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)
#4096
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: UA Premier Gold, AA, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 21
I saw one guy who was doing less than 1k per month.
I don't know what you consider small time. Not sure anyone really agrees on this. I'd say going beyond your CL in a month is a good measure, but plenty of people have said they don't do that either. Just doesn't seem to fit. Plus I know guys who do much more than I do that haven't been hit yet.
I don't know what you consider small time. Not sure anyone really agrees on this. I'd say going beyond your CL in a month is a good measure, but plenty of people have said they don't do that either. Just doesn't seem to fit. Plus I know guys who do much more than I do that haven't been hit yet.
#4097
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Platinum, Air Berlin Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, SPG Platinum
Posts: 53
I believe it is far more likely that the shutdowns are going in waves and certainly all heavy hitters will be shutdown in the next few days.
#4098
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX, SNA
Posts: 359
My MS activity is going to be significantly decreased once this option dies, which is probably the same for most other people.
#4099
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MCO
Programs: AA 1MM, BA, UA, HH Dia, CC Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 795
#4100
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 108
I spent 1.5k at RiteAid three hours ago, spent 2 X $105.95 at Staples for 2 Amex offer one hour ago, and spent $30 at my local grocery stores 20 minutes ago. I am still alive for now.
#4101
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX, SNA
Posts: 359
Yeah, I remember reading those posts. I'm sure that was not the tipping point, but it was a reflection of how complacent people had become. I think many thought that Amex would not just ax a bunch of accounts. Rather, people probably thought the worse would be a FR or Amex would put a cap on 5x earnings. That kind of thinking probably led to massive spending by a lot of people. Then the hammer eventually fell.
#4102
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,499
I personally think they will be looking at overall profitability of accounts. If someone has a bunch of other profitable cards for them (say some big hitter on the expense account with a Plat card) maybe they will stay out of the cross hairs. But really, who knows?
#4103
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: MA
Programs: UR MR STWD UA AA Carlson
Posts: 2
Man... my first post...
Received cancellation email from AMEX. Wife used the AU card successfully today (1 hour ago before the cancellation email sent out).
Had the BC for 12 years, $15K CL, $15~ $35K MS usage every month.
Received cancellation email from AMEX. Wife used the AU card successfully today (1 hour ago before the cancellation email sent out).
Had the BC for 12 years, $15K CL, $15~ $35K MS usage every month.
#4104
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: UA Premier Gold, AA, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 21
Yep. Pushed same on 1/2 the CL. Did 2K today too. Still alive.... for now. Maybe the analyst just clocked out for the day and will pick back up tomorrow.
#4105
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: BWI, EWR, JFK
Posts: 49
CRAP... just lost 900 in cash back... locked my account... fairly large balance outstanding (14k of 30k limit).... you think i can negotiate getting the $$$ out?? I had just used it 6 days ago for a 4k charge but since then have put 2k legit charges on the card including 500 today at Macys'
As an added data point:
I normally was doing 20k-25k a month, roughly 5-7k normal spend, never carried a balance
As an added data point:
I normally was doing 20k-25k a month, roughly 5-7k normal spend, never carried a balance
Last edited by babalooie21204; Oct 22, 2014 at 8:08 pm
#4106
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 342
I say C. At least that way if they shut you down you have some 0.0% money for a while (depending when you signed up).
#4107
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: UA Premier Gold, AA, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 21
Sounds like a short term plan. I applied and was approved for another today when I saw the shutdowns being reported. It may buy a little more opportunity at the best, but won't make up for the RDs I would lose if they close my current BC.
#4108
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 5
CRAP... just lost 900 in cash back... locked my account... fairly large balance outstanding (14k of 30k limit).... you think i can negotiate getting the $$$ out?? I had just used it 6 days ago for a 4k charge but since then have put 2k legit charges on the card including 500 today at Macys'
On to the next gig...