A Love/Hate Affair
Written: Apr 25 '00
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: None that come to mind
Cons: Exorbitant yearly fees
|
|
|
| KarmaDr's Full Review: American Express Platinum |
It started with the Platinum Card's Travel Services Program (PTS), and ended with their exorbitant fees. So, we cancelled ALL of our American Express cards this month.$450 a year in "membership fees" is ridiculous, considering that American Express earns every time we use our card...and earns at a higher rate than any other card out there (one reason many merchants won't accept American Express).
My husband and liked the idea of having a limitless credit line, in addition to the touted "extras" afforded to Platinum Members. We started off using the cards for everyday expenses (groceries, pharmacy, cleaners, etc.), so we'd more easily keep track of our expenditures. After we joined the Membership Rewards program, we used the Platinum Card exclusively. That presented endless challenges, because so many merchants won't accept AMEX. At one point we tried to purchase a car on the card (salivating over the number of Membership Reward Points we'd accumulate) only to have to go through endless credit checks, despite AMEX's assurances we wouldn't have any problems.
We used the Platinum Card "Fine Hotel, Resort,& Spa Guide and PTS to secure reservations at an "exclusive" hotel. Not only was the hotel a filthy nightmare, AMEX concierge service was useless in finding us alternate accommodations...or even disputing outrageous hotel charges. In fact, the more we used "exclusive" Platinum Card "advantages", the worse the customer service became.
We called to cancel our 10 year old card several weeks ago, only to have a membership representative offer us 10,000 Membership Reward Points, and forgive the $150 spouse, membership fee. Ten years and hundreds of thousands of dollars later, we felt it was too little and too late. We cancelled anyway. Union Bank of California is more than thrilled to wave their fees and offer near-limitless credit.
Recommended:
No
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
KarmaDr
|
|
Location: California
Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 1 member
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.