In short
- Almost no UK landlords, councils or schools take American Express directly.
- Paying those bills through a card-to-bank service lets every UK Amex card earn on them.
- Rent is often the quickest way to reach Amex welcome bonuses and the BA Companion Voucher.
Why Amex holders struggle with big bills
American Express cards have some of the best rewards in the UK, but they're accepted in fewer places than Visa or Mastercard. Rent, council tax, nursery and school fees almost never take Amex. That leaves your biggest bills earning nothing on the card you most want to use.
Omrello is built to fix that: you pay by card, and the landlord, school or council receives a normal UK bank transfer. They don't need to accept Amex, or know you used it.
Every UK personal American Express card
- The Platinum Card (charge card): 1 Membership Rewards point per £1, plus travel benefits such as airport lounge access.
- Preferred Rewards Gold (charge card): 1 Membership Rewards point per £1, with extra points on some travel spending.
- American Express Rewards Credit Card: 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 and no annual fee.
- British Airways American Express Premium Plus: 1.5 Avios per £1, and a Companion Voucher once you reach the yearly spending target.
- British Airways American Express Credit Card: 1 Avios per £1 and no annual fee, with a Companion Voucher at a higher spending target.
- Marriott Bonvoy American Express: 2 Marriott Bonvoy points per £1.
- Nectar American Express: Nectar points on every £1 you spend.
- Platinum Cashback and Platinum Cashback Everyday: cashback on your spending, credited once a year.
Card benefits, earn rates and spending targets change. Check your card's current terms before you rely on any figure here.
UK American Express business cards
- Business Platinum: 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 on business spending.
- Business Gold: 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 on business spending.
- British Airways American Express Business Card (charge card): Avios on business spending.
If you pay office rent, suppliers or contractors by bank transfer, these are often the bills that would earn the most.
Reaching the British Airways Companion Voucher
Both British Airways Amex cards give a Companion Voucher when you spend a set amount in your card year: currently £15,000 on Premium Plus and £20,000 on the free card. The voucher lets a second person fly with you when you book a reward flight with Avios.
Most households don't spend that much on cards. But £1,250 a month in rent is £15,000 a year on its own. Put rent on the card and the voucher becomes reachable without spending more.
British Airways and American Express set and can change these targets. Check your card's terms.
Hitting an Amex welcome bonus
New Amex cards usually give a large points bonus if you spend a set amount in the first few months. One or two rent payments can cover most of that target. Read our guide to using rent to hit a sign-up bonus.
What to check first
- That you can clear the card balance in full each month. Interest wipes out any reward.
- Your card's terms on which payments earn points.
- That you're paying the right person: Omrello confirms the payee's name with their bank before anything is sent.
Common questions
- Can I pay rent with American Express in the UK?
- Very few UK landlords or letting agents take Amex directly. A card-to-bank service like Omrello lets you pay by Amex while your landlord receives a normal UK bank transfer.
- Which UK Amex cards can be used?
- Omrello is built for every UK-issued American Express card, personal or business, credit or charge, including Platinum, Gold, Rewards, both British Airways cards, Marriott Bonvoy, Nectar and the Cashback cards.
- Does paying rent count towards the BA Companion Voucher?
- Card purchases normally count towards the spending target, but British Airways and American Express set the rules. Check your card's terms.
- Does my landlord need to accept Amex?
- No. They receive a bank transfer from a UK account with the reference you choose.
Launching soon in the UK
Pay your next big bill by card.
Rent, school fees and council tax, paid on your card, while the person you pay gets a normal UK bank transfer. Join the waitlist and you'll be first in.
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