I have recently started using a platinum amex charge card in the uk. It would seem that I have had nothing but dramas with them. Firstly when I applied for my first supplimentary card they lost his proof of address, they assured me that it would be returned safely but that never happened. Then I applied for another, they as usual asked for his proof of address so I sent a mobile phone bill just like I did for the first one, then they sent it back saying that mobile bills are not proof of address because a mobile is not physically connected to an address, are they nuts? in the first letter they made no mention of no mobile bills!! Then today I called the concierge and asked if they could find out what todays price for gold is and they said they cant do that but if i want a table booking they can help. This is mad I have concierge with some other cards and they were happy to help. I am charging around 4k a month on the amex and have been doing so since november, is this happening because they feel I am not charging enough and wanna get rid of me? I just cant believe that a card that is supposed to be one of the best can have such a chain of fiascos occur! I am toying with cancelling the useless thing! I asked about the centurion as the advisor said that only that card offers a "do it all concierge" and he said I have to have the platinum for 2 years to be considered for it. Any advice? BTW this is my first post on here so I hope its okay :)
Kagehitokiri
Mar 16, 07, 9:46 pm
i guess were lucky not to have to deal with proof of residence reqs here in the US.
welcome to FT :)
csdavidson
Mar 17, 07, 3:11 am
he said I have to have the platinum for 2 years to be considered for it
Incorrect it's only 1 year.
And mobile bills are not considered proof of address. They should have mentioned that...I think it's only utility bills (gas, electric), council tax or a BT phone line bill.
The Plat Conceirge is useless and that's why I will probably ditch Plat in favour of the Natwest Black card if I don't get Centurion before my next year (Sept)...and I think given UK situation with Cent invites, this isn't going to happy :rolleyes:
Welcome to FT :D
Chris
Rambuster
Mar 17, 07, 3:29 am
...Then today I called the concierge and asked if they could find out what todays price for gold is and they said they cant do that ...
If you have enough time to rant about the Amex concierge service here, I am sure you will manage to look up the price of Gold on the net somewhere - or perhaps just buy a Financial Times?
By the way, check out GoldPrice.org here (http://goldprice.org/).
Welcome to FT anyway !
ncc1701
Mar 17, 07, 6:01 pm
If you have enough time to rant about the Amex concierge service here, I am sure you will manage to look up the price of Gold on the net somewhere - or perhaps just buy a Financial Times?
By the way, check out GoldPrice.org here (http://goldprice.org/).
Welcome to FT anyway !
When I called Amex I didn't have a computer at hand and I needed the information at that time. I made my "rant" in the evening when I got home. And thanks for welcoming me to the site!!
ncc1701
Mar 17, 07, 6:02 pm
Incorrect it's only 1 year.
And mobile bills are not considered proof of address. They should have mentioned that...I think it's only utility bills (gas, electric), council tax or a BT phone line bill.
The Plat Conceirge is useless and that's why I will probably ditch Plat in favour of the Natwest Black card if I don't get Centurion before my next year (Sept)...and I think given UK situation with Cent invites, this isn't going to happy :rolleyes:
Welcome to FT :D
Chris
What's the current situation with the uk centurion invites?
ncc1701
Mar 17, 07, 6:09 pm
BTW I called amex today and they said that if I wanted to cancel the card I would have to call on monday and speak to a "customer satisifaction" someone or other as I am classed as something I cant remember the words he used and he can't close the account.
arpiuk
Mar 17, 07, 6:48 pm
Welcome to FT, ncc1701
well, I agree the concierge is not there for everything. But it is extremey handy when you need to get tickets or tables to places that it's almost impossible get to.
I am not sure 4k a month is sufficient to warrant a Centurion card, I've been spending that for 7 years and have not been invited to join Centurion. However, I am not sure I'd like to join. Based on what I read, it costs £650 a year and all you get extra is some airline FF memberships, which are pretty useless, as I mainly fly BA, on which I already have status. And BA FF is not part of Centurion, anyway.
i think Plat is very good value for money, you get comprehensive travel insurance for all the family, plus supp cards, Priority Pass for 2, hotel status, SPG is very good, I always got upgraded to a suite and so on.
No company considers a Mobile phone bill as a proof of address, so AMEX are not really in the wrong there.
I dont think your level of spending really matters to Concierge. All they see on the screen is what card you have, Plat or Centurion.
I doubt AMEX wants to get rid of you. They definitely wanna do everything possible to keep someone who spends 4k a month. I woudl reccomend applying for a BA Amex PP, which is free to Plat holders. you get a 2-4-1 voucher after spending 10k. By the looks of it, you'll get that within 3 months. And you could possibly fly to Sydney and take the other half for free. That's the best thing about AMEX.
Doppy
Mar 17, 07, 6:51 pm
...then they sent it back saying that mobile bills are not proof of address because a mobile is not physically connected to an address, are they nuts?
No, I don't think they're nuts as long as we're all using the same definition of mobile. My mobile phone is wireless and is thus not tied to a physical address - I can take it anywhere I want.
My mobile operator has on file an address for me that I haven't lived at in a decade, but I can still receive mail there.
itsalways3am
Mar 17, 07, 8:05 pm
If it makes you feel any better, I've been waiting a week and a half for my Platinum card to arrive...it finally does today and they spelled my name wrong! And it's a simple name, the error they made should have been caught pretty easily. Not to mention my packet that arrived said they were including the details/features of the Platinum card which, all that was in the packet, was a short introductory letter, the mis-spelled card, and a questionaire asking about my travel preferences. Glad I obsessed myself with the Amex Platinum website learning all the features, or I'd have no idea what I just paid money for.
On the plus said, they said they'd overnight me a new card so I should have it Tuesday. Your comments in this thread, however, don't put my mind at ease about the money that was spent to get the card.
ncc1701
Mar 17, 07, 8:27 pm
If it makes you feel any better, I've been waiting a week and a half for my Platinum card to arrive...it finally does today and they spelled my name wrong! And it's a simple name, the error they made should have been caught pretty easily. Not to mention my packet that arrived said they were including the details/features of the Platinum card which, all that was in the packet, was a short introductory letter, the mis-spelled card, and a questionaire asking about my travel preferences. Glad I obsessed myself with the Amex Platinum website learning all the features, or I'd have no idea what I just paid money for.
On the plus said, they said they'd overnight me a new card so I should have it Tuesday. Your comments in this thread, however, don't put my mind at ease about the money that was spent to get the card.
Yes the fun will start sooner or later! I have sort of decided today that I am gonna start using my signia mastercard again and cancel the amex on monday unless they can pull some extraordinary thing off like give me the £300 I paid back. As for the money I charge it is personal money it's not business charges. I have a separate credit facility with another bank for business. I have lost faith with this bank. The only other time I had an amex card was in 1999 when Natwest was issuing them and that soon died a death
csdavidson
Mar 18, 07, 6:08 pm
What's the current situation with the uk centurion invites?
Not a clue. Probably the same rubbish "please wait until we refresh the Centurion programme"....grrrr :mad:
Chris
ncc1701
Mar 18, 07, 8:00 pm
Not a clue. Probably the same rubbish "please wait until we refresh the Centurion programme"....grrrr :mad:
Chris
When I spoke to them they said that they hadn't invited anyone for 18 months, however I know that is not correct as I know someone that was issued a new centurion card last month.
csdavidson
Mar 19, 07, 2:30 am
When I spoke to them they said that they hadn't invited anyone for 18 months, however I know that is not correct as I know someone that was issued a new centurion card last month.
Interesting, I'll give them a call/send a letter sometime this week...I take it that was a new Centurion account and not just a card on an existing Cent account?
Thanks,
Chris
ncc1701
Mar 19, 07, 6:18 am
Interesting, I'll give them a call/send a letter sometime this week...I take it that was a new Centurion account and not just a card on an existing Cent account?
Thanks,
Chris
It was indeed a new account he had the box and everything. Let me know how you get on with the call.
yyzlhr
Apr 1, 07, 11:45 am
BTW I called amex today and they said that if I wanted to cancel the card I would have to call on monday and speak to a "customer satisifaction" someone or other as I am classed as something I cant remember the words he used and he can't close the account.
Just had the same story.
Will try tomorrow.
What were you offered if anything- I too want the 300GBP back.
ncc1701
Apr 1, 07, 1:01 pm
Just had the same story.
Will try tomorrow.
What were you offered if anything- I too want the 300GBP back.
well I have had a massive fiaso with amex and they returned the money to me, What happened to you?
realpix
Apr 1, 07, 2:44 pm
It was indeed a new account he had the box and everything. Let me know how you get on with the call.
Is this a US Centurion or a UK one?
I was just offered a pre-approved Amex Personal Platinum - funny got this several weeks after they raised their fees. Even though I had a number of their credit cards.
yyzlhr
Apr 3, 07, 11:37 pm
well I have had a massive fiaso with amex and they returned the money to me, What happened to you?
UK Plat
I called back and said I wanted to cancel- not worth the 300GBP- and they immediately said okay will cancel it now- I asked about the 300GBP and they said it would be refunded (my payment had not gone through- so I cancelled direct debit)- card is now showing cancelled-- They did state that it can be re-instated at anypoint with in the next 12 months.
Since getting the BA Amex Prem Plus - I have not used the card in the past 5 months- except for a hotel res via PTS.