QantasAMEX: $0 Annual Card Fee, 5000 points, $50 on Qantas Services

[Jenelle]

Scratch that guys - seems it was a mistake!

Mix up of the charge for requesting a record of charge.

 

[wombatcountry]

Speaking of $30 fees: on the qantas web site one of the card's features is $0 annual fee for supplementary cards, but when my husband went to apply for it, a supplementary card was quoted at $30 annually. Does anyone have a different experience?

 

[mick]

Speaking of $30 fees: on the qantas web site one of the card's features is $0 annual fee for supplementary cards, but when my husband went to apply for it, a supplementary card was quoted at $30 annually. Does anyone have a different experience?

Yes, I noticed the very same thing just today. I didn't have the patience to call Amex for clarification and so didn't proceed with the application. I would ensure, as others have suggested many times before, that you print or PDF a copy of all the offer pages on the web, including your application, in case a dispute over bonus points, offer conditions, etc. erupts.

 

[bazzam]

Scratch that guys - seems it was a mistake!

Mix up of the charge for requesting a record of charge.

Just received my card yesterday and also noted the $30 charge. Did not seem to be an error unless the Amex form template is incorrect. Seems strange as CC companies normally charge on a % basis rather than flat fee. Either way don't intend to use the card (other than a local transaction to get the 5000 points) until I clarify the charge.

 

[Alanslegal]

Welcome to AFF bazzam

Please do report back re: $30 fee

Just received my card yesterday and also noted the $30 charge. Did not seem to be an error unless the Amex form template is incorrect. Seems strange as CC companies normally charge on a % basis rather than flat fee. Either way don't intend to use the card (other than a local transaction to get the 5000 points) until I clarify the charge.

 

[bazzam]

Just spoke to someone from the call centre who said that the $30 fee on the letter "must be a mistake". I was told the coversion fee is 2.5% of the conversion amount with the maximum fee being $30. i.e. spend $10 overseas and get charged $0.25 fee. Spend $100,000 get charged $30 not $2,500. I would still prefer to get that in writing before spending oversees.. :-|

 

[Harpoon]

This card looks attractive for me.

I currently have an Qantas ANZ Visa @ $90ish annual fee (forgot the exact amount). It also has the $1500 monthly spend threshhold where after than you earn .5 pts per dollar.

I can dump the qantas ANZ Visa and revert back to a cheaper ANZ Visa (non-rewards) @ $26 annual fee (I would revert to the cheaper Visa card as not everywhere takes AMEX, rather than dump visa) and grab myself this $0 fee amex, which also has no $1500 point earning thresholds, and use that primarily.

I'm only saving $60 a year in annual fees, and possible earning a few more points due to no monthly points caps/thresholds, oh and the 5k points on sign up......

What do you think? Worth the hassle of downgrading my visa?

 

[wombatcountry]

Seems like it's worth the trouble. Instead of downgrading your ANZ Visa, you could apply for the Citi Gold Visa, which is also fee-free and offers 1 point/$1 spent (but the points can only be transferred to QF in increments of 10000). No sign up bonus with this one, though.

 

[Harpoon]

Seems like it's worth the trouble. Instead of downgrading your ANZ Visa, you could apply for the Citi Gold Visa, which is also fee-free and offers 1 point/$1 spent (but the points can only be transferred to QF in increments of 10000). No sign up bonus with this one, though.

Not a bad suggestion!! Thanks.

 

[Jenelle]

Just to report - I got a letter that was *very* professionally written stating the mistake etc and with a new table of charges etc. It was definitely a template mistake.

 

[scibo10]

With regrads to the capping to $30 of foreign currency trasactions, rang up AMEX last week who confirmed this was the case. Given I learnt a long time ago not to take the word of just one call centre operator, rang again. AMEX operator then advised that this was not the case, and the standard 2.5% without the $30 cap applies. Will go for 3rd time lucky soon, but thought I'd let you all know.

 

[NM]

With regrads to the capping to $30 of foreign currency trasactions, rang up AMEX last week who confirmed this was the case. Given I learnt a long time ago not to take the word of just one call centre operator, rang again. AMEX operator then advised that this was not the case, and the standard 2.5% without the $30 cap applies. Will go for 3rd time lucky soon, but thought I'd let you all know.

Better ask for it in writing if expecting some large foreign transactions.

 

[JohnK]

Is the $30 cap on commission for foreign currency transactions on this card only? I would be very surprised if the $30 cap existed especially on a fee free credit card.

I have a standard Amex Gold credit card and last month paid for a return SIN-SYD airfare with BA WT+ and the foreign currency transaction commission was $31.53!

 

[bazzam]

Just to report - I got a letter that was *very* professionally written stating the mistake etc and with a new table of charges etc. It was definitely a template mistake.

Just received the same letter from Amex. The letter doesn't specifically mention which fees were mistakes but includes a new table of charges. Foreign currency fee is 2.5% with no mention of the $30 max charge (so I'm guessing the call centre guy I spoke to got it wrong). The foreign currency fee is better than the free Citibank card which from memory charges around 3.5%.

 

[Harpoon]

I guess this is a general question not overly applicable to this thread but....

I am considering grabbing this Amex deal. However I was just wondering if it could potentially be bad for your credit rating if you then cancel the card a year later? Would a bank frown upon this if going for a home loan or something when they do their credit checks?

I gather from reading a lot of previous Amex deal threads that many people grab the deal, get their 20k or 40k points then cancel the card. Is that potentially a bad move for somebody like me who's looking to get a home loan in the near future?

I realise it's a bit of a vague question, but thought maybe some of you are experts with this sort of thing. I've only ever had one credit card and never really messed about with swapping and choosing between them before.

Cheers.

 

[wombatcountry]

Not sure how closing the card after a year would affect your credit rating, but why don't you just lower the credit limit and keep it, since it has no annual fee?

 

[cardiology]

$50 on Qantas Services -- lowest spending?

Anyone have the idea of spending the lowest amount on the "qualifying " Qantans Service to get the $50 cash back into the account?

Thanks

 

[beardoc]

Re: $50 on Qantas Services -- lowest spending?

Anyone have the idea of spending the lowest amount on the "qualifying " Qantans Service to get the $50 cash back into the account?

Thanks

The lowest I could find was a $50 voucher for QANTAS holidays, but others might have even cheaper ideas.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: $50 on Qantas Services -- lowest spending?

Anyone have the idea of spending the lowest amount on the "qualifying " Qantans Service to get the $50 cash back into the account?

I don;t think there is a specified minimum, but there is likely a practical minimum on what you can get charged on the relevant merchant accounts. Perhaps paying TLC on a one way redemption or something like that.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

There wasa string on this a while back...with lots of ideas.

From memory some included "buying " QF points.....and paying the Carbon Offset charge..