Amex not accepted

[HighFlyer]

Originally posted by oaktrees79
Guys looks likw Virgin have totally stiffed us with the switch to AmEx, sounds like non of us will earn any points with the Amex card so the whole switch to AmEx for double points was worthless. Perhaps we should start lobbying Virgin direct....

I'm as hacked off as anyone with the changes to the VS card, but i think your comments are a little harsh. Yes there are a lot of places that do not take AmEx, but there are plenty that do - just larger places/organisations and not your Mom and Pop stores.

I'm not happy with the card so i'll vote with my feet - once the elevated earning rates cease next July, i'll be cancelling the card and utilising another that i can use points for VS flights in addition to others

Thanks,
Sarah

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by oaktrees79
Guys looks likw Virgin have totally stiffed us with the switch to AmEx, sounds like non of us will earn any points with the Amex card so the whole switch to AmEx for double points was worthless. Perhaps we should start lobbying Virgin direct....

I am sorry, but that is a ridiculous statement. True, Amex isn't accepted in anywhere near as many outlets and Mastercard / Visa, but it is accepted in an awful lot of places, including most big retailers.

To say 'sounds like non (sic) of us will earn any points' certainly doesn't apply in may case.

The extra multiplying factor means that I will earn far more points - especially given I have quite a few VS flights to book. This will more than make up for the places that don't accept Amex. It will also mean that I get more Marriott points on my Visa card.

Would I prefer to use a VS Mastercard with the same multiplying factors? - Of course I would.

Have I been stiffed? No.

Nick

To add to what nick says, and remember I am no fan of MBNA, the amex charge to retailers is more. In fact much, much more. And for that reason the benefits to card holders tend to be much greater. If you want the benefit of m/card then fine, but you have to accept you will not get the miles............

I knew this would be a problem when I switched from Virgin MC to Amex. But so far I have been lucky with no major hassle with my purchases. My major purchases are fuel and rail tickets and all these companies accept Amex. Did go into John Lewis and they certainly do not accept Amex. I just came back from Prague and the restaurants accept Amex. I now also carry a MC as back up with % cash back, no miles but at least have some of my dosh back.

Anyone else finding that some automated machines, such as car parks and station ticket machines, take their Regular amex but not their VA amex? I'm finding that a lot.

Add to the list a well known on - line hotel booking company that don't accept the new MBNA Amex VS Card [:#]

That's 380 FC miles that won't be going into my account [:(!]

This is not funny now [:#]

Been on a 2 day course ... Card not accepted at the hotel [n]

Tried to buy a new Washing Machine today from the Co Op ... Card not accepted [V]

Tried to book some car hire for Florida ... Card not accepted [^]

You get the idea [8D]

Then I get a letter from MBNA warning me for using the old Mastercard to book a hotel when the Amex was refused [:?]

The closing line of which was "cut the old card in 1/2"

See above post for that story [8D]

Nice

We should really have an up to date sticky about who does and doesn't accept this..........the link to the other site isn't bad, but it's hardly updated.

I've used mine without problem in Sainsbury, at Movietyme (US dvd supplier) and Misco (pc bits supplier).

Seen a few shops in town such as Boots, Phones 4 U and some other phone place that accept it whilst casually walking past.
Not much online though.

[Neil]

Still not had my Amex refused anywhere since getting my new VS one (and still got my other Amex too), and I shop a lot.

Which hotel chain and which car hire company are you specifically talking about? If it was a small private hotel then I could maybe understand it, but I can't think of a major chain that doesn't.

Neil:)

Used my new black amex for my latest trip to Miami (so 4 x points for that [y]), booked my hotel with it (double points for that), booked my car with it through Airline-Network (double points for that too). Travel a lot by train, and the station accepts Amex. Shop at Sainsbury's, they accept Amex, and so does their petrol station. I'm doing OK!

I have even on a couple of occasions when we have been out for a big group meal picked up the tab for everyone, and they have given me the cash!

Yes there are places that don't take amex, but on the whole I am not unhappy. I expect there to be something new again next year, so I may not stick with it, but right now, it (and my various other MC/Visa cards) do me fine.

Must admit I'm not overly unhappy with the AMEX acceptance rate but clearly from now on its a case of having to carry a backup card. My AMEX statements are still riddled with transactions with the # symbol signifying where I've had to use the MC instead. Examples of largish chains I've experienced that don't take AMEX are:-

Ocado (Waitrose delivery) - infuriating as all our food shopping is done through them [:(!] )
Lastminute.com
Wilkinson
Express by Holiday Inn
Holland & Barrett
Ikea
Woolworths
John Lewis
Superdrug

So whereas before absolutely everything went on the MC, it's no longer that good - still OK though [y]

Ocado (Waitrose delivery) - infuriating as all our food shopping is done through them )

Intresting because the Waitrose next door to me does.

[HighFlyer]

As i said on page two of this thread, Ocado does not accept AmEx ... but Waitrose does!

John Lewis partnership are an operational partner/investor in Ocado, so i guess that is where the logic comes in?

Thanks,
Sarah

Logic, yes - of the twisted variety

Yep, I am absolutely fed up of having my new amex card turned down.

I'm using the old mastercard as a back up still but have too had the warning letter telling me to cut it in half. I won't be doing that until it stops working that's for sure.

I have had a problem shopping at Iceland stores. It turns out that their chip reading machine is not set up to read the amex chip but they do accept amex and they now swipe my card instead and that seems to work ok.

I live in a small village and the local diy shop accepts the card but when I tried to pay my daughters university fees in Northumbria just as with the previous posts, it was declined. I am definitely going to keep on using it just for the good old supermarket shopping and then it's getting ditched when the double points finish, in favour of some other visa or mastercard. I just can't cope with wondering if I'm going to be embarrassed in the check out queue and have to start rummaging around in my bag for another payment method.[n]

thelaceys

I solved the problem of paying for the tuition fees by making my son take out the new loan for it for his final year. I think he's had it far too easy so far with accommodation prices running at over £300 per month that we pay already.

I had another refusal of the card last week too, the dreaded dentist and at the prices they charge I'm sure they could afford the Amex fees.

Jilly

Originally posted by jilly
I solved the problem of paying for the tuition fees by making my son take out the new loan for it for his final year. I think he's had it far too easy so far with accommodation prices running at over £300 per month that we pay already.

I had another refusal of the card last week too, the dreaded dentist and at the prices they charge I'm sure they could afford the Amex fees.

Jilly

Top girl jilly!!!:DSaves the problem of academic institutions refusing the wretched card and gives him an idea of what to expect in the real world (I have all this to come so am toughening up myself in advance).My dentist also says no,as does the hairdresser (Tony and Guy so not a small outfit),favourite boutique etc etc....Totally cheesed with saying through gritted teeth "do you take amex?"
Anyone any ideas as to a MC that offers a reasonable deal with VS( for miles exchange )-I've only come up with BMI so far.

I forgot about this particular one....Amex don't take Amex!!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=338492

[RichardMannion]

Surprised at a few of the places mentioned so far - I think sometimes for cardholder present transactions they will say they don't accept, when in reality they do.

Express by Holiday Inn does surprise me. Sure the lastminute group take AmEx too.

The AmEx Insurance Broker one doesn't - I remember asking concierge to arrange somethign for me once and told me that the vendor didn't take AmEx, but not to worry as they have a company Visa that they could use instead and bill it to me. Brilliant.

Thanks,
Richard

I think Richard is right about some cardholder present transactions. Because the VS card doesn't look like the familiar Amex design, the first reaction can often be 'I'm sorry we don't accept those'. I've had a couple of places do that and then change their minds when I responded with 'I thought you accepted Amex'.

From the lastminute.com help pages

We accept Mastercard and Visa for everything, and American Express and Switch for some items. This is dependent on the particular supplier of the product/item you wish to purchase. Please note however that we do not accept Electron or Solo cards at present.

OK, hate to say I told you so, but... I said ages ago that the move to amex would be a bad thing miles earning wise, and it's proved to be the case. I've got the BA Amex, and finding places to spend on it tough. I've kept my VS mastercard and will rinse it right up until December 31st. (Then move to BMI)

Looking for another card myself, I noticed that the Hilton Honours Mastercard offers the opportunity to earn air miles and Virgin Atlantic is one of their partners. Is anyone familiar with this, would that be a good to way to go do you reckon, and can the air miles be transferred to my Flying Club Account[:?]

thelaceys

[Neil]

AFAIK the conversion rate is not great with HH, there is the BAA Visa card which also converts to VS miles, personally I like the Amex, but eacfh to their own.

Neil

Thanks for that. I see what you mean about the poor conversion rate 10,000 points converts to just 1000 miles. I can't seem to find any information anywhere about the BAA Visa card though. The only one I can find is the Worldpoints card which you use in the airports. Anyone got a link to the Visa Card stuff please.

Desperate miles whore needs urgent help;)

thelaceys

The BAA Worldcard sounds like what you are talking about. You also get free upgrades on the HEX and GEX by just showing it, apparently.