All merchants should know better than to accept Amex.

Back on topic:

[quote author=fasteddie  link=1096793086/0#0 date=1096803886]Details available here: http://users.bigpond.net.au/westats/ps/amex.html

I'll be happy to answer any questions on this forum or if you PM me.

Eb [/quote]

All merchants should know better than to accept Amex.

How sick and disgusting, sinful and shameful.  I had no idea Amex allowed the Amex credit card to be used for this, whether the so called industry is 'legal' or not:

Quote:

[quote author=AmericanExpressSux  link=1096793086/0#5 date=1097639265]How sick and disgusting, sinful and shameful.  I had no idea Amex allowed the Amex credit card to be used for this, whether the so called industry is 'legal' or not:



[/quote]


An interesting perspective. I'm not sure if you are suggesting Amex shouldn't deal with the industry in it's entirety or they simply shouldn’t perpetuate this scam.

A little bit of background on the situation in Australia – which probably contrasts markedly to most readers’ understanding of the US scenario:

The so-called “sex industry” in Australia is worth approximately $A 1 Billion pa – it’s hard to put an accurate figure on it since it also includes strippers, adult bookshops, bars & cinemas and the illegal/unlicenced elements – not just the legitimate brothels and escort agencies.

Laws differ in the various States and Territories in Australia; some just have varying degrees of  “decriminalisation” (ie. it gets tolerated – sort of) whilst others are not just legalised, but very heavily regulated.

In my state (Victoria) two successive governments in the late 80’s / early 90’s introduced some major reforms and it’s now a very professionally managed and licenced industry that pays its taxes, with all sorts of regulations to cover health and safety issues etc. That’s not to say they don’t have their share of problems, but these are mainly confined to the sleazier criminal/underground sector – which regrettably still exists. Legislative reviews continue – we’re now up to Version 51 of the Act.

Consumer and Anti-discrimination legislation also varies across the States and Territories in Australia. For instance in the ACT it is illegal to discriminate on the grounds of  “Occupation, trade or calling”. It would probably be quite illegal for Amex to simply refuse to deal with a merchant in the (legal) sex industry EVEN THOUGH an internal policy document (documented as an exhibit during the trial) states they won’t provide a merchant facility for the purposes of “prostitution”.

Instead what they’ve done is make it almost impossible for a merchant in that industry to deal with Amex on a fair and equitable basis.

The dilemma for Amex’ management in Australia is that most of their policy directives emanate from offices at 200 Vesey Street, New York. Consequently, their understanding of “core values” and morality is often way out of touch with social and legal principles in other countries.

And ironically, their hard-nosed policy ALLOWS for this abhorrent scam to continue.

Fasteddie, that you make sense given the name of this site.

I've heard of a business reserving the right to do business with anyone.  Seems that American Express could refuse to let their card being used for this purpose.

I'm not sure If I understand everything you're saying here, scam? but that's ok, this is not a topic I'm that interested in.  Anyone who has to pay for it must not be able to get it otherwise: Sick, creepy wierdos.  No standards, i agree sinful and disgusting but probably keeps down the levels of sex crimes like rape.

You suck

So does this mean that it might be accurate to characterize Amex as a pimp of Australia's sex industry?

I've been gone for awhile and just reviewed some postings.  I'm sorry that Remote and Crawfish Joe are not allowed to post here anymore.  They were warned but were just too big for their britches or their amexsux thongs   LaUgh  (it figures, they both were kind of cheeky!) ;|D

http://www.cafepress.com/amexsux.12077900

and thought the webmaster liked them since they were good at slamming aefa.  (amexsux merchandise made in America - wonder if these will be all of the USA jobs left! after all of the evil corporatiaons offshoare all of the jobs!)

I have nothing against amex but could not resist to post:  If they are going to change their name, I've got one:   devilEVILAMEX!  devil (just kidding, Amex!)  (not).    

I do think Amex got rid of most of the bad bosses by now, because I've heard that they are now at IBM, handling the amex account!    Backstabbing coworkers are gone, too!   8)  They're now at IBM, too!  I had some friends that worked for those bad bosses and with those backstabbing coworkers and from what they told me, it was not a pretty site!  My friends, the prior f&cked over employees felt used and abused.  
Now, if they'd just get rid of  the evil  devil HR people, maybe they could move over to  IBM, too!  DeAl that would be a tremendous improvement!   DeAl

I'm just kidding, Amex!  (not!)  

AmexDevil devil

;|D

On Second Thought, when you think about it, thaat would mean that ibm would change their name to evilibm (very blurred and ambigiuous, but these are really the evil amex people!)     LaUgh   Hmmm, since they LEFT (well, not literally just different paycheck stubs), then, that must mean it's a better companynow! 8)

Do the math:  subtract the evil hr, then here's a good name:  Koolamex  8) ;|D