AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[Bundy Bear]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Why I don't like Amex; a real life example.

Visa card fee is 0.83% less than 1%.

Amex fee is 2.75%

Visa gets credited to our account every evening, so I can almost guarantee use of the money next day.

Amex takes 5 days to 1 week before the money is deposited into our account.

We will accept Amex but with a 3% surcharge for the hassle and delay of being credited to the account.

I can understand why other companies charge a service for Amex.

 

[rhjames]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Bundy Bear - thanks for the info. I don't understand how Amex stays in business. I understand that they are one of the worst cards from the supplier's point ov view. We get some benefits from them, but it's not worth it if we pay 5% additional charge on the purchase. All this additional FF points etc for using a card is a lot of rubbish as far as I'm concerned. Somewhere along the line, we still pay for the service. I'd prefer them all to keep it simple - a basic credit card service, minimal charges, well accepted, and no junk mail. Overall, I'm happy for a surcharge to be added to these expensive credit cards. Let those who want the perks pay for them. I'll use the card that costs the least, and go back to cash for every day use if necessary. Even on a recent overseas holiday, I paid most things in cash from the ATM, rather than pay the credit card exchange charge - it was all very easy.

 

[one9]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Why I don't like Amex; a real life example.

Visa card fee is 0.83% less than 1%.

Amex fee is 2.75%

Visa gets credited to our account every evening, so I can almost guarantee use of the money next day.

Amex takes 5 days to 1 week before the money is deposited into our account.

We will accept Amex but with a 3% surcharge for the hassle and delay of being credited to the account.

I can understand why other companies charge a service for Amex.

Bundy Bear, may I ask which industry you are in?
For me (telecommunications industry), I get charged 0.7% for accepting Visa/Mastercard, and 2.97% for Amex (2.7% + gst). Just wondering which industry you are in to get 2.75%?

 

[JohnK]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Bundy Bear, may I ask which industry you are in?
For me (telecommunications industry), I get charged 0.7% for accepting Visa/Mastercard, and 2.97% for Amex (2.7% + gst).

That sounds like a familiar Amex surcharge percentage. I stayed at the Acacia Motor Inn (Golden Chain Hotel) at Blackall during the week and the surcharge for using Amex was 2.97%.

I did not bother asking if any other credit card had surcharge so just used Amex.

 

[one9]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

That sounds like a familiar Amex surcharge percentage. I stayed at the Acacia Motor Inn (Golden Chain Hotel) at Blackall during the week and the surcharge for using Amex was 2.97%.

I did not bother asking if any other credit card had surcharge so just used Amex.

I believe Amex have different rates depending on industry. Of course bigger players then can negotiate a little, but it is much harder than with a bank for Visa/Mastercard. So I am interested to know different rates for different industries. Over a year there is quite a saving to be made from 2.75% compared with 2.97%.

 

[Mal]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

I 'reported' my first vendor for charging a surcharge for Amex tonight.

Wotif.com: Hotels, Accommodation, Motels, Serviced Apartments, B&B - Online hotel bookings with instant confirmation. Kinda annoying that they surcharge $3 (on top of their booking fee of $4 and change fee of $25 -- if required).

I presume that nothing will happen as a result, and probably should have just used my Visa instead and saved the $3.

Still, will be interesting if I do hear back from Amex.

On the positive side, I saved ~$120 off the best rate I could find elsewhere for my stay, and snagged the last wotif room available at that hotel in the class of room I was after.

https://home3.americanexpress.com/australia/merchant/secure/leads_general/suppression.asp is the URL...

 

[drron]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

I 'reported' my first vendor for charging a surcharge for Amex tonight.

Wotif.com: Hotels, Accommodation, Motels, Serviced Apartments, B&B - Online hotel bookings with instant confirmation. Kinda annoying that they surcharge $3 (on top of their booking fee of $4 and change fee of $25 -- if required).

I presume that nothing will happen as a result, and probably should have just used my Visa instead and saved the $3.

Still, will be interesting if I do hear back from Amex.

On the positive side, I saved ~$120 off the best rate I could find elsewhere for my stay, and snagged the last wotif room available at that hotel in the class of room I was after.

https://home3.americanexpress.com/australia/merchant/secure/leads_general/suppression.asp is the URL...

However after getting the wotif rate it is a good idea to contact the accommodation directly-you can often get the wotif rate and save the fees.Did this just last weekend and got an extra $10 off wotif rate and no surcharge for DC.

 

[rhjames]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Am I missing something here? Don't most petrol stations have a surcharge for Amex - I know of many that charge 2% for visa and 5% for Amex. Can I report them?

 

[oz_mark]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

I should report Melbourne Airport for their 2% surcharge on parking when using Amex !

 

[oz_mark]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Am I missing something here? Don't most petrol stations have a surcharge for Amex - I know of many that charge 2% for visa and 5% for Amex. Can I report them?

Many do this (ime Caltex are the main offenders), but there a lot that don't.

 

[JohnK]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Am I missing something here? Don't most petrol stations have a surcharge for Amex - I know of many that charge 2% for visa and 5% for Amex.

I have only ever come across one Caltex in Perth that imposed a surcharge. I use Woolworths Petrol, Coles, Caltex, BP plus many independents and pay with Amex and have not come across another with a surcharge.

 

[NM]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Many do this (ime Caltex are the main offenders), but there a lot that don't.

I always use my Amex for purchasing petrol in Qld and have never been charged s surcharge for using the Amex card.

 

[ozstamps]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

Me too in NSW.

NEVER anything added.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

I always use my Amex for purchasing petrol in Qld and have never been charged s surcharge for using the Amex card.

My experience is mostly Perth and more recently Melbourne. There are many Caltex stations (and Woolwoths Caltex) I know of in Perth that surcharge on Amex cards (and some surcharge all credit cards with amounts varying by card). In Melbourne, I have seen one so far.

 

[rhjames]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

So is there anything illegal in this? I normally carry cash with me to purchase petrol just in case they charge for credit cards. In Australia I normally don't bother with Amex because of the complaints. Sometimes a shop attendant, seeing that I also have Visa, will ask me to use it in preference to Amex. All I want is a functional credit card - I don't want insurance, holidays etc.

 

[simongr]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

I have never been questioned at a petrol station, major retailer or "branded" hotel when using my Amex. For small retailers/restaurants that I want to foster a relationship with I will happily not use Amex if they insist but no petrol station attendant is going to look in my wallet and suggest which card I use...

 

[JohnK]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

So is there anything illegal in this?

As far as I know it is legal in Australia to pass on a surcharge to a customer.

Don't bother contacting Amex as they are powerless to do anything about surcharges. If you feel so strongly about surcharges then do not shop at that establishment.

I prefer to use Amex and if a business does not accept it then I shop elsewhere. The only time I use Visa or Mastercard is when I don't have much choice and I need to pre-book something urgently on the internet and this is not often at all.

 

[StevePER]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

There are many Caltex stations (and Woolwoths Caltex) I know of in Perth that surcharge on Amex cards (and some surcharge all credit cards with amounts varying by card).

Some of them surcharge Visa/Mastercard as well. A workaround for the Woolworths ones is to buy Wish cards with the credit card elsewhere and then spend them on petrol.

 

[rhjames]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

So does anyone know for sure what the legality of this is?

 

[MelUser]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surchage

My work car is shell carded so no issues there but have noticed with our 2nd car that our local petrol station (non-branded) is ceasing to take AMEX from midnight tonight.

The local chemist ceased to accept AMEX in the last month - ie yesterday they wouldn't take it but 4 weeks ago they did.

I find in Melbourne that generally people either take AMEX or they don't.

I really only notice the AMEX surcharge at the travel agent. 1.4% for visa/mastercard but 3.something% for AMEX so I tend not to use AMEX for obvious reasons!

I pity people with a Diners Card as that surcharge can be even higher than AMEX!