Last edit by: TheDapperDon
Bonus category spending is now capped at $50k per year for new accounts. For now, this does not apply to existing cardholders, although Amex may continue to close accounts for excessive spend in bonus categories. This card is less viable as an MS instrument. Consider factors that may have led to these closures when sharing personal experiences.
Oct 22, 2014 onwards: Many people getting cancellation email from Amex. As of Dec 13, 2014, shutdown reports continue. Shutdowns appear to be triggered by spending on the card or upon statement closure, but not always
Some who have been shutdown are reporting back that AMEX is declining new non-OBC card applications due to "unsatisfactory relationship". (However, see here for an example where reconsideration was successful.) It is unclear at this time the length/extent of this Adverse Action/Ban.
Others have succeeded in getting new cards, including new OBCs, but consider your relationship with Amex and how much you value that and this card when deciding how to use it.
There might be some impact with other issuers. If AMEX sends you a cancellation it goes on your record as a cancellation by AMEX, not a cancellation by cardholder. While FICO score does not distinguish between closed by issuer and closed by cardholder, on manual review it may raise questions. However, issuers close cards for benign reasons as well (such as non-use) so unless several cards have been closed it probably won't cause a rejection by itself.
So, if you still feel it is worth it:
Application Link: Copy & paste the following link into a incognito window in Chrome or InPrivate Browsing in IE, Private Session in Firefox. There have been reports of people who got the card in the last couple of months getting shut down because of the rush to spend the initial $6,500.
Do NOT post "Link isn't working" until you have tried it incognito/private browsing and it fails there.
Up to 5% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores (Everyday Purchases). Up to 1% Cash Back on other purchases. For your first $6,500¹ spend in a reward year², you will earn 1% on Everyday Purchases³ (5% after 6500⁴), and 0.5% on other purchases (then 1%).
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months.
Eligible purchases do NOT include fees or interest charges, balance transfers, cash advances, purchases of travelers checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, or purchases of other cash equivalents. Additional terms and restrictions apply. (Presume these T&Cs are standard and that all credit cards state this)
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
¹ First '$6,500' is spend on all purchases.
² 'Reward year' is the 12 billing periods in a row beginning with the one in which the anniversary of your Card Account occurs.
³ 'everyday purchases' refers to U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores, not all purchases.
* Read the fine print for 'gas' purchases! Right from AMEX T&C's:
...Everyday Purchases are: ... $400 or less of gasoline at gas stations located in the U.S. (superstores, supermarkets and warehouse clubs that sell gasoline are not considered gas stations)... A >$400 purchase at a gas station will get 5% for the first $400 and 1% thereafter. E.g., for something, say, $503.95, you would earn $21.04 CB [($400*5%)+(103.95*1%)].
⁴ 5% kicks in immediately after hitting $6500.(mid-statement). In fact, it will even kick in mid-purchase and a portion of the purchase will credit at the higher rate.
* Reward dollars for the previous statement period show up a day or two after the current statement period closes.
* Most cash back redemptions will be applied to your statement within 2–3 days.
* Helpful post regarding moving CL between cards. Thanks lad2
* How to Visually Distinguish the Three Types of Blue Cash Cards:
Blue Cash (old) has a "<" character to the left of the word CASH
Blue Cash Everyday has a circle to the right of the word CASH, with the "Everyday" wording at the back.
Blue Cash Preferred has the word PREFERRED printed vertically on the extreme left side.
If you get the error message "You cannot be logged in. Please contact the number on the back of your card." when trying to redeem Reward Dollars online, it may be because you have too many closed accounts still showing in your scrolling images of cards. Delete the closed ones, then try to redeem again.
Oct 22, 2014 onwards: Many people getting cancellation email from Amex. As of Dec 13, 2014, shutdown reports continue. Shutdowns appear to be triggered by spending on the card or upon statement closure, but not always
Some who have been shutdown are reporting back that AMEX is declining new non-OBC card applications due to "unsatisfactory relationship". (However, see here for an example where reconsideration was successful.) It is unclear at this time the length/extent of this Adverse Action/Ban.
Others have succeeded in getting new cards, including new OBCs, but consider your relationship with Amex and how much you value that and this card when deciding how to use it.
There might be some impact with other issuers. If AMEX sends you a cancellation it goes on your record as a cancellation by AMEX, not a cancellation by cardholder. While FICO score does not distinguish between closed by issuer and closed by cardholder, on manual review it may raise questions. However, issuers close cards for benign reasons as well (such as non-use) so unless several cards have been closed it probably won't cause a rejection by itself.
So, if you still feel it is worth it:
Application Link: Copy & paste the following link into a incognito window in Chrome or InPrivate Browsing in IE, Private Session in Firefox. There have been reports of people who got the card in the last couple of months getting shut down because of the rush to spend the initial $6,500.
Do NOT post "Link isn't working" until you have tried it incognito/private browsing and it fails there.
Code:
https://www304.americanexpress.com/credit-card/blue-cash/25330
Up to 5% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores (Everyday Purchases). Up to 1% Cash Back on other purchases. For your first $6,500¹ spend in a reward year², you will earn 1% on Everyday Purchases³ (5% after 6500⁴), and 0.5% on other purchases (then 1%).
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months.
Eligible purchases do NOT include fees or interest charges, balance transfers, cash advances, purchases of travelers checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, or purchases of other cash equivalents. Additional terms and restrictions apply. (Presume these T&Cs are standard and that all credit cards state this)
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
¹ First '$6,500' is spend on all purchases.
² 'Reward year' is the 12 billing periods in a row beginning with the one in which the anniversary of your Card Account occurs.
³ 'everyday purchases' refers to U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores, not all purchases.
* Read the fine print for 'gas' purchases! Right from AMEX T&C's:
...Everyday Purchases are: ... $400 or less of gasoline at gas stations located in the U.S. (superstores, supermarkets and warehouse clubs that sell gasoline are not considered gas stations)... A >$400 purchase at a gas station will get 5% for the first $400 and 1% thereafter. E.g., for something, say, $503.95, you would earn $21.04 CB [($400*5%)+(103.95*1%)].
⁴ 5% kicks in immediately after hitting $6500.(mid-statement). In fact, it will even kick in mid-purchase and a portion of the purchase will credit at the higher rate.
* Reward dollars for the previous statement period show up a day or two after the current statement period closes.
* Most cash back redemptions will be applied to your statement within 2–3 days.
* Helpful post regarding moving CL between cards. Thanks lad2
* How to Visually Distinguish the Three Types of Blue Cash Cards:
Blue Cash (old) has a "<" character to the left of the word CASH
Blue Cash Everyday has a circle to the right of the word CASH, with the "Everyday" wording at the back.
Blue Cash Preferred has the word PREFERRED printed vertically on the extreme left side.
If you get the error message "You cannot be logged in. Please contact the number on the back of your card." when trying to redeem Reward Dollars online, it may be because you have too many closed accounts still showing in your scrolling images of cards. Delete the closed ones, then try to redeem again.
Old Amex Blue (2013-2014)
#3841
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA Gold/0.744MM, WN AL, Hyatt Diamond, MR Scum, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC
Posts: 5,561
#3842
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Dallas
Programs: AA, Southwest
Posts: 175
I guess AMEX is happy with my current usage of this card because after I signed up for the Whole Foods Promo I got an email that contained:
We are pleased to confirm your enrollment in the additional 2% Cash Back Whole Foods Offer promotion until February 15, 2015.
We value your relationship with us. Thank you for using your American Express® Card.
I guess I'm going to continue doing what I'm doing.
We are pleased to confirm your enrollment in the additional 2% Cash Back Whole Foods Offer promotion until February 15, 2015.
We value your relationship with us. Thank you for using your American Express® Card.
I guess I'm going to continue doing what I'm doing.
#3845
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 156
Got an email today from Amex. Extra 2% cash back at Whole Foods. It appears they don't play in the GC game, but I suppose there's a possibility they could run this promo again:
http://saverocity.com/chasingthepoin...rn-profitably/
That would allow you to turn an ~8% profit (giftcards.com is currently offering 92% for WF).
Promo sign up:
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...ash/index.html
http://saverocity.com/chasingthepoin...rn-profitably/
That would allow you to turn an ~8% profit (giftcards.com is currently offering 92% for WF).
Promo sign up:
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...ash/index.html
5% old bc +2% amex offer +2% gc promo. comes around 9%. If sell WF gc in giftcards.com for 8% less then the difference is 9%-8% = 1%. Not worth the effort unless daily spend in whole food.
#3848
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 44
$500 WF gift card, 10% Bonus ($50)... $550*92%=$506 plus 7% CB $35 = $541 for a $500 dollar GC.
Contingent on the GC promo, and 92% being there. How do you circumvent gc.com limits?
#3849
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 36
Just got this card about 3 weeks ago and my account is already "Under Review" after 7k in purchases. Is AMEX going to ask specifically what the purchases are?
#3852
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 877
Banks work in strange ways. My CL is the same and the card has been open for 3 weeks as well. I've spent more than you state, but haven't had any issues.
I started with a very large transaction to set the tone right off the bat. I hope you get it all figured out.
I started with a very large transaction to set the tone right off the bat. I hope you get it all figured out.
#3853
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 36
I assume 7k in the first billing cycle with the card will keep them off my behind.
#3854
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
In case, most, if not all of these $7K were from GCs, it might be best to come up with an answer you think they will believe. Telling a lie will just make it worse because they can and will scrutinize receipts and see what we bought. It's up to the ones reviewing your account whether they'll believe your explanation or not. I hope it goes well for you.
#3855
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: PHL ILG
Posts: 87
from what I read, many said they were asked directly why they were buying a lot of GCs. But if you didn't buy more than $1K out of that $7K charges, with most of it on everyday spend, I don't think you have to worry.
In case, most, if not all of these $7K were from GCs, it might be best to come up with an answer you think they will believe. Telling a lie will just make it worse because they can and will scrutinize receipts and see what we bought. It's up to the ones reviewing your account whether they'll believe your explanation or not. I hope it goes well for you.
In case, most, if not all of these $7K were from GCs, it might be best to come up with an answer you think they will believe. Telling a lie will just make it worse because they can and will scrutinize receipts and see what we bought. It's up to the ones reviewing your account whether they'll believe your explanation or not. I hope it goes well for you.