TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Confusion on acceptance of AMEX cards on Dutch side

This was posted on a few Facebook sites presumably copied and pasted from AMEX.
"Effective mid-April 2025, American Express will temporarily suspend merchant transactions in St. Maarten (Dutch side) for American Express Cards issued by third-party network partners. During this period, only cards issued directly by American Express will continue to be accepted at merchant locations on the Dutch side of the island. This action is being taken directly by American Express and is outside the control of local financial institutions and merchants."

It’s really weird and I don’t fully understand. Not that it makes sense. But I think if I had a Schwab Amex it’s not gonna work, but If I have a plain Amex no cobranding then fine?? I’ll just use my visa or Mastercard!

I have no idea what that means. I have a Delta branded AMEX card, but my payments are made to AMEX, not some other bank. Is that what it means? I don't use my AMEX cards on the island anyway. Generally, I leave them at home, as many merchants never did accept them.

That’s how I understand. My Delta Reserve Amex will be a no go. But my Platinum will be fine. I always leave Amex at home when in Sxm. But strange how can a country stop like this? But……Chase won’t allow me to wire to my RBC account using my personal checking because of security issues. But I can wire no issues with my business account.

Kim--it looks like this is a directive from AMEX, not from Country SXM.

I have a Hilton Honors credit card issuer is AMEX so perhaps this constitutes a third party network as stated in the facebook post????

Well I noticed a new sign at my local golf course (In Massachusetts) that Amex cards are no longer accepted. Wonder if it's the same issue

Our business was notified on this , hence no more Amex .

Not even one not with a third party issue?

Wonder it the Priority Lounge at PJIA will honor it for admission still.

Once you have your Prioty card you will be okay , our Daughter just left last week with her son and no problem, but you have arrive early because it gets crowded 😉

That was last week. This supposedly just happened.

Will check on this tomorrow 👍🙏

I used my Amex delta sky miles card yesterday to rent a car. No issues.

It might also be at the discretion of the business if they want to accept it or not or their clearing bank.

I'll have to check if my Amex Canada gold card is also affected by this, since it is separate from Amex in the USA. I usually use it for my car rental, but mostly use my VISA while on the island. It's not a big issue either way, but I appreciate the heads up.

Priorty pass accepted

Amex Internationally has been cancelled as of June 3rd sad but we will have our new ones via our Daughter in Toronto 😊👍

What?

I think he means his daughter has one and perhaps they are on as associates?

No the other way around , originally our Daughter and Son was on their Mom’s Amex for the pass thirty four years , but now our Daughter will file for news ones and we be the secondary holders lol 😂 but we will be pay the annual fee

Maybe he'll post an explanation as I don't follow it either. AMEX either works in StMaarten or it doesn't.

Only accepted by very few places

So what is the criteria to be accepted in St Maarten? And why don't you accept it?

Simply because our Bank will not accept locally .

“AMEX Canada Card”? How many other countries have AMEX Country Cards? Maybe someone should start a new company in Canada and call it “CANEX”. Then USA citizens can get a CANEX American Card.

I don't know why you think it is so odd. It's pretty standard that US corporations operating outside the US have local subsidiaries due to local regulations. US rules, regulations, and standards have no application outside of the USA. McDonald's Canada, as well as in other countries, is a separate entity, even if it is ultimately owned by the US parent. It also often means the benefits or menus are unique to the particular country.

Just like VISA and MasterCard, for the card to be issued in Canada under federal banking regulations here, it must be issued by a Canadian bank. Amex Bank of Canada is the issuer for Canadian residents. There may also be separate affinity cards issued within Canada as well. It is a subsidiary of American Express (US). It works much the same in other countries, too, such as the UK and Europe. I wouldn't be eligible for a US Amex, since I am not an American resident and have no credit rating in the USA.

By the same token, if there was such a thing as a CANEX card, you wouldn't normally be eligible as an American resident, unless you have property here or some other relationship.

Our Daughter and Son was using their Moms Amex way back , and now our Daughter has her own personal Amex Platinum , with Brother and Mom included 👍❤️