ATO (tax office) payments by credit card

[Beta4Me]

Just downloaded my Westpac Earth statement and, here goes - Effective from 9 November 2014, we will be introducing some changes to the Westpac Earth conditions of use. For payments to the ATO using your Earth Black MasterCard, you will not earn any Qantas points. For payments using your Earth Black American Express card, you will earn 0.75 Qantas points.
There goes another card, getting less and less.

Noooooo! I'm guessing this applies to Altitude too. That was the last good card left. This is truly horrible

 

[DaveB]

No wonder Westpac sent me two letters whilst I was away encouraging me to increase my credit limit.
I would love to know the pain Westpac experienced with the double points offer and whether the marketing mandarin is still employed.

 

[deka2]

Let's hope it's only the Earth and something to do with QFF
Anyone with an Altitude received a statement with this message?

 

[albyd]

I'll be keeping an eye out for mine. I'd written off the 800k points they owe me (because the eager beaver at the branch unbeknownst to me signed me up for the staff offer) to keep the dream alive for everyone.

Might revisit my claim if it applies to altitude too.

Hopefully it won't apply to altitude & all will be fine with the world.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Anyone with an Altitude received a statement with this message?

Below is snip from my Altitude Black Card Statement dated Sept 2, 2014:



I never noticed this on Statement until pointed out to me on AFF.

 

[DaveB]

Definitely applying to all Westpac cards including Altitude Black with updated card Terms and Conditions on their website.

 

[Beta4Me]

Below is snip from my Altitude Black Card Statement dated Sept 2, 2014:

View attachment 34821

I never noticed this on Statement until pointed out to me on AFF.

Well, I guess it's back to the drawing board with respect to ATO points earn strategy.

 

[burnt]

Just noticed that Members Equity have released a card affiliated with QF (M/C or V?) that is 1:1. Does not seem to be any T&C that "blacklist ATO.
Does anybody have one yet?
Anybody have any experience with the new credit score system yet, ie know what your score is and do you think its reasonable?

 

[PLANT]

So cards that are VISA 1:1 ATO but limited in max points ARE?
EDR and Macquarie....?
The rest 0.75:1?

 

[albatross710]

At least Westpac were polite enough to allow us to still get the Fy15 Q1 BAS onto the card on 28 Oct.

As always I guess it is important for us all to move quickly to take advantage of the offers as they come through.

 

[burmans]

Definitely applying to all Westpac cards including Altitude Black with updated card Terms and Conditions on their website.

Not so sure about the ALL bit, just checked my Krysflyer statement (06/08)

Did you know that you can earn 1.5 KrisFlyer miles per dollar spenton eligible purchases on your Singapore Airlines WestpacPlatinum American Express Card?In addition, when using your Singapore Airlines Westpac PlatinumVisa Card, you can earn 0.5 KrisFlyer mile per dollar spent onpurchases with merchants located within Australia, and 1.5KrisFlyer miles per dollar spent on purchases with merchants​

located out of Australia.

 

[KLN]

2. In the Altitude Terms and Conditions – Altitude Rewards, amend Clause 4.2 by inserting an
additional bullet point as follows:

4.2 How do you earn points on your Altitude
Black card account?

– “1.5 Altitude Point for each $1.00 paid to the ATO using your Altitude Black American Express®
Card.”

i think the Altitude Black is ok still, half what it was, so better than nothing
still devastated though, praying for large BAS for 1st Quarter

 

[quokka77]

Do you think this is a direct response to the pummeling the double points offer received? Impossible to know I guess.

@KLN at 0.75 points per dollar, and an amex surcharge approaching 1.5% I'd say Westpac ATO earn is pretty unattractive / dead.

 

[KLN]

am lucky enough, that my BAS is a good one, and the fact that the surcharge is tax deductible for business, i think it's still worthwhile
albeit halved, but better than nothing

 

[Mark3000]

Below is snip from my Altitude Black Card Statement dated Sept 2, 2014:

View attachment 34821

I never noticed this on Statement until pointed out to me on AFF.

No, no, no !!!!!!!! This is terrible!
Does anyone know the economics / mathematics of this. Does Westpac lose money on ATO transactions?
If the ATO charges us 0.48% for Mastercard, how much does it cost Westpac?
Why would they cancel it completely for the mastercard?
Why not a cap perhaps?
How much income will they lose by doing this? Certainly I will end up cancelling my card and using my CBA Diamond.
Would enough people writing to cancel their cards help them reconsider?

 

[albyd]

I suspect it is a losing deal for banks given they don't get all of the surcharge and the cost of points to them (unless we're redeeming toasters) would leave no margin in it for them.

 

[Mark3000]

I suspect it is a losing deal for banks given they don't get all of the surcharge and the cost of points to them (unless we're redeeming toasters) would leave no margin in it for them.

Yes, but I'm hoping someone with some banking knowledge might be able to be more specific about how much it costs, them and do they actually lose money, or is it that they just break even, or make a small profit, but not enough to be worth it for them.
This will cause Westpac to lose a lot of good will amongst some high net worth clients. There is definitely a cost to them associated with that.

 

[Danger UXB]

Do you think this is a direct response to the pummeling the double points offer received? Impossible to know I guess.

@KLN at 0.75 points per dollar, and an amex surcharge approaching 1.5% I'd say Westpac ATO earn is pretty unattractive / dead.

Cove when you have finished with the titanium scissors please can you send them my way!!!Ah well the goal posts have shifted once again!!
Anyone any thoughts on a Kris earning card other than the ANZ black (still not a great earn on that one either)?

Cheers Danger UXB

 

[cove]

Don't give up the options!
Prepay and overpay (to give Gail Kelly a treat at Westpac).
Then titanium scissors.....

 

[MelUser]

Wouldn't a fairer way for banks to do this is the NAB model - max 150000 points per card cycle month - which means with AMEX $100000 per month spend. Then let customer decide where they want to make their purchases - ATO or whatever.