AMEX not accepted or surcharge

[Jama]

This should be the way when we do the shopping, always choose the product which is the most suitable for you not based on other factors. If a supplier can offer me 15% discount by paying cash compare to 0% discount paying by AMEX, then I will cerntainly choose the cash method, why should I pay 15% extra to get those points which are only worth $5?

Agreed.

Although, I am the first to complain when my preferred option, AMEX, is not accepted or is surcharged I will always pay by another method to get a better price (not to avoid surcharges which motivate me to go elsewhere). I am not one that shops for points. Points are a bonus and if not kept that way, you could purchase all your rewards 10 times over with the savings you have missed out on.

However, how many businesses take the position of rewarding you for cash rather than penalizing you for using the payment method best suited to you the customer ?

Generally, if you shop around you can find an equivalent product or service, ask for a discount and get it and pay the way you want.

 

[Jama]

What I am disappointed is with hotel groups who charge fees for all cards (how else am I going to pay?).

I agree. It stinks. I just purchased 3 return airfares and the CC surcharge cost $29. $29!!!! and no other way to pay. Oh, they do accept bank deposit but this doesn't help when your bank isn't on the list and the flight and rate isn't guaranteed if there is a hiccup in the process.

 

[Mal]

Went to a merchant tonight that has a sign under the Cash Register indicating "Amex 2.5% surcharge". Anyway, didn't see the sign, and asked if Amex was accepted. Was told "Yes, with a 2.5% surcharge". Couldn't be bothered fighting it, so agreed.

It gets rung up, and the Eftpos slip had no surcharge. Staffer didn't know what to do and just let me sign with no surcharge.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Went to a merchant tonight that has a sign under the Cash Register indicating "Amex 2.5% surcharge". Anyway, didn't see the sign, and asked if Amex was accepted. Was told "Yes, with a 2.5% surcharge". Couldn't be bothered fighting it, so agreed.

It gets rung up, and the Eftpos slip had no surcharge. Staffer didn't know what to do and just let me sign with no surcharge.

Nice! I find this happens much more often if I just say "credit with a PIN", and hand them the card upside down... the younger the staff member is, the less they seem to notice it's Amex.

I was also recently booking a couple of Trafalgar tours for next year. I had a 5% Trafalgar discount to use (valid for one tour - so we used it for the more expensive one of course), and I was able to negotiate a 0.99% Amex fee with Flight Centre (down from 1.98%), but they wouldn't budge on the tour price (less the 5% of course)... I did a little shopping around and negotiated a 3.1% surcharge with Holidays Direct (down from 3.5%), but they were able to offer an additional 5% off both tours (which was on top of the existing 5% discount on the more expensive one), in addition to the ~11.5% discount on the credit card fee... even though the Holidays Direct surcharge was higher, I went with them anyway, as the total price to pay on AMEX was lower than Flight Centre... I always avoid travel agents, but as Trafalgar only accept reservations through TAs, it was unavoidable!

 

[lovestotravel]

Every few months I visit a "farm equipment supplies" business for bit and pieces for a lawnmower and other associated items.

They have had a sign for years with credit card fees

1.25% for Visa/Mastercard
4.00% for Amex :evil:

They always used to make a fuss when I wanted to pay by Amex for anything under $100, and would eventually accept it after I simply said I didn't have any other means to pay for the items

They would charge the 4% and then take Amex.

Now they have handwritten on the sign

"NO AMEX FOR TRANSACTIONS UNDER $1000"

:shock::shock:

Unfortunately this is the only store that supplies what i need close by so I'll pay via Visa/MC now

 

[serfty]

...
"NO AMEX FOR TRANSACTIONS UNDER $1000"

:shock::shock:...

That may contravene the terms of the contract the store would have with Amex.


In any case, perhaps make a post to the Wiki mentioned in post #1.

Main Page - AMEX Merchant Information Wiki

It may be worthwhile notifying Amex of this.

https://www316.americanexpress.com/iFormsSecure/un/iforms.do?cuid=rapid_en_AU&evtsrc=link&evttype=0

 

[pointsjunkie]

5 Bonus Points at BP is back! Woohoo! I have a Qantas AMEX and straight Membership Rewards AMEX, both are eligible. Not my Commbank AMEX though, so won't be using that one over the next few months!

Amex Bonus Rewards | Partner - BP
Credit Cards - The Qantas American Express Card - American Express Australia

 

[kpc]

deleted...wrong place

 

[R36snowbound]

Metroair,

I have had similar experinces.

Some retailers state that they prefer Visa or M/C but when it comes to accepting AMEX or losing the sale, they will accept AMEX without charging a surcharge.

 

[ftm]

We just charge a flat 1.5% surcharge for any credit card (ie don't discrimiate against Amex).

I think some retailers have lost focus on why they accept credit cards - to make it easier for the customer to pay. If it is easier for the customer to pay, then it is easier for you to make the sale. For non face-to-face transactions, the admin is also easier than a direct deposit (where you have to monitor the bank account, waiting for the funds to arrive, only to find out the client missed a digit from the bank account number and it ends up taking 10 days to arrive!).

 

[docjames]

Favouite local Indian Restaurant now charging 3% surcharge for Amex. Paper sign at register (not at entry to restaurant). Take away subsequently put on Mastercard!


If ACCC want to take this on, apart from making it illegal to surcharge more than commission amount (which might be difficult to get up given the varying methods / %s for differing cards), they should at least define what is reasonable in terms of informing patrons prior to purchase. A coughpy sign at the register is no use if it's not published elsewhere and the patron has sat down and already had dinner.

 

[Zoe Nguyen]

Does anyone know if Hertz car rental accept Amex ? and do they have surcharge ?

Thanks

 

[Zoe Nguyen]

http://www.rba.gov.au/publications/...arging/pdf/201106-review-card-surcharging.pdf

An interesting article.

 

[yohy?!]

Does anyone know if Hertz car rental accept Amex ? and do they have surcharge ?

Thanks

Yes...and they surcharge for all cards, around 1% I think

 

[elemist]

Is anyone aware of any Fuel Stations that accept amex without a surcharge?

 

[Moopere]

Is anyone aware of any Fuel Stations that accept amex without a surcharge?

Whats a fuel station? One of those petrol stations without an attendant?

[edit: by the way, not being a smartypants, just that I don't ever go to the attendant-less fuel outlets so don't have a clue about charging policy]

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Is anyone aware of any Fuel Stations that accept amex without a surcharge?

Have a look at that page on my Wiki: National chain stores - fuel - AMEX Merchant Information Wiki

 

[oz_mark]

Is anyone aware of any Fuel Stations that accept amex without a surcharge?

I've only ever seen surcharges on credit cards at various Caltex stations (the one at Canberra airport as an example :evil.

 

[elemist]

Have a look at that page on my Wiki:

Thanks - but it doesn't list the surcharges. Most seam to accept it, but the surcharge seams to vary up to 4-5%

 

[Moopere]

I've only ever seen surcharges on credit cards at various Caltex stations.

Yes, I stopped going to Caltex as a result of this. Up to 3% back a couple of years ago when I last gave them my business.

Weird that the Caltex/Woolies stations don't surcharge and accept almost anything, card wise, for payment.