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American Express suspends its relationship with Curve Card, just 36 hours after launch

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Here’s something I didn’t see coming.  After launching with much fanfare on Monday, American Express suspended its relationship with Curve Card on Tuesday night.

This came just 36 hours after Amex functionality was launched to the public.  Amex cards had, however, been activated for a test group of Curve Card users for a few months before this.

(EDIT:  Curve has now published a lengthy blog post explaining how the split with American Express occurred.  I copied it into a separate article here.)

If you look on the Curve website, none of the cards are showing the option to link to American Express.  This means that the company is effectively back to the position it was in before Monday.

American Express sent me a statement last night which said:

“American Express participated in a limited Curve beta test where we enabled a small number of Card Members to load funds onto an e-wallet using their Amex Card in the Curve app. Following this beta test we informed Curve that we would not participate in the further roll out of the Curve e-wallet.”

I spoke with Curve’s CEO early this morning and, whilst for legal reasons I don’t want to repeat what he said, he confirmed the position with American Express.

Curve has sent the following to users:

“We are extremely sorry that the top-up functionality for your Amex wallet is currently disabled.

Like thousands of other UK merchants, Curve has a valid merchant agreement to accept Amex payments into its e-wallet. However, on Tuesday evening, Amex decided to terminate this agreement and block all Amex transactions to Curve with immediate effect.

Amex has given no good or fair reason for their decision and we feel it is entirely disproportionate and discriminatory to Curve and all our (joint) customers. UK payment regulations clearly state that Curve should be allowed to access the Amex payment network on a level-playing field with every other fee-paying and legitimate merchant.

Rest assured that you can still spend the funds that you have already topped up to your existing Amex Wallets. If you have contacted us for support, we apologise for the delay in response and will endeavour to do so as soon as possible. We will update you as soon as we have any further information.

With our customers interests in mind, and our mission to deliver to you a truly innovative product, Curve intends to fight Amex’s decision with its full might. We believe financial freedom is the future and we are prepared to fight for yours.”

If there is any more news during the day I will drop it into this article.

TechCrunch has decent take on the subject here if you want to read more.  It is worth noting that the Amex statement given to TechCrunch – 18 hours after my statement – is a bit different:

“We participated in a limited Curve beta test in which we explored enabling Card Members to load funds onto an e-wallet using their Amex Card in the Curve app. A very small number of Amex Card Members participated in the test. Based on the results, we communicated to Curve that we would not participate in the further roll out of Curve because of concerns related to the overall American Express Card Member experience. Subsequently we terminated our contract with them.”

Curve will pay you £10 for trying it out if you use our link.

PS.  In a separate (or perhaps not entirely separate) note, payment company Billhop – we covered Billhop here – sent the following email to users yesterday:

“Due to guidelines from American Express you will no longer be able to make payments to private accounts with an American Express card regardless if the purpose of the payment is related to a business transaction. This change will come into effect on the 7th of February 2019.

You will still be able to use a MasterCard and/or VISA card for transactions to private accounts relating to business transactions including, but not limited to, payroll, housekeeping, rent, nanny services, etc.

Please note that peer-to-peer remittance is still not allowed regardless of card.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.”

Note that this only covers payments to sole traders.  You can continue to use Amex via Billhop to pay a company, local authority, HMRC etc.

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Comments (788)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Neil says:
    30 Jan30 January 11:01

    Sadly think Curve’s goose is cooked… To twice launch something and have it pulled is more than careless.

    Some may be happy with the rest of their offering but others will see an element of chaos that they won’t put up with.

    The demise of Lloyds Avios leaves a gap for those looking for comission free overseas reward spend but the weekend thing with Curve and only be able to reallocate to the likes of IHG card won’t tempt me back to Curve.

    • Alex Sm says:
      30 Jan30 January 11:18

      The most appalling fact to me (still not fully resolved) is not the AMEX pullout but the fact was that they charged their early adopters a hefty £35 fee and never refunded it afterwards when they started giving them out for free with £5 rebate

      • Peter K says:
        30 Jan30 January 11:29

        But how is that really an issue? If you are the first person to get many things it is more expensive. The latest phone now rather than wait a year…more expensive. A brand new car released to the market rather than wait 6-12 months when they start to offer incentives…more expensive. It is the same with curve. I utilised the offer at the time of spending £1000 within a set time period to have the fee credited back to my account. Not really “an appalling fact” when you look at it.

        • Alex says:
          30 Jan30 January 11:51

          + 1. I was not a Curve client then, but if people thought it a great value and paid 35 quid for it, why would they expect a refund if the company’s pricing changed afterwards? And let alone calling it ‘appalling’….

        • Alex Sm says:
          2 Feb2 February 15:26

          No in the 21st century economy, @Peter K
          Most of the things like these are free or very cheap on launch to get a critical mass of customers and a market share and only THEN they start charging for all or some of their products/services

      • Mr Dee says:
        30 Jan30 January 12:34

        Glad I got a refund

        • Alex Sm says:
          2 Feb2 February 15:24

          What I eventually squeezed out of them was a free Black card – was pretty happy about that actually. Until this week

      • Louise says:
        30 Jan30 January 12:40

        DIdnt that include the Tumi wallet?

      • AndyW says:
        30 Jan30 January 14:15

        They did offer a refund at the time if memory serves.

        • Alex Sm says:
          2 Feb2 February 15:25

          For a very limited period of time. But I managed to get a free upgrade to Black eventually

    • Andrew L says:
      30 Jan30 January 14:51

      “To twice launch something and have it pulled is more than careless.” Really Neil?? Do you know something we don’t know??? I think not. Will everyone please take their Curve bashing bullshit else where.

      For now, Curve is very much alive and lets hope it stays that way!!!

      Thank you

      • Neil says:
        30 Jan30 January 15:47

        Not bullshit, Andrew.

        They appear to be unable to organise a piss up in a brewery.

        Delighted you’re happy with them.

  • BigSi says:
    30 Jan30 January 11:14

    Really disgusted with this whole episode. Disgraceful that Curve launched without all the legal agreements properly sewn up with AMEX. I signed up on Monday for the metal card and have wasted a lot of time with this. Have disputed these transactions with AMEX and will not be using Curve again. Pity as some of the benefits would have been useful and I was looking to do anything ‘fishy’.

    • Alex says:
      30 Jan30 January 11:25

      Seriously, ‘disgusted’, ‘disgraceful’, ‘have wasted a lot of time with this’ – are you a fan of hyperboles?

      And we do not know anything about the ‘legal agreements’ with Amex yet.

      • BigSi says:
        30 Jan30 January 11:57

        All true. This launch has been months in the making and from AMEX’s statement looks very much like Curve was the one that didn’t have the right to launch. Curve have sold me a card that doesn’t deliver the stated benefits.

        • BigSi says:
          30 Jan30 January 12:00

          and this is an example of a hyperbole… I’d climb Mount Everest just to see you for 30 more seconds (not disgusted or disgraceful).

        • Bonglim says:
          30 Jan30 January 12:15

          AMEX’s statement is just one side of the story, surely?

          We all remember the BA Virgin stuff. It would have been very easy to just believe BA (as the bigger more established airline) but clearly BA were wrong and Virgin correct.
          I think there just has to be a realisation that you are dealing with two different sides of the story and understanding that neither side is going to give you a statement without a whole load of side-spin.

        • Callum says:
          30 Jan30 January 13:13

          BigSi – Believing BA because they’re bigger is illogical. Believing Amex because Curve have a poor track record is logical.

          If Curve had a smoking gun I’d assume they would have used it already and not make us wait until tonight (though they could be in emergency negotiations I guess). You know what they say about assumptions though so who knows!

    • will says:
      30 Jan30 January 11:30

      We may never know the real reasons but if Curve just tried to target low hanging legitimate spend on amex then the concept is great, maybe daily spend under £200 for amex and no cash withdrawals or HMRC/council tax payments. That may not have been very interesting to many here but at least it should be attractive to amex in gaining extra market share without the possibility of people going to town on it.

      • Alex says:
        30 Jan30 January 11:55

        Maybe, though i think a low monthly limit like that could only work on a free Curve tier, as no one would be ready to pay a monthly fee and go through all the hassle for £200 Amex monthly spend, meaning that Curve would not really be able to earn anything out of it.

        • will says:
          30 Jan30 January 12:57

          £200 daily would give £6k monthly and they could even go a step further and limiting any spend at a single outlet to mitigate someone finding a way to get £6k a month in manufactured spending.

          Sure, they’d miss out on TV purchases and the like but realistically how many places where you buy a big ticket item don’t accept amex. IMHO allowing cash withdrawals and things like HMRC payments on an Amex was asking for trouble as was launching so close to SA return deadline!

      • Anna says:
        30 Jan30 January 13:49

        You can already pay council tax with Amex in some areas, that’s down to the council, not Amex.

  • Grant says:
    30 Jan30 January 11:37

    Rob – any indication on when we can expect a further announcement from Curve?

    I see the CEO was on twitter at 2am responding to the baying mob saying that there will be an update today which will change people’s view on the way this is playing out.

  • l says:
    30 Jan30 January 11:43

    Amex are agents are saying that they rolled out knowing that the agreement was being pulled .
    I for one want my £150 back.

    • Alex says:
      30 Jan30 January 11:59

      Wow, dumb move by Curve IF it is indeed so… they only reason could be real desperation to get subscription money/dramatically higher number of clients coming in, but even so – dumb if true.

    • Mr Dee says:
      30 Jan30 January 12:35

      Agree but why were amex reps sending emails out promoting the use of Curve is beyond me!

  • Benylin says:
    30 Jan30 January 11:50

    OT re: Shangri-la Jade member benefits

    1) “Partner stays in the same room and enjoys applicable breakfast benefit” – does this mean if I book a room just for myself (it prices cheaper than if I select 2 adults), my partner stays free?

    2) “Upgrade to the next best room category, if the reserved room type is not available at check-in” – any ideas if they offer free upgrade anyway?

    Looking to go SL Delhi, probably will book the basic room or does anyone have any experience on Club rooms.

    Or should I stay ITC Maurya? Have 2 nights in Delhi, start and end of my trip.

    • Alex says:
      30 Jan30 January 12:01

      Sorry, can’t really answer either of those… However did you look into booking via FHR? We stayed at 2 Shangri-La’s over this festive period and got all the points and benefits of ‘Jade’ on top of FHR benefits at both hotels.

  • Dominic says:
    30 Jan30 January 12:29

    Having just watched the Fyre Festival documentary on Netflix, this feels scarily similar. “We know it’s going to flop, but let’s just go ahead and pray the tactic somehow works.”

    • Grant says:
      30 Jan30 January 12:34

      My thoughts exactly.

    • Big Dave says:
      30 Jan30 January 12:39

      thats fintech/startup DNA unfortunately

    • Steve says:
      30 Jan30 January 13:09

      I’m convinced this is what it is. They need an injection of capital and getting subs + wallet payments perfect way. Maybe I’m cynical

    • Tom says:
      30 Jan30 January 14:14

      I agree; it doesn’t pass the sniff test. In October they declare they are looking for $50m of additional funding for expansion (received $12m up-till then). Then in January they take a massive gamble on the premise of an “open Beta” with significant upfront fees, no-doubt in full knowledge of how badly it could backfire and compromise fundraising.

      Even for a Fintech start-up, it seems irrational. At best it is an ill-judged, desperate attempt for user growth. At worst, it is a last-stand.

  • Big Dave says:
    30 Jan30 January 12:39

    Maybe curve can add the Amex wallet back but you populate it by paying with Aamex to their paypal address….

    • VJ says:
      30 Jan30 January 13:04

      Just pay to yourself in that case and use as you wish, why Curve 😀

      • John says:
        30 Jan30 January 13:58

        err because paypal doesn’t permit having two accounts or sending money to yourself (which is not to say it can’t be done, but you have to use an underhanded method)

  • Claire says:
    30 Jan30 January 12:54

    Having spent weeks outside of the UK recently, I appreciate Curve’s 0% FX recharged to various points earning cards. We have Lloyds Avios as well at the moment but that is closing soon. There are still many plus points, I hope they survive this mess up!

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