Metal Platinum card

[GoldCanyon340]

My new cards, with supps, have sat here for two weeks and I haven't activated them yet.... must get around to that! Not as good as Centurion with the individual numbers and letters set onto the card but I like the new look. Especially prefer the card number moved to the rear.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Another here who keeps being asked to sign instead of enter the PIN, even after having set one up online.

In the past I've found that the first transaction where you insert the card is always signature-only, but after that it asks for a PIN, and a few transactions after that the PIN becomes programmed into the chip (which is helpful when overseas)... but even the other day, I tried inserting the card at a cafe for a ~$5 spend, hoping it would finally ask for my PIN to get that working, and nope, it asked me to sign.

I'm glad I only got a metal A/C and my 'main' Plat is still plastic (and working with a PIN)... but honestly, when you pay this much for a card you expect it to work!

 

[Comoman]

The weird thing is yesterday I did a transaction at a restaurant for $280. I inserted the card and it didn't need a pin or to sign - just approved!

 

[blueythecat]

The weird thing is yesterday I did a transaction at a restaurant for $280. I inserted the card and it didn't need a pin or to sign - just approved!

That doesn’t sound great security wise!

 

[gregff]

I hope that there is or will be the option to stay with a plastic card.

 

[madrooster]

I hope that there is or will be the option to stay with a plastic card.

Amex have already said there won't be a plastic version at all given the stainless steel one has contactless. The titanium Centurion still has a plastic version though, as that card hasn't gained contactless on the titanium one yet.

The weird thing is yesterday I did a transaction at a restaurant for $280. I inserted the card and it didn't need a pin or to sign - just approved!

I've had a $900 transaction go through without pin or sign...

 

[Mr_Orange]

I've had a $900 transaction go through without pin or sign...

Yikes !

 

[boomy]

My card acts funny, had $200 transactions going smoothly and the other day $60 required signature.

 

[Comoman]

My card acts funny, had $200 transactions going smoothly and the other day $60 required signature.

Amex told me that older credit card terminals dont like the metallic card for some reason. Centurion cards also have the same issue.

Not sure if it’s BS but that’s what they claimed.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Amex told me that older credit card terminals dont like the metallic card for some reason. Centurion cards also have the same issue.

Not sure if it’s BS but that’s what they claimed.

After frequently being asked for a signature with the metal card and never having been prompted for a PIN, I ended up calling AMEX to see what the problem was. Turns out in their systems, they accidentally issued me with a "chip and signature" card, not a "chip and PIN" card, so the only way to fix the problem was to send me out a replacement card... I'll see if that solves the issue, after the obligatory signature on first use!

(To reissue the card, they also had to manually go into the system to change from one to the other, so for some reason, signature must have been set as the default. Wonder if AMEX has accidentally sent everybody out chip and signature cards... that would be quite the epic fail!)

Funny though: they said I should destroy my old card when the replacement arrived... I asked how I was meant to do that when the card is metal, ha, and they provided a reply paid address to mail the old one back to, for AMEX to destroy. They had to look into it before they could advise that, though: obviously being so new, the operator hasn't dealt with cancelling a metal card before!

 

[M@rcoPolo]

Turns out in their systems, they accidentally issued me with a "chip and signature" card, not a "chip and PIN" card, so the only way to fix the problem was to send me out a replacement card...

That's crazy! I switched all my cards to metal (including supplementary) days before it was announced and everything seems to work well

 

[Tallfont]

I too have recently switched to the new metal AMEX Platinum Charge card. I thought I might have been the only one with these PIN/Sign "issues" but obviously not.

One of the first transactions I made on the new card was $900 at a smaller store in Cairns. No sign, no PIN. An hour or so later $25 in a bookshop and "Signature required". Most larger stores (Coles, Woolworths, Myer, DJ's) seem to be as usual (under $100 - no PIN, over $100 - PIN). There really doesn't seem to be much logic to it.

I also called AMEX but was told that the software in the machines were being updated for the new metal cards and it would take a while for it to go out across the network. In the interim expect to have to sign in some shops.

Tallfont

 

[liuyz]

I too have recently switched to the new metal AMEX Platinum Charge card. I thought I might have been the only one with these PIN/Sign "issues" but obviously not.

One of the first transactions I made on the new card was $900 at a smaller store in Cairns. No sign, no PIN. An hour or so later $25 in a bookshop and "Signature required". Most larger stores (Coles, Woolworths, Myer, DJ's) seem to be as usual (under $100 - no PIN, over $100 - PIN). There really doesn't seem to be much logic to it.

I also called AMEX but was told that the software in the machines were being updated for the new metal cards and it would take a while for it to go out across the network. In the interim expect to have to sign in some shops.

Tallfont

Metal card should follow the same communication standard as the plastic. The explanation provided by AMEX doesn't make sense to me. Especially the $900 without pin or signature. This sounds current system has serious bugs in terms of security. If this is the case, even 'days' is not acceptable, how come they are telling members they need to 'take a while'.

 

[andye]

Wanted to give a supp to a friend for lounge access for their forthcoming trip to UK. Ended up going over my 4 allowed free supps so rather than stump up $700 (!), cancelled my A/C card.
The metal cards are not easy to break
There are fine copper wires between the two layers presumably for contactless

 

[Daver6]

Wanted to give a supp to a friend for lounge access for their forthcoming trip to UK. Ended up going over my 4 allowed free supps so rather than stump up $700 (!), cancelled my A/C card.
The metal cards are not easy to break
There are fine copper wires between the two layers presumably for contactless

The A/C does NOT count towards your four supp card limit.

 

[andye]

The A/C does NOT count towards your four supp card limit.

Not what I was told today but thanks for giving me the ammo to revisit

They did say something about there being a different rule for discounted professional cards-sounds a bit fishy now I think about it

By the way $700 for some travel insurance, Amex lounges, the AFR and some midtier statuses is terrible value.

 

[liuyz]

Not what I was told today but thanks for giving me the ammo to revisit

When receiving my welcome package of the Charge, there is a short letter remind me that I can have 4 supp cards and 1 A/C card.

Maybe worth to check with them on this. Let us know how you go with it.

 

[Comoman]

Wanted to give a supp to a friend for lounge access for their forthcoming trip to UK. Ended up going over my 4 allowed free supps so rather than stump up $700 (!), cancelled my A/C card.
The metal cards are not easy to break
There are fine copper wires between the two layers presumably for contactless

There's a reply paid address in Sydney you're supposed to send the cards back to for safe destruction.

 

[andye]

There's a reply paid address in Sydney you're supposed to send the cards back to for safe destruction.

Looked up the Professionals T&Cs-it dows differ from the standard Charge and only allows 4 free additional cards in total

Quite satisfying breaking the card though

 

[Flying High]

Have had my new metal card for a couple of weeks now. Seems to be functioning normally so far, including tap and insert without any issues.