topic Re: Botox vs. Amex in Credit Cards

Botox vs. Amex

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:38:07 GMT

Would getting Botox injections be a red flag /FR reason for Amex?

Re: Botox vs. Amex

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:09:25 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Would getting Botox injections be a red flag /FR reason for Amex?

....? what? Why would a personal purchase have anything to do with how a company feels about you?

Re: Botox vs. Amex

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:28:25 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:
Would getting Botox injections be a red flag /FR reason for Amex?

....? what? Why would a personal purchase have anything to do with how a company feels about you?

Remember, this is AMEX we're talking about there.

There have been reports that, if you use your AMEX card in certain places, like pawnshops for instance, AMEX reviewers looking at your account will view such purchases negatively. There's no complete list of such places or types of businesses, so in addition to the financial review, AMEX users now have to be paranoid that some purchase of theirs someplace will be deemed "lowbrow" by AMEX and result in a CLD or other drama.

Judging from the stories I've read here, whoever handles accounts at AMEX appears to have far too much time on their hands. I think I'll avoid the whole mess and just use my BofA card. That way, if I happen to have lunch at Hooters sometime, I won't have to worry about some overly nosy busybody dunning me for it.

Re: Botox vs. Amex

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:49:58 GMT

I used my Blue Cash (15k) at McDonald's to purchase a whopping $1.07 for sweet tea.

And yes, I will make a $0.27 purchase just because I want to.

Re: Botox vs. Amex

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:17:49 GMT

This is exactly why I didn't apply for an amex card. They are being so stingy with things so instead I got an amex card but issued from BoA.

Re: Botox vs. Amex

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:35:14 GMT

It's just I don't want to be sitting in the chair getting some botox and then have the receptionist coming in and saying "your card has been declined"...then end up lopsided because only one side of my face was done. Yeah, I think I'll use the BOA.

Re: Botox vs. Amex

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:10:57 GMT

There was a recent thread talking about this, but I'm too lazy to go and find it. The gist of it was, not only AmEx, but credit card companies in general can look at the merchant codes of your purchases, and if they see porn, ABC store, gun store, ABC store, pawn shop, gun store...

Let's just say, porn, alcohol and guns don't go hand-in-hand with a stable lifestyle and fiscal responsibility.

Re: Botox vs. Amex

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:47:05 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Let's just say, porn, alcohol and guns don't go hand-in-hand with a stable lifestyle and fiscal responsibility.

But I love all 3!!!!!!!!! >

Re: Botox vs. Amex

fused — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:48:15 GMT

Jubeyy wrote:
It's just I don't want to be sitting in the chair getting some botox and then have the receptionist coming in and saying "your card has been declined"...then end up lopsided because only one side of my face was done. Yeah, I think I'll use the BOA.

Always carry a back-up card, I do.

Re: Botox vs. Amex

MidnightVoice — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:04:32 GMT

fused wrote:

Jubeyy wrote:
It's just I don't want to be sitting in the chair getting some botox and then have the receptionist coming in and saying "your card has been declined"...then end up lopsided because only one side of my face was done. Yeah, I think I'll use the BOA.
Always carry a back-up card, I do.

I never carry my Amex - I just use it for regular bill pays and hotels and computers and stuff

Don't use it in public, only between consenting adults in private

Re: Botox vs. Amex

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:05:10 GMT

Won't the transaction be listed as "dermatologist" or "spa"?

Re: Botox vs. Amex

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:49:15 GMT

Well, I'd say in AMEX's eyes you would have a lot of disposable income if you're buying botox.

Re: Botox vs. Amex

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:50:12 GMT

MidnightVoice wrote:

Don't use it in public, only between consenting adults in private

That sounds like behavior AMEX would frown upon

Re: Botox vs. Amex

Anonymous — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:29:57 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
There was a recent thread talking about this, but I'm too lazy to go and find it. The gist of it was, not only AmEx, but credit card companies in general can look at the merchant codes of your purchases, and if they see porn, ABC store, gun store, ABC store, pawn shop, gun store...
Let's just say, porn, alcohol and guns don't go hand-in-hand with a stable lifestyle and fiscal responsibility.

Not into porn, but I have used my Amex Gold card to pay for a couple of guns and several trips to the ABC store without incident. I even used it to purchase a Walther PPK at a gun show and didn't have any issues.

Re: Botox vs. Amex

Anonymous — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:12:56 GMT

From now on, I shall charge nothing but porn on my AMEX.

Re: Botox vs. Amex

Anonymous — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:39:14 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
There was a recent thread talking about this, but I'm too lazy to go and find it. The gist of it was, not only AmEx, but credit card companies in general can look at the merchant codes of your purchases, and if they see porn, ABC store, gun store, ABC store, pawn shop, gun store...

Let's just say, porn, alcohol and guns don't go hand-in-hand with a stable lifestyle and fiscal responsibility.

As I saw on a T-shirt, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency.

I think AMEX is being shortsighted on this one. Try telling Hugh Hefner or Larry Flynt that porn is a sign of financial instability. (And no, I'm neither advocating nor condemning pornography, but merely pointing out that porn=poor is a fallacy.)

Re: Botox vs. Amex

Anonymous — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:10:03 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:

There was a recent thread talking about this, but I'm too lazy to go and find it. The gist of it was, not only AmEx, but credit card companies in general can look at the merchant codes of your purchases, and if they see porn, ABC store, gun store, ABC store, pawn shop, gun store...

Let's just say, porn, alcohol and guns don't go hand-in-hand with a stable lifestyle and fiscal responsibility.

As I saw on a T-shirt, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency.

I think AMEX is being shortsighted on this one. Try telling Hugh Hefner or Larry Flynt that porn is a sign of financial instability. (And no, I'm neither advocating nor condemning pornography, but merely pointing out that porn=poor is a fallacy.)

There will always be outliers in any model, and we can always point to a few anecdotal examples that don't "fit the mold." That doesn't mean the numbers aren't valid for the population as a whole, though.