Comm Bank to issue AMEX... changes to QF/Velocity point earning

[ChrisFlyer]

I believe it's a limitation with Amex cards created by Amex themselves - nothing to do with Woolies etc.

Which can be solved with a software upgrade - either on Amex's end or on Woolies' As you can have a PIN on most, if not all Australian Amex cards, I'd be more likely to be looking in Woolies' direction as the source of the problem... But really, I'm just happy that they accept it at all

Coles weren't able to accept PIN for Amex cards until recently when they updated the software on every single terminal across all of their brands (including Target etc), and they can now process PIN-based Amex and Diners transactions... which makes things a whole lot easier lol

 

[Mal]

Coles weren't able to accept PIN for Amex cards until recently when they updated the software on every single terminal across all of their brands (including Target etc), and they can now process PIN-based Amex and Diners transactions... which makes things a whole lot easier lol

My understanding was based on this info provided by Amex:
American Express, Safe & Secure - Home

What should I do if I am asked for a PIN to complete a purchase?
If a PIN is requested from you when making a purchase, advise the merchant that you have not been issued a PIN by American Express and that your transaction can be authorised by your signature as it always has been.

Perhaps things have changed...

 

[ChrisFlyer]

From the copyright notice on that link, it appears that it was last edited in 2008. I wasn't able to use a PIN for an Amex card until January of this year (even though some of the terminals that I used it in prior to then did allow for Amex PIN entry - mostly the ANZ terminals), so it is possible that the content being displayed on that page is outdated.

You can now also use the same PIN for purchases as you use for ExpressCash (although a phone call may be required to activate PIN purchase abilities... not too sure how it affects everyone else, as I received a letter in the mail advising that my card was now PIN-capable for purchases).

You can also use a PIN on MOST (but not all) bank-issued Amex cards (for Westpac it's the same PIN you use for your companion MasterCard or Visa, for CBA it's a completely different PIN to the main card), with the exception of ANZ who currently don't support PIN use on their Amex cards.

 

[Mal]

Ok, my dual cards have arrived.

Strange that the number on the Amex doesn't match the number shown on the Netbank site. There must be an account, and a physical card and the numbers aren't the same.

I think they look really good visually. The changed in Awards + fee increase are a little nasty.

 

[Ev1dent]

The PIN on the new CBA Amex cards works in CBA ATMs (not that surprising).
The problem is that I assumed that the card's account linkages would be the same. My savings account is linked to my CBA Plat MC, but I tried my CBA Plat Amex to see if it also worked by entering my PIN and choosing savings. I got my $200 cash out, but then checked netbank the next day and it had been treated as a cash advance. Rang the CBA call centre - got one of their very friendly customer assistance people, but she could only refund the cash advance fee. They can't change the order payments are processed to an account, so I am now stuck with cash advance interest accruing until I get the balance down to $0 - unlikely if I'm taking advantage of the promo points between now and Christmas.

Really, CBAs ATMs shouldn't accept withdrawals using the Amex card using the 'savings' account option if it isn't actually the savings account the $$$ come out of - an error message 'that account is not available using this card' would be much better form. Dodgy or lazy programming of both their ATMs and their payments processing systems if you ask me.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

The PIN on the new CBA Amex cards works in CBA ATMs (not that surprising).
The problem is that I assumed that the card's account linkages would be the same. My savings account is linked to my CBA Plat MC, but I tried my CBA Plat Amex to see if it also worked by entering my PIN and choosing savings. I got my $200 cash out, but then checked netbank the next day and it had been treated as a cash advance. Rang the CBA call centre - got one of their very friendly customer assistance people, but she could only refund the cash advance fee. They can't change the order payments are processed to an account, so I am now stuck with cash advance interest accruing until I get the balance down to $0 - unlikely if I'm taking advantage of the promo points between now and Christmas.

Really, CBAs ATMs shouldn't accept withdrawals using the Amex card using the 'savings' account option if it isn't actually the savings account the $$$ come out of - an error message 'that account is not available using this card' would be much better form. Dodgy or lazy programming of both their ATMs and their payments processing systems if you ask me.

Did you not perform a balance check before going to pull the money out (now that it appears to be free to all CBA account-holders on CBA ATMs)? If you always have money in that particular account then fair enough, but the technical reason is that Amex cards (as well as Diners) are on the Travel & Entertainment protocol (ie. their card numbers always start with "3"), and this protocol doesn't support account selection - only the default account (which you may see printed on some purchase receipts), which in Australian is treated as credit.

Savings and cheque options can only be processed on the Visa (4) and MasterCard (5) protocols (you'll notice that all Visa cards start with 4, and all MasterCards, as well as Maestro debit cards, start with 5 - check it if you don't believe me).

Having said that, they probably should have put in a few lines of code to disable the account selection screen if an Amex card is inserted... It'd make a lot of sense... lol

 

[Joshua]

Interesting regarding the ATM. I eventually went to get my pin changed on the AMEX on Friday to match my other card. I was told straight out the Saving/Cheque account linkage wasn't possible on AMEX and I shouldn't be using the card with an ATM. Generally POS equipment will tell you to push credit but clearly there's some deficiencies in the ATM software.

Shouldn't you be able to simply pay $200 into the account to cover the cash-advance? I thought they took priority for repayments. Honestly I've been forever confused with that cough and so went for the no cash-advance/pay in full approach long ago.

 

[SOPOOR]

bloody helll

17/10/2009: Your request for a Commonwealth Bank American Express Card

on 17/10 requested card, still hasn't arrived,

enquired about it over the phone a few times, "its on the way" is the response.

I go in to a branch last week, and get told, "NO RECORD" of it, would you like to manually apply? it probably didn't go through because you did it online....WTF!!!!

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Shouldn't you be able to simply pay $200 into the account to cover the cash-advance? I thought they took priority for repayments.

Most issuers are clever (and annoying) at the same time - most allocate payments to amounts that you are being charged the lowest interest rate on first, and to the amount you are being charged the highest (cash advance) rate on last.

Eg. If you have a 0% balance transfer of $2000 remaining on one account, and make a purchase (or cash advance) of $100 on that card (at say 19.99% interest) before the complete balance transfer amount is repaid, the only way to clear the $100 which is being charged 19.99% is to repay the whole $2100... that's how they trap many people

So if you must do a cash advance, it's (generally) best to perform it on an account with no outstanding balance, and it's best not to use cards with balance transfers for any purchases until it's repaid in full

 

[Diesellife]

Most issuers are clever (and annoying) at the same time - most allocate payments to amounts that you are being charged the lowest interest rate on first, and to the amount you are being charged the highest (cash advance) rate on last.

Not for CBA nor NAB, not sure about other bank. (The following applies to CBA)

The cash advance has priority over purchase, however, the priority only activates once the statement is issued.

For example: You purchased something for 1000 on CBA credit card, then withdraw 1000 the next day.

Before the statement issue date: you will need to pay 2000 to get rid of the cash advance.
After the statement issurance: Pay 1000 + Interest incurred during that period. Then you cash advance will be paid.

 

[docjames]

I have upgraded to the new twin cards (Gold for me).

Have given the new Amex a few trial runs.

PIN seems to work "everywhere" except Woolies.

Everywhere being a series of stores at DFO as well as Bunnings.

The woolies one is annoying because that would save at least one wait for the checkout supervisor at their self checkout. My feeling is it's a software issue at Woolies.

 

[WOLF13]

I'd be p***ed if my AMEX was still yet to arrive.

I've been churning as much through it I can the last 2.5 weeks. Think I'm up to about 20K spend.

You'll reach your QFF cap (of 150K QF points) on this card after something like 47K dollar spend. Hoping I can pull enough expenses forward to get to that before they revert to $1 > 1.5 QF points.

Also- plan on doing all my XMAS shopping at either BIGW or DSE. Extra bonus point..

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Not for CBA nor NAB, not sure about other bank.

Oh wow - finally banks who have some kind of decency!

 

[Ev1dent]

(The following applies to CBA)

The cash advance has priority over purchase, however, the priority only activates once the statement is issued.

Thanks heaps Diesellife. This is good news - this is something that the CBA call centre staff couldn't explain. Isn't it great when customers understand banks' products even better than the banks themselves.

 

[Diesellife]

Thanks heaps Diesellife. This is good news - this is something that the CBA call centre staff couldn't explain. Isn't it great when customers understand banks' products even better than the banks themselves.

Coz I like cash advance... I don't bring bankcard at all when I'm having a night out... only a card clip which includes an amex, mc and drivers license. Thats why I need to know the payment allocation and keep the interest minimal.

 

[SOPOOR]

got my cards finally today, and guess what AMEX card doesn't work, the card is either cracked or the strip is gone!!!

anwyay, enough frustrations.....
Just saw the brochure and I didn't acutally realise that post feb, the ratio of plat points is now $2 for 1 point,

OMFG, firstly trips to thailand and asia were initally 50,000, now its 72,000,

and now this ratio drop means its 144,000 to go there,

these continual points dilution is really starting to get to me, and I mean big time,

maybe I will leach off my familys citibank plat card with no extra fees for additional card holders and hopefully stays on 1:1 unless thats changed already,.

so in my example, a 72,000 point trip on a gold card will be $3 per point??? or for a standard card $4 per point...

seems completely worthless now, this entire program!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[basic]

Just saw the brochure and I didn't acutally realise that post feb, the ratio of plat points is now $2 for 1 point,

OMFG, firstly trips to thailand and asia were initally 50,000, now its 72,000,

and now this ratio drop means its 144,000 to go there,

so in my example, a 72,000 point trip on a gold card will be $3 per point??? or for a standard card $4 per point...

seems completely worthless now, this entire program!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I guess I could be wrong but I thought it was this:

Using the MasterCard it's $2 for 1 point no matter which level card you use, right?
AmEx Standard it's $1 for 0.75 points
AmEx Gold is $1 for 1 point?
Amex Plat is $1 for 1.5 points?

After the bonus point period is over, of course.

-Me

 

[SOPOOR]

I guess I could be wrong but I thought it was this:

Using the MasterCard it's $2 for 1 point no matter which level card you use, right?
AmEx Standard it's $1 for 0.75 points
AmEx Gold is $1 for 1 point?
Amex Plat is $1 for 1.5 points?

After the bonus point period is over, of course.

-Me

I don't know about the standard cards as becauase I only a have a plat card but surely there must be a differnece in ratios for the different cards, as they 've always had,

regardless of which way it is the dilution of these points, is absolutely ridiculous!

 

[basic]

I don't know about the standard cards as becauase I only a have a plat card but surely there must be a differnece in ratios for the different cards, as they 've always had,

regardless of which way it is the dilution of these points, is absolutely ridiculous!

There is only a difference in earn rate on the AmEx cards, mastercard is the same for all three Standard, Gold, Plat.

-Me

 

[SOPOOR]

must admit, this is the first time ive used an amex but admittedly its not accepted ANYWHERE,

the only place so far is a supermarket,

tried paying my phone, mobile, gas, electricity, rates, NONE of them are accepted....

can't believe Amex still exists!