Good AMEX card with BVG

[AaRdVarK54]

I've probably used up $4000 or so of my $5000 on my ClickCiti. It's a great card. Is it true they won't be reissuing them?

 

[RadioactiveMagpies]

I've probably used up $4000 or so of my $5000 on my ClickCiti. It's a great card. Is it true they won't be reissuing them?

I need to get me one of those.

 

[chinnboy]

I read in a post somewhere a long time ago that someone was told that existing ClikCiti cards would not be reissued when they expire. I'm nearly positive you can't get a new one. These came out in the golden age of web dealing when everyone wanted to get established as a dominant force in we commerce. Whoever devised this for Citibank was off his rocker, I'm sure they had no idea how these things could and would be exploited by devious hordes lurking at places like AT.

As to the STARWOOD Amex card, I ran across something that might be of interest to people with kids. If you are signed up with uPromise, Starpoints can be converted to uPromise deposits at a rate of $50 per 5,000 points. I presume Starpoints is what you earn using this card. This may not be a great deal, but I know that it is unlikely I would otherwise ever use the points for anything.

 

[AaRdVarK54]

I know for certain that you can't apply for it anymore. I would be really upset if they didn't reissue mine. I called them a few days ago to get another one since I'd worn mine out. (Doesn't really matter since I have the number memorized, but my wife needed a fresh one). I'm wondering whether they're going to send the same type with no magnetic strip, and if so, whether it'll have a new expiration date on it.

I'll let you guys know.

 

[cswake]

Originally posted by: RadioactiveMagpies

I've probably used up $4000 or so of my $5000 on my ClickCiti. It's a great card. Is it true they won't be reissuing them?

I need to get me one of those.

As you read they're not issuing them anymore.

 

[ra7]

I got the optima platinum recently. It does have BVG in the membership agreement.

 

[Irascible]

Hey Crank,

From my rather conservative calculations: I'm sure you know they only get a few percentage points of each transaction. So, if you were actually getting close to the $1000 dollar limit using the BVG, then you'd proabably have to be purchasing 30 thousand dollars worth of stuff on that card each year just for them to break even. And since they're in business to make money and not interested in breaking even; and since the actual profit made on all the money they take in is equally small (were talking the profit they get out of a transaction is probably in the neighborhood of 1 percent of 3 percent), they probably would want to see at least 40 thousand dollars worth of transactions in order for them to consider that individual account to be worth the effort. It doesn't seem likely that that's the case... unless you're a shopaholic.

Don't misunderstand. I'm not busting your chops about it. When Blue had the benefit I saw to it that Amex paid me a nice chunk of change myself. But just like you've tried to dispel the notion that the CSR's always have it right, I like to remind people about the razor thin magins that most corporations operate on. I'm sure Amex is and/or will benefit themselves by offering BVG and getting the increased amount of customers from it... overall. But they count of the fact that most people will use it little to none. There can be no doubt that in the short term at least, they lose money big time on "professional users" of the BVG benefit like you and me. All part of God' great plan.

 

[huh!!]

Thanks Chinnboy,

Do you know how long it usually takes them to resolve a claim? I know amex usually takes about 2 weeks. Think I'm gonna try and get me a digicam.

 

[Crank]

Irascible,

I have no idea how much money Amex actually gets as profit from the fees they charge merchants, but I've been told before that Amex charges in the neighborhood of 3%, so I assumed that was 1% to 1.5% profit for them since MC/Visa only charge 1.5% - BIG assumption on my part, I know ....and yeah, now that I actually sit down and do the math, even my shopaholic tendencies (thanks to the stinkin' HOT DEALS Forum ), wouldn't net them $1K per year in fees, however, I'm not sure that matters:

Since the BVG claims are not honored/paid by Amex (it's some sort of insurance company), I wonder if it's not a lot cheaper than potentially $1K per BVG eligible account for Amex to continue offering it - you know, like how you pay $X at work for your health insurance, but get all sorts of things covered that *could* cost $10X, if you need/use them. I think it's what those accountant type dudes call dilution of risk, or risk sharing, or something like that,... but essentially, since only a fraction of the people paying for the insurance use a lot of it, the insurance company can afford to cover lots and lots of people for a fraction of the cost of the maximum benefit they offer.

I'll bet BVG works like this, and so I *hope* that Amex will continue to offer it on at least some of their cards. Guess we'll just have to wait and see....

BTW "'professional users' of the BVG benefit" .... LMAO!! Too true....my friends are getting tired of hearing me say things like - hey, I just got this super cool [insert favorite Hot Deal item here] for a buck and a half....SHIPPED!!! hehehe, then they tell me I spend too much time and effort on this stuff.....whatever, I've got a bunch of cool stuff CHEAP....and everyone needs a hobby

 

[Salvador]

Well.. If the word gets out that Optima isn't going to cancel their BVG, it certainly will be cancelled. I think what killed BVG on Blue is because everybody and their brother signed up for the card just because of the BVG. I did. I bet AMEX was losing money big time on Blue because of the BVG payouts. Like any business, I think they only offer something as long as it remains profitable.

Sal

 

[dude]

The optima platinum card sounds interesting but it would truely suck if I got the card and they cancel the BVG after I get it! :Q

 

[dude]

Plus nowhere on their optima card benifets does it list BVG! :Q

 

[Jstic]

Stay far, far away from any Citibank, Citiclick cards, or any bank or credit card company remotely asssociated with Citibank. They are a big bank and will jerk you around with your rates. You will also get a never ending stream of phone calls trying to sell you one crap program after another. I had a $20,000 line of credit with this bank at 9.99%. They wrote me a tiny little note stashed in a bunch of flyers one month with my bill stating my rate would be increased. The new rate would be 12.99%.When I called to ask why, they said my balance was too high. My balance at the time was $6,000. I have had my balances with other cards up to 75% of the limit and never, ever had any kind of a rate increase. I then did some research and found that the number of complaints people had with this bank and their policies ran into the tens of thousands. Paid off the card and called their office and demanded they remove me from any future solicitations or credit card offers. Like I said, stay away.

 

[mrbass]

We're sorry -- the system is not responding so we are unable to provide you with a decision at this time.

However, we have all of the application information needed for processing. Your application will be processed as soon as possible, and we will notify you of the decision by mail in just a few weeks.

Thank you for applying!

crap..so much for the 60 seconds response that it originally said.

In a few weeks? crap I need to buy my althon xp 2100+ real soon now.

 

[crobusa]

Mr. Bass
That's the polite non-committed denial message. Over the years, I've recieved that msg twice.

 

[mrbass]

wow...that's whacked....I've never not paid my credit card in full my entire life. Never missed a full balance payment. Never paid interest on a credit card.
Oh well...no bvg for me. Have to settle for the althon 1900 xp instead.

 

[qIat]

Alright, I'm a college student, getting a few loans through Citibank. I'm wondering if I should make an account with Citibank or another national bank. Right now, each academic year I take my account balance and shuffle it between my local bank and my university bank.

I'm interested in these BVG cards for purchases, I have no plans to buy more than what I have available in funds (in other words a debit card with BVG would work as well but I don't believe any exist)

So, what would you guys suggest in my situation? Both bank and CC wise?

 

[xoneinax]

Got a flyer for AMEX Starwood in the mail yesterday. When listing benefits, never mentioned BVG at all. But I do clearly see it on the website .. hmm

 

[BeBumbleBe]

The strange thing is that I was never advised by Amex that BVG had been cancelled on my Blue...
In fact, just before the much advertised cancellation of the program, I got renewed terms that clearly listed BVG as a benefit. Haven't used it since for a PM so not sure what the status is.
I wonder if there's a way to check it out for sure ?

 

[nealh]

BeBumbleBe....I doubt you will be able to do BVG on Blue as it was clearly in their email on card benefits...and they reserve the right ot change benefits at any time..you can try it but do not expect it too work

 

[BeBumbleBe]

Well the thing is I never got this email and the guy higher in the thread said he still had it.
I was wondering if there was a way to find out for sure ! Calling a clueless rep doesn't sound like a great idea !

 

[bit]

if you have good credit history, i recommend the Business Gold card, it has

1. BVG (Price Guarantee),
2. you can save 5% at Dell Small Business, sometimes stackable with regular promotions. besides, save upto 20% on fedex shipping.
3. Free Hertz #1 Club Gold membership, $50 value

$75 annual fee waived for first year, and you can save much more than $75 with your first pricematch claim.

 

[BeBumbleBe]

Called Amex and confirmed that BVG got canceleld for blue for EVERYONE, no exceptions even if you didn't receive an email like me.
Optima Platinum BVG is going away 09/01/02 too.

Thanks for the tip about the gold card. Wonder how hard it is to transfer from Blue to Gold ?
Anyone tried the Visa Price Protection plan offered on the Platinum (and maybe gold) ? They only pricematch to advertisements and not online advertisements...I called, and it seems you can't submit a printout of a checkout page on a website. It seems a magazine advertisement for, say, a digitical camera, would work but wondering if someone's actually gotten it to work.
Terms are similar to Amex, $250 per item and $1000 per year max.
cheers

 

[Jstic]

I have the corporate business gold AMEX and just made a BVG claim yesterday. Had a long chat with the CSR and she told me that to her knowledge the corp. card will continue to carry BVG.

 

[BeBumbleBe]

Anyone know how easy it is to switch from Blue, new application or simple transfer, I'll call them later !