Spend strategy to meet Amex minimum spend

gidxg03 on 23/09/2018 - 15:16

just recieved my first Amex card (Westpac MasterCard altitude deal) and I’m trying to reach the minimum $3k spend over 3 months (worth 40k qantas points).

Can’t believe how few places take Amex. It seems I can’t pay rego (Victoria) or rates which was my first strategy. Retailers that do take Amex charge such high surcharges it does not seem worth using the card (ie car service the other day had a 2.55% surcharge for Amex).

The only option it seems is food shopping but we order our shopping online with coles using a coles MasterCard so avoiding the $10 delivery cost.

so any tips on how to reach the minimum spend?

Financial

Related Stores

American Express
American Express

Comments

  • Godric on 23/09/2018 - 15:33
    +7

    You took the 'impulsive buy now, plan later' approach i see

    • gidxg03 on 23/09/2018 - 15:44
      -3

      No I took the get 2 at no annual fee approach.

  • Quantumcat on 23/09/2018 - 15:37
    +5

    Anyone that takes PayPal you may be able to pay by Amex through that without attracting a surcharge

    • trotsky on 23/09/2018 - 16:33
      +3

      As I mentioned to OP in the original post they made in the Westpac thread, I am yet to find a bill I can't pay via amex one way or another. Options include:

      • Direct AMEX payment
      • Buy a gift card with AMEX
      • Postbillpay via PayPal
      • Payment via PayPal
      • Rewardpay (needs ABN)

      And I am probably missing some. Also, AMEX usually has much better terms, ie the Government spend (yes it is categorised as such) they are trying to spend on the AMEX is excluded entirely on the MasterCard, yet attracts either half or full points depending on categorisation on the AMEX.

      • gidxg03 on 23/09/2018 - 18:58

        I’ve had another look and Postpaybill does accept PayPal and Amex. Apologies trotsky I missed this first time round. I can pay our rates and that (unfortunately) smashes most of the $3k spend. Thanks for posting the advice.

        • scanuck on 23/09/2018 - 21:53
          +1

          Be careful government spend isn’t excluded (Post billpay maybe classified as such)

        • trotsky on 25/09/2018 - 07:01

          Government spend isn't excluded on AMEX, you can even happily pay the ATO at half earning rate, which you can't do on 99% of other cards with any point earn.

        • CyberMurning on 25/09/2018 - 10:37

          @trotsky: wow amex is really generous…

        • Yola on 25/09/2018 - 15:29

          @scanuck:
          I pay rates for 2 councils via Postbillpay with Amex and receive the points. Have checked this with Amex.

        • vr4indian on 02/10/2018 - 18:29

          Sorry but how do I use postbillpay with paypal or Amex? It shows only visa/Mastercard on https://paypaperbills.postbillpay.com.au/postbillpay/pay/def…

          • Yola on 04/10/2018 - 08:31

            @vr4indian: Unfortunately it looks like this biller only allows Visa/Mastercard and has arranged this with postbillpay. I have paid bills in the past which if you rang them only took payments by Visa/Mastercard but on postbillpay allowed paypal payment which then allowed Amex. But not in this case. Your only other option is to purchase Visa/Mastercard gift cards with Amex and pay the bill at the Post Office. (Sometimes the supermarkets offer bonus points for such purchases which eliminate the purchase fee) I would check with the PO first. I tried to do this with Car regio in Vic and although the PO staff were trying to be helpful that biller did not allow split transactions so I would have had to have a single gift card for $800.80. But they said that for others it can be done.

            • CyberMurning on 04/10/2018 - 10:31
              +1

              @Yola: "purchase Visa/Mastercard gift cards with Amex and pay the bill at the Post Office."
              hey that is a good idea.

            • CyberMurning on 08/11/2018 - 16:02

              @Yola: i got interesting case here. A council in Victoria:

              1. on their own website only allowed visa/master, surcharge 0.57%
              2. NOT on postbillpay yet
              3. in person at australia post office, they said only accept efpos or cash, not CC

              the only option i can think of: buy australia post mastercard prepaid with my amex (but only max $500 can be loaded) with $5.95 purchase fee.

              • Yola on 08/11/2018 - 19:06

                @CyberMurning: dragonindespair they are not making things easy for you. Will the $5.95 plus the points be cheaper than 0.57% or worth the extra cost for you?
                You can alos consider that Coles/Woollies sometimes offer bonus points for purchasing eftpos/Visa/ cards. Right now Coles has 1000 points ($5) for $100 card, usually this is 2000 points. In Coles but not Woollies you can only buy 1 per flybuys account, but these are easy to create and you can download a temporary card immediately. You should note you need $10 in the account before you can redeem it for $ off shopping.
                I stock up when they have these deals but you have to be early as they often run out of cards.
                I guess I am lucky. I pay rates at 3 councils and they all allow AMEX through Post Billpay.
                https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/144344/63591/capture.j…

                • CyberMurning on 08/11/2018 - 19:22

                  @Yola: Those Coles ones come at $50 and $100 only and has $5 card fee for each. and too complicated haha

                  The points I will get worth more I guess. So I went ahead with the above. Total fees $8.8 for $500 spent on amex.

                  can't always win.
                  The other 2 council rates, I done it postbill way, amex linked to PayPal.

                  • Yola on 09/11/2018 - 12:35

                    @CyberMurning: The bonus points cancel out the fee and when 2000 points give approx. 5% discount. Sometimes can even be purchased with discounted egiftcard - another 5% off. But yes it can be a bit complicated. You have to be dedicated or a bit crazy.

      • billy3000 on 23/09/2018 - 19:27

        Spot on!

      • cwongtech on 20/10/2018 - 12:32

        Postbillpay via PayPal
        Surcharge?

        • bluesky on 20/10/2018 - 15:54

          The few utilities, council, telecom bills I pay using this method - they do not impose a surcharge. Others might, I am not sure.

      • knobbs on 30/10/2018 - 17:29

        All of my rates/utilities/rego in QLD can not find a way to use AMEX without a % fee. They don't take postbillpay, only way I found was to go through a third party like DEFT that charges %.

        • CyberMurning on 30/10/2018 - 17:34
          +2

          When I worked on my minimum spend for Citi cc, I gave up and paid for those deft charges. But Citi found out those payments are to the government bodies and excluded them. Damn. Utilities were fine.

  • jjjaar on 23/09/2018 - 15:38

    Buy flights in 6 months that are refundable and wait for the points to clear then refund them.

    • trotsky on 23/09/2018 - 16:34
      +1

      They go back to the original CC account. Otherwise this is exactly how everyone would manufacture spend.

      • redfox1200 on 23/09/2018 - 21:00

        that's why you wait for the points to clear

        • CyberMurning on 30/10/2018 - 17:40

          But then you will hav3 bad mark on the bank record history I guess.

    • CyberMurning on 23/09/2018 - 16:19

      But becareful payment to government
      bodies usually not counted. Ie councils

      • trotsky on 23/09/2018 - 16:35
        +2

        They are on AMEX (but attract half rewards points. Fully counted towards min spend)

        • CyberMurning on 23/09/2018 - 18:40

          Thanks. I see. My experiences was with Citi cc ie visa, government payment is excluded.

      • temporiser on 24/09/2018 - 09:04

        Does this include Electricity and Gas payments to companies like EVO

  • Ocker on 23/09/2018 - 16:00
    +2

    Take my wife with you to David Jones or Myers, neither of them have a surcharge and she will max out your card in 15 minutes

    • CyberMurning on 23/09/2018 - 16:20

      Fine. But After that OP can take your wife to other places as he/she wishes?

  • bluesky on 23/09/2018 - 16:24
    +3

    Since Wish e-gift cards do not have an expiry anymore, one option is buy Wish cards at 5% discount from Cashrewards, and use them in the future at stores such as Woolworths Supermarkets, BIG W, Dan Murphy's, BWS, Cellarmasters and Caltex Woolworths Petrol.

    • CyberMurning on 23/09/2018 - 18:41
      +2

      Agree. And if you are in Sydney even better you can top up opal with those gc

    • smuggler on 23/09/2018 - 19:31
      +1

      what about normal woolies and coles gift cards?

      • bluesky on 23/09/2018 - 20:54

        Coles gift card expiry is 4 years. Both woolies gift and e-gift has no expiry.

  • cloudy on 23/09/2018 - 17:25
    +6

    Buy grocery gift cards. Store of value and use any time.

  • Spending2Much on 24/09/2018 - 08:52

    I've recently paid
    My telstra bill upfront for next couple months.
    Woolies E gift card where I normally shop.
    Bought eBay gift cards discounted from the recent deal on weekend.
    BP gift card where I normally fill up.
    Paid some bills, via PayPal.

    Add to this usual shopping/expenses betx

    Easily filled the 3kMC+3kAmex in 3 months requirements

    • bluesky on 24/09/2018 - 12:40

      Would you happen to know where to buy BP gift cards at a discount? Thanks.

      • Spending2Much on 25/09/2018 - 03:35
        +1

        Unfortunately not, I normally fill from local BP that has competitive prices, and swipe the velocity card.
        I fill up there normally, so I only pre paid my fuel the way I see it.
        I did get 200 velocity points in the card purchase, ($200 each card) but wasn't able to get a definite answer if the fuel buy and then gift card payment also gets velocity points……
        I'll be watching that when it comes around to use.

        • bluesky on 25/09/2018 - 12:57

          Yes, buying fuel using gift card certainly can earn velocity points. You just swipe the velocity card first, and then pay the fuel with the gift card.

          It is buying gift cards, that usually will not earn velocity points. But looks like it is enforced manually, so if the counter person lets you swipe to collect points, you get it. Otherwise no.

          • Spending2Much on 28/09/2018 - 20:35
            +1

            @bluesky: Looks like I'm double dipping points on fuel top with the gift card.

  • CyberMurning on 24/09/2018 - 11:47
    -1

    also be careful, some banks will say, BPAY is excluded (means not eligible).

  • Friendly Troll on 24/09/2018 - 22:04

    Use at bigger stores, like department stores or supermarkets which will accept Amex. Amex is all about the rewards, hence a higher fee that small merchants may pass on to you. Someone needs to pay for your points…

    Buy a few Apple products, Dyson etc to quickly reach minimum spend.

  • Samsungnote10 on 25/09/2018 - 00:13
    +1

    Cmo, 3k.in 3 months is easy.

    And yet you choose to shop using your Coles card.

    Youre not trying very hard.

    If the bonus is worth that much why Dont you pick up your shopping and pay with amex

  • Drifta on 29/09/2018 - 10:56

    Can someone please confirm if gov spend counts towards the spend limit on the mastercard & amex cards

    • Drifta on 29/09/2018 - 11:13

      Just found the details. Looks like on the mastercard it doesn't count, amex seems to be eligible but I'm not 100% on it

      • CyberMurning on 29/09/2018 - 11:48
        +1

        Visa i am 10000% sure doesn't count. Citibank cc

  • itbargainhunter on 02/10/2018 - 09:43
    • Most Maccas chains
    • Coles, Woolies, Petrol station that are Woolies branded
    • Telstra / AGL bill via paypal
    • Car dealers for deposit. Normally they will take up to 2-3K deposit and will accept Amex with no surcharge, since at the point of paying deposit they need your business. Depending on what car you / you family is buying however.
  • twofoursix on 03/10/2018 - 13:33
    Merged from CREDIT CARD SPEND - HOW TO REACH TARGET SPEND

    My application for Cr card has been approved and the reason I have applied for this card is to get some FF points. The only way I get points is if I spend $1,500 a month for three months.

    My Q’s is $1,500 a month is a lot on groceries & fuel to spend on, so I am turning to you guys to help me out with some advice or an easy way to reach the $1,500 spend every month without having any concerns.

    I know that any monies spent on this card I have to repay but my friend advised me with this (I am not sure whether this works). Shop with Myer/DJ or any retailer spend $500 -$800 on clothes & shoes and couple days later go back return the items & ask for refund either in cash or on a debit card and tell them that you have cancelled the CC that initial payment was done. He said it did work most of the times but not sometime. Wandering this would work at all? would Credit Card provider would know that items been refunded and not qualify for the points? OR do you have any similar tips that I can shadow to reach my spend limit and also not get into huge financial stress.

    NB: BPay, Insurance Bills, Govt bills/ taxes are not part of the $1,500 spend.

    • dcep on 03/10/2018 - 13:35
      +2

      gift cards

      • twofoursix on 03/10/2018 - 13:37

        HMMM NICE TA……

    • CyberMurning on 03/10/2018 - 13:40

      before posting "HOW TO" should do search…
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/404830

    • 87percent on 03/10/2018 - 13:40
      +2

      put everything on CC is the best way and then pay off at the end of the month.. everything from your morning coffee to petrol to dinner

    • CyberMurning on 03/10/2018 - 13:41
      +2

      Shop with Myer/DJ or any retailer spend $500 -$800 on clothes & shoes and couple days later go back return the items & ask for refund either in cash or on a debit card and tell them that you have cancelled the CC that initial payment was done. He said it did work most of the times but not sometime

      i believe, word for the above plan is FRAUD

      • twofoursix on 03/10/2018 - 13:43

        That was my opinion too but wasn't convinced when he said it but that was his way of getting the points but surely i won't be going that path…….

      • kerfuffle on 03/10/2018 - 14:20
        +1

        As someone who works for them: yeah we’re not going to give you cash or a refund back to your debit card. It’ll be to a gift card if you don’t have the original card used to pay for the items.

    • Shadowsfury on 03/10/2018 - 13:49

      I think if something got refunded it isn't going to count towards the minimum spend, unless you can time it such that the refund occurs past the 90 days (that is, if you can't get them to refund it to a different card). Keep in mind they refund to the same way it was purchased as a fraud prevention measure and so you're trying to circumvent that.

      $1500/month isn't too hard if its a Visa/Mastercard IMO. Use it for all your usual spending and hope a big bill has come along such as rates/insurance. At the end of the month do a top up with any of your bills like electricity/gas/water so that they're prepaid. Can also add money to your public transport card. My myki often has $400+ on it if I'm wanting to take advantage of any offers and don't have any other spend.

      • CyberMurning on 03/10/2018 - 14:36

        lucky you in nsw opal card can only has $250 max. very annoying.

        • kerfuffle on 03/10/2018 - 14:38
          +1

          Just buy a new Opal card; not like we’re other states and slug a card fee (yet)

    • Randxyz123 on 03/10/2018 - 13:53
      +3

      Shop with Myer/DJ or any retailer spend $500 -$800 on clothes & shoes and couple days later go back return the items & ask for refund either in cash or on a debit card and tell them that you have cancelled the CC that initial payment was done.

      That’s fraud and I hope your “friend” looses all his points…

      $1500 isn’t much

      Surely your mobile phone bill + internet bill + fuel + food + a few nights out with your mates will easily cover that.

      • CyberMurning on 03/10/2018 - 14:36

        agree. but probably OP is live with parents thus has zero expenses/bills.
        lucky him/her…..

      • illumination on 05/10/2018 - 13:07
        -1

        That’s fraud

        Which part is fraudulent?

        • trotsky on 06/10/2018 - 15:24
          -1

          The charge of "obtaining a benefit by deception" is commonly known as fraud.

          It does not have to apply to a pure dollar benefit - it applies to a vast number of situations where somebody used deception (whether it be illegitimate transactions, taking advantage of their access/knowledge/position, etc) to obtain benefits for themselves.

          Who's going to blow $3K on stuff they buy at a retailer and then try to return it ALL after the bonus is paid (which takes forever these days as banks wise up to past schemes) because they realised it wasn't the right fit or whatever other excuse. If you don't think it's gonna raise eyebrows, good luck to you.

          Also, as pointed out by someone who actually works in these chains before, they're not stupid enough to give you cash refund for your huge credit card purchase and will just give you a store credit, in which case, why didn't you just buy a gift card in the first place? Certainly hope you like that chain, because you'll be up $3K on credit with them.

          • illumination on 06/10/2018 - 17:30

            @trotsky:

            The charge of "obtaining a benefit by deception" is commonly known as fraud.

            Yea ok that's fair. Makes sense.

            From my past experience, what tends to happen is that the store credit option is what the stricter managers/staff will propose as an alternative. Otherwise, generally they're ok to refund it on a card in the same name as the original card used.

  • j24bauer on 05/10/2018 - 16:39

    I think you can book free cancellation hotels on Expedia/Booking.com/etc and hold onto them until your points are credited. Then after you get your bonus points, cancel the bookings for a full refund.

    This unintentionally seemed to work for me. I had a few hotels booked for an upcoming trip which pushed my balance to $3.9k and cancelled all but one which brought me back to around $2.8k. However my bonus points had already been credited to Qantas by then. I don't know if they would have been able to claw them back if I remained under $3k though?

    The above posters reckon this is fraud though? So if you aren't actually planning a trip then try at your own risk!!

    • melay0326 on 18/10/2018 - 23:46

      Works all the time! Just make sure you're not churning the card after you get the points

      • CyberMurning on 19/10/2018 - 08:06

        Churning here means? Close and re open? Ever?

      • illumination on 20/10/2018 - 07:04

        Just make sure you're not churning the card after you get the points

        Wait what? But that's one of the main points of churning..? Sign up to credit card, meet min spend, get bonus points, cancel credit card, unless it's just generally a good card.

        • CyberMurning on 20/10/2018 - 10:45

          Well because bank blacklisted you…
          (Buy something, get point, cancel the buy and run away)

          • illumination on 20/10/2018 - 19:48

            @CyberMurning: Oh do they do that? I wouldn't blame them but didn't know they actually did that lol

        • melay0326 on 20/10/2018 - 15:21

          Well if you churn the card straight away after you get the points you won't be able to get the refund from the cancelled hotel. You have to wait for the points and refund before you cancel the card

          • illumination on 20/10/2018 - 19:51

            @melay0326: Ah, that's true, but you worded it as if there was some other reason lol.

            In any case, I would imagine it is still possible to get the refund to a different card, but it's not as convenient as it would require more admin work - whether it be on their end, your end, or both.

  • watwatwat on 20/10/2018 - 15:46

    I plan to pay off a tax bill with amex but will have to pay 1.45% surcharge. Otherwise, will stock up on woolies gift cards for groceries and opal.

  • twofoursix on 25/10/2018 - 16:21
    -3

    Hello fellow Bargainers.

    I wanted to check whether the following would work in relation to Credit card minimum spend. Your expertise is much appreciated.

    I am struggling with keep with minimum spend on Cr card as most of my expenditure is Bpay, Rates, Govt bills, Insurance doesn't fall under eligible transaction and my fuel, grocery & clothing shopping doesn't meet the minimum spend.

    But when i was loosing hope on gaining the points, my friend advised me the following at the pub (as most of us get our financial advise at PUB ☺)

    His advise was, buy $300 or $400 (even higher to meet the minimum spend) worth of EFTPOS gift card and use the same card to pay the Credit card at the post office at the due date.

    So technically you paying the credit card debt with money borrowed through Credit card.

    Is this legit? or Do the credit card company would know about this and not qualify under eligible transaction?

    Please advise & appreciate sharing your knowledge in this matter.

    TA

    • trotsky on 29/10/2018 - 11:35
      +2

      It may, it may not. If it doesn't, it likely gets treated as a cash advance, doesn't count for min spend/points and you pay fees on it. You'll find these cards are difficult to source, most promos will exclude them and when you do get them you'll then find some merchants (eg, ATO) won't accept them.

      If you can't meet the minimum spend to get the bonus points, the sage advice would be to move on. I am in the fortunate position that I can meet min spend just off monthly expenses for the family alone, but if I couldn't, then I wouldn't be putting myself in the position of running up fees without getting the bonus points.

      • twofoursix on 31/10/2018 - 11:36
        +1

        Thanks a lot & i will consider your advise.

        Don’t understand why I get negative votes for asking for an advise but you have been kind. Thanks heaps.

        • Samsungnote10 on 31/10/2018 - 16:23
          +4

          Maybe cos you spent advice wrong

  • jowu15 on 12/11/2018 - 10:54

    interesting post

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join