Do you use American Express card?

[skyrider007]

I have a Green Card and I love it! :)

[twoodcc]

yes i do. i have a Blue one

[diehldun]

Sometimes

[sananda]

yes, i have a green one. no idea why though. i hardly ever use it since i might aswell just use my debit card.

[parapup]

Yep, I make it a point to use AMEX for purchasing costly items. Recently I bought a Blackberry curve using AMEX - it made a trip of Washing/Drying machine and thanks to AMEX Purchase Protection I will get a full refund.

[QuarterSwede]

I don't have one because my Visa has an insanely low fixed APR. My wife and I rarely use it and only if we have to.

AMEX has a bad reputation, which they are now trying to fix, because it used to have membership fees and the APR's weren't that great. The plus was that they offered really great services which is why it was known as a business card. Of course now they have different tiers of service and cards without membership fees.

[rdowns]

I have a Corporate Green Card.

[Flyer0815]

I have the Blue one that I use for all major purchases. The warranty extension and buyer protection program is enough for me. The way they handled the iPhone price drop was awesome as well. Just a quick phone call and the difference was credited back. Excellent customer service!

[skunk]

Only for opening locked doors.

[JNB]

37XX card. Up to $12K a month in expenses (company paid). Loves me some Membership Rewards points!

[dsnort]

Yes I have one, company supplied, and I loathe it.

Too many places don't accept Amex.

The problem is the discount.

You may not know this, but when you use a credit card, not only do you pay interest on the purchase amount, but the card company DISCOUNTS the purchase to the vendor! If you buy $100 at a store and use a Visa, Visa only pays the store around $96.00, ( old information, discounts may have changed).

The problem with Amex is that while Visa/mastercard may discount 3-4%. Amex discounts 7-8%.

That's why so many small establishments take V/MC, but not Amex.

So when you lay out that Amex, know you're screwing the vendor.

[xUKHCx]

They are hated over here (UK) by pretty much every shop so they are practically useless.

Edit:

The problem with Amex is that while Visa/mastercard may discount 3-4%. Amex discounts 7-8%.

Apparently it is 2.5% and 5% respectively here and why the shops do not take them.

[QuarterSwede]

37XX card. Up to $12K a month in expenses (company paid). Loves me some Membership Rewards points!
But I thought you were unemployed? ;)

[Flyer0815]

They are hated over here (UK) by pretty much every shop so they are practically useless.

Hmm thats interesting. When I was in London come to think of it, I never really saw the option for Amex at shops... paid MasterCard for mostly everything. Is there a reason why they are loathed in the UK?

[dsnort]

Apparently it is 2.5% and 5% respectively here and why the shops do not take them.

Thanks for the current info!

[xUKHCx]

Hmm thats interesting. When I was in London come to think of it, I never really saw the option for Amex at shops... paid MasterCard for mostly everything. Is there a reason why they are loathed in the UK?

I edited my post, but basically they charge twice as much as the other cards. This information is a few years old as I no longer work in retail.

Thanks for the current info!

Not current and not in America, should've made that abundantly clear, sorry.

[thejadedmonkey]

A guy at my work was paying with an AmEx card, and he told me he gets 5% back at years end for all purchases he makes with the card.

I've got a visa/debit card, but if/when I ever get a real credit card, I'd definitely look into AmEX

[dsnort]

Not current and not in America, should've made that abundantly clear, sorry.

The not in the USA was very clear. I assumed you're info was more current than my 1988 info

[JNB]

But I thought you were unemployed? ;)


Yes, but that pays quite well in Greenland.

I AM the Beast Squad! :p

[themadchemist]

I have one, but I just got it for the two free airline tickets.

[xUKHCx]

The not in the USA was very clear. I assumed you're info was more current than my 1988 info

Well it is but that info was from around 2002 so could well be outdated by now.

I use Visa.

[sushi]

I have had a personal AMEX card for many years.

37XX card.
Intersting. Never heard of that version.

Too many places don't accept Amex.
Over the years, I've seen it change quite a bit in Asia.

Now you can use AMEX most places that accept credit cards.

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

3 VISA card... one debet for every day use and two credit cards, mostly for online purchases...

American Express and Diner's are totally worthless here in Norway... I used to have a MasterCard debet card, though, but my current bank prefers VISA so by proxy, so do I... ;)

[JNB]

37XX card.

Interesting. Never heard of that version.

Corporate/Government series.

[diehldun]

Sometimes

[twoodcc]

the reason i signed up for my american express card was for the rewards

[Rodimus Prime]

what makes american express different than visa or masters expect for the fact it is accepted at fewer places.

[eric55lv]

No but I want one i have a visa card

[QCassidy352]

I have a blue one and use it over my visa because the rewards are better.

[boeingair]

have a platinum, and love it

amazing customer service, and the benefits and protections have gotten me out of a number of sticky situations

[QuarterSwede]

what makes american express different than visa or masters expect for the fact it is accepted at fewer places.

Answer:
amazing customer service, and the benefits and protections;)

Simply put, most people use them because they often replace items with no questions asked. You lose something and like Jobs says, "Boom" they replace it free of charge.

[Sun Baked]

Amex is tough on deadbeats that stiff them beyond a certain threshold.

[QuarterSwede]

Amex is tough on deadbeats that stiff them beyond a certain threshold.
Which is great because that means when you really have lost something or something got stolen they'll actually replace it instead of putting you through a thousand questions and proofs when you have no history of trying to screw them.

[Counterfit]

I have a Centurion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centurion_Card).

"'Oh my God, is that a black card?' / I turned around and replied 'Why yes, but I prefer the term "African American Express."




Okay, no I don't really have a Centurion. :(

[heehee]

I have a platinum one and an air miles one. I only use it when making "big" purchases cause my other cards have a $1500 limit. :D

[tingly]

costco amex gets you into costco before 11am, too. I got my parents on that, made their Discover card nearly useless.

[QuarterSwede]

I wonder if Ives has one. Do the edges resemble the iPod Touch to anyone else?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Titaniumcenturion.jpg

[ucfgrad93]

I have a Platinum Sky Miles card, and my wife has a Gold card.

[scotthayes]

They are hated over here (UK) by pretty much every shop so they are practically useless.

That is simply untrue, I use my card all the time and only once or twice have they not taken Amex.

I use it for petrol, servicing my car, food, bars, electrical stores, trains, planes and even paid for my last tattoo with my Amex card.

[Iscariot]

I've got a Visa and a Mastercard

[sushi]

Corporate/Government series.
Doh!

I guess I used to have one when the Government issued them. Didn't realize that was the nomenclature for one. We just called it the Government AMEX.

Thanks for the info.

have a platinum, and love it

amazing customer service, and the benefits and protections have gotten me out of a number of sticky situations
AMEX has great customer service.

Plus I like how they track charges for possible fraud. Since I tend to travel a bit, I find this service to be a great value to me.

[Queso]

No, although it doesn't stop them sending me lots of junkmail trying to entice me :)

I have three cards currently. All Visa. Two personal (one Sterling, one Euro), and a third for Business.

[::Lisa::]

No, I don't have any credit cards.
Just debit cards and happy that way.

[Rodimus Prime]

No, I don't have any credit cards.
Just debit cards and happy that way.

generally a good idea to advoid CC debt but at the same time there are draw backs to doing it that way.

I pay off my CC every month so it never is carrying a balance from month to month. This means 0 interested for me. One reason I do this is just so I have an easier time tracking some monthly cost. It is a lot easier to adjust for me when I see the bill and think crap I spent a lot of money there but yes pay it off.

The other reason I like having a CC with a good limit is just in case of an emergency comes up that is beyond what I have in the bank and I need the money now. For example you lose you job CC can slow down the monthly drain on your savings while you are getting a new one. Yes you are building up debt but it does allow your savings to last you longer.

CC are a great tool if used properly just to many people are not doing that and using CC to live beyond there means and building up a huge debt.

[heehee]

Corporate/Government series.

My platinum card starts with 37xx, but it's a personal card. :confused:

[scotthayes]

No, I don't have any credit cards.
Just debit cards and happy that way.

That one of the reasons I have an Amex card, it's charge card not a credit card. You have to pay the full amount off each month (which reminds me, must pay mine this week) so must of the time when I use mine for for work expenses or a big purchase when I have the money in my bank account it can earn up 40 days interest for me.

[ziwi]

That one of the reasons I have an Amex card, it's charge card not a credit card. You have to pay the full amount off each month (which reminds me, must pay mine this week) so must of the time when I use mine for for work expenses or a big purchase when I have the money in my bank account it can earn up 40 days interest for me.

I am similar in this regard - I like the paying it off each month - it was the only one that encourages 'budgeting' your money and therefore not dropping yourself into debt month after month.

[pilotError]

That one of the reasons I have an Amex card, it's charge card not a credit card. You have to pay the full amount off each month (which reminds me, must pay mine this week) so must of the time when I use mine for for work expenses or a big purchase when I have the money in my bank account it can earn up 40 days interest for me.

Anything over $500 you can pay over time. I have a gold card...

[Le Big Mac]

Two of them; American Express it the way to go, though it's a hassle sometimes when some places don't accept AMEX. But is it just me, or does American Express seem to have a rather negative "elitist" reputation? I've noticed it (and heard about it) quite a few times when using it around other people for some odd reason.



The "elitist" reputation is because they don't give the card away to anyone like some M/C and Visa banks. I use mine as much as possible because they have much better customer service. If I have a questionable charge they immediately credit me--if it's under some amount (seemingly $25 or so) they just give the credit and don't bother investigating. Every time I've had a larger charge where they open an investigation I've always won the dispute (I don't dispute real charges, btw). By comparison, Capital One puts me through the ringer. Amex if I'm late with a payment a day they waive any fees. Capital One makes me spend 1/2 hour with CS rep. to be told they can't credit it back as a courtesy.

As for the merchant cost, it's true. But that's their problem. Also, the rates quoted earlier are subject to discount. a lot of larger stores that accept amex have negotiated lower fees so to them it's the same. I doubt that places like Apple or Safeway pay Amex more on purchases. It's the small laudromats and gift stores that don't have the power to negotiate that get stuck with the higher fees and as a result just don't take Amex.

[sushi]

As mentioned above, the resolution rate on AMEX is wonderful.

Problem X with:

AMEX --> Yes Mr. Y, your account has been credited. We'll investigate and get back with you. Of course everything is followed up with paperwork from them notifying you of the progress. Time to resolve, 2 weeks to a month at most.

Visa (Depending on bank) --> Yes Mr. Y, we understand you have an issue. We will investigate. The charge will remain, but you do not have to pay it or the interest, unless we find out the charge is legitimate. Time to resolve, 6-7 months in my case.

As to the person who said they do not have to pay off a AMEX Gold Card. Normally you do, unless you have the feature enabled that allows you to sign & travel and pay over time certain type charges. With a Platinum, you pay it all off I believe -- at least that is the way mine is set up.

[skyrider007]

the reason i signed up for my american express card was for the rewards

i must agree with you, their membership rewards programmes is among the best out there

amazing customer service, and the benefits and protections have gotten me out of a number of sticky situations

i also agree with you. i've never been put on hold before when contacting amex by phone and their reps are real British based in London.

One reason I do this is just so I have an easier time tracking some monthly cost. It is a lot easier to adjust for me when I see the bill and think crap I spent a lot of money there but yes pay it off.

i find my Green card a great budgeting tool as well.

My platinum card starts with 37xx, but it's a personal card. :confused:

i believe all (or most) AMEX cards begin with 37

That one of the reasons I have an Amex card, it's charge card not a credit card. You have to pay the full amount off each month (which reminds me, must pay mine this week) so must of the time when I use mine for for work expenses or a big purchase when I have the money in my bank account it can earn up 40 days interest for me.

great for budgeting isn't it?

I am similar in this regard - I like the paying it off each month - it was the only one that encourages 'budgeting' your money and therefore not dropping yourself into debt month after month.

:)

[Unspeaked]

I like AmEx, but feel the need to point out a few things.

1. About the elitist thing, and AmEx not "handing the card out to anyone." This may have been the case years ago, but I think the past 5-10 years, they're not much different than anyone else in terms of student cards, high APR cards for high-risk clients, etc. The whole Blue thing was aimed at folks that would have never thought to get a Green card, and now they have those cards that deposit cash back to savings that seem to be aimed at "entry level" users...

2. Customer Service is good with AmEx, but it's also a lot better with Visa and MC than it was in the past. The thing about Visa/MC is that there's so many cards offered by so many banks, you're bound to get a mix of poor and excellent customer service depending on which card you have and with what bank. Think of it as a PC/Mac thing, where PCs (banks) are wide open and Windows (Visa/MC) runs on tons of different hardware whereas Apple (AmEx) keeps OS X (AmEx credit cards) closed and has more control over things. This is starting to change, however, since AmEx has begun rebranding their cards and offering them through banks as large as Bank of America, in which case a BoA AmEx and BoA MasterCard would offer the exact same customer service experience, albeit with slightly different card benefits.

3. And, of course, there's the fact that's been mentioned many times: it's very difficult to get by with just an AmEx card. The same is true for Discover, though I think it's taken at even less places. Still, AmEx and Discover users simply have to have a backup Visa or Mastercard (at least a debit card, if nothing else) for those times you hand the card over at the register and are met with a "Sorry, we don't take American Express!" Yes, it's better than it once was, but there's still plenty of places that don't take it (and very, very few places that take AmEx and not Visa/MC - Costco, Neiman Marcus, maybe a few others?).

[Dr.Gargoyle]

I have an AMEX gold, I travel a lot so this card has actually paid itself. each time he airline lose my luggage (often) I get between $400-$700 dependent how fast they return it. The majority of clothes I have bought the last 4 years have been from airlines losing my luggage
I get up to $250 if my flight is more than 4 hours late.
AMEX used to be quite useless outside 5 star hotels in europe a couple of years ago. But it has changed dramatically. I would say that if you have VISA as an index 100 AMEX is around 90-95 when it comes to being accepted as payment in stores.

The reward program is VERY good...lol I have so far earned to free round trips US /Europe.

Regarding being an 'elite card' I just don't care. I would get billy-bob's banjo card if it gave me a better deal than AMEX. I have been invited yearly to get a AMEX Platinum, but that is just silly. You pay much more and get, as I see it, very little extra.

[LizKat]

Had a green one back in the 70s. Ditched it after it took three letters --from a vendor, from me and from a state Senator on a banking subcommittee-- to get a double charge for a sofa off the damn card.

I suppose it's unfair to have held a bit of a grudge all these years. I'm sure Amex is as nice a company as any other card issuer (back handed compliment more or less intended). But it has worked out fine for me to have left home without their card for decades.

[dgao]

Here is my story. On 1/18, my husband added a new bank account to the on line payment system and accidentally submitted payment using the old account in file. (Which is a mistake could happen to every on-line user!) The payment he submitted was not only covered past due but the whole balance on the account which was almost doubled the due amount. Since then, I have contacted the customer service for many times to stop the payment and resubmit it. (Please see the call logs to verify this). Unfortunately, you not only can't stop the payment, but continuously resubmit the payment to the wrong bank account I have informed you many times. That caused many inconvenience on my bank activities. I was told the bank was doing the automatic retry. But after talking to my bank, I was told the Amex was the one kept trying. To the end, I have to stop the payment in the bank side. Meanwhile, I have been monitoring the on line statement daily, few times a day, try to find out when I can submit the payment to the right bank account. All I try to say here is as soon as I knew the mistake; I have been trying very hard to correct the problem. It is your system that prevents me to correct the issue on an efficient way. Until today, I was denied to submit a new payment due to unfriendly designed the on line payment system. Today, when I tried to charge $10 lunch on my Amex card, I was told my charge was denied. When I called customer service, I was routed to a group of nasty billing collect persons which ignoring my past royal history, my annually spending, my almost perfect payment history, my efforts try to fix the problem in the last 10 days, I was told either pay or cut off the service. You can image how unsatisfying I am. I have always told my friends and relatives that how satisfied I am with Amex. I paid $150 annual fee to get a right service which I feel I didn't get and was humiliated. I felt I have wasted my 17 years of building a reliable relationship. You don’t care who I am in the past, how I follow your dead line, as soon as I am late due to unfixable reason your system designed. I understand you must have a process to deal with customers that is late for payment. But by telling me either commit a payment (which I have been trying to if it is not prevent by your system!) or not usage of card, is not right way to treat an old good long term customer. Today, I was very rudely treated by a not customer oriented service system. I understand you need to have the payment, but treat each customer without flexibility and consideration of past performance, you have made one of the most satisfied customer an extremely unhappy one. As Amex, your business was built upon whole bunch of royal customer who willing to pay the higher annual fee to receive a better service. I didn’t feel that today. Although, I have already resubmit my payment, but it is so difficulty to be told either to commit the payment or cut off. I feel the Amex is becoming a machine, so clod. I need reexamine my credit usage. There is many free and good service credit card company would like to get my annually $68K business.

[needthephone]

No, I had a corporate one and 9 out of 10 places wherever I went, UK, US, Europe wouldn't accept it. It surprised me that even in the US nobody accepted it. This was a few years ago so may be its better now but why would you?

[dogtanian]

I'd rather my card be accepted everywhere theirs no way I'd ever get an American Express card. No-one in the UK takes em cause they charge the retailer too much.

[scotthayes]

I'd rather my card be accepted everywhere theirs no way I'd ever get an American Express card. No-one in the UK takes em cause they charge the retailer too much.



That is totally wrong, I use my American Express card all the time. A few smaller shop don't accept them but all the major stores accept them.

[maestro55]

Right now I don't really need another credit card. I have a Wal-Mart credit card, that was my first card that I starting building credit with. I work PT for the company and so I shop there a lot and figured that it wouldn't be a bad card to get. I then applied after over a year of having the WM card for an Apple Credit card, I was accepted for the Juniper VISA and I use sometimes. Mostly I use my Bank's MC.