AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[sparoy]

Bob Jane Blakehurst. Did not see the sign and when I handed my Amex card over for payment and he used the card to point to the sign showing 3% surcharge. :evil:

Very disappointing and I have been a Bob Jane customer for over 10 years.

Last time I was there, they waived the 3% surcharge because I was doing a wheel alignment. They are willing to waive (if asked) because their margin is high on service related transactions.

It would be different on a tyre purchase though....

 

[wxxnxs]

I recently did not have a good experience with AMEX Plat Cust Service. Without being racist, I was served by an Indian and they kept arguing that I was wrong. Sorry buddy but the customer is always right, and even if they are wrong, I am still right, so don't butt in when I am talking and correct me.

I find it hit and miss to get good customer service. 90% of the time it is good and they treat you well with platinum service.

I doubt not all of customer service center are in India, some of them I believe in Philippines. Whatever, once I heard Indian or Philippines call center, I hand off straight way.

 

[zzyss]

Well this is different. I got this message from Fishpond.com.au:

At this time, all payments by American Express credit cards must be charged in New Zealand dollars. A conversion from the order total of $39.97 AUD to NZD will be made at todays exchange rate. Please note that your bank may also charge an overseas currency conversion fee on the payment. This means that the total amount paid may be slightly higher than $39.97 AUD price quoted below (normally by less than 5%)

All other payment options including Visa, Mastercard, Paypal, bank transfer and cheque/money order will be charged exactly $39.97AUD. If you would like to edit your payment option, please click here

 

[JohnK]

Well this is different. I got this message from Fishpond.com.au:

That is interesting! A currency conversion by them more than likely in their favour and a possible currency conversion fee from the credit card provider on top.

That is worded like a possible 5% surcharge is nothing. On AUD39.97 the surcharge is ~AUD2 which is fairly significant....

 

[lovestotravel]

If people want to value MR points more than they are actually worth by using them to get into grossly overpriced premium cabins that is fine by me.

Right...

Yep I'll continue to use points for J seats that's fine with me

 

[zzyss]

That is interesting! A currency conversion by them more than likely in their favour and a possible currency conversion fee from the credit card provider on top.

Yeah, they didn't mention exactly where they get their daily exchange rate from, that I could see.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Well unrelated to the current Fishpond discussion, but I thought I should share that I was successful in avoiding the Vodafone Amex surcharge from the time of creation until this month (about a year)... and now that I have been charged the fee once, I can now write about it without fear of them discovering their mistake!

As I had already set up direct debit to Amex before they implemented the fees, their billing system "forgot" to apply the surcharge to the direct debits... but now that I've had to change the card number of the DD, the surcharge has been activated

I even wrote to them whinging that they were switching to online-only billing when their website wouldn't work ~70% of the time, and that direct debit to credit card was the only certain way of making sure the bill was paid (as sometimes you couldn't even access it until after it was due... - therefore why should I have to pay an extra fee)

I was told that they were not allowed to exempt accounts from the fee... but it seems that somewhere in the system, this happened and I avoided the surcharge for a whole year

Oh well... it's only ~50c on my bill, and the same surcharge as Telstra...

 

[Mal]

Nonetheless, this is hardly a B&B and yes it is surprising that a large city hotel like that would impose any kind of CC surcharge or refuse any particular CC.

Actually very common these days. ICH group hotels, Rydges (perhaps, haven't checked recently) and others also charge a surcharge for credit cards.

As more and more hotels start charging it, it legitimises other hotels also charging it. Perpetual circle.

 

[Keith009]

Actually very common these days. ICH group hotels, Rydges (perhaps, haven't checked recently) and others also charge a surcharge for credit cards.

Haven't come across them at Starwoods yet. *touch wood* Then again when it comes to domestic establishments that's hardly a big sample.

 

[drron]

First Fishpond-used them once and never again-the currency fees mean they end up not the cheapest.
Tonight came up against another example of what I consider a rip off-5% surcharge at Essence restaurant in Devonport.wont be going back.
In Launceston the Gorge restaurant-3% for amex and DC.Stillwater-2% for Amex and DC.Both still within my value margin.
Another who cant understand the "cant use my card"argument.I only use Amex when I cant use my DC at the moment and it is rare for me to have to get my Amex out.Visa still gets a workout for accountant fees and occasional other such places.
Hotels that make me pay a surcharge for using a CC will never have me as a repeat customer.

 

[Mal]

I couldn't use my Amex tonight to buy my new Netbook - for some reason the IT chain I went to in Honkers only accepts Visa and Mastercard. Their main chain competitor does accept Amex, but charges 3% (from memory - didn't check) as a surcharge. As the netbook was already $A70 less at the chain which didn't accept Amex, it really would have been a stupid move to walk away and go to the other place.

Will probably report them to the Amex "dob in a place" website, but not going to hold my breath waiting...

 

[JohnK]

Will probably report them to the Amex "dob in a place" website, but not going to hold my breath waiting...

Why bother? I think it is hit & miss whether it actually works anyway....

 

[Keith009]

Why bother? I think it is hit & miss whether it actually works anyway....

They've stopped responding to my 'dob ins.'

 

[JohnK]

They've stopped responding to my 'dob ins.'

Not surprised if the attitude, of the customer service agent I encountered over the phone recently, towards surcharging is reflective of how Amex feels about surcharging.

Let's be honest. There is only 1 reason why people use Amex and it has nothing to do with acceptance or surcharges....

 

[oz_mark]

Not surprised if the attitude, of the customer service agent I encountered over the phone recently, towards surcharging is reflective of how Amex feels about surcharging.

Let's be honest. There is only 1 reason why people use Amex and it has nothing to do with acceptance or surcharges....

Amex goes to merchant: We want you to stop surcharging
Merchant replies: I will stop surcharging if you reduce your fees

Problem is, the fees have to be higher to help pay for the rewards schemes.....

 

[NYCguy]

Let's be honest. There is only 1 reason why people use Amex and it has nothing to do with acceptance or surcharges....

OK, I'll bite... What is that reason, John?

 

[lovestotravel]

Amex goes to merchant: We want you to stop surcharging
Merchant replies: I will stop surcharging if you reduce your fees

Problem is, the fees have to be higher to help pay for the rewards schemes.....

Amex will reduce fees for those paying more than 2% down to around 1.8%.

VI/MC is around 0.8% so there is a 1% difference and that pays for the reward scheme.

The business either needs to absorb that surcharge or add it to a customers amount owing.

I don't mind a surcharge and will pay up to 3.5% if needed!

It would be nice if everywhere just accepted Amex though!

 

[JohnK]

OK, I'll bite... What is that reason, John?

Amex has prettier looking credit cards.

 

[Mal]

Why bother? I think it is hit & miss whether it actually works anyway....

Well I dobbed them in ... will see if I get a random email response sometime in the future.

 

[NYCguy]

Amex has prettier looking credit cards.

LOL... They sure do! The chargers are even prettier!