American Express Membership Rewards - Moving from NatWest Black to Centurion?

Hi all, first post here.

I've had a Natwest Black credit card for a few years now and am thinking of changing provider (mainly because the customer service IMO has gone downhill, but there are other reasons).

I would like to know if its feasible to go straight to the UK Centurion card rather than having to go via the Amex platinum route and perhaps being stuck there for months. I want the additional benefits of the Centurion over the Platinum.

Do you have any advice on the best way that I can transfer directly to the Centurion? My annual card spend is around £50k (US $100k). I treat my credit card as a charge card anyway, and I have a perfect payment history. If I explain this to them do you think they will be happy to take me on?

Thanks in advance.

Annual spend is too low but it never hurts to ask

Annual spend is too low but it never hurts to ask

The UK has no anual spend threshold like the US.

Correct. I was spending only about £2K per month when I got my invite.

Are they giving out Centurion invites in the UK at the moment?

You should note, though, that the general view on here is that UK Centurion is also relatively useless - a lot of people seem to have dropped back to Plat because its half price or less (depending on what they want for Centurion at the moment) for mainly the same benefits. The UK Plat package has been upgraded in the last year, to include better travel cover, including full car hire cover, plus TWO Priority Passes for you and your supplementary card holder.

The most useful Centurion extras have either gone (SPG Plat, replaced by the laughable Priority Club status - how many nights do Centurions spend in Holiday Inns?) or watered down (ie the free Mandarin Oriental night now excludes some properties, inc NYC). What "addition benefits of Centurion over Platinum" are you thinking of?

(PS. I can't seriously believe that anyone believed that any card run by NatWest would be any good. The Coutts card - also run by NatWest - is equally laughable, especially as it gives out useless Air Miles.)

how many nights do Centurions spend in Holiday Inns?)

The Coutts card - also run by NatWest - is equally laughable, especially as it gives out useless Air Miles.)

I've spent about 30 nights in HIs (not ICs) this year. Not every town has a 4 Seasons.

The Coutts card has stopped giving Airmiles now and moved on to its own scheme which gives Easyjet rewards! I'm signed up but as the security for the scheme's website is based around a long random string from which you have to remember different positioned numerals and letters in different orders, I've never logged on. I did get a Lloyds Private Banking Amex offer, trying to capture some ex-collectors, which gives Airmiles and I've done my 250gbp spend on that to give the opening bonus, they've never sent me my Priority Pass cards for that and I'll dump it once an annual charge becomes due.

It was a tongue in cheek comment - I've done 3, perfectly happy, nights in HIX's this year! Anyway, given the recent points promos, you'd be Platinum about four times over by now anyway without Centurions help!

Are they giving out Centurion invites in the UK at the moment?

No they're not. I just rang up Platinum Customer Services to 'enquire' about the Centurion Card. The very helpful lady spoke to Centurion and they told her that they were not issuing invitations at present.

Interestingly, after asking the obvious question which we all know the answer to, "how do you get this card?", she wouldn't tell me how great your monthly spend had to be. She just kept telling me to keep putting every penny I spend through the card.

I've spoken numerous times to Platinum and Centurion and here is what I've been told (and given):


Spend requirement is £120,000 - £150,000 per year. I've heard once that this was needed for 3 years running, but not confirmed.
No invites just yet, Q1 2008 maybe
Need to have Plat Card first
Need to have paid by the "please pay by date" on the statement (eg 14 days) for every bill

Because I was going to leave if I didn't get it, I was given:

100% reduction on Plat annual fee
Memebership Rewards Express (1.5 points per £)
Letter from Centurion they would look at account when invites open


Cheers,

Chris

It's very interesting how the information that the CSRs give out varies. I rang up again yesterday asking for more information about what requirements were necessary, as I hadn't really got much from my first conversation. This time I was told that although for the most part they expect to see a high spend on the account, it is by no means the only factor considered. I would imagine this means that they also look at whether you're paying on time, and what it is you're buying. I was also told, and this took me back a bit, that the Centurion Card is offered to not only existing Cardmembers, but also to people who aren't already with AmEx.

I was again informed that Centurion were not taking on 'new recruits' at the moment, but the CSR also had no idea when the next intake may be. I asked her if she could somehow flag up by account so that it will be considered by Centurion, and she did so. Apparently although it is still by invitation only, if you do ring up and politely ask/show an interest, your chances of actually getting it in the end are improved (so I was told).

I've spoken numerous times to Platinum and Centurion and here is what I've been told (and given):


Spend requirement is £120,000 - £150,000 per year. I've heard once that this was needed for 3 years running, but not confirmed.
No invites just yet, Q1 2008 maybe
Need to have Plat Card first
Need to have paid by the "please pay by date" on the statement (eg 14 days) for every bill

Because I was going to leave if I didn't get it, I was given:

100% reduction on Plat annual fee
Memebership Rewards Express (1.5 points per £)
Letter from Centurion they would look at account when invites open


Cheers,

Chris

...mainly because the customer service IMO has gone downhill.


Why would you want to move? The only gripe I have with Natwest is poor travel service.

I called up Amex Lifestyle today (and hadn't given card no, so they don't know I'm a low Plat and not Cent)...I asked to get some chocolates delivered tomorrow in Edinburgh, "Sorry sir, that's impossible this time of year. Our last date was December 18th for pre Christmas delivery"...."OK thanks, I'll call up my other concierge service now"..."I don't think you will have any luck there either".

So I'll called Natwest Black, and guess what not a problem at all. Guaranteed delivery before 4pm tomorrow, exactly what I asked for. ^^

I don't mind keeping both so long as one is free -which at the moment is Amex Plat (and that is where most of my spend goes).

Chris

I went the other way from Centurion to Nat West Black. I personally found centurion a complete waist of time and money and now having had the Nat West for nearly a year, feel the service i smuch better then anything I received at Amex as Plat and then Cent customer....

Memebership Rewards Express (1.5 points per £)
What is this? It sounds very useful.

What is this? It sounds very useful.

I signed up for this years ago - not quite sure how.

What is this? It sounds very useful.

It's called Membership Rewards Express I think...but as I found out after only having it for three months; it's capped! They only offer an extra 25,000 points (so after spending £50,000 it goes back to 1 point per pound). It's reset each year so I'll get it back in September...

I think my maths there is correct, their reply as to why this was happening was so cryptic!

Cheers,

Chris

It's called Membership Rewards Express

In the USA Membership Rewards Express refers to the diluted version offered with no-annual-fee credit cards. It was formerly called Membership Rewards Options. I do understand that features, benefits and rewards will be adapted to each market, but it seems odd that American Express makes little effort to standardize even terminology across countries.

It's called Membership Rewards Express I think...but as I found out after only having it for three months; it's capped! They only offer an extra 25,000 points (so after spending £50,000 it goes back to 1 point per pound). It's reset each year so I'll get it back in September...

I think my maths there is correct, their reply as to why this was happening was so cryptic!

Cheers,

Chris

I spent way over £25K on my card last year and have always received 1.5 points per £.

I spent way over £25K on my card last year and have always received 1.5 points per £.

csdavidson reported that the limit is 25,000 bonus points. At 0.5 bonus points per pound the cap would be reached at £50K, not £25K.

You should note, though, that the general view on here is that UK Centurion is also relatively useless - a lot of people seem to have dropped back to Plat because its half price or less (depending on what they want for Centurion at the moment) for mainly the same benefits. The UK Plat package has been upgraded in the last year, to include better travel cover, including full car hire cover, plus TWO Priority Passes for you and your supplementary card holder.

The most useful Centurion extras have either gone (SPG Plat, replaced by the laughable Priority Club status - how many nights do Centurions spend in Holiday Inns?) or watered down (ie the free Mandarin Oriental night now excludes some properties, inc NYC). What "addition benefits of Centurion over Platinum" are you thinking of?

It's been a while since I started this thread, and I wanted to check whether the general view is still that UK Centurion is not worth it compared to Plat? Thanks.

It's been a while since I started this thread, and I wanted to check whether the general view is still that UK Centurion is not worth it compared to Plat? Thanks.I think Raffles covered that point when he wrote 'the general view on here is that UK Centurion is also relatively useless'. It's certainly a point I agree with.

Also, note that FTers do sometimes extend their comments, sometimes known as OT (off topic), so please don't be upset.

I'd like to know more about Membership Rewards Express. I seem to remember it was available in the UK a while ago but thought it had been withdrawn. Perhaps I'll call on Monday.

Isn't one of the new 'refreshed' UK Centurion benefits 2 MR points per £ spent at AmEx partners?

I think Raffles covered that point when he wrote 'the general view on here is that UK Centurion is also relatively useless'. It's certainly a point I agree with.Well, it has been over a year so asking again certainly isn't a waste of time.

I'd like to know more about Membership Rewards Express. I seem to remember it was available in the UK a while ago but thought it had been withdrawn. Perhaps I'll call on Monday.

MR Express gets rid of most of the good MR benefits and replaces them with cruddy merchandise rewards. No way I'd go for that willingly.

Well, it has been over a year so asking again certainly isn't a waste of time.Must remember to check dates.
MR Express gets rid of most of the good MR benefits and replaces them with cruddy merchandise rewards. No way I'd go for that willingly.Oh, dear! That doesn't augur well.

Isn't one of the new 'refreshed' UK Centurion benefits 2 MR points per £ spent at AmEx partners?

Who are the AmEx partners?

Who are the AmEx partners?

Awaiting confirmation when my new kit arrives but I believe it is anyone they have a MR relationship with, or there is a Centurion relationship with so:

Virgin
BA
Starwood
Hilton
Neiman Marcus
Harrods
Avis
Hertz
etc.

Neiman Marcus


whoot! OT but i love that store!

I'd like to know more about Membership Rewards Express ... Perhaps I'll call on Monday.Busy yesterday, I called this morning.

The programme I was referring to is called Points Accelerator and offers 50% extra points for a fee of £10 p.a. As the info is less relevant to NatWest Black and more relevant to UK Platinum fees, I've put info at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/895465-uk-plat-change-membership-reward-earning-1st-march-09-a.html .

Busy yesterday, I called this morning.

The programme I was referring to is called Points Accelerator and offers 50% extra points for a fee of £10 p.a. As the info is less relevant to NatWest Black and more relevant to UK Platinum fees, I've put info at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/895465-uk-plat-change-membership-reward-earning-1st-march-09-a.html .

What a great benefit for little additional cost. How annoying they didn't tell us about this before!