topic Re: Plastiq and Amex in Credit Cards

Plastiq and Amex

red259 — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 00:32:54 GMT

I read plastiq started taking amex again but when I went to pay my student loans today with my amex it was rejected. Disappointing to say the least since I have large student loan payments and this change makes amex less valuable.

Re: Plastiq and Amex

CreditCuriosity — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 00:40:10 GMT

Hmmm student loans should work fine.. Might want to reach out to plastiq about this.

Re: Plastiq and Amex

red259 — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 00:47:00 GMT

@CreditCuriousity wrote:
Hmmm student loans should work fine.. Might want to reach out to plastiq about this.

I did and their only response was well use another card I guess. So I told them I wouldn't be using another card and maybe they want to contact amex because they are losing business and according to the terms this is something that should have been allowed. The CSR didn't seem too interested in escalating it though.

Re: Plastiq and Amex

CreditCuriosity — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 00:50:39 GMT

Hmmm interesting.. Wondering if they are still having issues with Amex not wanting people to use plastiq, but don't want to come out with the full "truth" ? I can try rent in the next few months, but no bonuses I am chasing on Amex currently :/.

Re: Plastiq and Amex

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 00:51:55 GMT

I've never tried using my Amex for Plastiq, just my MC. When going to the main web page though even before logging in on the main screen it shows the Amex logo, so I'm not understanding why they won't allow you to use it?

Re: Plastiq and Amex

simplynoir — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 01:00:01 GMT

I know there were issues with people using their AMEX on Plastiq late last month but supposedly those issues got fixed earlier this month. Might be something related to that.

Re: Plastiq and Amex

K-in-Boston — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 01:01:20 GMT

I used Amex twice with Plastiq at the beginning of the summer to pay for summer camp fees. (~$2k each) I needed the points at the time at the value outweighed the fees. If the charge was declined by Amex, I would contact Amex to find out why it was denied.

Re: Plastiq and Amex

Loquat — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 12:08:34 GMT

@red259 wrote:
I read plastiq started taking amex again but when I went to pay my student loans today with my amex it was rejected. Disappointing to say the least since I have large student loan payments and this change makes amex less valuable.

Just for giggles I tried to use my Amex moments ago and my experience is the same as the OP. It won't allow it...it suggest that I use another card. Amex logo is there but not accepting it.

Re: Plastiq and Amex

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 14:02:57 GMT

@Loquat wrote:
Just for giggles I tried to use my Amex moments ago and my experience is the same as the OP. It won't allow it...it suggest that I use another card. Amex logo is there but not accepting it.

Definitely an issue on their end then, no doubt. I just sent them an email informing them of the issue and that multiple people have tried Amex transactions in the last few days and they aren't working. I'll cut and paste the response I get back from them for everyone.

Re: Plastiq and Amex

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 16:34:03 GMT

Here's the response I got back. Amex can only be used with Plastiq for certain transaction categories:

Plastiq is unable to process American Express cards outside of the permitted industries outlined in Section 4.1, Part C of our Terms of Service. If your payment type is unsupported for American Express cards, other payment methods may still be used, including MasterCard, Visa, and Discover payment cards.

For Recipients in the United States, the use of American Express cards is permitted for the following industries: Government, Utilities, Education, Residential Rent and Club Fees and Memberships. So things like mortgage payments, loans, payments of that nature are restricted because of AMEX’s new policy on what payments can be processed through our website.

Re: Plastiq and Amex

mkhan1093 — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 18:16:30 GMT

I was having issues adding a new Amex card using their website on my desktop computer. As soon as I typed the "3" at the beginning, the message came up that Amex wasn't accepted, and the "Add Card" (or whatever) button greyed out. However, using the iPhone app, I was able to add the card easily.

When you guys say Plastiq won't allow Amex, do you mean that it won't allow you to add the card? Or when you actually make the payment, the transaction is denied? I have a scheduled payment coming up in 2 weeks.

Re: Plastiq and Amex

fltireguy — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 18:30:11 GMT

OK, so apparently it’s not me then. Try to use my AMEX honors last month to meet to spend requirement for the bonus while I paid my rent. It won’t let me. MasterCard Visa works OK, but the Amex will not go through.But, according to the terms of service it should work and it should not be an issue, because it is allowed. Looks like some kind of a problem on their end

Re: Plastiq and Amex

fltireguy — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 18:30:50 GMT

The transaction get denied, and AMEX doesn’t seem to have any record of it.

Re: Plastiq and Amex

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 19:10:36 GMT

Are those of you that are getting denied with Amex transactions trying to use it for a category that isn't allowed by Plastiq as indicated in my post on the previous page?

Re: Plastiq and Amex

simplynoir — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 19:18:27 GMT

Residential rent and education sure sounds like it should be allowed according to the email you received. Pretty sure it's a Plastiq issue and not with AMEX.

Re: Plastiq and Amex

fltireguy — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 19:24:48 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Are those of you that are getting denied with Amex transactions trying to use it for a category that isn't allowed by Plastiq as indicated in my post on the previous page?

Mine was for residential rent - no reason it shouldnt be allowed

Re: Plastiq and Amex

red259 — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 17:11:41 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Here's the response I got back. Amex can only be used with Plastiq for certain transaction categories:

Plastiq is unable to process American Express cards outside of the permitted industries outlined in Section 4.1, Part C of our Terms of Service. If your payment type is unsupported for American Express cards, other payment methods may still be used, including MasterCard, Visa, and Discover payment cards.
For Recipients in the United States, the use of American Express cards is permitted for the following industries: Government, Utilities, Education, Residential Rent and Club Fees and Memberships. So things like mortgage payments, loans, payments of that nature are restricted because of AMEX’s new policy on what payments can be processed through our website.

That last sentence is not what their terms of service says, so I take it that is just the rep's commentary. Later in ther terms it does refer to uncollaterized loans, so if student loans don't fall into the education category I would think something like a federally guaranteed student loan may not be considered uncollaterized, since its guaranteed by the federal government and therefore shouldn't be in the denial category?

Re: Plastiq and Amex

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 17:38:25 GMT

The more I read the email I shared above, the more it sounds contradictary to me. It basically says it can be used for certain categories, then cites that things are restricted and it points to several of the same categories. Not sure what is up with that.

Re: Plastiq and Amex

MrDisco99 — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 00:58:24 GMT

I had no trouble putting mortgage payments on my Amex a few months ago. Even when people started fussing about Amex getting refused I tried and saw no obstacles for me. Now I just got a Hilton Surpass card and it's telling me I can't use Amex to pay this recipient.

Looks like it's going to take longer than I thought to meet this bonus spend.

I was wanting to go back to paying the mortgage via direct draft anyway. It was starting to bug me how much I'd thrown away on Plastiq fees to churn bonuses. Also, adding some more time between my apps wouldn't be a bad thing.

Re: Plastiq and Amex

red259 — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 06:15:28 GMT

@MrDisco99 wrote:
I had no trouble putting mortgage payments on my Amex a few months ago. Even when people started fussing about Amex getting refused I tried and saw no obstacles for me. Now I just got a Hilton Surpass card and it's telling me I can't use Amex to pay this recipient.

Looks like it's going to take longer than I thought to meet this bonus spend.

I was wanting to go back to paying the mortgage via direct draft anyway. It was starting to bug me how much I'd thrown away on Plastiq fees to churn bonuses. Also, adding some more time between my apps wouldn't be a bad thing.

Visa and Amex do not allow mortgage payments via plastiq. Residential rent should still go through fine.