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

[medhead]

I'm still anxiously waiting for someone to provide me with a list of the benefits of AMEX over a Platinum Visa.

I said above that I feel the ANZ Travel Insurance is a really good scheme and I stand by that. You only have to make a fairly insignificant purchase toward part of your trip to qualify.
I think with AMEX and many other Cards, you virtually have to pre-pay your complete airfare for the trip with that card and in some cases cop a higher surcharge in doing so.

I think that the new card will still be with ANZ travel insurance. The AMEX card is still an ANZ card just that it is branded with AMEX. It is all still controlled by ANZ. Of course, I could be wrong on this, no doubt someone will correct me.

 

[medhead]

Heres a copy of the important parts of my letter re the lno change to current earning or annual fee.


Received an updated terms and conditions which also had a poinst maximiser offer of a higher annual fee for 1.25 points on AMEX spend.

That is awesome thanks for the picture. Just called them again on this. Apparently, every customer is different and we all have different accounts. So you are special and nothing changes to your account, it would seem, based on your spend vs my spend. (no I'm not asking about your financial details)

They also pulled the line about only being able to speak to me about my account. So I said we can talk about how I want on my account the maintain the same earning rate. Needless to say, they were silent.

Anyway tomorrow I talk to complaints and cancellations. F 'em

 

[melaus]

medhead:

That's the spirit, don't let up on them, I'm going to go full ahead as well.
I'm in Melbourne and their HQ is here, so if phone and Internet goes south I'm going directly to them.
I know my Platinum business is quite high with them for a private, non business customer. I don't know what the average for my category would be, but I'm well into being over the $2500 and then $2 per one point most months.
As much as I use the card and I'm overseas a lot, I can't see any benefit whatsoever in having AMEX.

 

[medhead]

Well ANZ did refund me $3.35 in incorrectly calculated interest back in the 1990s. And then issued new T&C with my next visa statement. :shock:

This situation is for something of real value to me.

 

[melaus]

It's worth a bit of a battle, if nothing lost in doing so.

In one way I shouldn't worry as I have a heap of QF FF points and haven't been using them much over the last couple of years as some of the cheapie flights on Jetstar, Air Asia etc are hard to pass by.

I've had so many flights recently, where the absolute total cost of the flight was far cheaper than just the TAX's etc if using FF.

 

[melaus]

BTW: trippin_the_rift,

I've used the ANZ policy a few times over say the last five years, one quite serious situation in Singapore in 2007 where it looked as though I may have had to be flown back here and they were 100% fantastic, never happened but was going to be fine if needed.
I may be wrong but I imagine it's not ANZ that you are dealing with when in trouble, you are in the hands of the Insurance Company as applicable, and with AIG as their company..........never a worry.
I've been travelling for near 40 years and of course used a mix of paid and "Card" situations.......................I as yet can't find a difference.



We are dealing here with ANZ as to the current situation with the AMEX campaign!

 

[melaus]

I've just finished a call to ANZ, no result and I'm fairly sure that they are now well "rehearsed" with this issue and no good will be done by telephone.

They, as I suspected have on file if you've previously called them re this particular matter.

Don't know if emails will carry any more weight, I'm going to my local ANZ Branch Manager..........I feel it's still worth pushing this barrow a bit more!

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I've just finished a call to ANZ, no result and I'm fairly sure that they are now well "rehearsed" with this issue and no good will be done by telephone.

They, as I suspected have on file if you've previously called them re this particular matter.

Don't know if emails will carry any more weight, I'm going to my local ANZ Branch Manager..........I feel it's still worth pushing this barrow a bit more!

Fight hard. This is definatey worth pushing.

 

[chrissimon]

just received in the mail about my offer for the new AMEX card

"ANZ has an exciting offer available only to a selected number of valued existing ANZ Frequent Flyer Gold customers"

- Same credit limit
- No change to the way you earn points using your ANZ Frequent Flyer Visa Gold
- No increase in annual fee

So the 1 point for $1 up to $2500, .5 from $2500 to $10,000 and 0 points after $10,000
and 1 point for $1 on the AMEX unlimited

For the first 3 months, 2 points for $1 on the AMEX

 

[melaus]

"Can of Worms" springs to mind!

But in this matter, we are the bait. Strange this is being run along-side the campaign by all the major banks to make good their reputation re the dishing out of ridiculous fees over recent years.

 

[melaus]

Tried another call to ANZ today.

Got a fairly knowledgable (well maybe!) chap who said the bank is being forced into making FF points harder to get on their Visa Cards by VISA INTERNATIONAL?
I thought the arrangement, financial or whatever, was between the various banks and the airline/s concerned?

I called mainly about this "POINTS BOOSTER" part of the deal which is with the Platinum Visa whereby you get 1.5 points per dollar on all of your spends using AMEX as well as a 1000 point bonus on your first spend which must be within 3 months.
The wording on my letter is not very clear, in-that it reads like the 1000 point bonus AND the 1.5 point deal is only for the first 3 months of AMEX useage.
I was assured that the 1.5 point per 1$ with AMEX is ON-GOING!

But it looks as though they are well locked into only giving 1 point per $2 spend with the Visa.

 

[Harpoon]

I haven't had my ANZ FF Visa Gold card altered in terms of earning rate yet.... i wonder if it's coming soon?

 

[melaus]

Don't hold your breath Harpoon:

Has been a long drawn out campaign since July with both the Gold and Platinum Visa's.

Wonder if they did not want to cause too much fuss at one time

 

[Harpoon]

Well I securemailed them basically saying goodbye if they cut my rate under $2500 to 0.5.

 

[harrribo]

Okay, I have been asked to post something here in the forum,
as I haven`t done this for quite some time.

I have been hesitant so far to accept the AMEX offer as so far have had no clear answer to my questions in 3 branches, or got a somewhat
"automated response " from the 1800 268 829 ANZ/AMEX Card call centre chick this evening.

I cannot provide any facts , as everything seemed a bit wishy washy what I recall , asking me 2 times during the conversation if I have signed up already or still thinking about it. Eager :?:

My main question was re: next years fee structure ( no plans yet ,was the reply ...but if... , customers would get a notice of change of fees and charges 30 days in advance.

Everytime, I wandered through a shoping centre, small or large, I sniggered at these American Express "Express Sign UP" Info Cardboard boxes, smackbang in the middle of the path, and I thought: Jeez, who would want to sign up for a Credit Card with a business that operates out of a cardboard box ?

Now I think :

Qantas as the National Australian carrier , goes to bed with an Australian (& NZ) Bank-partner first,

but now moreso with an American Bank?

What does that tell me ....?

Anyone that can enlighten me is welcomed to leave feedback.

​

 

[medhead]

Hi Harribo

I don't know the full details of how this stuff works. But my understanding is that you will be dealing with ANZ. The ANZ AMEX is an ANZ product where they licence the name AMEX (- or something like that; however it works)

 

[Alanslegal]

a letter from ANZ arrived today, and the sticky point for me :

"Please note that even if you do not choose to accept your new ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum Express card, your ANZ Frequent Flyer Visa Platinum card points-earning rate as described overleaf will be reduced as at 17 January 2010"

The reference is from 17/01/2010 that $1 = 0.5 points only.

Guess I'll follow suit with a complaint / negative feedback and threat of cancellation, and then actual cancellation immediately on 17 January 2010.

 

[melaus]

Alanslegal;

Guess your letter really proves that this dodgy campaign is being rolled out in stages.

My "PUNISHMENT DATE" if I don't convert is the 5th January and I must accept by the 30th November.

My neighbor has an ANZ Gold and has heard nothing as yet!

I'm at this stage not holding out much hope of any re-think in this matter.
When you come to think about they must really be locked legally into whatever they are going to do with A Express.
The few phone conversations I have had, stressed this point.

Dunno...............Love to be able to have an idea of what else can be done, this is most likely the only On-Line Forum of discussion

 

[Harpoon]

My issue is the increase in fee for ANZ Gold from 150 to 200 for half the points.

Anyone know of other banks cards that at least have a fee of 150 and under for the same deal ANZ is doing (2 cards thing)?

 

[melaus]

The situation with the Plat. Card is a fee increase of $100, making a total of $295 to hold both cards.
Thus just keeping the Platinum Card only............$195 and half points.

The advantage and from what I can gather, the only advantage in having both is that the points actually become 1.5 per $ when you use the AMEX.

I guess one has to balance up whether you can swing your useage over to pulling the AMEX out of your wallet for each purchase and cop the unfriendly look from the merchant who has noticed the Visa in your wallet and would far prefer you to use that one!

Even a lot of on-line payments or Direct Debits you make these days, shows a significant margin between using a Visa or AMEX/Diners.

BTW: Is Diners still around?