American Express Membership Rewards - AMEX Platinum Hong Kong Closing?

Today I received a letter from AMEX Platinum UK telling me that AMEX Hong Kong Platinum (where my current AMEX Platinum USD Acct is) is closing on 30 June and therefore I must apply for a new AMEX Platinum USD account thru AMEX UK.

I don't live in Hong Kong but currently live in Thailand.

I've had my AMEX Platinum USD account (Hong Kong) for about 10 years although all phone enquiries have been answered over the years by AMEX Platinum Australia. Although my payments are sent to AMEX Hong Kong.

Have any other AMEX Platinum Card (Hong Kong) received this letter?

I'm obviously going to get on the phone with AMEX about this to be sure it's not some scam ..... and if it's true I need to find some way to use my accumulated points which are now in excess of 200,000. But in the meantime I am checking here for advice etc .

In follow up of my previous post ..... apparently this AMEX USD Platinum UK card is going to be a DEBIT card. On the application they are asking me for my bank info and asking me to sign so they can automatically debit my bank account every month for the billed amount!

In follow up of my previous post ..... apparently this AMEX USD Platinum UK card is going to be a DEBIT card. On the application they are asking me for my bank info and asking me to sign so they can automatically debit my bank account every month for the billed amount!

That's like what Fidelity used to have with the AX Gold and Platinum cards, they were just delayed debit cards.

in further follow up ....

I phoned AMEX UK Platinum and the individual answering had not heard of AMEX Platinum HK closing. So she transferred my call to HK.

The transferred call didn't work very well and I ended up finding a HK Centurion Account phone number and called that.

AMEX Platinum HK confirmed everything ....

1- Yes ... they are closing down the International USD Platinum Services on 30 June.

2- Yes ... it doesn't matter that my current card is valid until 2010, my account will be closed on 30 June.

3- I have historically carried a credit balance of a few thousand USD in my account (because over the years I have learned that AMEX cannot cope with international traveler's in regard to their bills and payment due dates (i.e. I often only received their bill after the due date) .... so I asked if my credit balance will be returned to be on 30 June. "You must request it be returned" was the answer. I think I will just spend it.

4- The first attempt to transfer my points failed because they transferred my call to another person who from her accent was a Filipina (in the Philippines? or HK? ) and after she asked me a few questions the line went dead.


5- The second attempt to transfer my points (thru the Centurion number) apparently went well, or at least the individual seemed to know what she was doing. We will see.


6- The requirement for debiting my bank every month was confirmed by the Centurion person as a new requirement for AMEX International USD Platinum members. If it's going to work like this, I don't see any point in paying them a membership fee. I may as well use my Platinum VISA cards.



PS: As a footnote: I'm traveling and none of the phone numbers on my monthly statement worked from where I am now because I cannot access toll free numbers or reverse charge numbers from my present location. It's good I don't have an emergency! Although in a way this IS an emergency for me because although this is a personal card, I use this card for my working travels.


PPS: I called them back (AMEX Centurion HK) and asked if I could open a normal (Green or Gold) card account and they said "No" must be a resident of HK. This is after 30 years of being an AMEX member, 25 of those years with AMEX HK and 10 years Platinum USD AMEX HK.


Bye Bye AMEX .... I wish I had closed this account years ago.

In follow up of my previous post ..... apparently this AMEX USD Platinum UK card is going to be a DEBIT card. On the application they are asking me for my bank info and asking me to sign so they can automatically debit my bank account every month for the billed amount!

Odd, at least the official IDC web pages and the online application form doesn't state it. They just ask bank details so they can ask the reference from your bank.

Are we now talking about International Currency Card (Dollar), issued by Amex UK and in www.americanexpress.com/idc ?

PPS: I called them back (AMEX Centurion HK) and asked if I could open a normal (Green or Gold) card account and they said "No" must be a resident of HK. This is after 30 years of being an AMEX member, 25 of those years with AMEX HK and 10 years Platinum USD AMEX HK.

That might be related to local regulations and not necessarily Amex.

You might be able to obtain a card issued in Thailand, as your country of residence:

http://www.americanexpress.com/thailand/en/personal/cards/benefits/platinum.shtml

Odd, at least the official IDC web pages and the online application form doesn't state it. They just ask bank details so they can ask the reference from your bank.

Are we now talking about International Currency Card (Dollar), issued by Amex UK and in www.americanexpress.com/idc ?



That might be related to local regulations and not necessarily Amex.


A friend told me that Amex is consolidating the Asian Pacific ICC unit into the European ICC unit. This includes all types of cards that the ICC unit issue. In Europe, ICC cards are a delayed direct debit type of account. The advantage to using an Amex vs. a bank issued debit card is that Amex is a delayed debit and you have a float.

The Hong Kong representative you spoke to was referring to the HKD Amex products, which you have to reside in Hong Kong as part of their approval criteria.

I see two options for you which is 1) apply for a Thai Amex Card. Try doing this via the global transfer or 2) apply for the ICC card in the UK. I dont see an issue with the direct debit process, as the only difference is how the account is paid (sending a check vs automatic debit from account.)

A friend told me that Amex is consolidating the Asian Pacific ICC unit into the European ICC unit. This includes all types of cards that the ICC unit issue. In Europe, ICC cards are a delayed direct debit type of account. The advantage to using an Amex vs. a bank issued debit card is that Amex is a delayed debit and you have a float.


I have Amex UK issued ICC card (IEC) and it is not delayed direct debit type of account - it is ordinary charge card.

I have Amex UK issued ICC card (IEC) and it is not delayed direct debit type of account - it is ordinary charge card.



Yes I also have an AMEX Platinum Card that is an ordinary charge card, the problem is they are closing this service from HK and if I want to keep a US$ denominated AMEX card, I must accept this new monthly direct debit type card.

You might be able to obtain a card issued in Thailand, as your country of residence:

http://www.americanexpress.com/thailand/en/personal/cards/benefits/platinum.shtml



Yes of course and I may do this. However in Thailand AMEX only issue cards denominated in Thai Baht. There are also some income tax implications for me in Thailand ... i.e. I will need to bring the funds into Thailand (where I reside and pay taxes) to pay the monthly bills. I know there are ways to avoid the possible tax liability but these are impractical on a regular monthly basis.

[QUOTE=miikka;11841395]Odd, at least the official IDC web pages and the online application form doesn't state it. They just ask bank details so they can ask the reference from your bank.

On the application there is a clear statement which I must put my signature which states that I authorize AMEX to debit my account number at xxxx bank on a monthly basis.



>>>Are we now talking about International Currency Card (Dollar), issued by Amex UK and in www.americanexpress.com/idc ?

I suppose so ... why don't you ring them up and find out yourself.

On the application there is a clear statement which I must put my signature which states that I authorize AMEX to debit my account number at xxxx bank on a monthly basis.

Oh I see. Interesting. The online application form doesn't have that kind of information. But maybe I missed it.

I suppose so ... why don't you ring them up and find out yourself.

Sorry, I have already my ICC card and that is a standard Amex charge card (not delayed debit card) so everything is okay with me already. I was just trying to make sure you have been applying the correct card in the correct web site but if that is the case then for some reason they have changed their card offering for the new accounts but haven't updated the web site information yet.

The poster misunderstood something here.

Debit cards are cards where EVERY single charge is IMMEDIATELY debited from an account linked to the card.

The Amex ICC cards denominated in US$ or € and issued by American Express Services Europe LTD are normal charge cards where the balance must be paid in full every month.

The requirement of the balance beeing debited monthly from a bank account at the due date is the standard rule in many european countries. The balance of my 1st Amex card in the 80's was already debited from my current account !

I must admit that it would be the preferred way to pay the balance of my ICC Centurion, since it's already the case for my other (national) Amex cards.

Thanks for the responses.

For clarifications sake I need to inform this forum that I received a follow-up letter from AMEX UK today ... primarily reminding me to complete and send in the application.

In that follow-up letter and in BOLD is the statement :-

"Please note you need to provide your bank details on the application form. These will not be used for direct debit and you can choose how to settle your bill (by cheque or bank transfer)."

So the last poster is correct. And I agree that I may chose to have AMEX debit that bank account. I just prefer to authorize such a debit (or send a cheque) for each monthly amount for various reasons relating to how I use this card.

So it's not as bad as I thought and I'll probably renew the card.


However on the application form that I must complete it states:-

"I agree that the balance on my American Express Card Account will be debited each month from a nominated account in my name." ... and this is immediately followed by the Bank and Account number information.

I would have preferred that the statement read .. "I agree that the balance on my American Express Card Account will be settled in full each month."


But anyway ... maybe I'm nit-picking here.

And I've decided the Uk card is better for me than the Thai card.


Thanks again for the comments.

Just like I thought. Nothing has changed regarding ICC cards managed by Amex UK. Good thing.