AMEX 17,500 points offer

[PlutekPlutek]

Wow... AMEX is prepared to spend alot of money to get new customers. I should have held out.

I suggest they want to flood the Australian market with cards, and then have a better bargaining position with the merchants who balk at the higher merchant fees.

I successfully applied for the Rewards Maximiser (after cancelling one a month earlier, since the first free year period has run out), plus the City Bank Gold Visa (no annual fee ever). Both of these applications were made and approved about a month ago. Do you think its worthwhile applying for this new promotion (20000 points), i.e. will they approve it ?

Cheers
Lukasz

 

[coco50]

Who has had the online survey about how smooth was the application and activation process? I did this yesterday and was getting progressively annoyed at the loaded questions. Fortunately there was a free response part at the end and I gave a frank reply about application for first year fee-waiver card and then being charged a fee (which may be reversed).

 

[oz_mark]

Eagerly waiting to receive my e-mail from QFF then... hope it's sent to all members rather than a targeted group!

I don't think there is anything in particular that would link the following link to me


Qantas Frequent Flyer

 

[kelpie]

Thank you oz_mark

I've already taken up the 17500 pt offer but I reckon mrs kelpie will be signing up for the 20000 pt offer ASAP.

 

[JohnK]

"The Qantas American Express Premium Card

Watch the points add up. Here's how:

- 12,500 points after your first Card spend when you apply by
30 November 2006^ and are approved
- 5,000 points after your first Card spend
- 2,500 points after your first Card spend in Australia on
selected Qantas services#"

Hmmm.... very tempting.

What to do? I don't want to give up the fee free Amex gold card.

 

[Dons83]

Hmmm.... very tempting.

What to do? I don't want to give up the fee free Amex gold card.

Not a problem - I have 3 - Amex Gold, Rewards Maximiser, and Qantas Amex Premium, they won't make you cancel your existing card, despite the online form saying otherwise

 

[JohnK]

Not a problem - I have 3 - Amex Gold, Rewards Maximiser, and Qantas Amex Premium, they won't make you cancel your existing card, despite the online form saying otherwise

That is handy to know. My concern was that the Gold card would be replaced as per the 2 recent offers I received from Amex for the Qantas premium card.

My other dilemma is that I have only recently applied and received the earth cards.

 

[Dons83]

That is handy to know. My concern was that the Gold card would be replaced as per the 2 recent offers I received from Amex for the Qantas premium card.

My other dilemma is that I have only recently applied and received the earth cards.

hmmm...depends on their agenda, they might want to wipe the fee-free-for-life gold cards off their portfolio, and hence they're sending you out these targeted offers. I was actually resigned to losing my gold card when I took up my maximiser, but the gentleman on the phone actually gave me the option of keeping it (which I was happy to do)

As for the Earth card...if you have too many recent applications for credit they don't look very favourably on you for new apps (your credit file gets flagged as busy) - HOWEVER my understanding is that Amex are a bit more lenient as far as their lending criteria goes, basically if you're an existing customer and have a good payment history, they are likely to let your app through

By the way, I work for ANZ cards. What I hear about the Amex ppl is just the word around the traps, so don't take it as gospel.

 

[JohnK]

hmmm...depends on their agenda, they might want to wipe the fee-free-for-life gold cards off their portfolio, and hence they're sending you out these targeted offers.

The last offer they sent me was for the Amex Platinum Charge card at $900/pa and mentioned that I could also keep the Gold card.

As for the Earth card...if you have too many recent applications for credit they don't look very favourably on you for new apps (your credit file gets flagged as busy)

This would be the least of my worries. I know many people have mentioned it but I don't subscribe to the "too many applications theory". Credit card companies love to have someone like me as a customer.

 

[wafliron]

I don't think there is anything in particular that would link the following link to me http://qantasff.qantas.net.au/edm/50129.html

Thanks very much Mark, just applied via that link.

Despite being a QFF member and subscribed to all classes of e-mail I haven't received any info about this Amex offer, so either their e-mail send rate is slow (doubtful), done in batches (possible), or it was targeted in some way (maybe on a state-by-state basis, or on the basis of how much flight activity a member has had).

 

[wafliron]

Oh so sad, so many credit card offers .... Yet I cannot apply because I need to apply for home loan next year so I cannot apply for credit card anymore

Why not? AFAIK CRAA hits shouldn't affect a home loan application as long as there aren't a ridiculous number of them - more important is defaults, and actual credit limit at the time of application (and of course you can just cancel cards at the time if you need to).

To give you an indication, Suncorp (so not exactly a we-buy-anything non-bank lender) approved a loan for me on a fairly risky house about 3 months ago, and I would've had 3 CRAA hits in the prior 14 months (one CC - approved, one CC - declined -, one novated lease on a car).

All that being said, you probably shouldn't take my word for it... I don't want to be responsible if you apply for the CC and then can't get your home loan!

 

[oz_mark]

The last offer they sent me was for the Amex Platinum Charge card at $900/pa and mentioned that I could also keep the Gold card.

Is that a gold charge card they are letting you retain? You must be pumping a reasonable amount of spending through the card to get offered a platinum charge card. (or maybe it is just part of their attempts to supersize everyone)

This would be the least of my worries. I know many people have mentioned it but I don't subscribe to the "too many applications theory". Credit card companies love to have someone like me as a customer.

Depends on the credit card company as to how they look at it. Credit scoring seems to vary widely amongst lenders.

 

[Rick93]

I've just had a good experience with AMEX recently....

I received my Qantas Ultimte card outside of any 'promotional' period, so no 17,500 points. (aside from the internal components of 5,000 + 2,500 for first spend & first Qantas spend).

After seeing so many of these offers for 17,500 points, I rang AMEX and had a 'whinge'.

It took about ten minutes on hold, but they came back to me with the full 17,500 points offer.

Thus, for my ten minutes on hold, I scored the extra 10,000 points!

Worth ringing them up, if you missed out previously!!!

regards,

 

[JohnK]

Is that a gold charge card they are letting you retain? You must be pumping a reasonable amount of spending through the card to get offered a platinum charge card. (or maybe it is just part of their attempts to supersize everyone)

Maybe Mark, I am not sure what they are trying to achieve. I put about $20,000/pa, depending on flying patterns, on my Amex gold credit card. They got sick and tired of trying to upgrade me to the Qantas Premium card they have now offered me the Platinum charge card at $900/pa. I could not see any benefits even with the concierge service unless someone can convince me it is worth it.

IDepends on the credit card company as to how they look at it. Credit scoring seems to vary widely amongst lenders.

Absolutely Mark, but as I mentioned earlier credit card companies love me because I pay them interest.

 

[oz_mark]

Maybe Mark, I am not sure what they are trying to achieve. I put about $20,000/pa, depending on flying patterns, on my Amex gold credit card. They got sick and tired of trying to upgrade me to the Qantas Premium card they have now offered me the Platinum charge card at $900/pa. I could not see any benefits even with the concierge service unless someone can convince me it is worth it.

Were they going to upgrade your credit card as well - I understoon that if you had the platinum charge card, you got a platinum credit card as well. While not $900 worth, the reason I changed from a free gold card to a pay a fee platinum (credit) card was the free flight that was bundled in.

I was offered a gold charge card at one point, but turned it down.

Absolutely Mark, but as I mentioned earlier credit card companies love me because I pay them interest.

This makes me wonder why they offered you a charge card Unless they are planning to hit you for 'liquidated damages' when you don't pay up on time :shock:

 

[fftraveler]

I took out Amex Gold card and although I'd spent over $9000 in first year I had to remind them not to charge annual fee.I remember seeing the deal offered earlier this year for amexqan and always vowed to revisit when my card renewal due, therefore must have been a better deal.The extra points are an attraction but the best deal so far from Amex was there 0% balance transfer for 6months.As for Platinum, go figure.

 

[kpc]

I don't think there is anything in particular that would link the following link to me


Qantas Frequent Flyer

If I apply for this AMEX card (very tempting), I will then have the full set of cards:!:
...Visa, Master Card and Diners. Oops, forgot that I don't have a "Bankcard"...does anyone still have one of these cards now??

 

[Mal]

Oops, forgot that I don't have a "Bankcard"...does anyone still have one of these cards now??

Just about a relic of a bygone banking system now.... Totally withdrawn by the end of this year.
See menu for more information.

 

[oz_mark]

If I apply for this AMEX card (very tempting), I will then have the full set of cards:!:
...Visa, Master Card and Diners. Oops, forgot that I don't have a "Bankcard"...does anyone still have one of these cards now??

I doubt you could get one, it was announced early this year that they were being phased out (in fact most banks had already stopped issuing them). From Jan 1,2007 they will no longer be accepted by merchants.

 

[oz_mark]

I hate it when I write a reply and then see someone already got in :evil: