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

[coyote25]

Well I got my ANZ letter. It says I'll keep the current earn rate of 1 pt for each $1 spend until 5 January 2010 plus the special 2 pts per $1 for three months using the AMEX.

So I guess I'll make use of the 3 month special after that it's probably time to cancel one of the many cards I have with a MC/VISA 0.5 pt per $1.

Hard to believe they say the no caps is a benefit for losing 0.5 pt per $1, they used to drop to that rate anyway after $2,500 on the gold card :shock:

At least my annual fee isn't due until April so lots of time to decide if I'll stay.

 

[markis10]

Must be a few different letters going around, I got an offer for 2 for 1 AMEX points and no change to my Visa earning at anytime!

 

[melaus]

Have just finished a telephone conversation with ANZ "Customer Response Department"
Nice girl informed me that they are receiving many calls. Her first several calls today were all complaints about this scheme to attempt to shove customers into this ridiculous marriage of two cards.

Why on earth would any of us who are using an ANZ Platinum Visa want an AMEX?

I can't speak for the USA, haven't been there for some years but travel extensively to other parts of the globe particularly Asia and my experience is that AMEX (and DINERS) are now universally UN-ACCEPTED.

An ANZ Platinum Visa is high up on the self of ANZ products and should not be fiddled with as such.

We have for some time had to accept the fact that the 1-1 points earning ratio stops at $2500 and in some aspects this was a reasonable move as some companies were running a lot of their business expenses on the card.
However this latest move is nothing short of a complete rip-off to loyal customers.

Ann, the nice girl at ANZ assured me that all of the complaints about this latest move are being passed on to management but also said that it was unlikely to change, but "may" sway this type of decision in the future.

I think this outrage by ANZ should be canvased as much as we are able to here, in the hope that a strong message 'may' hit home. I wouldn't be surprised if it hits the media in some way.

If I am wrong or unduly upset about nothing, please feel free to list the range of benefits that will come about for those of us with an ANZ Platinum, now having to pay $295 for the privilege of another piece of plastic in our wallets!

I burned my AMEX & DINERS many years ago and have not I'm sure suffered in any way whatsoever.

 

[Diesellife]

I can't speak for the USA, haven't been there for some years but travel extensively to other parts of the globe particularly Asia and my experience is that AMEX (and DINERS) are now universally UN-ACCEPTED.

Well where in specific are we talking about in here?

I travel almost once a month to asia (China, HK, Malay,Singa,Philippine,Japan) and find most of the merchants do accept Amex... only a few don't but from my experience, Amex is accepted at least 90% of my purchase.

 

[blu]

The +1 has currently 250k+ points on the QFF account, all via shopping using an ANZ Platinum CC. Luckily kept her "fee free for life" Citibank Platinum - virtually never used.
Maybe ANZ just wants to dump the non-commercial customers.

 

[antcap]

So, there goes one of the only remaining 1:1 QFF-earning VI/MC products.

From what I can tell from doing some research, it looks like Citibank VI/MC product is still offerring 1:1 QFF-earn on their Platinum Visa, or 1:1 Velocity or Krisflyer miles on any of their VI/MC products. ... Unless they are about to change too. Does anyone have any info regarding possible changes to Citibank credit cards?

 

[melaus]

Well where in specific are we talking about in here?..............Diesellife

*******************

Much the same areas as your good self, also a lot of time in Thailand.

I am without success at the moment trying to locate a photo I took at a major 5 star hotel in Bangkok, of a large engraved permanent wooden sign on the cashiers desk stating "Sorry We Do Not Accept American Express"

The main thrust of my concern though, is not the amount of places which accept AE, but the benefits gained by any of us by having AE, AS WELL AS an ANZ Plati.

I want to see a list which justifies the extra expense of another piece of plastic.

Speaking of the Travel Insurance associated with the ANZ Plati, it's a really good scheme with very little requirement to be eligible to use.
I know, I've been unfortunate enough to need this scheme a couple of times and could recommend it as good as any paid insurance I've used in the past.

So,........ sorry to ramble on, but I really want to see a genuine listing of what extra benefit one is going to obtain from this stupid and unnecessary complication.

Perhaps that nice girl at ANZ should not have told me of the large number of complaints they are getting!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[medhead]

I think this outrage by ANZ should be canvased as much as we are able to here, in the hope that a strong message 'may' hit home. I wouldn't be surprised if it hits the media in some way.

If I am wrong or unduly upset about nothing, please feel free to list the range of benefits that will come about for those of us with an ANZ Platinum, now having to pay $295 for the privilege of another piece of plastic in our wallets!

I burned my AMEX & DINERS many years ago and have not I'm sure suffered in any way whatsoever.

Well I'm going to take ANZs 2 points for 3 months and then I'm going to register my outrage by cancelling the card. It has no value for me. over what I have elsewhere and in fact my NAB card earns slightly more per $ that the ANZ offering.

In terms of value I can't see the value of ANZ Plat over ANZ Gold. I believe there is better insurance but that is about all.

I'll be moving to AMEX and membership rewards. It seems the earning is the same and redeeming flights can earn FF points.

 

[melaus]

Seems after reading back through this thread that there are different options being offered to different customers at different times!

The 1-1.5 point offer for AE is certainly not on my letter of a few days back.
What is offered is a one time 1000 point bonus on first use of the AE.

On 5th January next, the poor old Platinum reduces to 2-1!

BUT WAIT......There's more. No spending limit per point earn on either card.

So the offer that "markis 10" has received thus no point earning ratio change for his Platinum Visa is rather unique and he must be a very special customer of ANZ!

 

[BlueAU]

So the offer that "markis 10" has received thus no point earning ratio change for his Platinum Visa is rather unique and he must be a very special customer of ANZ!

I must be on the same letter as markis 10. Melaus, I looked at the attachment and my letter did not say that. I know there are various letters.

I have "1 for 1 upto $2,500 on visa, and then 1:1 on AMEX unlimited". But I won't be using their AMEX as I have a real AMEX that is 1.25 per $1 uncapped to 100k a year.

 

[melaus]

Would somebody kindly post the "ANZ EMAIL ADDRESS" which they have used for communication in this matter?

I can't seem to find the applicable form on the site and if it's one of those with a SUBMIT BUTTON, one never really knows where it is headed.

Thanks.

 

[markis10]

So the offer that "markis 10" has received thus no point earning ratio change for his Platinum Visa is rather unique and he must be a very special customer of ANZ!

I did not mention anything about a Platinum card, its a FF Gold Card, and as mentioned there is no change to the current earning rates or fees, just an offer to get double points on the AMEX card for three months. I panicked when I read spome people had dates for the changes to their VISA or fee changes, luckily that was not me.

 

[melaus]

Thanks for that M10

I guess they do not think there is any such thing as an "Internet" and throw these deals around left, right and centre and there will be no cross referencing!
So, looks like if you have the higher fee'd Platinum, one is at a disadvantage compared to no changes to the earning rate on the Gold Card Visa, which I'm sure many of us upgraded from. Very strange.
I'll admit here and now, that I'm quite touchy about FF Points, having lost around half a million with the demise of Ansett.

 

[medhead]

Thanks for that M10
So, looks like if you have the higher fee'd Platinum, one is at a disadvantage compared to no changes to the earning rate on the Gold Card Visa, which I'm sure many of us upgraded from. Very strange.

No not at all. I have a gold FF visa and my earning rates change on 28 December.

 

[melaus]

No not at all. I have a gold FF visa and my earning rates change on 28 December.............................medhead

Their plot thickens!

 

[medhead]

Their plot thickens!

Their plot does thicken. Just called them. Basically a staged change over so people over a few months, so there will be customers out there who will still be earning at the old rate longs after we are changed over. :evil: They couldn't give a damn about my lost earning opportunity compared to those other people.

Mentioned the situation that some people's letter doesn't mention changing the earning rate on the visa. Sorry they could only discuss the details of my account. Pretty much get stuffed.

I then mentioned at length how amazingly stupid this product was compared to what else is available. Apparently, their customers have requested that they get un capped. The only way to uncap was to go down the AMEX route.

Basically, they didn't care to keep my business as a customer with 15+ years of standing. So stuff 'em I say.

 

[melaus]

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.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

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.

How many times have you claimed under the ANZ Travel Insurance?

It's all good and well to say you stand by it, but the real test comes when you need urgent help. Will they stand by you then? Judging by the way they are treating cardholders by forcing the amex - I would be very skeptical about relying on it for anything.

Technically all my cards have travel insurance and yet I buy a separate annual policy - just like many other members here do too.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Also intersting that ANZ have this new spiffy logo and slogan "We live in your world".

Clearly they don't given the super negative feedback here.

 

[markis10]

Heres a copy of the important parts of my letter re the no 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.