Why is AMEX not accepted in Europe?

AmEx cards are accepted in a few places, but much less than Visa or MasterCard. The reason behind this is purely economic - AmEx charges merchants higher fees per transaction, so smaller businesses choose not to accept them. The cards themselves are issued by a few banks in Europe, but they're just not popular.
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Why does Europe not accept American Express?

EU Payments Package imposes a new regulatory burden on the AMEX licensing business. Due to new regulations, American Express is no longer capable to compete with Visa and MasterCard when it came to bank cooperation. Thus, a hard decision was made, to exit all of its bank licensing arrangements in the European Union.
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Is American Express card accepted in Europe?

American credit cards work throughout Europe (at hotels, larger shops and restaurants, travel agencies, car-rental agencies, and so on); Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted. American Express is less common, and the Discover card is unknown in Europe.
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Which countries don t accept Amex?

Using American Express credit cards outside of the U.S. can be difficult compared to other cards.
...
Here are some countries that don't accept American Express at all:
  • Sudan.
  • Cuba.
  • North Korea.
  • Russia and Belarus (temporarily)
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Why is American Express not as widely accepted?

The different fees often make or break a deal for a merchant. This is why many merchants, especially small businesses, don't accept American Express. American Express' interchange fee is just too high. Providers like Visa and Mastercard charge between 1.15% and 2.5%, while Amex charges merchants between 1.43% and 3.3%.
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Why American Express Is NOT Accepted EVERYWHERE?



Is American Express A prestigious card?

Why It's One of the Most Exclusive Credit Cards: The most exclusive, prestigious credit card is without a doubt the American Express Centurion Card, otherwise known as the Amex Black Card. That's because it's the most famous.
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Is American Express the hardest card to get?

Centurion® Card from American Express

Why it's one of the hardest credit cards to get: The hardest credit card to get is the American Express Centurion Card. Known simply as the “Black Card,” you need an invitation to get Amex Centurion.
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Can I use Amex in Paris?

Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere, but American Express and Diners Club cards can be used in fewer places. When making payments, some merchants may have a spending minimum — 10 euros, for example.
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What is the most accepted credit card in the world?

Visa and Mastercard are by far the most widely accepted cards, with Discover slightly behind those brands and American Express in a distant fourth place. Any retailer that accepts card payments likely takes Visa and Mastercard. In terms of the number of countries serviced, Discover lags behind the other three cards.
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Can I use my Amex internationally?

American Express will not charge any foreign transaction fee on the purchases you make outside of the United States with your Card. However, there may be circumstances where ATMs or merchants charge a fee on foreign transactions.
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Is Visa or American Express better in Europe?

Most Widely Accepted Credit Cards in Europe

You're better off going with Visa or Mastercard when using a credit card outside the United States. Although American Express cards will sometimes work, Visa and Mastercard are much more widely accepted internationally.
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How do I use my Amex card in Europe?

Can I use my American Amex credit or debit card abroad? You can use your US Amex card abroad to make purchases or withdraw cash. However, it's not universally accepted, so if you're paying for goods or services you do need to check that the retailer is displaying the Amex symbol first.
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What is the best way to pay for things in Europe?

key takeaways
  1. European travelers should always have some cash on hand; getting it from an ATM abroad is usually the easiest, most advantageous way.
  2. Credit cards are generally accepted, especially in cities; but check with your card issuer about foreign transaction fees and currency exchange fees.
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Can I use Amex in Italy?

In Italy, cash is still preferred in most restaurants, cafes and other establishments, although credit and debit cards are becoming more widely used throughout Italy and are an increasingly convenient way to pay for things. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, although American Express is not.
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Does Amex charge international fees?

You can check if foreign transaction fees are waived for your Card through your online account. Otherwise, for personal and small business (OPEN) Cards we charge 2.7%, and for Corporate Cards, it's 2.5%.
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Which credit card does billionaires use?

The credit card billionaires are most likely to use is the Centurion® Card from American Express, also known as the Amex Black Card, which has unique benefits and is reserved for high-net-worth individuals. Some of the rich and famous people rumored to have the card include Jerry Seinfeld and Halle Berry.
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What is the average income for Amex Platinum?

Person Income/Business Income

On average, Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum cardholders tend to have high incomes. However, a high income is by no means a requirement. We recommend that your annual income be at least $50,000 or higher before applying for the Amex Platinum.
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What is the most elite American Express card?

1. American Express Centurion Card
  • The American Express Centurion Card is the most exclusive credit card in the world and is commonly known as the “Amex Black Card.” ...
  • The Centurion card is so exclusive that American Express won't release the card's full details or say how one can become a cardholder.
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Does Louis Vuitton in Paris accept Amex?

Accepted cards are Visa, Mastercard, American Express.
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Does Chanel in Paris accept Amex?

All credit cards are accepted.
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Is Amex accepted in Amsterdam?

American Express Cards in the Netherlands

American Express (AMEX) is active in the Dutch card market though as mentioned its cards are not as widely accepted in Europe as Visa or Mastercard.
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Why is the Amex Black Card so special?

The privileges of a black card include upgrades and special permissions for rental cars and access to some of the most breathtaking hotel suites in hard-to-reach destinations. Black cards also offer dedicated concierge services, and some are even rumored to provide charter jet service.
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How do I get invited to Amex Black?

Make at Least $250,000 in Purchases on Your Amex Cards

Although Amex doesn't publish a spending threshold to get invited, a solid rule of thumb is that you need to make at least $250,000 in annual purchases across all of your Amex cards.
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What is the heaviest Amex card?

Most widely available premium rewards cards are 12 grams or heavier. The Platinum Card® from American Express weighs 18.5 grams, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve® weighs 12.6 grams. How much does the AmEx Platinum weigh? The Platinum Card® from American Express weighs 18.5 grams.
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Is there a higher card than black Amex?

The most prestigious credit cards are the Centurion® Card from American Express, the J.P. Morgan Reserve Credit Card, and the Citi Chairman Card because all 3 cards are invitation-only.
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