Last edit by: ChrisFlyer66
This thread includes all posts for 2016 onwards. The previous 2013- 2014 megathread is here. The 2015 thread is here.
This card is no longer available to new applicants!
Bonus category spending is now capped at $50,000 per year.
Oct 22, 2014 onwards: Many people getting cancellation email from Amex.
Amex may continue to close accounts for excessive spend in bonus categories. 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.
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.
Excessive MS on this card may sever your ties with Amex. Consider factors that may have led to these closures when sharing personal experiences.
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 $6,500ą spend in a reward year˛, you will earn 1% on Everyday Purchasesł (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)
ą First '$6,500' is spend on all purchases.
ł 'everyday purchases' refers to U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores, not all purchases.
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.
This card is no longer available to new applicants!
Bonus category spending is now capped at $50,000 per year.
Oct 22, 2014 onwards: Many people getting cancellation email from Amex.
Amex may continue to close accounts for excessive spend in bonus categories. 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.
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.
Excessive MS on this card may sever your ties with Amex. Consider factors that may have led to these closures when sharing personal experiences.
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 $6,500ą spend in a reward year˛, you will earn 1% on Everyday Purchasesł (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)
ą First '$6,500' is spend on all purchases.
ł 'everyday purchases' refers to U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores, not all purchases.
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 (2016 onwards)[not taking new applications]
#61
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: The World!!!
Programs: Some of them not all ...
Posts: 1,532
Weird, mine closed 1/27 and I got the Reward Dlls. until 4 days ago. I already cashed all and was left with only $1.59. Well, today I have $79.59 Reward Dlls. and it is still the middle of the cycle. What is happening at AMEX and its system.
#63
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 12
There is now a message at the top of my account page when I log into Amex.com that says:
"Due to system maintenance, it may take up to 30 days after your statement closing date to update your total rewards available. We appreciate your patience."
"Due to system maintenance, it may take up to 30 days after your statement closing date to update your total rewards available. We appreciate your patience."
#64
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Gulf Coast of FL
Posts: 115
Ditto. How long does system maintenance take? More seriously, I wonder what on earth is really going on.
#65
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,273
AMEX is a mess. For such a large well-known company, disaster all around this year.
#66
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL DM-1MM HH Diamond
Posts: 361
#67
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 1
for those having issues seeing rewards showing up, I recently got an Amex Blue Cash Preferred back in November. After not seeing any rewards showing up after multiple billing cycles had passed, I called Amex last night. They said there was a glitch in the system that they were currently dealing with. They told me to refresh the page, and my rewards changed to the proper amt. from $0.00 on both the computer, and my phone immediately. I wouldn't be worried, as I was until I called.
#68
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,431
I read on DoC that this "update" is just for Blue Cash cards... maybe the most MS'd AMEX cards out there. These are the cards with limits placed on them recently, as well as many users shut down. Do you guys think it's just a coincidence? I just got my cash back last week, thankfully, but should have about $300 coming in next month. I've been doing $5-6k of the 5% categories on my OBC so far in 2016.
#69
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,273
I read on DoC that this "update" is just for Blue Cash cards... maybe the most MS'd AMEX cards out there. These are the cards with limits placed on them recently, as well as many users shut down. Do you guys think it's just a coincidence? I just got my cash back last week, thankfully, but should have about $300 coming in next month. I've been doing $5-6k of the 5% categories on my OBC so far in 2016.
#70
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL DM-1MM HH Diamond
Posts: 361
Statement closed 2/6 rewards posted correctly today.
But . . . when I try to redeem I get:
You cannot be logged in. Please contact the number on the back of your card.
That's hard to do because I am in the air.
If it's not one thing it's the other!
But . . . when I try to redeem I get:
You cannot be logged in. Please contact the number on the back of your card.
That's hard to do because I am in the air.
If it's not one thing it's the other!
#75
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 394
I have the same problem. I redeemed $xxx on Feb 24 after my statement closed on the 23rd, assuming it would be applied to my balance and then paid the difference online. I looked today and even though it shows the xxx redemption, it states my balance is xxx.
Today during a chat, the rep stated they will be applied on my next statement, not my current billing. I asked why and she said they are applied to future purchases, so I was still responsible for the $xxx. If I hadn't inquired, I would have gotten hit with a late fee and interest for assuming this reduced my balance to 0. I asked her where in the terms and conditions it stated this and she quoted wording not in the card holder agreement on the web site. She offered me to a supervisor but I don't want the eyes on my account.
Just a heads up to everybody so they don't get hit with charges. Next time I will redeem the rewards before the statement end date.
Today during a chat, the rep stated they will be applied on my next statement, not my current billing. I asked why and she said they are applied to future purchases, so I was still responsible for the $xxx. If I hadn't inquired, I would have gotten hit with a late fee and interest for assuming this reduced my balance to 0. I asked her where in the terms and conditions it stated this and she quoted wording not in the card holder agreement on the web site. She offered me to a supervisor but I don't want the eyes on my account.
Just a heads up to everybody so they don't get hit with charges. Next time I will redeem the rewards before the statement end date.