American Express Membership Rewards - Have the UK requirements for Centurion changed drastically?

I hate to raise this old chestnut but I was stunned to receive a Centurion invitation this morning (presumably it is that time of year to send out invites).

I am stunned because I really am not Centurion material. Richard you might want to avert your eyes here but this is a brief run down of what I believe to be my pertinent circumstances.

Household income: a mere GBP120,000 pa
I live in a three bed semi in Bristol!
My net worth combined with that of my wife is only about GBP 250,000 most of which is in the house(270,000 if you count the furniture)
My last month Amex bill was GBP300
My annual Amex spend is typically about GBP15,000

What gives? There must have been a change in policy. I have a platinum card but that is only because of the shift in cards with the intro of Centurion in the UK when they invited all "Gold card for traveller" people to be platinum. I rarely use Plat benefits/concierge/travel agent etc except for Priority Pass.

The only thing I can think of is that when I completed the survey on Platinum card benefits I mentioned I would be putting more spend on Diners from September. I explained that this was because my Suuplemental Green Card (which I use for day to day use) expired then and I knew they would replace it with a "new Green" which I find aesthetically unpleasing.

Is there anyone else out there like me?

[This message has been edited by Kovich (edited 07-06-2003).]

Kovich


Even the unemployed can have one http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Sorry, I ment self-employed, consultant type...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Kovich:
The only thing I can think of is that when I completed the survey on Platinum card benefits I mentioned I would be putting more spend on Diners from September. I explained that this was because my Suuplemental Green Card (which I use for day to day use) expired then and I knew they would replace it with a "new Green" which I find aesthetically unpleasing.

Is there anyone else out there like me?</font>

To get an 'old' green card, 'lose' your current one and ask for an emergency replacement from your local travel office. The offices are able to imprint/encode cards, but are unable to program the chip, so you'll get an old style card.

Steve

Steve, I have used this trick before when abroad but did not know it worked in the UK, thanks

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by steveda:
To get an 'old' green card, 'lose' your current one and ask for an emergency replacement from your local travel office. The offices are able to imprint/encode cards, but are unable to program the chip, so you'll get an old style card.

Steve</font>

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Kovich:
Steve, I have used this trick before when abroad but did not know it worked in the UK, thanks

</font>

I ordered a suplemental green card to my platinum card a couple of months ago and got the classic green design (having been told by a CSR that I would get the awful new design in the first instance).

I still don't get the whole exclusivity thing with Black (and prior to that, Platinum) cards. Surely Amex (being one of these corporations that likes to take money off people) would give a Black card to anyone who is a) credit worthy and b) daft enough to pay the annual fee????

Regards
I

[This message has been edited by Internaut (edited 07-06-2003).]

Internaut wrote:

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Surely Amex (being one of these corporations that likes to take money off people) would give a Black card to anyone who is a) credit worthy and b) daft enough to pay the annual fee????</font>

Or people that want the travel insurance and the benefits of Priority Pass cards, oh and a Hilton Gold Card, oh and also a Starwood Platinum card plus other benefits.

Not everyones cup of tea but depending on your circumstances it aint always a waste of cash.

pmcg

[This message has been edited by pmcg (edited 07-06-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CT-UK:
Even the unemployed can have one http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Sorry, I ment self-employed, consultant type...</font>

Actually, I know someone who is unemployed who has one. It's worth it for Amex to chance their arm to get the fee. I would imagine that most people would sign up for it and, if they don't use the additional benefits over Platinum in that year, would downgrade back to Platinum.

The additional benefits over Platinum aren't huge but could be increased if Amex intend to reduce the benefits on Platinum. Maybe that's why Centurion is being diluted as fast as it is.

Well I phoned and asked and they said there were no real requirements just that you had a good payment and credit history and that you had been a long standing customer. Well I have had an amex of one type or other since 93 but Platinum only know me from 98 when I applied for a personal Gold charge card. So five years as a customer with about £1,000 spend a month on average seems to be a benchmark for others to go against

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by pmcg:

Or people that want the travel insurance and the benefits of Priority Pass cards, oh and a Hilton Gold Card, oh and also a Starwood Platinum card plus other benefits.

Not everyones cup of tea but depending on your circumstances it aint always a waste of cash.

pmcg

[This message has been edited by pmcg (edited 07-06-2003).]</font>

Seconded, I don't stay often enough at Hilton to get Gold but it's been a very beneficial benefit. Just got the Starwood Platinum as I intend to try them out sometime.

Conrad Singapore got upgraded to a suite as well as lounge access and every time in Hilton Dubai Creek either got a room on exec floor or a large room overlooking the creek. Also full breakfast in room for every occupant, saved me nearly 300 quid last time without adding on the other benefits.

Nigel

Kovich, this is nothing new. When I received a Centurion invitation in Feb 2001 my personal circumstances were significantly less than those you have stated.

It really is more about payment history and what you charge (more than how much)... with a little bit of randomness thrown in to create the illusion of grandeur (and piss off all those that really want one, unless of course they call every day for a year then they just might give in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif)

dnw, thank you: that is just the perspective I wanted

Well I've had a Platinum card for a month, have found the thing less useful than a Switch card and have already gone for the annual fee jugular. First impressions: pure marketing [and yes, I must've been taken in...]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by virtualtroy:
Well I've had a Platinum card for a month, have found the thing less useful than a Switch card ...</font>

What kind of wonder did you expect within a month using an Amex card ?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ahrz:
What kind of wonder did you expect within a month using an Amex card ?

</font>

Err... not to have to ask for a supplemental card six times [because they lost the application the other five]; not to discover that your card has been frozen because Amex omitted to take up any bank references at point of application; not to discover that the so-called concierge service only exists to book restaurant tables and Britney Spears concert tickets...

Not much of a wonder, apart from curiosity as to what value £295 a year represents.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by virtualtroy:
not to discover that your card has been frozen because Amex omitted to take up any bank references at point of application</font>

I don't think American Express has ever asked my bank for a reference!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dnw:
Kovich, this is nothing new. When I received a Centurion invitation in Feb 2001 my personal circumstances were significantly less than those you have stated.

It really is more about payment history and what you charge (more than how much)... with a little bit of randomness thrown in to create the illusion of grandeur (and piss off all those that really want one, unless of course they call every day for a year then they just might give in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif)</font>


May I ask approximately what this lower spend was and on what and for how long?

Cheers.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dnw:
unless of course they call every day for a year then they just might give in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif </font>

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif

SO I guess the fact I spend a few quid at Co-Op a week on BA AmEx isn't going to help my cause http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Kovich:
I was stunned to receive a Centurion invitation this morning (presumably it is that time of year to send out invites).

From: I have embarrasingly little status but my wife thinks I am great
</font>

So spill the beans then.

Are you going to accept the invitation and more importantly, how much has your status increased in your wife's estimation? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Ex Amex Card:
Are you going to accept the invitation and more importantly, how much has your status increased in your wife's estimation?</font>

Well, given that this thread is about eight months old (or somesuch), I'm sure he either HAS or HASN'T ... isn't it enough that we have ten new 'I want a Centurion card / Centurion card is a waste / Centurion card isn't what it used to be' threads every week without dredging up those from the summer of '03? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif


[This message has been edited by NickW (edited Mar 13, 2004).]

NickW you should not read these posts if they bother you so much. The guy seems very interested in getting one it seems http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Ex Amex Card:
So spill the beans then.

Are you going to accept the invitation and more importantly, how much has your status increased in your wife's estimation? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif</font>

Actually my handle is a lie. My wife thinks I am a no good running dog scumbag. When I tried to impress her with my invite she told me that no matter what colour the cards in my wallet she would still consider me a scumbag.