How to get vendor a check from Amex card? Plastiq.com? Are there others?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Delta PM/MM, Marriott TE, IHG Platinum
Posts: 473
How to get vendor a check from Amex card? Plastiq.com? Are there others?
Hi everyone,
I am about to do some renovation work with vendor and the vendor does not take credit cards, even if I pay the swipe fee. In this scenario, paying a fee is worth it to me because I am after the Delta MQMs associated with my Delta Amex as opposed to just miles. The spend would be enough for me to get 15,000 MQMs which is a big deal given the way this travel year has started off.
Are there any credible services out there that will mail a check to the vendor and charge my card for it? I have heard of Plastiq so far. Has anyone used them? Credible?
I am about to do some renovation work with vendor and the vendor does not take credit cards, even if I pay the swipe fee. In this scenario, paying a fee is worth it to me because I am after the Delta MQMs associated with my Delta Amex as opposed to just miles. The spend would be enough for me to get 15,000 MQMs which is a big deal given the way this travel year has started off.
Are there any credible services out there that will mail a check to the vendor and charge my card for it? I have heard of Plastiq so far. Has anyone used them? Credible?
#2
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EP, AA AC
Posts: 4,268
Hi everyone,
I am about to do some renovation work with vendor and the vendor does not take credit cards, even if I pay the swipe fee. In this scenario, paying a fee is worth it to me because I am after the Delta MQMs associated with my Delta Amex as opposed to just miles. The spend would be enough for me to get 15,000 MQMs which is a big deal given the way this travel year has started off.
Are there any credible services out there that will mail a check to the vendor and charge my card for it? I have heard of Plastiq so far. Has anyone used them? Credible?
I am about to do some renovation work with vendor and the vendor does not take credit cards, even if I pay the swipe fee. In this scenario, paying a fee is worth it to me because I am after the Delta MQMs associated with my Delta Amex as opposed to just miles. The spend would be enough for me to get 15,000 MQMs which is a big deal given the way this travel year has started off.
Are there any credible services out there that will mail a check to the vendor and charge my card for it? I have heard of Plastiq so far. Has anyone used them? Credible?
Safe Travels
#3
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,186
Be advised that AMEX severely restricts what can be charged to their cards via Plastiq:
"American Express cards are permitted for the following industries:
"American Express cards are permitted for the following industries:
- Government
- Utilities
- Education
- Residential Rent
- Club Fees & Memberships"
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Delta PM/MM, Marriott TE, IHG Platinum
Posts: 473
Be advised that AMEX severely restricts what can be charged to their cards via Plastiq:
"American Express cards are permitted for the following industries:
"American Express cards are permitted for the following industries:
- Government
- Utilities
- Education
- Residential Rent
- Club Fees & Memberships"
#5
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,186
#6
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: DL Silver, Avis President's Club, Hertz President's Circle, Global Entry (Former AA Plt/Gold)
Posts: 4,416
I know this doesn't answer your question but I'd consider it a red flag if he's unwilling to accept it even with you paying the swipe fee. My pessimist brain says that indicates their work quality/schedule is at enough of risk of a chargeback the vendor doesn't want to risk it.
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Quite the contrary, I would not expect a high end contractor -- if that is what OP is using -- to accept CC's and would associate that more with the guy installing a new sink.
It isn't as though this guy is refusing OP's request, it's that he doesn't take CC's at all. Thus, in order to process the charge, whether OP pays the interchange fees or not, he has to go through the entire sign up process for a vendor, purchase a chipped reader and the like (because it's not likely that a contractor will be eligible for Squared or one of the small sub-vendors).
As to chargebacks, this comes down to region and demand. If the guy is in demand, the first thing he would be told is not to take CC's because it is a hassle and brings out exactly the customers one wants to avoid. That isn't to say that OP is a "bad" customer who is going to nickel and dime a chargeback because there is some minor blemish,
I would focus on quality and price before the CC issue.
It isn't as though this guy is refusing OP's request, it's that he doesn't take CC's at all. Thus, in order to process the charge, whether OP pays the interchange fees or not, he has to go through the entire sign up process for a vendor, purchase a chipped reader and the like (because it's not likely that a contractor will be eligible for Squared or one of the small sub-vendors).
As to chargebacks, this comes down to region and demand. If the guy is in demand, the first thing he would be told is not to take CC's because it is a hassle and brings out exactly the customers one wants to avoid. That isn't to say that OP is a "bad" customer who is going to nickel and dime a chargeback because there is some minor blemish,
I would focus on quality and price before the CC issue.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Delta PM/MM, Marriott TE, IHG Platinum
Posts: 473
I know this doesn't answer your question but I'd consider it a red flag if he's unwilling to accept it even with you paying the swipe fee. My pessimist brain says that indicates their work quality/schedule is at enough of risk of a chargeback the vendor doesn't want to risk it.
I just can stomach a five figure charge without it going toward my MQM target with the travel year this is shaping up to be.
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
This was my question as well. Im currently redoing one of our residences and convinced one of the contractors who isnt being paid by our GC to set up a PayPal account. He thanked me for the idea recently because other customers are paying him that way.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,161
I would double-check the Paypal terms, there may be transaction limits for money transfers. I'm pretty sure Venmo has them (e.g., no more than $2,000 in a rolling 7 day period, or something like that), and I don't *think* Paypal does, but worth reading the fine print.