Mr R and I are thinking about getting a newer credit card with better perks now that our income has gone up (credit score is mid-700s). I have been inundated with AmEx offers but have never considered an AmEx card. All of my credit cards (Mr R didn’t have any credit cards until we married) have been Visa (I think my first card may have been a MasterCard).
We put literally everything possible on one credit card and will just switch over to doing this on the new credit card if we decide to get one.
So what are the differences between AmEx and say, Visa? I remember when I was doing sales in high school/early undergrad that my company didn’t take AmEx. That is really the only thing I know about AmEx so I’m not even sure what questions to ask.
Their customer service is superb to any Visa card’s I had. Fast and easily accessible, and they speak real English.
Amex periodically gives access to concert tickets to its cardholders ahead of the general crowd. If you already have a visa, it also adds diversity to your card population.
I’ve only had one card in my whole life, a Visa. I’ve never had any problems with it. It’s quick and easy to reach US-based customer service, and the only time there was an unauthorized charge they immediately and cheerfully removed it.
You are so lucky. Knocking on wood for you. I am! My Visa had to be replaced due to fraudulent charges, and it took 10 days for the new card to get here. In the meantime, I had one autopay account that lapsed (and CC was the only payment form they took), deposits for some legitimate travel reservations made with the replaced card could not go through, and if we had no other card, it would have been a pain. And no, that bank would not overnight a card. I asked.
If you are getting an Amex card, make sure that you get something with a great signup bonus, that’s where the money is at. Have gotten Amex cards with 100K point bonuses (equates to 1K dollars). A good website to monitor this is thepointsguy.com. Gotta get those signup bonuses, why not?
Chase Marriott here. Their points are good for more than hotels.
Some current advice is to periodically change cards to take advantage of 0% offers for x months, if you carry balances. Check the annual fees. Does Amex need to be paid off monthly or was that just my old business card?
Amex charged higher commissions to businesses that accepted them. Don’t know if it’s still so. But it did mean some places wouldn’t accept the card.
One great thing about the AMEX blue card when I first got it was the add-on 1 year warranty on top of the full manufacturers warranty and if obtained…their extended warranty up to 5 years.
Took advantage of this when I got mom’s Macbook Pro with the 3-year extended Apple care so the total warranty ended up being 4 years total.
@Romani, when starting out for us the big difference was Visa had a credit limit and AmEx did not, but it had an annual fee. We held both for the potential of needing a big ticket car repair or appliance, since our Visa limit wasn’t high enough to cover those at that time. Kept AmEx when it was Costco’s card; dropped it now.
The customer service concerns depend on the issuer, not the card.
Hated the Visa CS from the early days of Capital One; have the best responses from my Credit Union Visa. I do all my banking with the credit union.
Well, there’s no need to drop another card just because she gets an Amex. We told our kids from the get-go - get 2 cc because if there’s a problem with one, you are covered.
I wouldn’t drop your old card either. Keep it at home in a safe place. If you or Mr. R are robbed and you need a card the next day or you’re about to leave on a trip, it’s nice to have a backup.
Also, when you get to the UK, make sure you have a card that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee. Cards issued by Chase and Capital One don’t. I’m not sure about Amex, it may vary with the card.
Check all the perks- warranty expansion, purchase protection, supplemental or even primary insurance while renting a car, verbal roadside assistance, etc. See what would be useful for you.
I absolutely love my AMEX Platinum. If you understand and use the benefits it more than pays for itself. The benefits are travel related. The basics are:
Special offers waive the first years fee
No foreign transactions fees
Free "companion ticket" on First Class or Business travel (refundable priced tickets only)
$200 annual "airline fee" credit per year ($400 for first year) - includes baggage fees, lounge
membership, change fees etc. You have to designate one airline.
Reimbursement for Global Entry Program fee
Airport Lounge access for all Delta lounges and AMEX's new Centurion lounges.
Automatic Hilton Honors and Starwood Preferred Gold Status
Concierge Services - they have gotten me restaurant reservations I could not get on my own.
currently 40,000 reward points for enrolling
extended warranties
But the best part of the card and the feature that I use the most is the Amex Platinum Fine Hotels and Resorts Program. The vast majority of participating hotels are 5 star properties. If you are staying at least 3 nights at a participating hotel the 3rd night is free. You get an automatic upgrade when available - I would estimate my upgrade rate has been about 60% and it is usually to a junior or full suite. Breakfast for 2 is included every morning. Most of the hotels in the program also throw in a $100 credit to be used at the hotel which includes food/beverage or the spa if they have one. I have found that the hotel program alone more than compensates for the $450 annual fee on the card.
It is higher level AmEx where one gets a lot of perks, like access to VIP lounge at airports, no foreign exchange charge, medical airlift, concierge service. Those cards’ annual fees are 450+. For me it is worth it because it comes with $200 on flight charges (baggage), global entrance and foreign exchange charges. I also like their customer service. Recently a company was charging me a recurring fee that I didn’t sign up for. It wasn’t clear from documentations that I didn’t sign up for it, but AmEx gave me credit anyway. They do not wait until the investigation is done before giving you credit, it is received as soon as you report it. I use AmEx whenever I feel a merchant is questionable, like merchants on eBay. If their description is incorrect, I know I could get a refund. D1 has two cards, a platinum AmEx and a Visa. AmEx is not accepted by all merchants.
Romani, I know you said you don’t fly much, but I will post for others who might not know this. I use the Delta Reserve (black) card. There is a $450 annual fee, but complimentary companion ticket for first class usually saves me at least that much. I put everything I purchase (and I do mean everything…literally down to every stick of gum) on the card and pay it off every month. What makes it worth it to me is that when you reach $30,000 in spending (per year) Delta gives you 15,000 MQMs. And when you reach a total of $60,000 they give you another 15,000 MQMs. The reason I love this is that I don’t fly enough to qualify for the Gold level of their Skymiles program, but these MQMs bump me up to Gold level. Which means I almost always get upgraded to first class. And I get Priority security line and boarding. And get three free checked bags every time I fly. This has made flying much more pleasant the past few years. I do have a joint Visa with my husband and use that on the rare occasion someone doesn’t take American Express.
