AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[ChrisFlyer]

I have travelled to Italy at least 3 times in as many years and never had an issue using my Amex at hotels, restaurants, etc. and with no surcharges (as goes for most of the rest of the world). I take a linked MC or Visa Debit just in case however.

Fantastic Glad to hear it!

And to everyone else about the Medibank Private thing - I've dobbed them in to Amex, and sent a complaint via the website saying that I'll avoid them and my company will switch Corporate Health to a different provider that welcomes the AMEX corp card (MBF)... just a stupid decision by them really!

 

[lovestotravel]

HBA - Has never accepted American Express for the 10 + years I have been with them
Medibank Private - I was about to switch to them as they used to accept Amex

MBF - Appear to take it, they have Diners and Amex on their direct debt form on their website

I understand they want to cut costs, but just surcharge 1% for Amex and most people would probably pay it!

 

[lovestotravel]

For those with Medibank - http://www.medibank.com.au/About-Us/Contact-Us/Feedback-and-Complaints.aspx

However, given that the decision to scrap Amex is a fairly big one, I can only assume they have asked Amex for a better rate and made the decision based on that.

Not going to change with a few people complaining.

If they can save 1% on a few million dollars a year (who knows what the exact % paid with Amex is...), it's an extra $20,000+++++ for them each year....

Switch to MBF is the plan I would say!

 

[RB]

Switch to MBF is the plan I would say!

I must be different to other people. I base my choice of private health cover on the benefits provided & the premium charged!

 

[NM]

I must be different to other people. I base my choice of private health cover on the benefits provided & the premium charged!

When it comes to the obsessions, addictions and vices of many members of this community, yes, I agree you must be different .

 

[edman]

I had Medibank Private cover up until a few years ago.

I switched to HCF - they were a lot cheaper, the cover was more comprehensive, and the limits were higher. The Medibank bloke I got on the phone to cancel told me boldly "My only job in this company is to make sure you stay" yet he said he couldn't come close to matching HCF. Best of all they take Amex http://www.hcf.com.au/pdf/Credit_Card_Authority.pdf

From my experience at the time, and on review last year, much better value than MBF. Hope this helps some of you who are looking at MBF, would be happy to be corrected though

 

[lovestotravel]

Thanks for that info, shopping around for health cover is painfull.

One note if Labor wins the election they are likely going to cut the 30% health rebate, the Greens want to scrap it all-together! :evil:

 

[ejb]

Thanks for that info, shopping around for health cover is painfull.

One note if Labor wins the election they are likely going to cut the 30% health rebate, the Greens want to scrap it all-together! :evil:

Let's hope that doesn't happen.

Time to call HCF.

ejb.




Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly

 

[zzyss]

A shame about Medibank, but I'm stuck with them since we're on the wife's corporate plan, which beats any retail cover available. So no change for me, except to change to paying with Visa :-(

 

[albatross710]

I've sent another email to PayPal today, asking them when they're going to get their act together...
... Almost every answer was "because you won't take my AMEX card", and "I didn't use PayPal because the business accepted AMEX directly"... Hopefully they'll get the message!

We use a PayPal business gateway for processing out online transactions. They process Amex at the moment so hopefully this will flow through to their other products. The product is Payflow Pro if that helps. (https://www.paypal-business.com.au/...ow payment gateway&9gad=5200145938.1&mpch=ads)


It's been a while since I followed this thread but as I am reviewing the Amex charges this week it has been good to catch upon the current state of play. I'll report back.

Alby

 

[lovestotravel]

It's been a while since I followed this thread but as I am reviewing the Amex charges this week it has been good to catch upon the current state of play. I'll report back.
Alby

Amex recently quoted me 2.7% for a businesss partner of mine to accept Amex.

I laughed and they gave me the normal rubbish talk of Amex customers being loyal and valuable and this rate is a good rate compared to most people.

I then asked them about a rate they gave to a mate of mine with a retail business. 1.8%......

I wonder if the "sales reps" get a better bonus for signing up a business to a higher merchant fee..... :shock:

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Just curious, but did you manage to get them down in the end? If not, try doing what I did - mention that you won't surcharge or discourage Amex card use - they went from 2.75% down to 1.95% for me after saying the original rate was too high... they also reduced the settlement from 3 business days to next business day, among a few other things... There were about 10 conditions to the discounted rate, but basically, they just spelled out how to welcome the card and treat it the same as Visa/MC...

Not sure if the offer is industry-specific, but worth a try at least! Having said that, Diners on the other hand wouldn't budge from 2.73%... not impressed!

 

[lovestotravel]

He said he'd call me tomorrow

 

[rechoboam]

I had Medibank Private cover up until a few years ago.

I switched to HCF - they were a lot cheaper, the cover was more comprehensive, and the limits were higher. The Medibank bloke I got on the phone to cancel told me boldly "My only job in this company is to make sure you stay" yet he said he couldn't come close to matching HCF. Best of all they take Amex http://www.hcf.com.au/pdf/Credit_Card_Authority.pdf

From my experience at the time, and on review last year, much better value than MBF. Hope this helps some of you who are looking at MBF, would be happy to be corrected though

The issue is not just the premium though, it's also what your gap payments are going to be to surgeons, anesthetists, pathologists and hospitals. The funds have very different policies regarding this. I would explore this sort of issue when shopping around.

 

[albatross710]

Just curious, but did you manage to get them down in the end? If not, try doing what I did - mention that you won't surcharge or discourage Amex card use - they went from 2.75% down to 1.95% for me after saying the original rate was too high... they also reduced the settlement from 3 business days to next business day, among a few other things... There were about 10 conditions to the discounted rate, but basically, they just spelled out how to welcome the card and treat it the same as Visa/MC...

Not sure if the offer is industry-specific, but worth a try at least! Having said that, Diners on the other hand wouldn't budge from 2.73%... not impressed!

The story I received via telephone was the they offer everyone the same 2.75% rate. The lower 1.95% rate will apply to the first $50K of transactions each 12 months.

They were very keen to stress the "no higher surcharge for amex" part of the deal.

Most of our Amex users are corporate card holder...still thinking about the offer.

 

[matty744]

MBF - Appear to take it, they have Diners and Amex on their direct debt form on their website

I was told in a branch yesterday that as of the 30 June MBF will now only accept Amex for automatic direct debit. No in branch or one off payments with amex are allowed anymore for some reason.

 

[serfty]

I received the letter from Medibank as well.

I might see if I can pre-pay some months beforehand.

 

[moa999]

Medibank letter received and complaint logged.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Just returned from Bob Jane T-Marts. Amex "Cards Welcome" logo and Diners logos on prominent display, no 3% surcharge for either! (they must have either abandoned the idea all together, or this could be a franchise store - not sure!)

 

[Flashback]

Just returned from Bob Jane T-Marts. Amex "Cards Welcome" logo and Diners logos on prominent display, no 3% surcharge for either! (they must have either abandoned the idea all together, or this could be a franchise store - not sure!)

You should get bonus points with them, too.