ANZ Launches AMEX/VISA Qantas Card - Changes to points earn on VISA

[trippin_the_rift]

I have had an ANZ Gold Visa card for a couple of years and earning ff at the rate of 1:1 (up to $2500), and as a result of this thread I contacted ANZ yesterday where I was informed that even though I am an existing Gold Visa card holder I am being changed to a dual card holder; rn.

uhh... are they charging you the new increased fees too?

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

If you don't want QFF points then the Citibusines card might work out Ok for you. It allows you to get points in 6 airlines schemes - Velocty, Krislfyer and i cant remember the others.

You earn 1.25 points per $1 and then get 2 FF per 3 reward points.

Not quite 1:1 earning but its only $119 and has free travel insurance. Suits me as I have a fee free QF Amex to split my spend over.

We can all thank the RBA for the move to Aemx based cards

 

[Maca44]

uhh... are they charging you the new increased fees too?

I didn't even ask about being charged any new fees :shock: all they said was that I should received correspondence shortly with the additional ANZ Amex card. Over the next week I will research 'all' available credit cards, but will most likely change to the CBA Plat if that offers the best ff earn.

 

[gibspmuh]

If you don't want QFF points then the Citibusines card might work out Ok for you. It allows you to get points in 6 airlines schemes - Velocty, Krislfyer and i cant remember the others.

You earn 1.25 points per $1 and then get 2 FF per 3 reward points.

Not quite 1:1 earning but its only $119 and has free travel insurance. Suits me as I have a fee free QF Amex to split my spend over.

Having transferred points just last week, I can guarantee the Citibusiness Visa definitely still allows for transfers to QFF at a 1:1 basis (in multiples of 10,000) - you just have to phone to transfer the points, the online transfer option has been removed. At 1.25 points per $1 spent it's clearly still the strongest Non-AMEX card for earning QFF points (so long as you don't hit that cap of 80,000 points per year anyway - no risk for me ).

 

[Alanslegal]

I'm an existing PLT VISA cardholder and if they unilaterally decide to reduce my earn by 50% I am definitely saying Bye Bye ANZ; we shall see what happens in the next few weeks & the ball is in their court.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Called up tonight and got this story:-

All new FF cards will be issued with an AMEX as well as Visa and charged the new (increased) yearly fees.

Current cardholders will not automatically receive the new amex unless they opt into it (and $295/year - $100 more than current FF Plat)

After the end of your current paid yearly fee you will automatically be charged and 'upgraded' to the amex card also - and the higher fees.

There is no way to split the cards and only have the Visa at the current rate for example. So once your existing membership year is up, either cough up the extra cash or cancel the card.

The guy I spoke to genuinely seemed to think this was the best card in the history of all credit cards and was playing the "its easier" with ANZ line.

On the plus side, 1.5 QF points per $ with no cap is not bad, but no better than other some other AMEX products.

They are not waiving the fees for anyone since this is a "brand new product" however suggested there may be some offers in "a few months".

Can't say this is anything special...

 

[nlagalle]

I'm an existing PLT VISA cardholder and if they unilaterally decide to reduce my earn by 50% I am definitely saying Bye Bye ANZ; we shall see what happens in the next few weeks & the ball is in their court.

Same here. I still have the gold Visa, but will happily ditch it if the earning rate is lowered. I never spent more than 2.5k per month on it anyway.

 

[notzac]

Is everyone writing them feedback then? I just wrote an e-mail in to yourfeedback at anz.com to let them know that I would take my credit card business elsewhere if they changed the earn rate on my card -- I encourage everyone else who would be affected to do similar.

 

[tassiedude]

Mine doesn't run out will Feb 09 so might wait till then and then change to MYER VISA and get rid of ANZ FF AND NAB FF altogether.

ANZ FF is not worth it now, cause I see they don't have many bonus partners anymore and that is mainly what I used it for

 

[Flashback]

I'm surprised they're forcing people onto the new cards... haven't they heard of grandfathering?

 

[notzac]

Update: I received a phone call from the customer feedback department to let me know that my e-mail had been received - apparently they've received quite a few comments from existing customers who are unhappy about the changes, and they're reconsidering whether or not they force people to take up the AX/VI option ... I'd definitely recommend that everyone who's affected by this e-mail them!

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Is everyone writing them feedback then? I just wrote an e-mail in to yourfeedback at anz.com to let them know that I would take my credit card business elsewhere if they changed the earn rate on my card -- I encourage everyone else who would be affected to do similar.

Last time someone played GOD at ANZ and changed the earn rate on their cards (2004?) they lost a truckload of high spending customers.

Get ready for round 2 of customers moving to a new bank, ANZ.

 

[ric_melb]

Interesting to see ANZ's initial response to you Notzac. I better send them an email also.
I had a Gold Frequent Flyer Visa card for years, then they upgraded me to a Platinum card, for no extra fee.
I use the card to get 1 point per $1, as an alternative to American Express. It has also been handy for bonus points, though the list of partners has shrunk dramatically. I also have their car rental excess insurance.

Should they convert me to their new scheme I will end up with another Amex card, that I don't want, plus a Visa card with a useless earning rate.
In addition it looks like my yearly fee will increase from $150 per year to $295 per year.

If all this is so, I can't see that I will continue with this card.
Be interesting to see what develops.

 

[AviationNZ]

I've had exactly the same thoughts and just sent them an email to tell them I'll be taking my business elsewhere if they increase my annual fee, force me to have another AMEX, or reduce the Visa earn rate.

Hopefully with a number of people writing in they will get the message.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

time to check out the Citibusiness Gold Card. 1.25 points / $ spend.

lets u transfer points to Velocity + Krisflyer online (3 points : 2 miles) or call up to trasnfer to QFF (1 : 1)

When you call citibank on their number it goes via the platinum section, and the calls do seem to get answered pretty much straight away.

Free travel insurance and just $119 annual fee. Quite happy with it and a free QF Amex basic card i was able to score last yr.

Only ctach is a limit of 80K points in a year, but since that's more than my after tax income i doubt i will worry about that ceiling :shock:

 

[Maca44]

I went into the CBA branch today to apply for a Platinum Mastercard that still has the 1:1 QF earn ratio. When I finished with the application and it had been sent electronically the Customer Service Officer mentioned that the points system is a little confusing at the moment because they have just received notification that their (CBA) points system is changing in October. Great, just after the application went through so just hope it doesn't change to the same as ANZ is currently.

If anyone has any further info on the changes to the CBA points could you please advise.

Edit: She also told me the CBA is going with the dual Mastercard and Amex card setup the same as ANZ

 

[Diesellife]

Gosh...Cards portfolio differentiation in AUS is going downhill... all banks are trying to offer the same product...Sigh

And furthermore, its time for me to buy a wallet to fit in all those cards... I already have 3 Amex(s) and if CBA changes it to dual card system, my wallet won't fit them all.

 

[Diesellife]

Just called CBA and they won't tell me the proposed changes....but the credit card operator told me it's related to the reward system...Mmm...Maybe they are not trying to do dual cards?!

 

[Flashback]

Just called CBA and they won't tell me the proposed changes....but the credit card operator told me it's related to the reward system...Mmm...Maybe they are not trying to do dual cards?!

Maybe they're going to "enhance" the redemption rates.

 

[tassiedude]

What is with Banks and the idea of "Duel Cards" these days?

means I will have 2 Account, yet 4 Credit Cards in My wallet ANZ & NAB.

Time for me to pay them off and switch to ONE CARD.