@Optiplex330

Well yes, as pointed out, acceptability in Malaysia is unfortunately on the low side. If most of the places you frequent does not accept Amex, then the card simply doesn't suit you. Some on the other hand, swipe rather large amounts over time at the places they frequent

Large amount? Insurance premium are pretty large but they don't want AMEX. As for overseas travel, I heard AMEX's rate aren't good. For local travel, LCCT shop don't want them. For Dell computer, they tried to talk you out of using it. For everyday expenses like petrol, Petronas dont' want them either. So what else do you do with it?

This post has been edited by Optiplex330: Oct 29 2009, 10:46 PM

I do not know why wouldn't most Petronas stations accept AMEX.

Anyway, Most insurance companies do not accept AMEX due to the sky high merchant fee. LCCT might not be small, but Old Town is. Old Town is just a small Malaysian coffee house chain. If the big players such as McDonalds and KFC do not accept AMEX, i am not surprised at all if Old Town do not accept AMEX.

We do not know what are the terms Maybank and American Express agreed on when Maybank took over their business in Malaysia a few years ago. Maybank probably is paying them millions of dollars in royalty fee alone every year which is why Maybank has been promoting AMEX so fiercely in the last couple of months. Besides, most likely American Express USA is also getting a cut of their total sales using the AMEX brand in Malaysia besides the annual royalty fee. It means that the cost is extremely high. So we can't really expect Maybank to lower down the merchant commission at the moment.

Even in the USA, many stores also do not accept AMEX. The Americans have been complaining about this too but still many people are using it. I personally have no problem using AMEX. As a matter of fact, before my mom cancelled her AMEX Green Charge Card in September, she managed to redeem RM600 of vouchers and RM300 cash rebate and she's been using the card for only eight months


Totally agree with ellimist. If the places you frequent do not accept AMEX, then it is not the card for you.


Did you buy it online ? Nobody called to ask me to use another card when i placed an order online last year. I was using the Maybankard AMEX Gold then. We only switched to charge card in February this year. But then it wouldn't make any difference between an AMEX credit card or charge card as the merchant fee is the same.


As suggested last time, switch to SHELL then.

I have my favorite Dell agent and don't normally buy online. Mainly by email/phone. They tell you things like, if you use AMEX, it will take longer to get the order processed.

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Added on October 30, 2009, 12:22 amAny shop in a big major INTERNATIONAL airport not accepting credit card is unthinkable. Does not matter how big or small is the shop. If Old Town not in LCCT, I can also understand them not accepting AMEX.

This post has been edited by Optiplex330: Oct 30 2009, 12:27 AM

Well AMEX Gold Credit Card works for me. Here's why:

1) Free for life.
2) 5X points when I fill up at Shell
3) Buy tickets at Air Asia. Can also use to buy MAS tickets via tele-payment. This service was just launched recently. Hopefully will extend to online
purchase soon.
4) I can use it to buy stuff at online stores in the US via Globaleshop.
5) I get 15% cash rebate when used at AMEX merchants in all major shopping malls in Klang Valley from November 09 - February 10.
6) Most of the places I patronise accept AMEX e.g. Parkson, MPH, Pizza Hut,..and I get 2X points for all retail purchases
7) Get 5X points when I sign-up for Autopay with Maxis & Telekom, 2x points for Astro.
8) Make payment via M2U. So convenient.

When buying at shops that dont accept AMEX...no problem... I just whip out my Maybank Visa Petronas card. And what I like most is the points for both my AMEX Gold Credit Card and Maybank Visa Petronas Card are "evergreen" i.e. no expiry date

So I am pretty happy with my AMEX Card......so far

I noticed that the number of AMEX merchants in Malaysia are SLOWLY BUT SURELY increasing..which is great for AMEX "kaki" like me. I believe this must be due to aggressive recruitment drive by Maybank ever since they bought the franchise or rights or whatever u call it a few years back.

This post has been edited by tiger63: Oct 30 2009, 01:18 AM

Do they accept VISA or Mastercard ? I didn't know they accept credit card as a payment option at all.

Old Town is not the only one. There are many shops that do not accept credit card at international airports that are a few times bigger than KLIA/LCCT such as in Changi, Chek Lap Kok, Rhein-Main and Charles de Gaulle. Even the Burger King in KLIA domestic airside terminal and satellite terminal also do not accept credit card.


Same here. Most of the places i frequent all accept AMEX. Lucky me

This post has been edited by MilesAndMore: Oct 30 2009, 01:16 AM

Does AMEX provide travel insurance (lost of life, luggage delay etc) when you use it to buy airline ticket? I don't recall seeing it being mentioned.

@Optiplex330
Lol I could probably give as many examples as yours to places that accept Amex on my regular usage, but what's the point. As I said, if you find you hardly swipe it, it's not suitable for you, get rid of it.

And to answer your question

@ellimist

Is it the travel insurance only applicable to Amex charge card?

@tengcm

Well the plat credit card and Krisfyler cards have travel insurance as well. Only one that doesn't have any mention of it is the Gold Credit Card. Not sure bout Maybank co branded ones

I meant to ask, are there any free travel insurance for Gold Credit Card? I don't recall seeing it. Would appreciate the link.

I'll record the audio, date, time, person and make formal complain to Dell. They should not be threatening or mis-laid potential/existing clients, especially if they are you regular sales/agent.

They did not say they will not accept AMEX so there is nothing to complain about. They only say it will take a day or 2 extra in processing payment. In other word, if you want to use AMEX, your order will arrive a bit later. So I just use my Alliance MC instead which also have cash rebate.

Then it is fine. Using Visa/MC entitles you for 0% installment payment.

No. All the AMEX do come with a personal travel insurance except for the Gold credit card.

That is what I thought. That would be one more reason not to use AMEX Gold CC for buying airline tickets. So far, I am finding more reason not to renew this card when the RM50 charges kicks in next year.

I was planning to get both the AMEX Gold credit card and AMEX Gold charge card next year with me being the principal cardholder that is. But i am having a second thought now since the government announced they are going to charge us for having credit cards

Update: Finally all my auto-pay is working, i.e. I saw the first transactions all done and all merchant side already got payment.

Finished dealing with MBB CS Now I can deal with machines

@Optiplex330

The Dell thingie sounds very much like they're trying to discourage you from using Amex; can't think of why the processing should take longer. Should probably complain about such procedures, but since you've used your Alliance, all is good huh

Yea, think Gold CC is the one without travel insurance among the non Maybank co branded ones

Dear all

After thorough discussion with AMEX CS just now and after receiving both Gold Charge card and Credit card, here are the important details:

Charge Card
- annual fee about RM100+ but at the moment still waived
- balance and MR points can check at amexmalaysia website, not mb2u
- turbo rewards 3x is available for RM50 fee
- no differentiation in purchase of petrol, grocery, book store, all with receive either 2x or 3x MR points with or without turbo rewards

Credit Card
- lifetime annual fee waiver
- balance is available in mb2u, at this moment its says Treatspoint but it is actually MR points, mb2u is trying to fix this
- no turbo rewards 3x MR points available
- 5x MR points for petrol, grocery, etc as advertised, but other purchases will only get 2x