20,000 BA Miles for £35!! (Amex Gold relaunch)
Apr 19, 2010, 3:49 am
#76
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: London
Posts: 3,459
There is a spend limit, but (at least with Amex Plat) they don't tell you what it is. Seriously. Your card will simply be rejected if you spend more than Amex thinks, on that day, you can afford.
You cannot shift limit from your BA Amex because they are based on 2 different criteria. Your Amex Gold will be based entirely on what they think you can repay from your monthly salary, since it is a charge card. If you earn £20k, which is about £14k after tax, your card will therefore be limited to about £500 (at a guess) since that is what Amex reckons you could clear each month after mortgage / bills etc.
You cannot shift limit from your BA Amex because they are based on 2 different criteria. Your Amex Gold will be based entirely on what they think you can repay from your monthly salary, since it is a charge card. If you earn £20k, which is about £14k after tax, your card will therefore be limited to about £500 (at a guess) since that is what Amex reckons you could clear each month after mortgage / bills etc.
Apr 19, 2010, 3:57 am
#77
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Birmingham
Programs: Mucci (Chevalier de Sagesse), Betty Ford Alumnus, BA Gold, ScaryTeam Elite+
Posts: 400
There is a spend limit, but (at least with Amex Plat) they don't tell you what it is. Seriously. Your card will simply be rejected if you spend more than Amex thinks, on that day, you can afford.
You cannot shift limit from your BA Amex because they are based on 2 different criteria. Your Amex Gold will be based entirely on what they think you can repay from your monthly salary, since it is a charge card. If you earn £20k, which is about £14k after tax, your card will therefore be limited to about £500 (at a guess) since that is what Amex reckons you could clear each month after mortgage / bills etc.
You cannot shift limit from your BA Amex because they are based on 2 different criteria. Your Amex Gold will be based entirely on what they think you can repay from your monthly salary, since it is a charge card. If you earn £20k, which is about £14k after tax, your card will therefore be limited to about £500 (at a guess) since that is what Amex reckons you could clear each month after mortgage / bills etc.
Being a newbie on this charge card lark I defer to Raffles's far greater knowledge, but the maths above does seem on the low side; if I calculate what my limit should be based on the above it gives an amount of less than 10% of the figure Amex happily extends to me?
This is a somewhat academic point: so long as it'll take £500 in the first three months...
^
Apr 19, 2010, 4:00 am
#78
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Central London
Programs: BA Gold Guest List, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 512
You can get an idea though of what it is. Last year (when I used to have this card before I cancelled it) I wanted to put through a £20k transaction on the card which I was told wouldn't go through by Customer Services. I then asked if I would be able to put through a £10k transaction and was told it would. I guess you could keep ringing up with different amounts to get an idea.
Apr 19, 2010, 4:01 am
#79
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,357
How to pay: debit card only (Maestro, Switch, Visa Debit or MasterCard Debit) in your own name. No credit cards. Please make sure you have enough money in your account.
Apr 19, 2010, 4:05 am
#80
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,929
The limit on the Plat card is interesting - I now know mine is about four times monthly gross salary, having put a sizeable transaction through a couple of months back - it's also strangely higher than my BA Amex PP card!
Apr 19, 2010, 4:07 am
#81
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
Being a newbie on this charge card lark I defer to Raffles's far greater knowledge, but the maths above does seem on the low side; if I calculate what my limit should be based on the above it gives an amount of less than 10% of the figure Amex happily extends to me?
You have to clear the CHARGE card every month, in full, or they'll see you in court.
In reality they are more flexible than I posted, especially if you are charging reclaimable work expenses. They will also give higher limits once you are an established customer.
Apr 19, 2010, 4:51 am
#82
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: BA - Blue > Bronze > Silver > Bronze > Blue
Posts: 6,812
Hmmm, I've just moved house too, how long does it take to kick in?
Apr 19, 2010, 4:58 am
#83
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 69
Just had a word with Amex about this as I had the "wait & see" message too. Apparently in my case it was because a massive number of online applications were received in a short space of time, and their systems were having problems connecting with the credit reference agency. I was told my application had been "moved along a bit" after giving a little more info...
Apr 19, 2010, 10:11 am
#84
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SEN
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 612
Cheers Raffles. 
I use my BA Plus Amex like a charge card anyway, in fact I usually clear the balance at least twice a month with the silly low credit limit on it. I was hoping that if after a few months I decide to cancel the charge card it would help convince Amex to give a more realistic credit limit on the BA Plus. But I doubt it.
I use my BA Plus Amex like a charge card anyway, in fact I usually clear the balance at least twice a month with the silly low credit limit on it. I was hoping that if after a few months I decide to cancel the charge card it would help convince Amex to give a more realistic credit limit on the BA Plus. But I doubt it.
Apr 19, 2010, 10:55 am
#85
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 3,951
Worth noting that you can also buy PB with your paypal top up card at your local post office. As you may know, the paypal top up card can be loaded with funds from an AMEX(or any other credit provider) with the added bonus of earning miles.
Apr 19, 2010, 10:58 am
#86
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 3,951
Just had a word with Amex about this as I had the "wait & see" message too. Apparently in my case it was because a massive number of online applications were received in a short space of time, and their systems were having problems connecting with the credit reference agency. I was told my application had been "moved along a bit" after giving a little more info...
Do you think i should apply later on in the evening(say 11pm+) when they are receiving less applications.
Also, OT: i have 2 credit cards. My AMEX PP+ and a Nationwide Visa from a few years ago which i have not used in 6months. Do you think if i were to cancel it now it would improve my credit app chances or should it not really matter. Always good to hold on to a VISA i feel incase i am ever stuck at an outlet that does not take AMEX and large credit access is necessary.
Apr 19, 2010, 11:20 am
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
You should never leave yourself totally reliant on Amex. You should also never rely entirely on the same issuer (in this case Amex) as you are stuffed if their card verification computer falls over, as happens occasionally, or if their system is overloaded as can happen at Christmas, sales time etc.
Apr 19, 2010, 11:57 am
#88
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: MUCCI
Posts: 5,706
You should never leave yourself totally reliant on Amex. You should also never rely entirely on the same issuer (in this case Amex) as you are stuffed if their card verification computer falls over, as happens occasionally, or if their system is overloaded as can happen at Christmas, sales time etc.
Diversivy the network - have cards in your wallet running on the amex, visa and mastercard networks, etc.
Diversify the issuer/lender - have cards where the control on use of them is coming from different parties - your bank/mbna/amex/other bank/other card issuer etc.
Apr 19, 2010, 12:02 pm
#89
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 69
Was just about to apply now although obviously i would rather have an instant yes as opposed to a 'wait and see'
Do you think i should apply later on in the evening(say 11pm+) when they are receiving less applications.
Also, OT: i have 2 credit cards. My AMEX PP+ and a Nationwide Visa from a few years ago which i have not used in 6months. Do you think if i were to cancel it now it would improve my credit app chances or should it not really matter. Always good to hold on to a VISA i feel incase i am ever stuck at an outlet that does not take AMEX and large credit access is necessary.
Do you think i should apply later on in the evening(say 11pm+) when they are receiving less applications.
Also, OT: i have 2 credit cards. My AMEX PP+ and a Nationwide Visa from a few years ago which i have not used in 6months. Do you think if i were to cancel it now it would improve my credit app chances or should it not really matter. Always good to hold on to a VISA i feel incase i am ever stuck at an outlet that does not take AMEX and large credit access is necessary.
I asked if I ought to cancel one of my two Amex cards (or 3 if you include MBNA bmi Amex) but I got the impression that wasn't an issue.
Apr 19, 2010, 12:54 pm
#90
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Thatcham, UK or Adelaide Australia
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat OZ Diamond SK Diamond BA Blue
Posts: 3,323
Indeed.
Diversivy the network - have cards in your wallet running on the amex, visa and mastercard networks, etc.
Diversify the issuer/lender - have cards where the control on use of them is coming from different parties - your bank/mbna/amex/other bank/other card issuer etc.
Diversivy the network - have cards in your wallet running on the amex, visa and mastercard networks, etc.
Diversify the issuer/lender - have cards where the control on use of them is coming from different parties - your bank/mbna/amex/other bank/other card issuer etc.