Has your American Express account been down rated?

[twobjshelbys]

I've had an American Express card since 1977, Gold Card for 20 of those years. My company tries to get me to take one of the company cards (also Amex) but I refuse since our expense cycle always makes us late. Since I have to do out of pocket anyway I get the bonus points on my card.

I've put almost 80000 in charges over the past two years with Mustang(s) and Cobra purchases. (Yes, you can buy a car on Amex, I bought a Mercedes about 10 years ago too. This time I just used it for incidentals and the two superchargers.)

Now they want me to take a Platinum card but I don't get anything more from it than my Gold card.

[SP01715]

The only reason I keep my Amex card is because I have about 700,000 airline miles. I used to run business expenses through the card, now I just need to use the miles somehow.

BTW, I had Capital One cancel my card because I had never used it. I called to find out why, and they said they were getting rid of accounts.

[Jamo]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

I've had an American Express card since 1977, Gold Card for 20 of those years. My company tries to get me to take one of the company cards (also Amex) but I refuse since our expense cycle always makes us late. Since I have to do out of pocket anyway I get the bonus points on my card.

I've put almost 80000 in charges over the past two years with Mustang(s) and Cobra purchases. (Yes, you can buy a car on Amex, I bought a Mercedes about 10 years ago too. This time I just used it for incidentals and the two superchargers.)

Now they want me to take a Platinum card but I don't get anything more from it than my Gold card.

Sure you do! Higher membership fees and more freeking glossy colored travel brochures.

Been with AmX for 30 years...now a Plat. Azzhole for some stupid reason. We also have their corporate card for the firm. I like the fact that you pay it off every month (I rarely use the installment feature)...helps keep one from building up debt. I use their travel services heavily, and I've always been impressed with their service (everyone has different experiences)...I've had replacement cards delivered overnight when some front desk jockey zips my heavily used card too harshly in the reader and tears it apart...once to my hotel by currier in London. I use Diners for the same reason for travel.

They are not credit cards...they are charge cards (credit accounts are an available benefit).

If all cards were biased towards requiring full payoffs each month, consumer credit wouldn't be so screwed up in this country. JMHO

[Moto One]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Sure you do! Higher membership fees and more freeking glossy colored travel brochures.

Been with AmX for 30 years...now a Plat. Azzhole for some stupid reason. We also have their corporate card for the firm. I like the fact that you pay it off every month (I rarely use the installment feature)...helps keep one from building up debt. I use their travel services heavily, and I've always been impressed with their service (everyone has different experiences)...I've had replacement cards delivered overnight when some front desk jockey zips my heavily used card too harshly in the reader and tears it apart...once to my hotel by currier in London. I use Diners for the same reason for travel.

They are not credit cards...they are charge cards (credit accounts are an available benefit).

If all cards were biased towards requiring full payoffs each month, consumer credit wouldn't be so screwed up in this country. JMHO

JMHO, that is the reason that I have always had/and use an AMEX card, and in the past (charge and pay for it) I to have had great service in emergencies from them. Things like loss of luggage, car rental insurance back up, and other little thing. But all that seems to have changed. AMEX now seems to have become a" Smoke and Mirror" brand. At least that's now my take.

Mark.

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Sure you do! Higher membership fees and more freeking glossy colored travel brochures.

Been with AmX for 30 years...now a Plat. Azzhole for some stupid reason. We also have their corporate card for the firm. I like the fact that you pay it off every month (I rarely use the installment feature)...helps keep one from building up debt. I use their travel services heavily, and I've always been impressed with their service (everyone has different experiences)...I've had replacement cards delivered overnight when some front desk jockey zips my heavily used card too harshly in the reader and tears it apart...once to my hotel by currier in London. I use Diners for the same reason for travel.

They are not credit cards...they are charge cards (credit accounts are an available benefit).

If all cards were biased towards requiring full payoffs each month, consumer credit wouldn't be so screwed up in this country. JMHO

I have two cards: AmEx and my credit union VISA. I pay both off every month. I have never used the "convert to installment" feature of AmEx. The credit union probably hates me. They raised the interest rate from 7% to whopping 8.5% but it won't matter to me.

I've always had good luck with AmEx too. With the Gold rewards card I get a second card for my wife and she uses it for airline and rentals (and occasional other things). She had an incident with her rental car and AmEx took care of everything - even changing them to the contact to work out details with the rental company. They even got the "loss of service" surcharge removed. My card takes a beating in my wallet and loses its mag stripe (although the new reflective ones have lasted) and I call them when anyone has trouble swiping it and they always send me a new card the next day.