Costco AMEX Replacement Card

[scrinch]

Amex is a wonderful card as far as consumer protection. My car dealer cheated us, charged nearly $2000 to replace a water pump on an old car, it turned out they never did. I called the general manager at Ford, he basically low balled me, he wanted to give me $400. I called American Express and they eventually refunded the whole amount. This happened on multiple occasions.

If this had happened to me, after that dealer had tried that stunt a second time, I would have started looking for someone else to replace my water pump!

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[aja8888]

Amex is a wonderful card as far as consumer protection. My car dealer cheated us, charged nearly $2000 to replace a water pump on an old car, it turned out they never did. I called the general manager at Ford, he basically low balled me, he wanted to give me $400. I called American Express and they eventually refunded the whole amount. This happened on multiple occasions.


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Putting the fraud aside, you reall should consider shopping car expenses. $2,000 for a water pump is down right ridiculous. A water pump is typically a $150 - $200 part (with dealer markup). Installation is a couple of hours tops.

 

[Fedup]

Putting the fraud aside, you reall should consider shopping car expenses. $2,000 for a water pump is down right ridiculous. A water pump is typically a $150 - $200 part (with dealer markup). Installation is a couple of hours tops.

It was a time crunch, my kid needed that car. My husband normally does a lot of car stuff but he didn't have the time. Also when we took them in, the estimate was low, then they said they discovered something else was wrong, it would cost us money, maybe $500, to put them back without fixing it. So lot of things, not just water pump.
But my kid drove the car and still had problem a month later, we brought them back to the dealer and other mechanics said they didn't have a new water pump. Luckily we still kept the paper of what they charged. I wish I could get all these guys fired. But I never ever shopped there again.

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[audreyh1]

Thanks - I just don't like missing something. I mean, I hope they send my new cards to the right place!!!

I did get that letter this week. I'm glad I got it, because it's the credit card agreement, and I usually keep those.

Now I expect to get the cards this month. Given how spread out the sending of this last letter was, we'll probably be at the tail end on the cards too.

 

[target2019]

Citi is gonna have to add some sweetener for me to use another card.

We're no longer Costco members.

 

[audreyh1]

Citi is gonna have to add some sweetener for me to use another card.

We're no longer Costco members.

You have to be a Costco member to have this card anyway.

I don't have anything else giving me 3% back on dining and travel.

 

[meierlde]

Putting the fraud aside, you reall should consider shopping car expenses. $2,000 for a water pump is down right ridiculous. A water pump is typically a $150 - $200 part (with dealer markup). Installation is a couple of hours tops.

The amount of labor needed to replace a waterpump varies on some modern cars it can be many hours as they have to half take the engine apart to replace it (Chevy Cruze 1.4 turbo engine it took 3 days of labor after the parts came in to replace the waterpump, but luckily it was under an extended warranty as GM had enough of them fail to put the warranty in)

 

[aja8888]

The amount of labor needed to replace a waterpump varies on some modern cars it can be many hours as they have to half take the engine apart to replace it (Chevy Cruze 1.4 turbo engine it took 3 days of labor after the parts came in to replace the waterpump, but luckily it was under an extended warranty as GM had enough of them fail to put the warranty in)

Agree that time for water pump replacements can vary car to car, but I have a hard time believing that it is normal for a Cruze to take 3 days of labor to do that repair. That's a 4 cylinder turbocharged engine and those engines have the pump in the path of the timing belt like many other 4 cylinder turbocharged engines (I have two). If valve timing is via a chain, the pump may be electric.

I work on cars for a hobby these days and have changed quite a few water pumps in the last several years. Cooling system plumbing is generally on the outside of the engine and designed for access without ripping apart major engine components like cylinder heads and turbos. Turbos are part of the intake and (sometimes) exhaust systems and generally not anywhere near the water pump.

 

[Fermion]

Turbos are part of the intake and (sometimes) exhaust systems and generally not anywhere near the water pump.

I thought turbos were always part of the exhaust system? The hot, expanded exhaust being what spins the turbine at high speeds (and causes the turbo itself to get pretty hot!)

 

[nwsteve]

If traveling to Canada and planning to use Costco, be sure to have a MasterCard with you.
We are just returning from a jaunt in our RV to BC/AL and pulled into a Costco to gas up and surprise, surprise no Amex. They have already converted--apparently went with a Cap One MasterCard. No Visa or Amex still accepted. Still take your debit but for us that would have gotten a 3% For exchange fee.
Nwsteve

 

[audreyh1]

If traveling to Canada and planning to use Costco, be sure to have a MasterCard with you.
We are just returning from a jaunt in our RV to BC/AL and pulled into a Costco to gas up and surprise, surprise no Amex. They have already converted--apparently went with a Cap One MasterCard. No Visa or Amex still accepted. Still take your debit but for us that would have gotten a 3% For exchange fee.
Nwsteve

Wow - I knew they had converted already, but forgot it was MasterCard. I'd be sure to carry my Schwab debit card anyway - no FX fees.

 

[Fedup]

If this had happened to me, after that dealer had tried that stunt a second time, I would have started looking for someone else to replace my water pump!

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We never replaced the water pump. My husband put something in and it's working ok. We still have the car.
When I mean it happens on multiple occasions, I didn't mean on the water pump, I meant on multiple transactions that I felt cheated, American Express took my side. I got full refund on many occasions.

 

[mpeirce]

Our new Citi Costco cards arrived yesterday complete with my photo on the back. Valid thru 11/17.

"Begin using June 20" on the sticker.

One other item, this is the first card I've had that doesn't have "raised numbers" for the account - guess I won't be using an imprint machine with it ;-)

 

[audreyh1]

Our new Citi Costco cards arrived yesterday complete with my photo on the back. Valid thru 11/17.

"Begin using June 20" on the sticker.

One other item, this is the first card I've had that doesn't have "raised numbers" for the account - guess I won't be using an imprint machine with it ;-)

Woo hoo! I figured some folks should start getting them about now as they were supposed to be sent in May, and I figure it will takes some weeks for everybody to get the cards.

I had hoped we could use them as soon as we got the cards, and only have to wait until June 20 to use them at Costco. Well, I suppose it's necessary for accounts to be transferred on midnight June 19, so can't run parallel accounts until then.

I'm really glad to know your photo is on the back. I was wondering about that part.

 

[Another Reader]

Did the credit limit remain the same? I'm curious if Citi will evaluate the new borrower population and change the limits and future offers accordingly. This is a fresh customer list for them and will likely result in them sending targeted offers to desirable customers. The blurb from Costco said a small number of accounts will not be included in the new Citi program. Presumably these are the problem customers that Citi did not want.

 

[mpeirce]

A tad more.

I wasn't able to log into citi account access. I entered my info three times, but it failed each time. Maybe they aren't setup for that yet?

Also noticed an icon on the back of the card that looks like a bit like a WiFi icon. Apparently this means the card will work with contactless terminals. Haven't heard anything official about this though.

Citibank ? Contactless payments with Citi credit cards

That link's for Czech Republic, did see one for UK, but not for US.

 

[nwsteve]

We got our cards this week. No change in credit limits noted.
Activated at Citi's site noted on card. Card still not good until June 20
Nwsteve

 

[Chuckanut]

Once I get the new Costco Visa with a 3% cash-back on travel expenses, I will have to re-evaluate some of my travel credit cards.

 

[Fermion]

So everyone is now getting the card in the mail? We have about 4 days before we leave and I would like to have the card instead of having to wait for it to get forwarded to us on the road.

Anyone on the west coast gotten their card yet?

 

[nwsteve]

So everyone is now getting the card in the mail? We have about 4 days before we leave and I would like to have the card instead of having to wait for it to get forwarded to us on the road.

Anyone on the west coast gotten their card yet?

Live in East WA and got our cards this last week.
BTW, cards are NOT good until June 20 2016. Perhaps you will be back by then?
Safe Travels
Nwsteve

 

[powerplay]

I'm in Oregon and have not received the new card yet.

 

[Gotadimple]

I live in western Washington. Got my new card on Friday.

 

[Another Reader]

It came today. Same credit limit. Restaurants do not include bakeries. Guess they don't consider Panera Bread or its' clones to be restaurants.

Now to find a safe place to keep the darn thing until June 20th!

 

[calmloki]

Just got our cards today - western Oregon

 

[KB]

Not yet in CA.