you know when I see some points and if I see an annual fee!

Bought my first flight with QF on this Amex card two weeks ago and sure enough the 17 500 points were credited to my QFF account last week. My first statement arrived today with a $195 annual card fee as aprt of the first month's charges. Rang the CS number and spoke to Imelda Marcos. She said that there was some code attached to my Amex card number which would tell if I would have the first year's fee waived, and could I fax the offer document to her. Nowhere near a fax and I told her about the online offer. She said to ring back in two hours and they would tell me about the $195.

Raced straight to the computer and brought up dgruber's OP and printed off page 1. The doc clearly says:

Plus no annual Card fee in the first year - save $195 Offer only available through this promotion.

Will ring the CS number back soon...

 

[Jenelle]

I still haven't got my 10k yet. Fingers crossed that happens soon.

I rang them last night spoke a lady called Dipti.

She said fax it off and I'll call you back.

I did that - no call back. So what... do I have to call again tonight and fax it to some other random person again? Pfft.

I still don't see why we are the ones that have to prove what we applied for. What is so hard about having a word document with every promotion they have had going in the past, say three months, and they can work off that.

 

[coco50]

I still haven't got my 10k yet. Fingers crossed that happens soon.

I rang them last night spoke a lady called Dipti.

She said fax it off and I'll call you back.

I did that - no call back. So what... do I have to call again tonight and fax it to some other random person again? Pfft.

I still don't see why we are the ones that have to prove what we applied for. What is so hard about having a word document with every promotion they have had going in the past, say three months, and they can work off that.

I agree, Jenelle. What irritates me is that if they do say the charge is a mistake, I will still have to pay it up front and wait for the next statement for a reversal - so they have my $195 for a month when I need it badly now

 

[Thudd]

Well I duly got the $195 fee on my first statement too. I just rang the guy - and I'd love to know where in the world he was because it was a really strange accent that defied identification - and he reversed it on the spot. He also told me that my card hadn't been activated, which was bizarre because (1) I did activate it, (2) I've used the card, and (3) I've got the 15,000 first usage bonus.

He also said that their computers are currently fubared (my words, not his) and that if I want to use the card in the next couple of days to tell the merchant to put it through manually

 

[oz_mark]

Well I duly got the $195 fee on my first statement too. I just rang the guy - and I'd love to know where in the world he was because it was a really strange accent that defied identification - and he reversed it on the spot.

It's wierd that the call centre for Japan is in the Japanese suburb of Sydney.

 

[Jenelle]

7 calls

Fax sent the first time

Been promised a call back 5 times - no call back.

This is really wearing thin. Every person I speak to has this wierd put on American valley girl accent and it is just all too strange for me.

Still no reversal - they don't know anything and they all have to go 'off' and check and call me back and this never happens.

3 weeks ago I also rang to close my other account - that hasn't happened so I have requested that happens again today before they charge me another yearly fee for that.

Hopeless. Truly hopeless.

 

[Febs]

Well, they kept their promise:
11 October CREDIT FOR MEMBERSHIP FEE -$195.00

 

[coco50]

Well I duly got the $195 fee on my first statement too. I just rang the guy - and I'd love to know where in the world he was because it was a really strange accent that defied identification - and he reversed it on the spot. He also told me that my card hadn't been activated, which was bizarre because (1) I did activate it, (2) I've used the card, and (3) I've got the 15,000 first usage bonus.

He also said that their computers are currently fubared (my words, not his) and that if I want to use the card in the next couple of days to tell the merchant to put it through manually

Well done, Thudd:!: I was not so lucky. I talked to Sharona (My Sharona:?: ). She said that my card was coded with the first year fee waiver and to pay the full amount of the statement up front. Next month there will be a $195 deduction. Meanwhile, have registered for the Aus. Open comp and am flattening the plastic.

BTW - FUBAR - an acronym = fouled up beyond all recognition (or whatever you want to substitute for fouled)

 

[Mal]

I have been credited with ~18000 QFF points which is about the right amount based on my spending on the card and the 17500 bonus.

The only hurdle left is ensuring that they don't charge me the annual fee like too many other people here have. If they do, there is no way I'm accepting the charge.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Just to add, that I too got my $195 creditted on 11th October.

 

[Jenelle]

I'm not sure how I'm ever going to get this charge reversed.

Should I just give up and pay it? They don't understand and they aren't doing anything!

I have had one call back and I missed the call and they left a message saying "With regards to your enquiry about your points.. I am calling you about your points and whatever your enquiry was you can call back etc etc" kinda message. I have never enquired about my points and it was one with a wierd accent again.

 

[Mal]

I'm not sure how I'm ever going to get this charge reversed.

Should I just give up and pay it? They don't understand and they aren't doing anything!

I would do the following. It's being a total smart alec, but should get the matter resolved.

Download and fill out the following form.

http://www.americanexpress.com/australia/pdfs/customerservice/amex2061_dispute.pdf

It is the "Cardmember Dispute Form"

"If a transaction appears on your statement that you believe is an error and you have unable to resolve the situation with the merchant, please complete the form below. Please either fax this form to (02) 9271 1400 or mail to AMERICAN EXPRESS LIMITED, GPO BOX 1582, SYDNEY, NSW 2001.
We will acknowledge receipt of your dispute claim in writing. Please be informed that the investigation timeframe may take up to 8 weeks. A handling fee per disputed transaction may be applied if the dispute is found to be legitimately authorised by yourself or other authorised party."


The other option is to write a letter addressed to "Qantas American Express Premium Card" at one of their Sydney GPO Box addresses. That should find it's way to someone who can deal with the issue.

In either case, make sure you document the issues you've been having, the contact you've made and copies of the faxes/ original website etc.

 

[dgruber]

Jenelle
Contact Amex via the BFSO:
http://www.bfso.org.au/ABIOWeb/ABIOWebSite.nsf/0/CE3FA44E6B75E082CA256E7D00802459/$file/nonbanks_consumerlist.pdf

 

[Jenelle]

thank you so much for all your help! it is muchly appreciated and I'll be interested in seeing how all the people who got charged this week fare.

I called again this morning and got told for the 7th time that 'Dipti' will call me back. I had her extension and that but I think she is a mystery as she is never there.

Anyway I just rang again and I spoke to Janet and simply stopped being nice in my tone of voice and said "I require you to put me through to someone who can reverse the annual fee that was charged incorrectly. This is the 9th time I have called and I have already faxed through the details before and I will not be hanging up until this is reversed." She then had me on hold for 5 minutes or so (nothing that any of the other had done) while she checked with her supervisor. She then came back and said he was checking my account, could I wait a little longer. No worries. She came back after about 2 minutes and said Mark had reversed the charge and I will see this on my account on Monday morning.

*fingers and toes crossed*

I just don't like that fact that you basically have to be a cough to get anywhere - I wouldn't want anyone talking to me with a bad tone of voice but enough is enough.

I also rang through on another call this morning to request for the 3rd time that my other account gets closed before I get an annual fee on that. This time I actually got a reference number so hopefully that will all happen as well.

Still no 10k points so now it is just waiting for that!

 

[JohnK]

* sigh *

I sincerely hope that all the time spent on the phone to India, Phillipines, and other countries I have not even heard of yet, is worth getting the card, the points, and having the fee waived!

For me it would have ceased to be worthwhile after the second phone call.

 

[straitman]

* sigh *

I sincerely hope that all the time spent on the phone to India, Phillipines, and other countries I have not even heard of yet, is worth getting the card, the points, and having the fee waived!

For me it would have ceased to be worthwhile after the second phone call.

It sometimes becomes a game John. The determination to beat the unbeatable system is what keeps people going.

 

[kyle]

It does make you wonder how the Amex computer system works.

If everyone had applied via that specially coded webpage, then everyone should have the $195 waived. Yet, that's not the case.

I'm one of the lucky ones.

 

[Mal]

It does make you wonder how the Amex computer system works.

If everyone had applied via that specially coded webpage, then everyone should have the $195 waived. Yet, that's not the case.

I'm one of the lucky ones.

Bet it's not that computerised It wouldn't be the first time I've seen an online application system print to a printer / email / transfer data to an operator to re-input.

 

[oz_mark]

Bet it's not that computerised It wouldn't be the first time I've seen an online application system print to a printer / email / transfer data to an operator to re-input.

Indeed. I have worked on a system that had what we called 'sneaker-net' as an interface between two systems.