AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[BlueAU]

Sometimes you've gotta laugh at websites. This is what is displayed on an Australian e-commerce website:

So do they "accept" Amex cards or not?

hahaha you got me there for a minute Mal

 

[lovestotravel]

Okay had a few Hertz rentals lately and while I was waiting to get out of the SYD Hertz parking (waiting) lot.....:evil: I had a good look at the contract that was in the car.

I noticed "Credit Card Surcharge" was listed on their but at $0.00, I had not noticed it before but as it was $0.00 I didn't mind.

When I got the receipt after dropping off the car I noticed a cheeky $0.80 surcharge for paying via my Amex card. Not sure if VI/MC is free as I only pay with Amex.

Never noticed this before, but then again I haven't closely looked at my receipts for months. I just look at the bottom figure and if it is close to my estimated charge I don't worry.

Meanwhile BNE never charged me for bringing the car back "not quite full" so that more than covers any surcharge for quite a while

 

[Mal]

Never noticed this before, but then again I haven't closely looked at my receipts for months. I just look at the bottom figure and if it is close to my estimated charge I don't worry.

Hertz have been surcharging for Credit cards for nearly a year now.

 

[lovestotravel]

Found the answer to this one

 

[zzyss]

Anybody else seen the new ads that have gone up around the shopping centres and the like, trying to push Amex as an "everyday" credit card, not just for premium things?

e.g. the only ad I can recall off the top of my head is:

"Not just for couture darling" - showing a pair of socks.

Then all posters have the same tagline, which I can't remember, but is something along the lines of "American Express is accepted in lots of shops".

 

[levelnine]

Anybody else seen the new ads that have gone up around the shopping centres and the like, trying to push Amex as an "everyday" credit card, not just for premium things?

Yes, they seem to be everywhere and in all the newspapers too.

It strikes me as a half-truth. While I have found that AMEX is accepted at most places I shop, many retailers add a 2-3% surcharge for using AMEX. Thus, it can be used as an everyday card as long as you're happy from time to time to pay a premium!

 

[lovestotravel]

HUGE number of posters in shopping centres and on bus-stops around the places.

As for surcharges there is basically no-where that I shop now that has a surcharge, except my local computer shop.

But they have recently lowered the rate from 5% to 3.3%.

My 2nd preferred computer shop now do NOT surcharge Amex after I reported them on the Amex website for surcharging :mrgreen:

My local coffee shop now accepts it, even though the owner said he would never accept it. He said they offered him a very good rate

My local key cutting place now accept Amex too.

 

[Mal]

Anybody else seen the new ads that have gone up around the shopping centres and the like, trying to push Amex as an "everyday" credit card, not just for premium things?

They are on a lot of buses in London as well,so it's not just an Australian thing.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Does anyone know if Clive Peeters surcharges for Amex in-store? For sales on their website, they surcharge 2% for Diners, but don't surcharge for other cards... And I can't be bothered to go down there just to check that haha

 

[SOPOOR]

Does anyone know if Clive Peeters surcharges for Amex in-store? For sales on their website, they surcharge 2% for Diners, but don't surcharge for other cards... And I can't be bothered to go down there just to check that haha

nope, no charge for amex,

 

[ChrisFlyer]

nope, no charge for amex,

Awesome - thanks for that

 

[pointsjunkie]

HUGE number of posters in shopping centres and on bus-stops around the places.

As for surcharges there is basically no-where that I shop now that has a surcharge, except my local computer shop.

But they have recently lowered the rate from 5% to 3.3%.

My 2nd preferred computer shop now do NOT surcharge Amex after I reported them on the Amex website for surcharging :mrgreen:

My local coffee shop now accepts it, even though the owner said he would never accept it. He said they offered him a very good rate

My local key cutting place now accept Amex too.

I have found the same, I really do feel like I can use it all the time now, barely get surcharged at all these days and so many more places are accepting, it's great! Shows that it pays to report them to AMEX cause eventually you might just ware them down, even those who say they'll never accept!

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I find Amex acceptance great these days - occasionally there's a surcharge, but often if the item you're purchasing is advertised in a catalogue, you can take the catalogue to one of their non-surcharging competitors and pay the advertised price on Amex (and also earn extra QFF points if it's Big W who you take the catalogue to).

One of the only issues which seems to result in discontinued acceptance these days is change in business ownership. Eg. the previous owners had the Amex facility, and then handed control over to the new owners who have a new EFTPOS terminal and agreement (often from a different bank), and just haven't bothered to set it up. This was the case with a cafe that I frequent (who now accept it again), and also today in a Baskin Robbins store (discovered when I asked why it was no longer accepted).

Having said that, before today, I've only had to use my Visa about twice in the last few months - it's at the point now where I'm so used to swiping the Amex and it defaulting to credit that it actually took me a couple of seconds to locate the "credit" button for Visa today (lol), when normally I'm quite quick when using cards...

 

[Jeffrey1]

This is my first post and I don't know if this has been mentioned before (as I have not read all of the 80 pages) lol, but...

there are very few energy providers that accept AMEX.

I am with one that does, and it's Simply Energy.

I use them for both gas and electricity, once you are connected with them, you just have to set up an automatic payment plan and AMEX is an option.

Once you bill is due, it's automatically deducted from your nominated AMEX account.

I hope this helps

 

[bambbbam2]

Thanks Jeffrey1

/whinge hat on

One day in WA we will actually get electricity competition and so will be able to choose a non-government provider


/whinge hat off

 

[Flashback]

Welcome to AFF Jeffrey1!

 

[serfty]

Cheers, Jeffrey1, welcome to AFF

and thanks for the info ...

Back OT - my water supplier used to accept Amex but has stopped doing so in the last month or so ... :-|

 

[lovestotravel]

EnergyAustralia - Home accept Amex via phone payment or direct debit. NO SURCHARGE!

That was one of the main reasons I switched to them, and they were cheaper than Origin Energy who only take VI/MC and are now introducing a 0.6% surcharge.

Origin grab for credit card cash | Herald Sun

At least they are only passing on the rate that they probably get charged, but of course no Amex acceptance.

 

[JohnK]

Spoke again to the owner about this, and he said that over the past few months many more customers have been asking to pay via Amex and were slightly annoyed about having to pay cash or VI/MC.

:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

I hardly ever carry cash with me in BNE. No reason really. I can pay for weekly train ticket with Amex, Woolworths, Coles, bottle shop, beer at Tower Mill for monthly drinks etc.

If a business does not accept Amex or wants to surcharge then I am not going to an ATM to get cash unless the purchase was needed to save my life. Their loss not mine and I probably save some money in the process....

 

[zzyss]

Oh boo! NRMA have updated their phone bill payment system and it doesn't take AMEX any more

Anybody recommend a good insurer that takes Amex, which gives a good deal on car comprehensive, CTP and home buildings?