Strategy to obtain US Amex

[DC3]

In my case the tracking no provided for USPS did`nt work.

Mail delivered by USPS (the United States Postal Service) may not have tracking as it’s just Post Office letter delivery, rather than a courier service.

 

[blacksultan]

Mail delivered by USPS (the United States Postal Service) may not have tracking as it’s just Post Office letter delivery, rather than a courier service.

True but there was a tracking no for the same provided through amex account which didn`t work for me or my US

 

[DC3]

Ah

True but there was a tracking no for the same provided through amex account which didn`t work for me or my US

Ah. So quite confusing then.

 

[JFi]

Yes, you missed some important information, please read some pages back. I got the checking account without any SSN or ITIN. The purpose I need an ITIN is to apply for another US credit card, Chase for example. Amex is the only one in the US doesn't require SSN or ITIN but you will face the hassle when you call them, they will always ask what your SSN or ITIN is to identify you and you will have to explain the whole story every time you call any of their department, especially the fraud protection department.

Thanks for the clarification. I guess since if you are not applying for another credit card with another bank then don't need a SSN / ITIN.
Perhaps because I applied when AE changed to the new system by using Australian credit history, every time I've called them, I just enter the last 4 number of my passport and they know it's me when the CSR connects. As I've written before, I've had to call fraud twice, once talking to a person and once using the automated system and both times had no issues.

 

[blacksultan]

Thanks for the clarification. I guess since if you are not applying for another credit card with another bank then don't need a SSN / ITIN.
Perhaps because I applied when AE changed to the new system by using Australian credit history, every time I've called them, I just enter the last 4 number of my passport and they know it's me when the CSR connects. As I've written before, I've had to call fraud twice, once talking to a person and once using the automated system and both times had no issues.

I believe entering last 4 digits of passport might work for all who used their pp details to apply . It seemed to work for me .
On another note how long does it actually take to receive sign up bonus points once minimum spend has been met ?

 

[albyd]

I received mine on my Green card once I'd paid the statement balance for the statement where I hit the spend threshold. Appears that you get your points at least on the Charge card after you've made your payment for that statement period but not before. I think on my Marriott credit card, I got the bonus as soon as I crossed the spend threshold.

 

[joon8887]

Man, I read the whole thread. End up sleeping at 4am yesterday..
Such a good info here

 

[glasszon]

I finally got the Amex Hilton Aspire card in my hand, is it correct that it is not possible to set a PIN on US Amex cards and I will have to sign the receipt when I use the card to pay?

 

[blacksultan]

I finally got the Amex Hilton Aspire card in my hand, is it correct that it is not possible to set a PIN on US Amex cards and I will have to sign the receipt when I use the card to pay?

thats right. in my case with my green card. strange situation when you use a digital wallet.

 

[glasszon]

thats right. in my case with my green card. strange situation when you use a digital wallet.

Thanks, guess there's no hiding the card is an overseas credit card, recently I see instances at shops where they state an additional surcharge will be applied on overseas credit card. At first I was wondering how will they know, guess this explains it.

 

[JFi]

On another note how long does it actually take to receive sign up bonus points once minimum spend has been met ?

As albyd mentioned for the Marriott card, I have the Hilton card and the bonus comes as soon as your spend is met. I got mine before the end of the statement date.

 

[blacksultan]

Thanks, guess there's no hiding the card is an overseas credit card, recently I see instances at shops where they state an additional surcharge will be applied on overseas credit card. At first I was wondering how will they know, guess this explains it.

Actually signature required only for large transaction ($100 ?) for less you can PayPass

 

[albyd]

I’ve got both my US Amex cards on ApplePay and no one notices or says a thing about them.

The Green card looks like a classic Amex and even if they were to look at my screen they wouldn’t know. Sometimes eg for online purchases, I do need my physical card but at POS situations, ApplePay works a treat.

I use it most on public transport in NSW as my Opal card replacement on ApplePay too. Will need to rethink that strategy if a surcharge is applied to it as a foreign card.

 

[glasszon]

Thanks everyone, so now I am trying to work out my payment options, have anyone tried to use the borderless account from transferwise to pay off the US Amex account? Would that avoid the $20 surcharge for using SWIFT?

 

[blacksultan]

It looks like the US transferwise account can be set up in amex to be direct debited. Now to see if the payments actually go through.

 

[PointsLife1]

Hi all,

Thank you to all who have contributed so much to this forum and I can say I am one very happy Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant AMEX card holder (3 months now)

Below is my attempt to pay Amex using transferwise and looked so promising until I received the returned check/declined message.

I knew something wasn't right when Amex said money received yet no funds had left transferwise and then approx. 1 week later returned check on my statement.

Using XE now with the 20USD fee.

 

[DC3]

... I knew something wasn't right when Amex said money received yet no funds had left transferwise and then approx. 1 week later returned check on my statement ...

Thank you for posting of your experience.

And welcome to AFF.

 

[blacksultan]

Hi all,

Thank you to all who have contributed so much to this forum and I can say I am one very happy Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant AMEX card holder (3 months now)

Below is my attempt to pay Amex using transferwise and looked so promising until I received the returned check/declined message.

I knew something wasn't right when Amex said money received yet no funds had left transferwise and then approx. 1 week later returned check on my statement.

Using XE now with the 20USD fee.

View attachment 204942

Were there any fees for the returned payment?I`ll let you`ll know if my $2 test payment goes through.

 

[PointsLife1]

No fees for the returned payment but did have a message on Amex chat that "there is a credit concern on your account which needs attention and a specialist from the account services department will be able to assist you further. Please call them at 1-800-230-1284"

I was too scared to call and then quickly made the XE money transfer and once that hit the account it all went back to normal.

 

[PointsLife1]

I also messaged transferwise advising how I wanted to pay my US Amex card and they replied

"I believe what they have tried to do is set up a direct debit for the account belonging to the card but unfortunately this is not an option to do with the account in USD"

Hopefully something to do in the future as paying 20USD each statement is restrictive to only using the card a few times per year.