Amex acceptance

[ChrisFlyer]

I'm going to be dropping my AMEX next month, and it's 100% due to AMEX Travel. I used to see the QF ultimate as the only keeper in a sea of ordinary deals because the $450 AF came with a matching $450 travel credit - it was effectively free, so I put up with the shortfalls.

But AMEX Travel has fallen to pieces over the past 2-3 years, it has no online management of booking which meant when they all went sideways you and the rest of the world had to get in touch with their agents, they have essentially turned off the chat function for the past 2 years and they are only available mon-fri business hours which is exceptionally poor service for travellers.

So now it's back to a card that costs me $450 and all of those limitations start to stack up again, why have a backup card for when AMEX isn't accepted when several bank visa cards can get 1ppd (vs the 1.25 for AMEX) with greater acceptance and lower fee, and I can always churn between them meaning I get something back for that annual fee in the form of points that are quite frankly 10 times more usable to me than the AMEX TC (and that's saying a lot), not to mention more valuable, and redeemable if anything changes and I need to cancel.

Just in case it helps anyone, if you happen to have the Plat Charge card, you can call the number on that card to get through to the travel team over the weekend, even if you booked with one of your other linked Amex cards. Won't help though if you only have one of the standard credit cards, but has saved me more than once!

 

[bernardblack]

Subway I went to? No! KFC, No!

Sorry, meant to include in my prior response but forgot:

Of the major fast food chains:
*McDonalds, Hungry Jacks seem to all use unified payment systems which accept Amex
*Most Nandos, GYG, Grilld in my experience take Amex
*Some locations, but a minority, of KFC, Red Rooster, Schnitz, Subway, Boost Juice, Mad Mex, San Churro, take Amex
*Most of those in the low-Amex-acceptance set have mobile apps (as do all the places in the first two sets), and most of those allow in-app orders for which they do accept Amex directly or via PayPal
*A lot of places in the second and third sets also accept the Ultimate Eats Gift Card, which can be bought at Coles or Woolworths with Amex and frequently at a discount or with bonus Flybuys/Everyday Rewards

 

[Ade]

I moved to one of Victoria's larger regional towns this year and have been shocked to find that very few places accept Amex here. In terms of in-store shopping, where I used to get away with 8-9/10 purchases on Amex in Melbourne I'd say it's now more like 2/10.

2/10 is very low acceptance rate. If you have not considered already, how about purchasing gift cards with VISA/MC from Woolies and use these where AMEX isn't accepted. IF you are EDR+ member, you might get bonus EDR points when purchasing GC during promo.

 

[Ade]

5/10 places that I frequent take AMEX, rest don't. My favorite Asian Noodle House, won't take AMEX and I spend at least $60/week there. Most Indian restaurants don't take it either. IGA at CBR city doesn't take it.

I'm waiting to fix my EDR+ card (doesn't seem to work). Once the card is fixed, I'm using Amex to buy GC and use it for daily shop/purchases where Amex isn't used.

 

[sudoer]

I'm not sure if this is linked but I've also noticed a surge in places that are now surcharging for any card payment, often at different rates for different cards that aren't disclosed until you tap it (the generic "Surcharge may apply" message). I think it's because some of the terminals now automate the surcharge based on card type, but it's frustrating having no idea what rate an AmEx vs. Visa Debit vs. EFTPOS will be charged at.

I've noticed this too, especially with Tyro. It's incredibly frustrating when this happens on business expenses and the card processing surcharge isn't reflected on the POS generated tax invoice.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Thank goodness for square, hasn’t failed me yet IIRC. Ordered pizza tonight from the back of a truck. As soon as I saw the square reader, I knew the back of the truck took AMEX

 

[Captain Halliday]

Related to Amex acceptance, and their merchant fees, found this story included some interesting background about the Amex business model.

 

[Brucetiki]

I find it wildly inconsistent who does and does not take AMEX, and I’ve fast learnt not to judge a place by it’s cover when it comes to AMEX acceptance.

Some local footy clubs accept AMEX, yet FIFA doesn’t.

OTR accept Crypto in store, but you have to pay via PayPal if you want to use AMEX.

The most bizarre experience I’ve had was at Monarto Zoo. The gift shop accepted AMEX, the cafe did not.

While gift cards are handy for those places that don’t take AMEX, that’s trickier to do with direct debits, the pre-paid gift cards usually have a $5-$6 fee to purchase them, and as someone mentioned earlier, it’s harder to track payments.

 

[VPS]

OTR accept Crypto in store, but you have to pay via PayPal if you want to use AMEX.

OTR - if you're talking On the Run petrol stations they all take amex and I have their app that I have my Amex on there

 

[Brucetiki]

OTR - if you're talking On the Run petrol stations they all take amex and I have their app that I have my Amex on there

I was and didn’t realise that. When I tried to upload the Amex onto the app, it was having a moment, so I just PayPal it through the app

 

[DC3]

My favorite Asian Noodle House, won't take AMEX and I spend at least $60/week there.

Have you found a new favourite noodle place yet?

 

[Ade]

Have you found a new favourite noodle place yet?

Sadly, no … my local noodle place shut down temporarily due to flood damage and they have not reopened yet

 

[andyrb]

I've had a few instances where Amex isn't accepted. Aldi (as expected), GP, pharmac_.

Where it's not accepted I've just used the Bankwest Debit Mastercard so I still earn points. Not my preferred option but not much can be done and better than nothing.

I did have an interesting experience yesterday though, one I hope someone can explain:

Specialist appointment, went to pay the bill at the end. $500. Tried to pay on Amex, declined. Confirmed they accepted Amex, yes. Tried again. Declined. Ended up paying on the Bankwest card. all good.

Took a copy of the terminal receipt, says "58 - Trans Not Allowed". Google tells me this error code usually means the card type is not accepted by the merchant or the card issuer doesn't permit this particular transaction to be made. Spoke to an Amex rep who confirmed there is no reason for it to be declined, and they couldn't see any transactions at their end showing a decline. The rep suggested it was an issue with their terminal or they didn't accept Amex.

I know they do take Amex, as I saw the person before me pay with one.

This isn't the first time it's happened either. A couple places I've paid at say "yeah, we take Amex" and it gets declined with an error. Obviously a bit embarrassing for me and annoying.

Any thoughts here?

 

[Ade]

Have you found a new favourite noodle place yet?

Sadly, no … my local noodle place shut down temporarily due to flood damage and they have not reopened yet

Update to this - got a text message from the owners that they will be reopening late next week ... yay!

 

[drron]

I've had a few instances where Amex isn't accepted. Aldi (as expected), GP, pharmac_.

Where it's not accepted I've just used the Bankwest Debit Mastercard so I still earn points. Not my preferred option but not much can be done and better than nothing.

I did have an interesting experience yesterday though, one I hope someone can explain:

Specialist appointment, went to pay the bill at the end. $500. Tried to pay on Amex, declined. Confirmed they accepted Amex, yes. Tried again. Declined. Ended up paying on the Bankwest card. all good.

Took a copy of the terminal receipt, says "58 - Trans Not Allowed". Google tells me this error code usually means the card type is not accepted by the merchant or the card issuer doesn't permit this particular transaction to be made. Spoke to an Amex rep who confirmed there is no reason for it to be declined, and they couldn't see any transactions at their end showing a decline. The rep suggested it was an issue with their terminal or they didn't accept Amex.

I know they do take Amex, as I saw the person before me pay with one.

This isn't the first time it's happened either. A couple places I've paid at say "yeah, we take Amex" and it gets declined with an error. Obviously a bit embarrassing for me and annoying.

Any thoughts here?

Actually happened to mrsdrron today at a shop that has always accepted Amex. Got a declined message. fortunately the manager was in the store and told the employee that is the new terminal and for some reason it won't accept Amex. Use the old terminal. She did and the Amex went through.

 

[Ade]

new terminal and for some reason it won't accept Amex. Use the old terminal. She did and the Amex went through.

Same happened to me at CBR today … the convenience store in the city has a new machine that won’t take Amex. I pointed out that the old machine used and they took the old ones from under the counter, which worked like a charm.

 

[Captain Halliday]

This trend to having two sets of machines appears to be growing.

I’ve also had this experience having to get the “old machine” from some hidden spot.

In my case it was after a restaurant meal, so returning the items was out of the question.

I pointed out that both their website and sticker on the front window said they accepted Amex.. and I relied on this in choosing the venue.

I also advised it was the only payment option I had and just like magic a different machine appeared.

 

[drron]

Happened again today with mrsdrron in Kmart.

 

[Ade]

Kmart

Kmart?!?!? I thought all the "big end of town" stores i.e. Coles, Woolies, KMart, BigW etc accept ALL kinds of payments .. Aldi is an exception, only Visa/MC

 

[drron]

Kmart?!?!? I thought all the "big end of town" stores i.e. Coles, Woolies, KMart, BigW etc accept ALL kinds of payments .. Aldi is an exception, only Visa/MC

Indeed never been knocked back before. But this is now a real worry that the latest terminals will not accept Amex.