AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[xt_20]

I switched from Medibank to MBF a couple of months ago. Told them it's because they stopped accepting Amex and that made me check out other providers, which accept Amex and had better benefits too!

 

[StevePER]

Just switched my home and contents insurance from RAC to GIO. The frustrating thing is that they still accept Amex, just not for insurance. That annoys me more than not accepting it at all. GIO was about $50 cheaper but with an extra $100 excess.

 

[oz_mark]

My local newsagent recently canned Amex and Diners.

 

[zzyss]

A bit off topic, but I tried switching from NRMA to GIO over the weekend, but the frustrating thing is that for home buildings insurance they have to go through Suncorp, whose prices are a lot more expensive than NRMA. So all up it works out more expensive to move than to stay.

Any other recommendations for insurers who offer products covering houses and vehicles across NSW/QLD and take Amex?

 

[bd2068]

I had no trouble moving Home and contents insurance policy from NRMA to GIO (not suncorp)??? I went to a policy that included cover for non specified portable items (e.g. jewellery - which previously had to be specified under NRMA) and it was MUCH cheaper.

 

[wmetz]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surcharge - Missing points

Hey is anyone having trouble with the MR points not getting updated for the last week, and with the bonus point offer. Thanks

 

[ChrisFlyer]

It seems S&S Hair and Beauty, and Inglot Cosmetics no longer take Amex or Diners... yet they still appear in the Amex directory! It's as if they no longer want my money, so I'll have no problems going to their competitors...

 

[ejb]

Re: AMEX not accepted or surcharge - Missing points

Hey is anyone having trouble with the MR points not getting updated for the last week, and with the bonus point offer. Thanks

I have had no update on MR since last thursday.

ejb

 

[edman]

Any other recommendations for insurers who offer products covering houses and vehicles across NSW/QLD and take Amex?

AMP do but I'm not sure how they stack up on prices. I only have home and contents with them, and I stay with them because of the local contact person (who has now left anyway...) so I haven't shopped around for a better price yet.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

RACQ Insurance take it, and their prices are pretty competitive - I did a dummy quote with them the other day, and it's about half of what I'm paying now (for car insurance - 3rd party property, fire & theft)... the only thing is that the insured amount was about $900 less than with Suncorp, so I might have to give them a call to see how much it would cost to increase this amount.

 

[NM]

RACQ Insurance take it, and their prices are pretty competitive - I did a dummy quote with them the other day, and it's about half of what I'm paying now (for car insurance - 3rd party property, fire & theft)... the only thing is that the insured amount was about $900 less than with Suncorp, so I might have to give them a call to see how much it would cost to increase this amount.

I have just changed form Suncorp to RACQ for my house and contents insurance. The catalyst was it being over 30% cheaper and the Amex acceptance is a bonus. I am already an RACQ Gold member and have two cars insured with them, so the discounts certainly helped.

 

[zzyss]

I had no trouble moving Home and contents insurance policy from NRMA to GIO (not suncorp)??? I went to a policy that included cover for non specified portable items (e.g. jewellery - which previously had to be specified under NRMA) and it was MUCH cheaper.

Sorry I should have been more clear. The cars are in NSW but the (investment) properties are in QLD.

And isn't it just rubbing salt into the wound that RACQ == NRMA? (Say, RACNSW...)

 

[JohnK]

I am sure it has been mentioned somewhere but when did ICHG introduce surcharges for using Amex for online bookings? Extremely disappointed to see a 1.5% surcharge applied to a booking the other day.

 

[oz_mark]

ICHG introduced a 1.5% surcharge for all credit card payments.

 

[docjames]

I am sure it has been mentioned somewhere but when did ICHG introduce surcharges for using Amex for online bookings? Extremely disappointed to see a 1.5% surcharge applied to a booking the other day.

It's not amex-specific (it's all CCs) and for around the last 12-18 months or so (iirc).

 

[JohnK]

It's not amex-specific (it's all CCs) and for around the last 12-18 months or so (iirc).

Well there you go. My last stay was in August 2009 in Toronto on a points break stay. :shock:

 

[lovestotravel]

Okay spent a few days in Daylesford, VIC recently and was surprised at the number of places in this VERY popular tourist town that do not accept Amex.

The main spa retreat there, doesn't accept Amex
The next best spa retreat there charges a 3.5% surcharge :shock:
3 of the large restaurants that I went to didn't' accept Amex either.

My Visa card was pulled out way too often, which leads me to my question.

What is the best/cheapest to setup/topup Prepaid Visa card ?

I think Aus Post has them but the info isn't clear

Was thinking of getting a Prepaid Visa card that can be topped up whenever, providing I can use Amex to top it up

 

[wxxnxs]

Okay spent a few days in Daylesford, VIC recently and was surprised at the number of places in this VERY popular tourist town that do not accept Amex.

The main spa retreat there, doesn't accept Amex
The next best spa retreat there charges a 3.5% surcharge :shock:
3 of the large restaurants that I went to didn't' accept Amex either.

My Visa card was pulled out way too often, which leads me to my question.

What is the best/cheapest to setup/topup Prepaid Visa card ?

I think Aus Post has them but the info isn't clear

Was thinking of getting a Prepaid Visa card that can be topped up whenever, providing I can use Amex to top it up

I don't think you can top up your prepaid visa card by AMEX, in my memory it can only be done through your bank account. But if you find anything new, please let me know.

 

[lovestotravel]

Got a flood of replies today from about 6 months ago when I submitted places to Amex that don't' accept Amex.

All of them said

"[FONT=&quot]Thank you for contacting American Express® regarding your recent experience at **** **** ****[/FONT] [FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We have contacted the management at this establishment regarding acceptance of the American Express Card. Unfortunately at this time, they have currently declined to offer this service to their customers. We will remain in contact with their management regarding acceptance of the Card."[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot][/FONT]

Where possible I also email these places and advise them that as they have refused to accept Amex I won't be visiting them again, and will instead visit the competition around the corner that does happily accept Amex.

Most of these places are restaurants or fruit/veggie shops/butchers.

Most restaurants have an email address so I just shoot off an email advising them that I requested Amex to get touch with them as my preferred payment method and as they have refused to accept it I will be visiting the restaurant around the corner, which I name, and as a result of their refusal to accept Amex they have lost approx $1500 in sales to me for the next 12 months. I also advise them to email me if they decide to accept Amex and I will return as a customer.

Never had a reply from the restaurants yet... :shock::evil::mrgreen: Their loss not mine!

 

[wxxnxs]

Most restaurants have an email address so I just shoot off an email advising them that I requested Amex to get touch with them as my preferred payment method and as they have refused to accept it I will be visiting the restaurant around the corner, which I name, and as a result of their refusal to accept Amex they have lost approx $1500 in sales to me for the next 12 months. I also advise them to email me if they decide to accept Amex and I will return as a customer.

Never had a reply from the restaurants yet... :shock::evil::mrgreen: Their loss not mine!

Maybe your $1500 sales amount is not a big deal for them, as they may calculate that they have to give 3% of that amount to AMEX instead of 1% to V/M. Another reason could be 95% of people will have another card for the back up and won't care about which card they use for. I won't have complaints if a shop doesn't accept AMEX, as long as they offer me the good price. If they can provide further discount for cash, I will defininitely go for it. How much you can get from your points any way, I doubt won't be more than $5 per point.