The Government turns the screw even further on your reward credit cards

I have written extensively about the new European Union regulations on credit card interchange fees which came into effect last week.

This article covers the key information.

You could (note, could) have summarised the situation as follows:

• The EU is capping the interchange fee (roughly equivalent to the fee charged to shops) on credit card transactions at 0.3%.  Historically this has been around 0.8% for Visa and Mastercard transactions.
• Debit card transactions are capped at 0.2%
• Only Visa and Mastercard are impacted
• American Express is NOT impacted directly.  Additionally – and this is important for our niche – Amex cards issued by MBNA, Lloyds and Barclays are not impacted until 2019.

We have already seen the some major changes in the market:

• Tesco has halved the rewards paid on the Tesco Clubcard MasterCard
• HSBC Premier will halve the miles paid on its card from January
• Many non-travel cards have also changed their reward structures.  Some, such as NatWest with Your Points, have abandoned rewards entirely.

Could it get any worse?  It just has.

On 8th December, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) – the part of the Financial Conduct Authority which oversees the implementation of this law – made an announcement.  You can read it here.

American Express cards issued by MBNA, Lloyds and Barclays will NOT get a three year grace period.  With immediate effect, the interchange fee on these cards must be cut to 0.3%.

This has come about because the PSR has decided to impose a clause in the rules which exempts any card company with a market share of above 3% from the grace period.  American Express has a UK market share of above 3%.

This is, admittedly, just a temporary ban until 31st March when a final ruling will be issued.  It is difficult to imagine how the final ruling will be any different, however.

What does this mean for loyalty credit cards?

What it appears to mean is the end of the American Express / Visa or American Express / Mastercard double pack.

As Amex cards issued by third parties are now restricted to the same 0.3% fee as Visa and Mastercard, it is pointless to continue issuing them.

Unless the final ruling in March sees a dramatic turn around, we will presumably see the removal of American Express cards from the BMI, Lufthansa, Lloyds Avios, TSB Avios, Etihad, Emirates, Virgin etc credit card ‘double packs’.  This will mean that only the low-paying Visa or Mastercard option will remain.

This ruling has no impact on American Express cards issued directly by Amex

For clarity, Amex cards issued by Amex itself are not, and will never be, impacted by these EU rules.

This means that the British Airways, Starwood, Nectar, Gold, Platinum, Platinum Cashback, Green, Harrods etc cards will continue as they are.

Don’t count your chickens too soon, though.  With Visa and Mastercard charge cut to 0.3% from 0.8%, shops are less likely to want to pay the typical Amex charge of 1%+.  If Amex is forced to cut its fees to retain key contracts, this will be passed on in the form of lower rewards.

The squeeze on your rewards credit card just got tighter, I’m afraid.

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Want to earn more points from credit cards? – April 2024 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.

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You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

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