D-Day 8 Oct for Ezy Mastercard

[beardoc]

The only thing being that I don't want the Commonwealth Awards card, not even the platinum card. I'm ditching CBA completely.

 

[NM]

If you change to a different card of the Commonwealth Bank (but probably excluding the default one they change you to), then the bank automatically credits the new card with a pro-rata refund of your old annual fee before charging you your new annual fee.

So if you tell the CBA to transfer your woolworths card to the Platinum Mastercard or Visa, you will receive a pro-rata credit anyway.

I am counting on that process working for me later. I have my CBA Gold Visa as my non-Amex card, and keep the CBA points with that card. If I later decide to move those points to QF, I will "upgrade" by Gold Visa to a Plat card and get the 1:1 transfer rate.

I also expect the rules and rates will be fluid and are likely to change again before I have a need to use/move those CBA points, so I am not going to pay the Plat annual fee now since I have no use of the additional benefits/features of the CBA Plat card at this time.

 

[wafliron]

Just a note for those considering a Citibank Silver card - mine arrived today with an initial credit limit of $7,500, so obviously the "Credit limit [of] up to $7,000" is a little conservative I didn't request the extra limit either, it's just what they gave me.
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[Sheriff]

If you only recently paid your annual fee on your Ezy card, then you might want to consider asking for a part refund. It can't hurt!

Just telephoned Woolworths Ezy banking to inform them of my intention to close my EzyMastercard account at end of this month, and to confirm that they will be refunding the annual card fee in full as it is due this month.The customer service operator advised me that the fee will debited to my account today , but will be reversed on closure day immediately prior to pay-out, and confirmed that the fee will not be included in the pay-out figure.

Regards
Sheriff

 

[Gulliver]

Yeah, goodbye Ezy you were good while it lasted.
Makes me cry that a big chunk of my points will get eaten away my fees now.
I've decided on Amex Rewards Maximiser, and a Citibank Gold if necessary... or it sounds like Silver will do the job. But I'm hoping Amex is accepted more widely these days.

 

[QFTravel]

But I'm hoping Amex is accepted more widely these days.

I found it is. Generally I have a 90-95%+ strike rate. Only a few bills I can't pay with it and my gym membership :evil: ...

 

[one9]

Yeah, goodbye Ezy you were good while it lasted.
Makes me cry that a big chunk of my points will get eaten away my fees now.
I've decided on Amex Rewards Maximiser, and a Citibank Gold if necessary... or it sounds like Silver will do the job. But I'm hoping Amex is accepted more widely these days.

Acceptance all depends on what type of places you shop at.

If you mainly shop at large chain places, you will be fine.

If you mainly shop at travel related places (hotels, entertainment), you will be fine.

Where you will have problems is at smaller places like specialist shops, local fruit shops, some fuel stations (surcharge) etc.

You will also likely have problems with large business transactions.

There are also exceptions such as some larger places (eg. Ikea, Strathfield car radio) etc. who don't accept Amex or charge a surcharge.

I find I get around 70% acceptance for personal expenditure.
I find I get around 15% acceptance for large business related expenditure (where visa/mastercard is accepted).

 

[bigmudcake]

I doubt you will be able to claim the points earned between the end of your statement day and the 6th October.

My statement is issued on the 20th of each month, so I assume I will be able to transfer the points for the statement ending 20th Septemeber on the 22nd September.

Then the points I earn from 22nd Septemebr to 6th October will end up being changed to Commonwealth Bank points.

I will try calling on the 6th, but I reckon I wil have a points balance of 0, as the points do not get credited until about 2 days after the statement date.

You can keep your points after the 6th October by OPENING an Ezy Action account and activating it before the 6th October. This is because the 2 accounts use the ONE rewards system, and the Ezy Action account will guarentee that the rewards points will still be available once the Mastercard closes.

But points earned after your last mastercard statement will go to the commonwealth reward scheme NOT ezy rewards.

 

[xco]

I'm another who is annoyed at the closure of the Ezy MasterCard program. Over the years it has earned me many free flights, which I probably would otherwise not have had.

I use my credit card for ever purchase, and make sure to pay the statement off in full. NEVER pay any interest, thats how you make the card work for you.

Over the past weeks I've been breaking my Ball5 trying to find a replacement card that works hard earning FF points. This is what I've come up with.

Primary Card - This is the one to do as much spending on as possible.
The Qantas American Express Premium Credit Card.
On offer for those who signed up by 31/8/06 was 17500 bonus points. 10000 for signing up, 5000 for first spend, and 2500 for purchasing Qantas products. No annual card fee ($195) for the first year, supplementary card was however $30.

Earn 1.25 Qantas Frequent Flyer points for every dollar spent every day using your the Premium Card, Earn 1 additional point for every dollar spent on your Premium Card in Australia on selected Qantas services

No limit to the number of points you can earn
Two Qantas Club Invitations every year when you spend on your Card in Australia on selected Qantas services

Check out the link it may still work, or you may be able to call Amex and do a deal.
Credit Cards - The Qantas American Express Premium Credit Card - American Express Australia


The only pitfall thus far with this card is that some merchants DO NOT accept it, and some charge 2% surcharge.

So what to go for as an extra or replacement card??

Citibank
Wow how frustrating it is to speak with customer service in Phillipines. This is one reason I'm steering clear of this. However if you want a Citibank card this is what I've uncovered.

Spending on the card acrues 1 point per dollar $

Gold card
$119 yearly fee
$30 supp card
Credit limit $5 - $25k
Points capped at 60000 per year

Platinum card
$250 yearly fee
$90 supp card
Credit limit $12 - $30k
Points capped at 120000 per year

The link below get you the gold card with 6.9%pa and no annual fee ever.
http://www.citibank.com.au/cardsoffer/offers/gold_nofee_A.htm


Commonwealth Bank
Although I'm dirty on Com Bank for dropping the Ezy MasterCard, they appear to be the only bank with a half decent program.

Platinum Card
$1.00 spent = 1 reward point
1 reward point = 1 QF point

Costs
$200.00 per year
$15.00 suppl cards

Points capped at 150000 per calendar year

I'm told that if you push hard enough with the bank branch manager you may get the first year fee removed.

Final Summary
Over 12 months using the Amex card for everyday household bills and spending I should earn at least 70000 points. Topped up with the Comm Bank Platinum card where Amex is not accepted I shoud be able to make all purcahses through the year with a credit card.

70000 points, thats Asia Pacific from Australia return, and one way to New York or Frankfurt.

If anyone has a better card suggestion or combination let me know.

 

[Sheriff]

I applied for the Qantas American Express Premium Credit Card through the August promotion offering 17,000 bonus points and first year free. I agree that you should be trying make as many transactions on the card where possible without incurring the AMEX surcharge, but from my past experience with many merchants you will have to get use to smiling in the face of rejection or even worse get use to paying a 2-5% surcharge on many transactions .Today I attempted to make a $20,000 business transaction on my shiny brand spanking new Qantas American Express Premium credit card only to be rejected. So I had to pay with my dying Woolworths Ezy Mastercard instead. I have been trying very hard for the past month to push the CBA to waive the $200.00 Platinum MasterCard fee without any success.I have been told that the only way to waive the fee is to take out a Wealth Package Plus, which is a financial package that allows you to simplify and streamline all your financial needs within one structure.

Regards
Sheriff

 

[snufl]

Funny how things work out. As everyone else, we snufls were very unhappy to hear about the end of the Ezy Mastercard. However we now have a Citibank gold visa and supplementary both fee free for life. We have also picked up 60k bonus points by transferring amex pts to VS.
A big thankyou to this board and members!

 

[beardoc]

We have also picked up 60k bonus points by transferring amex pts to VS.

What's VS? I don't know about this!

 

[snufl]

Hi beardoc all the info can be found in this thread http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/your-questions/join-virgin-atlantic-7639.html

 

[akumaslair]

EZY MAster card RIP!!!

THe deadline according to everyone and that letter is tomorrow 6th OCt 2006, so I call up just a few minutes ago and ask to transfer the remanining points...

I get told I have 7500 points which is the same number of points on my last statement as of 8th of September, I say WTF, how come my points haven't been upgraded, response by the turkey was maybe call back tomorrow, I say 'well if they haven't upgraded for the last 28 days or so, what are the chances of it upgrading tomorrow??' she says "we are doing an upgrade tomorrow". Frankly I think this is BS, so I have asked for as superviosr, and was told that he/she will call me back....... still waiting

IS anyone else having the same experience, I have been busy earning 15,000 points in hte past month as a final effort.......

gonna be very peeved if this doesn't work.......

 

[Gulliver]

Funny how things work out. As everyone else, we snufls were very unhappy to hear about the end of the Ezy Mastercard. However we now have a Citibank gold visa and supplementary both fee free for life. We have also picked up 60k bonus points by transferring amex pts to VS.
A big thankyou to this board and members!

Amen. There was no decent replacement for the Ezy card. I ended up going Amex, but probably would need a back-up MasterCard or Visa. Then tada, I free card with 1 FF point per dollar spent. It seems too good to be true.

I'm glad I got my Amex 1st year free - I might not want it anymore!

 

[Sheriff]

I have been trying very hard for the past month to push the CBA to waive the $200.00 Platinum MasterCard fee without any success

I have finally managed to convince the CBA to waive the $200 Platinum MasterCard fee.Today, I received a letter from the CBA confirming the annual fee waiver.The letter says

"Thankyou for taking the time to speak to us regarding your CBA Mastercard Ezy Credit Card- your request is easy to arrange.

We confirm you have requested a Mastercard Platinum, with a credit limit of $100,000.This is easy to arrange: Simply sign and date the form included and return in the reply paid envelope or fax the form to us on ...

Please read the Acknowledgment and Consent in this letter before signing........

When the annual fee becomes next due on your MasterCard Platinum, it will be waived for 12 months.

Consent

Yes, I would like to transfer my Ezy MasterCard account number ...., to a new MasterCard Platinum with a credit limit of $100,000.

Thank you again for choosing to stay with the CBA........."

A very polite Customer Service Representative from the CBA also rang to advise that the next annual fee on my new Platinum Mastercard will be due October 2008. He also suggested to call back then to discuss a possible further annual fee waiver.

So, bye-bye Ezy MasterCard , hello Platinum Mastercard.

Thank you CBA , much appreciated.

Cheers
Sheriff

 

[Gulliver]

Dunno whether CBA card is any better than Citibank, but I like free for life better than free for a year. So I say stick it CBA. I much prefer to turn my back on businesses that try to screw me.

 

[Sheriff]

Dunno whether CBA card is any better than Citibank

I've applied and been approved for a Citbank Gold free for life.

You're right the CBA Platinum may not be any better than Citibank Gold, but in my opinion, the CBA is a better bank with superior Customer Service.

Cheers
Sheriff

 

[snufl]

EZY MAster card RIP!!!

I get told I have 7500 points which is the same number of points on my last statement as of 8th of September...

IS anyone else having the same experience, I have been busy earning 15,000 points in hte past month as a final effort.......

gonna be very peeved if this doesn't work.......

Because your next statement is 8th October, your points probably won't transfer till then. I also fear that any you have earned in the past month will convert at 2:1. Rather than go through the reasons, I suggest you read through page 4 of this thread, all the detail is there.

I hope the bank realises their letter was not clear and does the right thing, otherwise they will have many unhappy customers tomorrow. Good luck!

 

[Sheriff]

This is a reminder.

If you wish to transfer/redeem 1 Ezy Rewards point (from Ezy Mastercard) under the Ezy Mastecard Rewards program to 1 QFF point, you must transfer TODAY because from 9 October 2006 you will no longer be able to redeem 1 Ezy Reward point for 1 QFF point. TODAY is the last day to redeem under the Ezy Rewards program. From 9 October 2006, you will need to redeem 2 Commonwealth Awards points to acquire 1 QFF point.

Because the Ezy Mastercard program is closing today you are entitled to transfer your full Ezy Rewards points balance to QFF points, no matter what the balance.

The minimum of 3,600 Ezy Rewards points for the transfer does not apply because the decision to discontinue the Woolworths Ezy Credit Card Programme was a commercial one mutually agreed upon by both Woolworths and CBA.

I speak from experience because I have crossed this bridge with CBA before.

Make sure you transfer ALL your Ezy Reward points TODAY.

Cheers
Sheriff