Platinum Card at a Platinum Price (American Express)

Member Name: john.sw

Product:	American Express
Date:	04/02/01 (1404 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: No credit limit, free family cards, reward points, free travel insurance + perks

Disadvantages: £225 a year fee

The Amex Platinum Card is a nifty little number with no pre-set credit limit and numerous perks for the holder.

For an annual fee of £225 you not only get free international travel insurance for you and your family (for travel paid for with the card) but also can have extra Platinum or Gold cards for yourself and family members over 18.

The rewards scheme is included in the annual fee, and one point is given for each pound spent. Over the course of the year this soon mounts up, and points can be exchanged for a wide range of goods and services, including airline tickets, wine, hotels and car hire.

From time to time, American Express sends Platinum cardholders invitations to prestige events including pre-screenings of new films - absolutely free of charge. There are also Cardholder specials in some of the best stores where only Platinum and Gold cardholders can shop, sometimes with good discounts. Restaurant discounts are also available, as well as free companion airline tickets, and discounts often as high as 25% at other well-known shops and mail order companies.

The fee is high, but if you use the card to pay your telephone bills (home and mobile), your electricity and gas bills, petrol and other day-to-day expenses the reward points soon make up for it.

The telephone help line is excellent; I once had a problem with a store refund, and, unlike other card companies that make you do all the donkey work yourself, American Express telephoned the store concerned and sorted everything out within the hour.

Although there is no pre-set spending limit, Amex do ask that if you are going to make an unusually expensive purchase, i.e. a new car, that you telephone them first to let them know. In doing this you save time at the dealer, as Amex is already expecting the purchase and they have security details already.

One word of warning; do not use your free Platinum Cardholder luggage tags - unless you want
your luggage targeted by thieves!

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