Change in Platinum Card Travel Insurance?

[M@rcoPolo]

yes it seems that as long as we book before then we are still covered
but what about new clients who have just ( and in mean in the last few days or weeks) applied and received the card does their insurance stay the old rules or the new?? as both my referrals got the card for the insurance.

They should have received T&Cs with the cards... either way I would request confirmation in writing from AMEX / ACE

 

[oz_mark]

Interesting, because the new T&C book defines 'American Express Platinum Card Account means an American Express Platinum Card account issued by American Express Australia, billed from Australia, and in Australian dollars'. It doesn't distinguish between credit, charge, personal or business - just colour-coded platinum. (my bolding)

I think that American Express Platinum Card id the product/brand name for the personal platinum charge card.

 

[greenfrog86]

Do you have an account manager you can speak to?

Spoke to my account manager today (and my previous account manager). They just heard about the TI issues too as they haven't been briefed internally, but at the moment, the only change applies to Personal Charge Card only. Business Charge Card's policy remains the same. So for the people who hold the business charge card, the policy is still current. He also said he would feed back my concerns on how the new personal charge card is written as they also hold the Platinum Charge Card themselves for travel purposes.

Do you have a Centurion or a Business card? Why do you have an account manager? Your comment about not being briefed indicates to me you have either of these because all of the Platinum staff I've spoken to certainly do know the ins and outs, and not just from the flow of negative comments they are getting!!

Platinum Charge Cards don't come with a relationship manager to my knowledge - I know Cent does however...

 

[moa999]

I was overseas for the last few weeks and got back today to find a letter in the mail from AMEX with the new T&Cs
Cover letter states...
"The changes apply to any trips that you book after 15 June 2012; or trips booked prior, but for wich you still need to pay a deposit"
So if I understand this correctly the "old rules" (you are covered just for being a cardholder) still apply if I book and pay (doesn't matter how I pay) for a trip before 15/6... Am I correct?

Well Yes...
but (as with all the changes)
In the T&Cs
"Policy Number: 09NACPLT06. Cover is effective from 30 January 2012" - cover page
"This document replaces and supersedes any certificates that have been previously issued or details of terms of cover for the Master Policy provided prior to the effective date of these Terms and Conditions" - bottom pg. 9

This bush lawyer would say that the letter changes the effective date...

 

[turtlemichael]

Well Yes...
but (as with all the changes)
In the T&Cs
"Policy Number: 09NACPLT06. Cover is effective from 30 January 2012" - cover page
"This document replaces and supersedes any certificates that have been previously issued or details of terms of cover for the Master Policy provided prior to the effective date of these Terms and Conditions" - bottom pg. 9

This bush lawyer would say that the letter changes the effective date...

The previous terms of cover document is dated August 10, 2010. The question I'll ask of ACE, when I eventually receive the letter, is will travel booked, and deposit paid, before June 15, be covered by the terms dated August 10, 2010? By definition, that travel does not need to be paid on the card. That to me is, on the face of it, what the letter means but as I now have reduced faith in their integrity I'll need it crystal clear.

 

[Diesellife]

They need to give notice before amending the t&c... This created a gap between the actual master policy date and the communicated date to all members.

 

[moa999]

Diesellife,
Yes but I would feel a lot more comfortable if this were actually written in the T&Cs.
eg. Required to give x months notice, policy effective date does not kick in until then.

Per the document on its face the effective date is 30 Jan 2012

 

[sparoz]

Business' website is updated as well. The wording is similar and will require full purchase.

In the protection tab:


The American Express Platinum Business Card | American Express Australia

Interesting. Looks like the intention is to change the Plat Business Card as well. It might be like the Cent card where they haven't finalised it yet. Amex haven't briefed my account manager re the change to business card yet, but that doesn't mean that it is not coming at this stage.

Do you have a Centurion or a Business card? Why do you have an account manager? Your comment about not being briefed indicates to me you have either of these because all of the Platinum staff I've spoken to certainly do know the ins and outs, and not just from the flow of negative comments they are getting!!

Platinum Charge Cards don't come with a relationship manager to my knowledge - I know Cent does however...

I have both. Most amex cardholders in our industry put through large transactions and we have an account manager assigned to us. They are trying to sell business cards, but they look after everything. They were still selling the card with the old TI on the weekend as they haven't been briefed that it has been changed.

 

[Diesellife]

All I can say is to keep the letter for future reference.

Due to the master policy relationship, Amex is likely to be liable for the coverage between now til june (letter date).
it appears that ace operators are also aware of the Amex dates on the letter... Perhaps it's a handshake deal.

 

[oz_mark]

All I can say is to keep the letter for future reference.

Due to the master policy relationship, Amex is likely to be liable for the coverage between now til june (letter date).
it appears that ace operators are also aware of the Amex dates on the letter... Perhaps it's a handshake deal.

There are often differences between when such policies apply to new cardholders and when it applies to existing cardholders. Perhaps that is the case here, where new cardholders are on the new terms, but existing cardholders are in the notice period.

 

[aschmid]

As many on these forum I fell this is a big let down and devalues the card certainly to the level that I'd be not willing to another $900 annual fee.

I wrote them a complaint to express how I feel, don't expect much out of it, but please everybody speak up and let them know why we are leaving:


Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to you to express my huge disappointment regarding the letter you recently sent me outlining the changes to insurance included with the Platinum Charge card. Essentially what this change come down to is that you have now set the Platinum Charge Card insurance on equal terms with insurances you get with other Platinum cards. This hugely devalues the Platinum Charge Card for me and in my opinion makes it a price of $900 not competitive in the market. I have for a while considered the Citibank Select card at $700 a year with equal benefits. The only major differentiator that made me not switch was the travel insurance with AMEX Platinum Charge Card which you have now changed. Given that and the much better acceptance of a VISA card versus AMEX and lesser surcharges you have just with this single move added to my decision to switch to Citibank Select VISA from AMEX. As I am about to go on a holiday which is still covered by the insurance I'll going to cancel my AMEX card in May after my return. Should you have anything to say for yourself, please do so before. Please do not send me a standard reply about all the other benefits as this will only strengthen my resolve to switch if i don't get the customised premium service you so much advertise.

 

[Deleted member]

As many on these forum I fell this is a big let down and devalues the card certainly to the level that I'd be not willing to another $900 annual fee.

I wrote them a complaint to express how I feel, don't expect much out of it, but please everybody speak up and let them know why we are leaving:


Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to you to express my huge disappointment regarding the letter you recently sent me outlining the changes to insurance included with the Platinum Charge card. Essentially what this change come down to is that you have now set the Platinum Charge Card insurance on equal terms with insurances you get with other Platinum cards. This hugely devalues the Platinum Charge Card for me and in my opinion makes it a price of $900 not competitive in the market. I have for a while considered the Citibank Select card at $700 a year with equal benefits. The only major differentiator that made me not switch was the travel insurance with AMEX Platinum Charge Card which you have now changed. Given that and the much better acceptance of a VISA card versus AMEX and lesser surcharges you have just with this single move added to my decision to switch to Citibank Select VISA from AMEX. As I am about to go on a holiday which is still covered by the insurance I'll going to cancel my AMEX card in May after my return. Should you have anything to say for yourself, please do so before. Please do not send me a standard reply about all the other benefits as this will only strengthen my resolve to switch if i don't get the customised premium service you so much advertise.

Not sure I would have played my " cancel it after he holiday" hand.

 

[aschmid]

Not sure I would have played my " cancel it after he holiday" hand.

Not sure why you say this because there is nothing they can do, same us we are bound by the T&C.

 

[Deleted member]

Not sure why you say this because there is nothing they can do, same us we are bound by the T&C.

True. However in the grey areas do you want them to be understanding or just stick to the rules?
After nearly 30 years in insurance I can assure you, what the contract allows and what can be interpreted are not always mutually exclusive

 

[aschmid]

True. However in the grey areas do you want them to be understanding or just stick to the rules?
After nearly 30 years in insurance I can assure you, what the contract allows and what can be interpreted are not always mutually exclusive

Sorry i just don't get this. They chose to screw us - we signed up for a contract with T&C for a year, thy decide to change them in between - and still we are supposed to play "nice guy"? I am not a lawyer but wouldn't that be just a slam dunk case?

i do understand what you say but in these circumstances i'd just love to see them pull their legs.

 

[sparoz]

Sorry i just don't get this. They chose to screw us - we signed up for a contract with T&C for a year, thy decide to change them in between - and still we are supposed to play "nice guy"? I am not a lawyer but wouldn't that be just a slam dunk case?

i do understand what you say but in these circumstances i'd just love to see them pull their legs.

You go on a holiday and something happens and falls into a gray area. Potentially they might interpret the t&c against you?

Having said that the old t&c was quite clear and not much gray and ACE won't have that email you sent .

 

[aplmac]

yes it seems that as long as we book before then we are still covered
but what about new clients who have just ( and in mean in the last few days or weeks) applied and received the card does their insurance stay the old rules or the new?? as both my referrals got the card for the insurance.

I'm not convinced about that - my reading of the letter (and it is a bit ambiguous) is:

1) The changes apply to any trips that you book after 15th June (OK - that's straightforward enough),

2) The changes apply to any trips booked prior (to 15th June I assume, from the start date of the new Master Policy I also assume) but for which you still need to pay a deposit. (Which I interpret as meaning are NOT covered under the old T&C)

 

[Deleted member]

You go on a holiday and something happens and falls into a gray area. Potentially they might interpret the t&c against you?

Having said that the old t&c was quite clear and not much gray and ACE won't have that email you sent .

tice
Actually it's not interpreting against you. Rather it's not interpreting for you. Grey area or not .
But it's not my holiday. It's yours

But let me give you an example of how it might work, my mother in law had travel insurance and suffered a global transient amnesia while traveling in the UK a few years ago.
she was technically not insured as she had an (un disclosed ) preexisting condition , we were however able from here able to gain a sympathetic ear from the insurer and got " some " assistance in getting her home safely, in spite of not meeting the T&C of the policy conditions.

 

[yo yo ma]

This has to be the first thread on AFF where every single person is in agreement

AMEX are a business and need to make a profit. If a lot of people are claiming on their TI and the insurer (ACE) puts up their premiums, then the T&C must be adjusted to compensate. They have given over 3 months notice, are still covering people for travel in the meantime and people have the option to cancel their cards and take out alternative insurance. This is a devaluation of the card benefits but might be necessary under the circumstances.

 

[sparoz]

The new T&C is ambiguous and so broad that it is open to different interpretation. That's where the problem is.