AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[basic]

They also have a rewards program. At the moment it doesn't look too meaty from the outside in terms of redemption, but I am not a Buzz member so I can't see all of the options. I have a couple of curiosity questions...

@QF009: Did the loyalty program have anything to do with your choice?
@Everyone else: Would the loyalty program come in to your calculations on whether Buzz Insurance was cheaper or not than your current insurer?

Interesting...

-Me

 

[Dr Bob]

Just quoted my Sunday drive. $788.15. Didn't check this mob when I insured in July but would have come 2nd to AAMI at $639.00 . So not worth it for any loyalty program or for Amex flexible points, so 639 points straight to QFF from visa.

regards

 

[Keith009]

@QF009: Did the loyalty program have anything to do with your choice?

I didn't realise that they had a loyalty program, so no.

I did check out a few others but decided that Buzz was the most cost effective and suited our circumstances best. They had a slightly higher inexperienced driver excess than CGU which is the other IAG insurer, however the difference wasn't by much and was negated by CGU's much higher premium anyway.

I was actually about to put the payment on my VISA Debit card as I was so conditioned into thinking that most car insurers don't take AMEX, only to see the AMEX logo when the payment screen came up.

 

[straitman]

Having never heard of Buzz until mentioned here I have now seen and ad on Tele for them. Maybe the ads were there all along and I simply did not pay attention.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I've been on a few shopping sprees lately (some for me - some for family and close friends who wanted me with them for opinions etc - and then let me use my Amex for everything and then paid me back - gotta love free points! )

No problems using it at:

David Jones, Event Cinemas, Louis Vuitton, Hugh Boss, Tiffany & Co., Flight Centre (negotiated surcharge down from 1.98% to 0.99%), Aus Post for a passport application (even though it specifically says only Visa & MasterCard on the application form... my PIN is coming in handy!) , Super Cheap Auto, Northside Locksmiths (Brisbane), The Coffee Club, Cotton On & Cotton On Body, Novo Shoes, Foot Locker, Diva Jewelery, yd. (they forgot to surcharge - just said "credit with PIN" when I gave them the card, and they didn't look), Wittner Shoes (they even had a custom sign on the counter saying "we happily accept AMEX without surcharge"), Wheel & Barrow, Harris Scarfe, etc etc etc

The only problem was a small (independent) clothing store in Westfield... but I've already reported them... all in all, quite happy!

 

[yohy?!]

Interesting to note that Amex are indirectly guilty themselves of surcharging!

Called today to inquire about purchasing traveller's cheques on my charge card. Was told I could buy over the counter with the usual 1.1% commission or if I purchased online via bpay they were commission free

 

[Flashback]

Interesting to note that Amex are indirectly guilty themselves of surcharging!

Called today to inquire about purchasing traveller's cheques on my charge card. Was told I could buy over the counter with the usual 1.1% commission or if I purchased online via bpay they were commission free

However that surcharge applies to everyone buying over the counter regardless of payment type, so doesn't exactly count.

 

[yohy?!]

However that surcharge applies to everyone buying over the counter regardless of payment type, so doesn't exactly count.

yes of course and that is why I said it was indirect, I just found it a little hypocritical that they would encourage other payment methods.

 

[lovestotravel]

Received a flood of emails today back regarding the businesses I reported that don't accept Amex.

I don't even remember reporting these ones, but at a guess it was well over 12 months ago.

All the emails said that "[FONT=&quot]Thank you for contacting American Express® regarding your recent experience at[/FONT][FONT=&quot] ***************************
[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]American Express is currently in negotiations with the management at this establishment to address their policy on acceptance of the American Express Card. Please be assured American Express is addressing the issue and we will advise you once we have received an outcome. [/FONT]

 

[brha01]

On the topic of reporting businesses to amex...

About 6 weeks ago I reported a business which doesnt accept. 2 weeks ago I received an email stating that amex was pleased to advise me that this business is an exisiting customer which warmly welcomes amex. This sounded odd to me because I had been there several times since reporting them and they did not accept amex. When I went again the other day, i pulled out my amex and was swiftly told they dont accept it.

Whats going on there?

 

[Chicken]

I reported InterContinental Sydney for surcharge last week (they actually surcharge for all cards), and this week got an e-mail from AmEx saying they will no longer surcharge. Really?

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I did the same for the Crowne Plaza at Surfers Paradise, and the next day Amex wrote back saying that they won't surcharge Amex.

I think what they meant is that they won't "differentially surcharge" Amex - ie. they will treat it the same as MasterCard and Visa (with the 1.5% MSF), unlike Rydges with their 3.5% Amex surcharge...

 

[basic]

All this reporting stuff... Is it when a store says they accept Amex and then they don't?
or
Is it just send a message to Amex telling them about a store that you wanted to shop at that didn't accept Amex?

If option two then where do I tell them about the book shop down the road? I buy books from there pretty regularly instead of online, would be handy to be able to use Amex.

Thanks.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

You can report merchants who don't accept Amex, you can report Amex surcharges, and you can report a business that has an Amex merchant account, but refuses to accept the card or hasn't bothered to re-link Amex when changing EFTPOS terminal providers.

The link is https://www152.americanexpress.com/eforms/un/en_AU/eformsPage.do?face=en_AU∏=Rapid&todo=view

There's one for Diners Club now as well... if you'd like that link, just let me know

 

[NM]

I reported InterContinental Sydney for surcharge last week (they actually surcharge for all cards), and this week got an e-mail from AmEx saying they will no longer surcharge. Really?

They were surcharging Amex cards (and all cards as you mention) 2 weeks ago. This is true for all Intercontinental Hotel Group properties (including Holiday Inn, Crown Plaza etc) in Australia. Would be good if they stopped the process since I expect well over 90% of customers must pay by credit card and room rates vary so much that I am not going to believe the line that they operate on minimal margins so need to recoup the costs.

 

[Chicken]

This is true for all Intercontinental Hotel Group properties (including Holiday Inn, Crown Plaza etc) in Australia.

I know that, that's why I always book pre-paid, and sometimes via 3rd party web sites like Hotel Club, just to avoid this credit card surcharge thing.

I was having dessert there (Sydney Food Festival), so could not "pre pay".

I expect well over 90% of customers must pay by credit card and room rates vary so much that I am not going to believe the line that they operate on minimal margins so need to recoup the costs.

When I raised this with the staff (just a casual talk to make a point, I wasn't rude nor forceful as there was nothing she could do), she told me 95% of people have and pay by ATM card. I questioned her "really, I find that hard to believe", and she just put on a straight face.

 

[oz_mark]

When I raised this with the staff (just a casual talk to make a point, I wasn't rude nor forceful as there was nothing she could do), she told me 95% of people have and pay by ATM card. I questioned her "really, I find that hard to believe", and she just put on a straight face.

There is a good chance they swap cards when told of the need to pay a surcharge. Whether 95% of people do or not, I don't know, however I would expect a proportion to do so.

 

[StevePER]

They were surcharging Amex cards (and all cards as you mention) 2 weeks ago. This is true for all Intercontinental Hotel Group properties (including Holiday Inn, Crown Plaza etc) in Australia.

I wasn't surcharged on two payments at Holiday Inn Potts Point last month, not sure if I was just lucky or maybe they are selective about who they surcharge (ie trying to keep corporate customers happy).

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I know that this is the AMEX forum, but the Diners one is practically deserted! ...

I was just curious if anyone has noticed businesses accepting Diners Club where AMEX wasn't accepted, either in Italy, Switzerland or the UK... as I'd be tempted to get one if this were the case!

 

[albatross710]

I know that this is the AMEX forum, but the Diners one is practically deserted! ...

I was just curious if anyone has noticed businesses accepting Diners Club where AMEX wasn't accepted, either in Italy, Switzerland or the UK... as I'd be tempted to get one if this were the case!

I think Diners Club lost the plot in Australia over the last few years. For a merchant they became uncompetitive. For card holders Amex has been very successful in their co-branding efforts with banks that people may have not be able to find a reason to carry yet another card especially if it isn't as widely accepted as Amex which offers equivalent benefits.

Alby