Pay bill through Paypal by using Amex card, but still only receive 0.5 rewards points

[zenyattamondatta]

Would something like b2bpay (with an Explorer) be a good alternative?

 

[daft009]

id say youve got zero leg to stand on, since it does say 0.5 for governement spend, unless you can argue that paypal is the intermediatery and should be getting paypal rates,

but im sure thats another huge can of worms

On 1 hand I agree but why the difference in transactions that were 5 min apart

 

[N860CR]

So the ones that were awarded 0.5ppd have the detail;

Doing Business As

PAYPAL

0000

AUSTRALIA

0014089671368


However the same bill through the same merchant, paid a few days earlier, comes up as;


Doing Business As

PAYPAL
https://www.paypal.com/au/selfhelp/home
2000

AUSTRALIA

180.007.3263


There is a difference... and Amex tell me they are two different merchant accounts. Odd that one slipped through, and one didn't (for the very same bill)

 

[unfunkable]

Thats very strange. Will AMEX say if they will look into it to make sure it all goes through as 2 PPD?

 

[N860CR]

Apparently an “investigation” had been lodged. I’ve heard that before though.

 

[BriarFlyer]

What are the chance that the investigation results in all AP transactions back to 0.5...

 

[Mr_Orange]

What are the chance that the investigation results in all AP transactions back to 0.5...

Very high I would say.

 

[lilkid28]

Very high I would say.

I don't think they will adjust previously posted transactions, this will cause a huge backlash.

 

[N860CR]

What are the chance that the investigation results in all AP transactions back to 0.5...

That was my concern, hence I wasn't that keen on raising it and hoped they'd just go "oh we'll just manually add some points". Either way, I doubt they'll even look into it given previous experiences.

 

[prozerran]

So the ones that were awarded 0.5ppd have the detail;

Doing Business As

PAYPAL

0000

AUSTRALIA

0014089671368


However the same bill through the same merchant, paid a few days earlier, comes up as;


Doing Business As

PAYPAL
2000

AUSTRALIA

180.007.3263


There is a difference... and Amex tell me they are two different merchant accounts. Odd that one slipped through, and one didn't (for the very same bill)

I just paid 2 bills via PAYPAL -- AP postbill pay system and only bot 0.5PPD - amex plat edge card

very disappointed - as it was 2 rates over $4.5K total. I may follow this up with amex

 

[SOPOOR]

I just paid 2 bills via PAYPAL -- AP postbill pay system and only bot 0.5PPD - amex plat edge card

very disappointed - as it was 2 rates over $4.5K total. I may follow this up with amex

I'd probably recommend against doing that
Technically it was government spend so they're in the right.
Howver by raising it It may reduce the chances of it going back to 2ppd randomly like it did last time.

 

[liuyz]

I'd probably recommend against doing that
Technically it was government spend so they're in the right.
Howver by raising it It may reduce the chances of it going back to 2ppd randomly like it did last time.

This is just not a fair game.

when for earning points through PayPal, they tend to cut the rate, even though PayPal is not listed in the half point category.

as when for using the Amex Offers, PayPal will not be eligible.

Why we as the customer always get the worst part?
Should this be in consistent?

 

[SOPOOR]

This is just not a fair game.

when for earning points through PayPal, they tend to cut the rate, even though PayPal is not listed in the half point category.

as when for using the Amex Offers, PayPal will not be eligible.

Why we as the customer always get the worst part?
Should this be in consistent?

It's basically the argument of is PayPal the processing merchant or is the company that PayPal pays to as the merchant.

I have no idea, but the fact the rate keeps changing maybe means it's ambiguous or even a loop hole

 

[prozerran]

It's basically the argument of is PayPal the processing merchant or is the company that PayPal pays to as the merchant.

I have no idea, but the fact the rate keeps changing maybe means it's ambiguous or even a loop hole

I don't see any ambiguity associated with the transaction. The transaction is to PAYPAL - whether it is to AP or user XYZ - I am transacting direct with PAYPAL and this attracts the maximum points.

PAYPAL then pays the merchant and this has nothing to do with me or American express - so I don't understand why you say this is ambiguous.

If I paid the merchant direct it would say Australia Post

 

[SOPOOR]

I don't see any ambiguity associated with the transaction. The transaction is to PAYPAL - whether it is to AP or user XYZ - I am transacting direct with PAYPAL and this attracts the maximum points.

PAYPAL then pays the merchant and this has nothing to do with me or American express - so I don't understand why you say this is ambiguous.

If I paid the merchant direct it would say Australia Post

You probably are legally correct. But I feel we were a bit lucky to get 2ppd for all this time. And I do hope it goes back to 2ppd

 

[rock86]

I don't see any ambiguity associated with the transaction. The transaction is to PAYPAL - whether it is to AP or user XYZ - I am transacting direct with PAYPAL and this attracts the maximum points.

PAYPAL then pays the merchant and this has nothing to do with me or American express - so I don't understand why you say this is ambiguous.

If I paid the merchant direct it would say Australia Post

You are utilising Paypal as a payment intermediary, nothing more, nothing less - they are not the merchant.

 

[prozerran]

You are utilising Paypal as a payment intermediary, nothing more, nothing less - they are not the merchant.

I understand what you are saying, but isn't PostBIllPay an intermediary also? According to your argument - it should be the end beneficiary that counts - but we all know by using PostBIllPay - Aus Post is what comes up on the statement.

So essentially - it is the entity that I am paying directly (ie PAYPAL, Aus Post, Merchant) that should count as the transaction is being 'settled' with them.

I think the key word here is who is 'settling' the transaction. Not who is the beneficiary

 

[liuyz]

I understand what you are saying, but isn't PostBIllPay an intermediary also? According to your argument - it should be the end beneficiary that counts - but we all know by using PostBIllPay - Aus Post is what comes up on the statement.

So essentially - it is the entity that I am paying directly (ie PAYPAL, Aus Post, Merchant) that should count as the transaction is being 'settled' with them.

I think the key word here is who is 'settling' the transaction. Not who is the beneficiary

The first contact point for AMEX card should be the one used to decide the category for points earning. This is aligning with the eligibility of the AMEX offer they are currently in use.

Amex offer is for a certain merchant, not for PayPal, so pay through PayPal will not count you for the offer.

Same for earning points, as PayPal is not in any of the bonus points category and the half point category, the payment through PayPal should be counted as the base category for point earning on your card.

 

[prozerran]

The first contact point for AMEX card should be the one used to decide the category for points earning. This is aligning with the eligibility of the AMEX offer they are currently in use.

Amex offer is for a certain merchant, not for PayPal, so pay through PayPal will not count you for the offer.

Same for earning points, as PayPal is not in any of the bonus points category and the half point category, the payment through PayPal should be counted as the base category for point earning on your card.

I spoke to the AMEX call centre and basically they can't do anything about it. From what i understand it should always have been like this and the system is getting smarter.

Don't understand why there is so much inconsistency amongst different users, and even the user who made 2 different transactions with same merchant through paypal and differing results.

All i can say is expect 0.5 PPD and any extra is a bonus

 

[Mr_Orange]

Like any loophole, it has been closed. Time to move on.