Black Amex Card Fee - when do I pay it?

[Neil]

I am going to change my white Amex to the black one but I have a question and can't find the answer in the info provided on the VS site. When do I pay the £115 annual fee, does it just appear on my first statement and I pay it with my spends for that month? or do I pay it when I apply for the card?

Thanks,
Neil

[HighFlyer]

It should appear on your first or second statement when you get the Black card and you pay it along with your purchases, at least, that's how it happened for me.

Thanks,
Sarah

Mine appeared on my 2nd statement IIRC. Just don't cancel the white one until any existing miles are credited from it.

[mitchja]

As Sarah says, it will appear as a normal transaction on your statement marked as 'Annual Fee'. You will earn miles for the annual fee though

Regards

[Neil]

Excellent - thanks for the info guys [y]

Originally posted by mitchja
You will earn miles for the annual fee though

Really? Thats nice and handy.

Thanks,
Neil

If you explain to MBNA you want to apply, split your credit limit until you get the card then close the white one and transfer the rest of the credit limit, it may save you another credit search.

[Neil]

Originally posted by locutus
If you explain to MBNA you want to apply, split your credit limit until you get the card then close the white one and transfer the rest of the credit limit, it may save you another credit search.

Won't they just change my white card into the black one? Do MBNA just treat it as a new application?

Originally posted by Attitude23

Originally posted by locutus
If you explain to MBNA you want to apply, split your credit limit until you get the card then close the white one and transfer the rest of the credit limit, it may save you another credit search.

Won't they just change my white card into the black one? Do MBNA just treat it as a new application?

Maybe they've finally worked out they need a process for this but when I swapped, there wasn't. It was regarded as a new application, and because I had a card already they questioned it, then when I explained what I wanted they agreed and moved over my existing credit leaving a small amount on the white card.

[Neil]

Originally posted by locutus

Originally posted by Attitude23

Originally posted by locutus
If you explain to MBNA you want to apply, split your credit limit until you get the card then close the white one and transfer the rest of the credit limit, it may save you another credit search.

Won't they just change my white card into the black one? Do MBNA just treat it as a new application?

Maybe they've finally worked out they need a process for this but when I swapped, there wasn't. It was regarded as a new application, and because I had a card already they questioned it, then when I explained what I wanted they agreed and moved over my existing credit leaving a small amount on the white card.

Just spoken to them, they confirmed that it has to be a new application, cannot transfer my current credit limit to new card, and even though I already have a high CL with them there is no certainty that I will get the black card!! Seems a very strange way of doing things but hey ho - new application here I come.

[mitchja]

Neil

It'a because both cards are issued by the same company. You can't balance transfer across cards issued by the same company. This also applies to any 'brand' of card issued by the same comanpy too. E.g. I'm unable to transfer a balance between my VS Amex and my BMI M/Card as they are both issued my MBNA (should I need to that it)

When VS launched the Amex card MBNA did, however, make an expection for all VS M/Card users for a short period of time, in allowing them to balance transfer from the M/Card to the new Amex card.

There's nothing at all stopping you using both the black and the white Amex cards at the same time though, in the same way you could have more than 1 black Amex card should you choose to.

Regards

[mcmbenjamin]

This is sorta odd. On AmEx proper's website you can reallocate your credit limit between any of your credit products. When I 'applied' for a Bank of America/MBNA card they simply took part of another line of credit not used and put it with the credit card.

Is MBNA still marketed as MBNA in the UK? The Bank of America bought MBNA.

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
This is sorta odd. On AmEx proper's website you can reallocate your credit limit between any of your credit products. When I 'applied' for a Bank of America/MBNA card they simply took part of another line of credit not used and put it with the credit card.

Is MBNA still marketed as MBNA in the UK? The Bank of America bought MBNA.

Phone back and ask someone else in the applications dept, try three times and one of them should give the answer you need.

[RichardMannion]

Mmm, when I closed my VS AmEx they moved my credit limit over to my BMI card....

Wonder if it is a commission thing. The advisor on the phone probably gets a bonus for selling you a new card, but nothing if they just move you from one card to another, so guess what they will try and do...