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American Express, I hate you.
Every time I stumble upon a travel blog that raves about traveling with an American Express credit card I clench my fists and start fuming with anger.
If there is someone near me, he or she will be subjected to an anti-American Express harangue. If I am at home 99% of the time said person is someone who hates traveling and therefore doesn’t care.
Since people who like to travel apparently read my blog (thank you!!), I decided to take my harangue online to warn you all about how I think American Express is horrible. Yes, I just stumbled upon another travel blog that loves Amex and it set me off.
I get it, you live near a Delta hub airport and love to travel. You love the points you can use towards travel. You have the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card and are ready to travel the world.
Then you get your award flight and poof your card is pretty much useless as soon as you set foot outside of North America, especially if you are a budget traveler. If you plan to travel with an American Express card, consider yourself warned.
The Affiliate Game
The truth is that credit cards are really great to promote on blogs. For those of you reading this who are as clueless about the business world as I am, let me take a moment to explain this. It was all news to my naive self just six months ago…
If someone signs up for an American Express credit card via an affiliate link on a blog and is approved, then said blogger will receive a nice hunk of cash. A simple google search reveals that this Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card at one point paid out $225 per approval.
An affiliate link worth $225? That’s amazing! You don’t even need to write a blog post or edit photos for that. Just throw up the link and see who bites.
No wonder why so many people promote it…
Business Traveler vs. Millennial Backpacker…
So before I continue with my rant about how practically nobody outside of the USA takes American Express, I am going to clarify some things.
I think this rant stems partially from American Express’s recent targeting of Millennials, for example with their no fee “Amex EveryDay Card.” That card is like the Gold Delta SkyMiles card except that it has no annual fee.
And that card is definitely not targeting the martini-sipping-in-Monaco types. That card ends up in the wallets of budget conscious folks such as myself who happen to fly with Delta Airlines a lot.
It seems like American Express is more widely accepted in the USA these days, even with their higher swipe fees.
All in all, American Express credit cards are not just for the rich and famous anymore.
I won’t address travel rewards here, but this post shows that the perks aren’t really that great…
Traveling with an American Express credit card: my letdowns
So during my Southern Africa trip I found myself in a pickle. I had lost my debit card (thankfully it wasn’t stolen), my backup debit card had expired and was useless, and my Visa credit card was late in the mail and sitting at my parents’ house in the USA.
That left me with my American Express credit card. Only my American Express credit card.
I swear they should make a reality show about trying to travel with an American Express credit card like The Amazing Race or Naked and Afraid.
They can call it: The Amazingly Frustrating Race … or Staying Naked and Afraid Because Nobody Will Accept Your AMEX Card So You Can’t Buy Clothes and Have to Sleep on the Street…
I would obviously be a contestant on these shows.
American Express let me down in Africa
So back to my experience traveling with an American Express credit card in Africa…
I got stuck in Zambia. If you check out the AMEX global network locator, you can search Zambia and learn that there is no bank or ATM in the entire country that will take American Express credit cards.
And even though Zambia has a primarily cash based economy, I will just throw in the fact that no business that accepts credit cards will accept American Express. Believe me, I personally tried.
There are a few banks in Namibia and South Africa that will have ATMs that you can use to get cash if you’re in a pickle and willing to pay the big fees.
BUT unless you want to go stay at a luxury, American hotel chain know that pretty much nobody will take your American Express credit card there either. I tried.
I had no luck in Nairobi, Kenya either. Or in Egypt (though maybe you would have some more luck in the luxury restaurants or hotels there…).
The ironic thing? I had a layover in Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa airport on my way back home from the trip and American Express was running a huge ad campaign. It felt like a slap in the face after feeling pretty desperate for over a month to be greeted in the airport by enormous American Express cards plastered all over the walls.
And no, no restaurant or duty free store in the Addis Ababa airport took American Express…
American Express let me down in Southeast Asia
I ended my Southern Africa trip with a bizarre layover in Southeast Asia. Nobody in Bangkok took my American Express card. I had to book all my accommodations on Airbnb just because they accept Amex.
But then again you may get lucky if you stay in the most upscale hotel you can find in Bangkok. That certainly wasn’t in my budget.
Forget traveling with an American Express credit card in Laos. I went to the most luxurious hotel and spa in Luang Prabang to see if they accepted it and they said no way.
American Express let me down in Eastern Europe
Ok, it let my friend down. I was traveling in Serbia with a friend who had lost his debit card and only had an Amex card. We spent a full day wandering around Belgrade trying to find a place to take his card with no luck.
The poor guy was screwed for the rest of his Balkans trip, or at least until he could wire some money to himself.
American Express will most likely let you down in Scandinavia
I lived in Norway for a year and can vouch that the only grocery store that takes AMEX is Joker. I could, however, use my card when I took the ridiculously expensive airport express train to Oslo. So I will give you that one, AMEX.
American Express lets me down in France all the time
Do you know what kind of hurdles you have to jump through to pay for a train ticket with an American Express card on France’s national rail website (SNCF)?
Sure, the major supermarkets in France accept AMEX, but are you going to be frequenting the supermarkets during your honeymoon in Paris? Well I will tell you know that the adorable brasserie down the street from le jardin de whatever will definitely not accept your American Express card.
I have a wonderful cousin who went on an around the world trip with his girlfriend and they were so sweet and came and visited me in France. I remember chuckling as they whipped out their shiny, new Gold Delta SkyMiles American Express cards. To make a long story short I ended up covering the restaurant bills since nobody accepted their credit cards! (But they paid me back)
Why do I keep trying?
Why do I keep traveling with an American Express credit card? I have no idea. Thankfully I don’t need to depend on American Express right now, and I really hope I never have to ever again.
But I need to clarify that by travel I mean international travel.
The perks may be worth it if you travel in the USA a lot. A free checked bag on a Delta flight can really add up, but if you have higher status with Delta in the first place you will get that bag anyway.
If you are traveling with a family it may be worth it if you get 5 free bags once a year…
But I am still going to stick to my guns and say that traveling with an American Express credit card isn’t worth it if you aren’t, well, in the more “traditional” American Express demographic.
I agree – shockingly bad
yes THANK YOU
I bought a business class international ticket on Emirates through Amex travel. Emirates will not allow you to pick your seat in advance or will not provide you with the usual chauffeur service that they normally provide.
Amex never disclosed that. Never book on Amex unless you wish to be penalized
Ahhhh another thing to add to my rant! Sorry you had that experience and thanks for sharing!
American Express will also let you down in Central America, South America & the Caribbean!
It is pure shit
PREACH!!!
I agree 100%!!! AMEX is the WORST credit card for travel there is. I was traveling alone as a woman in India. The ATMs they claimed would accept the card and reduce transaction fees never worked – not one single ATM from Mumbai airport to anyplace I went in Rajasthan. I was stranded in India without MONEY as a woman alone. What was supposed to be a vacation for a month and a half turned into a white knuckle, heart-pounding nightmare due to AMEX.
I was on the phone with them constantly trying to get cash advances so I could survive. I was talking to people at the AMEX in Mumbai when I was in Mumbai and they could not help me! The irony is that this American company has outsourced its entire operations to India.
If it wasn’t for the kindness of the guy at the Mumbai airport who paid for the cab for me to get to my hotel and the drivers in Udaipur, who took me all of the freaking city to find an ATM that AMEX claimed would give me cash, I would have been screwed. I ended up using my Discover Card the rest of the time or my regular bankcard. I was never able to get cash off my AMEX anywhere. What is the point?
The card was accepted nowhere, except my hotel in Udaipur and I had to take cash increments off my card through the hotel. It was a total nightmare.
I flew on to Egypt and experienced the same thing. The ATMs did not work or the card was not accepted.
I am done with them. I paid my balance and shredded my card. I used AMEX because I watched my family use American Express Traveler’s Checks when we traveled. We could go into an AMEX office and cash a traveler’s check and get cash. They don’t have those anymore and you have to use the credit card, which is a far cry from the dependability of the checks.
Even their miles program sucks. It’s with Delta, which overcharges every plane ticket. What a nightmare experience.
Oh nooo! I’m so sorry and can empathize SO much with your experience. And you’re right – Delta miles are always way more expensive compared to other programs. Thanks for sharing your experience though! The last time I was in Europe I was stuck in a train ticket line behind a woman trying to pay with an AMEX card and she was voicing her frustration and it set me off on my rant! Happy future travels (sans AMEX) to you!
(en español al final)
BEWARE OF AMERICAN EXPRESS!
American Express has won. I paid today a debt from November 2019 that I have contested. They have refused to explain how they determined it is my responsibility, or to give me proof of my claim all this time.
The bank is threatening to put me on the national list of debtors, and I have other things to do in my life than spend hours and hours and hours for more than a year, trying to get a minimal explanation and a minimum of respect from this company. So I paid, along with all the interest, against my will, and against my principles, to avoid greater damage.
In May 2019 I went to Rome, and made the tremendous mistake of paying my car rental with Amex. The same month I returned to the Country I live in (Argentina).
In November 2019 I got charged from the car rental company. I called Amex and explained I had not used any service (nor been in Italy) since May (Claim # 109821088 from November 11th). The money was refunded and the credit card replaced.
I went to Antarctica until March. When I returned I saw the charge had been made again. I called and they stated it had been investigated, and that the charge was actually mine. I expressed, I did not agree, that I contested that decision, and that I wanted to see the documents analyzed to decide it was my responsibility. (Claim # 100191629). They said they would send me the documentation within 3 days, and that if I did not receive it, I should call again.
I never got any documentation. I was able to communicate again on May 29th 2020. They said they would investigate why the documentation had not been sent (Claim #101773592). That I should call again in 3 days.
From that moment on (May through December 2020). I called many times. Every time they said I should call again in 3 days. I stated in total exasperation each time, that ‘…this is the “after 3 days call”…’ to no avail.
What is worse, each time I asked them to please send me an e-mail, or any document they found suitable, that would give me a proof/evidence I was contesting this. They said they could not send or give me anything. So basically, if American Express now says I never contested this decision, I have no way to prove otherwise.
In August 2020, the government initiated a payment emergency plan due to the COVID Pandemic. In spite of this charge being disputed, they included it in the payment plan and started charging interest.
I did another claim, so that they include the interest in the disputed amount. Some of the other calls: June 8th (#1024347034), July 27th (# 93862974), November 26th. In this case, as in many others, they refused to give me a claim number, saying ‘I could reference the past numbers’.
I want to add, what is stated here is just a tiny portion of the stressful, and immensely frustrating process of calling, waiting for an agent, many times just being disconnected after listening to a 10-second-long song for 30 minutes, being transferred over and over, (half the time the connection ‘is lost’ after 40 minutes on the phone, waiting again, and so on. Explaining everything each time, to be told systematically to ‘call again in 3 days’ for 10 months.
In summary, if you think a charge in your American Express credit card is not valid, they act as if they can say it is, without having to show any documentation that supports it. And if you present a claim stating otherwise, they don´t consider they should give you any proof that you have done so.
February 1st 2021
Livio Gratton
CUIDADO CON AMERICAN EXPRESS!
American Express ganó. Pagué hoy una deuda de noviembre del 2019 que no reconozco. Se han rehusado explicar cómo determinaron que era un gasto mío, o a darme ninguna constancia de mis reclamos por todo este tiempo.
El banco está amenazando con incluirme en el Veraz, y tengo otras cosas que hacer en mi vida que invertir horas y horas y horas por más de un año intentando obtener una mínima explicación o de respeto de esta compañía. Con lo que decidí pagar, contra mi voluntad y contra mis principios, para evitar daños mayores.
En mayo del 2019 fui a Roma, y cometí el gran error de pagar mi alquiler de auto con Amex. El mismo mes volví al país en donde vivo (Argentina).
En noviembre del 2019 me fue cobrado un gasto de la compañía de alquiler. Llamé a Amex y expliqué que no había usado ningún servicio (ni estado en Italia) desde mayo. (# reclamo 109821088 del 11 de noviembre). El dinero fue devuelto y la tarjeta reemplazada.
Fui a la Antártida hasta marzo. Al regresar el cargo había vuelto a cobrarse. Llamé nuevamente y me indicaron que se había realizado una investigación, y que el gasto era mío. Expresé que con la información con la que contaba rechazaba dicha decisión, y solicité me enviaran la documentación que respaldaba su decisión (# reclamo 100191629). Me dijeron que me enviarían la documentación en el plazo de 72 horas, y que si no la recibía, volviera a llamar.
Nunca recibí ninguna documentación. Conseguí comunicarme nuevamente el 29 de mayo del 2020. Me dijeron que investigarían porqué no había recibido la documentación, y volviera a llamar en 3 días. (# reclamo 101773592).
Desde ese momento (de mayo a diciembre) llamé reiteradas veces. Cada vez me indicaban que volviera a llamar en 3 días. Dije con total exasperación cada vez, que ‘…ésta es la llamada 3 días después…’, sin resultado alguno.
Lo que es peor, cada vez les pedí que por favor me enviaran algún tipo de comprobante, un correo electrónico, o lo que les pareciera mejor, que me diera una prueba de que estaba realizando ese reclamo. Sistemáticamente me dijeron que no podían enviar nada. En definitiva, si American Express dijera ahora que yo nunca reclamé por ese gasto, no tengo forma de contradecirlos.
En agosto del 2020, el gobierno inició un plan de emergencia debido a la pandemia. A pesar de estar este cargo en disputa, me incluyeron en el plan de pagos, y comenzaron a cobrarme intereses.
Hice otro reclamo para que se incluyeran los intereses en el monto en disputa. Algunos de los otros llamados: 8 de junio (# reclamo1024347034), 27 de julio (# reclamo 93862974), 26 de november 26th . En este ultimo caso, como para muchas otras llamadas, no se me dio un número de reclamo, indicándome que podía hacer referencia a los reclamos anteriores.
Quiero agregar que lo descripto aquí es solo una pequeña parte del estresante y terriblemente frustrante proceso de llamar, esperar por un operador, ser desconectado muchas veces luego de escuchar una canción de 10 segundos por media hora, ser transferido una y otra vez, que la conexión ‘se corte’ luego de 40 minutos en el teléfono, esperar nuevamente, etc. Explicar todo cada vez, para que se me diga sistemáticamente que ‘vuelva a llamar en 3 días. Por 10 meses.
En resumen, si usted cree que un gasto de su American Express no es válido, ellos actúan como que pueden decir que sí lo es, sin presentar ninguna documentación que lo apoye. Y si usted presenta un reclamo indicando lo contrario, no consideran que deban darle ningún comprobante del mismo.
1 de febrero del 2021
Livio Gratton