American Express Platinum Card

I decided to go with American Express and even though it isn’t accepted in a few stores, it’s becoming more widely accepted. The rewards are amazing, with an option to pay some of your debt off using the points accumulated for spend. I think other banks and credit providers should also do this, as it does help with repayments.

I have been a happy AmEx customer for many decades and currently have another AmEx product.

The 100,000 points sign up bonus for the Platinum Charge Card is attractive enough to want to upgrade my current product, however, terms of the sign up bonus state this is only available anyone who is new to AmEx or didn’t have another AmEx card in the past 12 months. When I called AmEx for clarification whether 12 months refers to having had the Platinum Charge card in that period, I was told this rule refers to having had any AmEx card in that period. When I asked if AmEx wants me to leave them for 12 months so that I can qualify for the 100,000 points sign up bonus in 12 months, their response was pretty much 'yes’. This is exactly what I am about to do. I am just waiting for my last lot of AmEx points to transfer to the airline program, after which time I am closing my AmEx card so that the period of 12 months can start clocking away.

I am really perplexed with this attitude on the part of AmEx, which makes no commercial sense whatsoever. I understand they would want to prevent people speculatively closing one Platinum Charge Card only to obtain the same card with a sign up bonus, but I don’t understand the logic behind stopping somebody upgrading their current AmEx product to the Platinum Charge Card, or even take it up in addition to keeping their existing card. So here I am leaving AmEx for no good reason other than to fulfil some idiotic marketing clause. Let’s hope the new financial institution doesn’t treat me too well or maybe in 12 months’ time I won’t want to return to AmEx.

Lots of stores do not accept and a surcharge often applies – have another for when this happens. Generally no other problems and offers a good points earn rate when using. Limits can be easily added and services always been good when dealing with issues. Thanks for listening AmEx!

Fantastic card – but some places don’t except it still. The sad part is that the reward program changed from buying items from AMEX direct to buying gift cards / vouchers for a small number of businesses, which I don’t think is as good a system… :-( (Hope this will change in the near future)

This card is quite expensive on the yearly fees but offers a free flight every year in Australia plus many points for purchases that may be used for other materialistic hedonism or accumulated for further flights. The company personnel are always very helpful. The trick is to pay it off every month and it keeps a record of your expenses and donations. Some merchants like to charge extra for this card – if that’s the case I don’t use it, as that’s not cost effective.

Overall I find the American Express Platinum Card is very good. It has 50 days interest free and the rewards program comes with a return domestic flight once a year, anywhere in Australia, including travel insurance. Customer service is good. I have been using AMEX for years and I am overall satisfied with them.