Programs: AA 2 MM LIfetime Platinum, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, BA
Posts: 3,547
They are an affiliate rather than an official AMEX office, so I am not surprised. Reporting them will do you no good. You can get TC fee free, but what I am seeing is that the affiliates do it this way and the official AMEX offices treat it as a purchase. It has nothing to do with what you are going to do with the travelers checks. Maybe they have to pay whereas the official AMEX offices don't have to pay credit card commisions because they are AMEX.
AUS Flyertalkers alert: The three AmEx agencies in Austin, all "Accent Travel" offices, will NOT allow you to buy TC's using your AmEx card.
Their reason is that "it would be like giving you a cash advance." Well, duh! No amount of questioning or explaining would get them to budge.
A Amex agency refusing to accept an American Express card for purchases,What if you wanted to purchase a cruise?You bet I would let Amex Headquarters know about this refusal.What is the purpose of having them as an agency.Maybe they should take the Amex logo sign down.Burn this Dummy.
A Amex agency refusing to accept an American Express card for purchases,What if you wanted to purchase a cruise?You bet I would let Amex Headquarters know about this refusal.What is the purpose of having them as an agency.Maybe they should take the Amex logo sign down.Burn this Dummy.
They are very likely doing the right thing. In fact, they would possibly risk losing their Amex acceptance privileges if they DID allow you to purchase T/C's with an Amex as a purchase charge, in the absence of a special arrangement with Amex.
Merchant agreements generally have a specific clause which prohibits the merchant from allowing people to "purchase" cash or cash equivalents. And unless the merchant is specifically set up to process cash advances, it's not an option that most merchants would even have on their accounts.
Programs: AA 2 MM LIfetime Platinum, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, BA
Posts: 3,547
Getiton
They sell American Express Travelers Checks. You can purchase them with cash, checks, or an AMEX credit card. They do American Express tours. They have every right to keep their logo. The fact that they can't sell it as a purchase is unfortunate for the consumer, but that's how it is. We are lucky that the official AMEX offices ARE allowing this as a purchase. And it always feels awful when you can't take advantage of an opportunity. No different than targeting offers when YOU don't get them and someone else does.
You'll just have to make frequent trips to Dallas, Chicago and New York.
In the course of an hour, no less than 4 people (have to be Ft'ers) walked into the AMEX Center closest to me, each asking for $1,000 purchases of travelers cheques on separate cards and inquiring "because it has been so long" as to whether they would get charged cash advance fees.
The teller specifically warned me that there might be cash advance charges in the future. They are real suspicious at the sudden increase in these kinds of requests.
Programs: AA 2 MM LIfetime Platinum, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, BA
Posts: 3,547
And that is why arguing with an agency to do it differently will only encourage them to change it everywhere and in their eyes remove an issue. When I was at the Travel Center today, somone wanted to charge their purchase on their Master Card. The teller said, only American Express or a check. She bought her purchase by check.
I'm amazed how many people don't have AMEX cards and therefore pay fees for their American Express checks and foreign currency. They don't realize that they would save the fee, or perhaps don't travel enough to see that it is worth it (some people actually buy travelers checks because they are "traveling.") What a concept.
I used to get TC for travel. But now days it's such a hassle to exchange them as opposed to cash & many places charge you a "convenience" fee to exchange them. But when I was using them, I would get them at AAA for free.
Programs: AA 2 MM LIfetime Platinum, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, BA
Posts: 3,547
Domestically there should be no charge, just like cash or a check. It is in foreign countries when you are exchanging them that there is sometimes a greater fee than if you were changing dollars.
Programs: United 1K, SPG Platinum, Hilton Diamond VIP, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,144
Quote:
Originally Posted by retired43
I used to get TC for travel. But now days it's such a hassle to exchange them as opposed to cash & many places charge you a "convenience" fee to exchange them. But when I was using them, I would get them at AAA for free.
Unless you are really in a very remote third world country, an ATM card is the ONLY logical way to get cash in a foreign country, particularly if your bank (like mine) does not charge you for using ATMs at other banks.
You're right. I wasn't clear on that. I never used them traveling domestically. Credit cards are just too easy. But overseas many of those have added fees & so used TC until they started imposing all the barriers.
Unless you are really in a very remote third world country, an ATM card is the ONLY logical way to get cash in a foreign country, particularly if your bank (like mine) does not charge you for using ATMs at other banks.
I travel pretty remotely & have had problems with my pin not working even when traveling in western countries (different # of digits or something). But when available & when it works ATMs are great. I always take cash too since I'm never sure unless I've been to the country before.
Programs: AA 2 MM LIfetime Platinum, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, BA
Posts: 3,547
And you need a debit card that doesn't charge a fee every time you take out cash. I use my Citibank ATM because it doesn't charge any fees, but I always have Travelers Checks with me "just in case."
And you need a debit card that doesn't charge a fee every time you take out cash. I use my Citibank ATM because it doesn't charge any fees, but I always have Travelers Checks with me "just in case."
Hmmm, Citi always charges me a fee in a foreign country unless I'm able to find a Citi ATM. Otherwise: 1) fee for non-Citi ATM use or 2) percentage fee for any charges made in a foreign currency (now itemized separately)
Getiton
They sell American Express Travelers Checks. You can purchase them with cash, checks, or an AMEX credit card. They do American Express tours. They have every right to keep their logo. The fact that they can't sell it as a purchase is unfortunate for the consumer, but that's how it is. We are lucky that the official AMEX offices ARE allowing this as a purchase. And it always feels awful when you can't take advantage of an opportunity. No different than targeting offers when YOU don't get them and someone else does.
You'll just have to make frequent trips to Dallas, Chicago and New York.
Well put. Lots of people don't have access to this "deal." Move on and wait for the next one.
Programs: AA 2 MM LIfetime Platinum, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, BA
Posts: 3,547
drjh -you might want to ask your citibank branch what is needed to have the fees waived. I believe it is a minimum of 2500 at the bank in any combination of accounts. or it might be a certain kind of account. I do believe initially when I first opened my account for this purpose, that it was a $2500 minimum.
