Credit Cards

[tonsers]

I just received my new BofA Rewards Amex in the mail. I was doing some reading here - trying to learn how to avoid the dreaded Amex F/R.

I just stumbled across an old post about this card. Something like it is not a real Amex - it just uses their network at the point of sale. Can someone confirm this?

Does this mean that I won't need to worry about the F/R? I sometimes make large purchases on my BofA Visa and pay off in about 3-4 months - I was worried that a similar transaction on my BofA Amex would trigger a review....

Thanks!
tonsers

[bb1000]

Right. BOA issues the card. They report on your CR's. Amex, except when issued by Amex itself, is just like a Visa issued by BOA. I think what confuses people is the fact that Visa or MC don't issue cards directly like Amex does. BOA, Citi, USAA, and HSC all issue cards that use the Amex network now, but all of them retain ownership of the account.

[cheddar]

You will not get an F/R on your BofA Amex.  RJ, maybe, but not F/R.

[FretlessMayhem]

I'm thinking about changing my Platinum Plus Visa to this card when it comes in the mail, but, I don't see any reason to as I currently have Amex Blue, Clear, Green, and the Citi Dividend Amex.

Does this card offer anything the Platinum Plus Visa does not?

[cheddar]

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FretlessMayhem wrote:
I'm thinking about changing my Platinum Plus Visa to this card when it comes in the mail, but, I don't see any reason to as I currently have Amex Blue, Clear, Green, and the Citi Dividend Amex.

Does this card offer anything the Platinum Plus Visa does not?

---

Yep.  Retail purchase protection and extended warranty.

Amex will extend the manufacturer's warranty for one year on most things you buy with this card.

[haulingthescoreup]

Agree with the previous posters.

As I always say, my USAA AmEx is accepted everywhere that "real" AmEx is accepted, and rejected everywhere that AmEx is rejected. I have the usual AmEx buyer protections. I don't have the American Express rewards --my rewards are the USAA ones, plus the knowledge that I don't have to deal with American Express eccentricity.

So this is true of any co-branded AmEx, and also of Discover co-branded cards from Sams, HSBC, etc., btw.

[tonsers]

Wow, thank all for the info! I was having "applier's remorse" after getting this AmEx - worried about if my habits would trigger a review. This is really great news for me, I love BofA!

[MsQueenB]

Fretless,

If you don't mind me asking, why do you have so many AmEx cards?  Do you like them that much?  I would be afraid I'd be stting myself up for a FR which would prompt me to give them all back!