UK account for USD spend? Difficult question
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: Avios
Posts: 3
UK account for USD spend? Difficult question
Hi All,
I am a UK resident and I want to collect Avios. However, I have an online business (Amazon) that sells in the USA. I spend 6 figures on advertising on Amazon in USD annually which I am able to put on a credit card.
However, it would be pointless to charge this to a UK Avios Amex card because I would be charged a high percentage to convert the fee from USD to GBP.
I am wondering - is there a card in the UK that does not charge you for foreign (USD) transactions but also lets you collect avios?
Note - I am not eligible for a USA credit card which would be an easy workaround as I have no US address etc.
Thanks for your help! I know its a tough one
I am a UK resident and I want to collect Avios. However, I have an online business (Amazon) that sells in the USA. I spend 6 figures on advertising on Amazon in USD annually which I am able to put on a credit card.
However, it would be pointless to charge this to a UK Avios Amex card because I would be charged a high percentage to convert the fee from USD to GBP.
I am wondering - is there a card in the UK that does not charge you for foreign (USD) transactions but also lets you collect avios?
Note - I am not eligible for a USA credit card which would be an easy workaround as I have no US address etc.
Thanks for your help! I know its a tough one
#2
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 4,510
Amex do a US $ card that is based in UK. Think this gives MR which you can transfer to avios.
https://www.headforpoints.com/2018/1...urrency-cards/
https://www.headforpoints.com/2018/1...urrency-cards/
#3
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: M&M, BA Silver, Accor LeClub Gold
Posts: 490
@madfish has given you a good answer (although there is a fee for the card). Are you offsetting your US costs (advertising) against your US income (sales)? How are you repatriating your USD to GBP? If you look in to it you might find that this is your biggest cost, and one where you can make a saving using a currency broker - savings that you could use to by any Avios you want (or even just use the cash to buy the tickets you want in cash).
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2019
Programs: Avios
Posts: 3
Great suggestion! I have just applied for the international card so I hope it gets accepted ok as I already have a UK AMEX card (but this link says its on a different scheme so should be ok)
@ptr120 = I use a borderless transferwise account = so no material fees to pay. I'd post the link but as a new member i'm not allowed to - just google transferwise borderless USD account
Thanks!
@ptr120 = I use a borderless transferwise account = so no material fees to pay. I'd post the link but as a new member i'm not allowed to - just google transferwise borderless USD account
Thanks!
#7
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,859
Great suggestion! I have just applied for the international card so I hope it gets accepted ok as I already have a UK AMEX card (but this link says its on a different scheme so should be ok)
@ptr120 = I use a borderless transferwise account = so no material fees to pay. I'd post the link but as a new member i'm not allowed to - just google transferwise borderless USD account
Thanks!
@ptr120 = I use a borderless transferwise account = so no material fees to pay. I'd post the link but as a new member i'm not allowed to - just google transferwise borderless USD account
Thanks!
I have the USD ICC Platinum Card - I also have a TransferWise USD borderless account. One problem you will face is that you cannot send USD payments to AMEX via TransferWise because they limit the number of characters that can be included in the reference field. The current limit is 10 characters, apparently this is a requirement put in place by the US as part of the money laundering provisions. As yet TransferWise do not support ACH debits from USD borderless accounts.
Because I have a home in the US, I have local bank accounts (checking and savings), each month AMEX collect their payment via ACH direct from my US checking account. You might want to investigate payment options before progressing the application. Wire transfers from UK accounts can be expensive.
It can take a couple of weeks to process an ICC application, so worth doing your homework before you are committed.
#8
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,648
I have the USD ICC Platinum Card - I also have a TransferWise USD borderless account. One problem you will face is that you cannot send USD payments to AMEX via TransferWise because they limit the number of characters that can be included in the reference field. The current limit is 10 characters, apparently this is a requirement put in place by the US as part of the money laundering provisions. As yet TransferWise do not support ACH debits from USD borderless accounts.
#9
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,859
So, as an update to this, you actually CAN send USD payments to AmEx on Transferwise, but you will sometimes have to call in to match the transfer. It's a bit irritating, but it does work - AMEC ICC apparently get quite a few customers asking about this at the moment, so hopefully they'll improve the process soon.
It is TransferWise who is restricting the data field to 10 characters, I was told, at the insistence of their US banking partner (Community Federal Savings Bank). In the not too distant future TransferWise are hoping to allow direct debits from their GBP, EUR and USD borderless accounts. With the eventual arrival of ACH direct debits, this should remove this little inconvenience.
#10
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,648
Yes, you are able to send a payment via TransferWise but it will not normally credit to your AMEX account without manual intervention. A colleague has had his AMEX payments returned to TransferWise a number of times since this TransferWise data limitation was introduced, which is a little frustrating. When this data leave limit was introduced AMEX told me they would not accept any electronic payment without the card number being provide with the transaction. Obviously your (and my colleagues) experience indicates this is not strictly enforced.
#15
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,859