New VS Credit Card Details

NOOOOO!! [n][n][n][n]


Sorry guys, I cant help but read your comments on how this is a good thing and feel sorry for myself!

I have a BA amex already and its not easy to find places that accept it. I do most of my flying on BA, so if I can use the amex over the virgin card I will, but ALL of my big monthly spends dont accept Amex. I promise you, once you get the Amex you will not find it as easy to spend on it as you did with the Mastercard.

For me this is dreadful news. I'll be losing out on about 40k miles a month that I was earning with the Mastercard. I for one will be rinsing my current mastercard right up until December 31st! Its really terrible news. 2 miles per £ on a visa or mastercard is a dream come true.

Do any of you know any alternatives I could use that's not an Amex?

Just like Becks said on Sunday, I've lived the dream, now it over! [:#]

Originally posted by flying low
NOOOOO!! [n][n][n][n]

I have a BA amex already and its not easy to find places that accept it. I do most of my flying on BA, so if I can use the amex over the virgin card I will, but ALL of my big monthly spends dont accept Amex.

So what sort of 'places' are we talking about, flying low

most places i shop at accept amex

only use the card in uk and us - cos i dont go anywhere else

so maybe its a european thing where they dont accept amex as much

Belfast Flyer put this linkin a while back - Its pretty useful.

I know that there are many v-flyers who use AMEX - so is there anywhere in particular that will cause you a problem FL?

Originally posted by armadillo
most places i shop at accept amex

only use the card in uk and us - cos i dont go anywhere else

so maybe its a european thing where they dont accept amex as much

I do recall reading somewhere that, as incongruous as it seems, AMEX is less accepted in US outlets than are Mastercard or Visa. [:(]

MBNA are saying you can't convert to the fee paying card if you had the non fee masterdard. [:(!] You would have to reapply.

Originally posted by Treelo

So what sort of 'places' are we talking about, flying low

Lots of them. For my work, I spend about £20k a month on couriers and a further £10k a month on marketing partners, such as Kelkoo etc. They don't take Amex, though I understand this arrangement, although extremely beneficial to me, is also very unique. But many restaurants in London, and many many smaller and medium sized stores don't take it. My 'work' is a medium sized online retailer, and we don't, nor will unless Amex stop charging twice the amount of commission that the other card firms do!

I've already got a gold and BA amex, and trust me, the question 'do you accept Amex' will be in your regular vocab! With Mastercard or Visa you dont have to worry.

If you have to reapply you would presumably miss out on the 10k bonus (and get 6k instead) - any other loses?

Do you reckon you are allowed to move over to White and then apply separately for Black????

If no one is sure I'll ask when I phone them and let you know.


T

Originally posted by Treelo

Originally posted by armadillo
most places i shop at accept amex

only use the card in uk and us - cos i dont go anywhere else

so maybe its a european thing where they dont accept amex as much

I do recall reading somewhere that, as incongruous as it seems, AMEX is less accepted in US outlets than are Mastercard or Visa. [:(]

[:?] well i'll now have to shop where they do accept amex

plenty of shops and bars out there

AMEX is widely accepted in the UK now...Sainsburys, WHSmith, Boots, NEXT and lots of the other major high street retailers as well as hotels and companies such as BMW (nice mileage bonus when buying a set of new tyres [y]).

However, Fry's Electronics in the US did not accept it [:0][?] What gives?

Originally posted by armadillo

[:?] well i'll now have to shop where they do accept amex

plenty of shops and bars out there

Me too [y] [^]

Converted this evening - to the Black ver.

I have to say the MBNA auto line was very efficient - let's see how quick they get the cards out!

Slightly miffed that only last week i booked a J class return to Sydney - but hey - hindsight!

Andrew

p.s. my letter also had my old FC number

Originally posted by GatorBaiter
AMEX is widely accepted in the UK now...Sainsburys, WHSmith, Boots, NEXT and lots of the other major high street retailers as well as hotels and companies such as BMW (nice mileage bonus when buying a set of new tyres [y]).

I've just reviewed the last 25 online purchases I have made ( I seem to buy everything these days on the internet.. I've forgotten what real shopping is like[:I][}:)])
12 sites accepeted amex, 13 did not[:#].

The big chains like amazon, asda, tesco, empire direct, currys, virgin atlantic:D, Hilton etc. all take amex.

The smaller, heavily discounted sites like Play, GardenBuildings direct, Pondpumpsdirect, Mailorder express Etc. Etc. don't.

I think the Amex will be fine for food, petrol and travel expenses but will be difficult to use for many 'one off' type purchases.

DD

exactly wot i thought

i'll just avoid the smaller traders - anyway they're more expensive generally anyway:D

Originally posted by flying low
the question 'do you accept Amex' will be in your regular vocab! With Mastercard or Visa you dont have to worry.

I agree 101% but there nothing we can do[n]. Some niggling part of me thinks that the choice of AMEX was made because too many miles were being awarded through MC.

Originally posted by DylanDog

I've just reviewed the last 25 online purchases I have made ( I seem to buy everything these days on the internet.. I've forgotten what real shopping is like[:I][}:)])
12 sites accepeted amex, 13 did not[:#].

Had a quick look at my last statement - at least 16 of the retailers on there do not take Amex!

If they don't take AMEX I'm not buying it [:p]. Miles whore? [:0] How dare you!

Originally posted by rcslt

Some niggling part of me thinks that the choice of AMEX was made because too many miles were being awarded through MC.

I think thats exactly it.

Just been doing some homework, and it looks like I'll be switching to BMI at the end of the year.

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by flying low
Just been doing some homework, and it looks like I'll be switching to BMI at the end of the year.

Hang on a mo,I know from reading this thread that for some the changes just are not going to work,but switching to BMI,isn't that a little drastic,wouldn't the BA card be a better bet?

[mcmbenjamin]

I want the the Black Card as it looks cool but I live in the US....grrr. MBNA Bank of America is a multi-national right?

only use the card in uk and us - cos i dont go anywhere else

so maybe its a european thing where they dont accept amex as much

It's a UK/US/European thing - I know for sure that Spain is far less accommodating in accepting credit cards - and Germany appears to rarely have heard of them...[:0]

Originally posted by GatorBaiter
If they don't take AMEX I'm not buying it [:p]. Miles whore? [:0] How dare you!

Form a line Jacq...

There's nothing for it, will have to have the Amex for most uses and use another card for - er, other purchases.... probably the BA one. Heresy....

I received details in the post yesterday and reading the benefits which say £7500 spend for companion ticket and £5,000 to upgrade ticket so does that mean if I spend £10,000 I get companion ticket and two upgrade vouchers or one or the other - do you choose? Spoke to MBNA and Members shop but no-one could confirm 100% what it meant. MBNA said that this is how she read it. I wonder if this is right.

Like Trevor, I want to convert to Black from a non fee paying Mcard so it will be interesting to see what they say on this.