Amex (USA) restricts bonus based on number of accounts opened/closed (June 2018)
Sep 3, 2019, 5:55 pm
#361
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 292
My wife received the "bonus popup message" a few times in 2019. Contacted the Amex Executive Office. They flat out REFUSE to tell you the reasoning behind getting flagged. All they can say is that you have been flagged as a "rewards abuser." They also flat out refuse to tell you when that label will drop off. She waited a few months. Got approved for 2 new Amex cards. And is now flagged yet again. Oddly, while being flagged, she got approved for the Green biz card. But continued to get flagged for anything/everything else before & after that. Contacted the Executive Office once again. Same story as before. Flagged by the algorithms Amex uses. Their new CEO has a science+data background, so you can expect a whole lot more of this type of stuff in the future. They refuse to provide any specific details. She hasn't closed any accounts in well over a year -- and none less than 1yr ever. No manufactured spend. No points selling. No nonsense or games or wrong-doing of any kind. She's never had a Platinum, Platinum biz, Gold, Gold biz, or Delta card of any kind in her entire life. So it's not like she is some big churn person. We both operate/spend the exact same way. I have 10 Amex cards. No issues. Never been flagged. It's nearly impossible to figure out what the precise reasoning is behind their decisions. If they don't tell you what you're doing "wrong," then it's pretty difficult to adjust your behavior accordingly. Made that point to the Amex Executive Office. They simply do not care. They will not budge at all. No insights from them whatsoever. There is no obvious factor to point to like x/24, inquiries, spend, bonuses received, etc, etc. It's a huge mystery as far as what activity it is that gets a person flagged...how long it lasts...when/why the "rewards abuser" label drops off...etc. Amex apparently *LIKES* it that way. It seems all you can do is take a 6mon break (give or take) and then try/apply again.
I think more and more, you don't have to be a "big churn" person to get flagged. Simply opening even a moderate volume of new accounts is enough for a company to decide you've reaped enough bonuses. Amex may see other new accounts on your report too and assume you're getting the bonuses on those too (or just assume you have many accounts and won't use the Amex card much after the bonus).
In any event, I'm not sure what you expect the executive office to do. This isn't an error. It's an intentional algorithm. I'm sure they will tweak it over time, but they don't have to disclose what their formula is. The average consumer is not going to run into an issue with the pop up.
Sep 4, 2019, 4:02 pm
#362
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 4
P2 received 2 Amex Gold 50k NLL offers, first by mail flyer, and second online under Amex offers. She used to have the old Amex Gold (called PRG) which was closed after 2+ years. She used the online offer to apply for the new Amex Gold. Question is can I use her mail flyer to also apply for the Amex Gold (I also had the Amex PRG in past so can't use the public offer)? We have the same address but use a different last name.
Sep 4, 2019, 4:09 pm
#363
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Sep 6, 2019, 2:07 pm
#364
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 58
Interesting update..
No new CC's until the Bonvoy Brilliant in April 19. Currently hold the EDP and Business Bonvoy (old SPG) card. Since the April application I have been in the SUB penalty box with the pop up.. Tried the Gold card (via referral link) last night and the pop up went away. However, the pop up was still present if I tried to apply for the Gold card via the Corporate Advantage Program (https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...010&channel=CA) via work.
Since the corporate advantage program T&C's are better, 50k with 2k spend and $100 annual credit. I'll hold off, otherwise I'd leave 10K MR and $100 annual on the table.
No new CC's until the Bonvoy Brilliant in April 19. Currently hold the EDP and Business Bonvoy (old SPG) card. Since the April application I have been in the SUB penalty box with the pop up.. Tried the Gold card (via referral link) last night and the pop up went away. However, the pop up was still present if I tried to apply for the Gold card via the Corporate Advantage Program (https://www.americanexpress.com/us/c...010&channel=CA) via work.
Since the corporate advantage program T&C's are better, 50k with 2k spend and $100 annual credit. I'll hold off, otherwise I'd leave 10K MR and $100 annual on the table.
I applied for the Gold card Corporate Advantage Program (link above)today and did not get the pop up today. I had to call in to the reconsideration line because of a credit freeze on my file. I verified my information, and I confirmed the T&C (above) before proceeding. Agent confirmed what I had during the application process and then told me I was approved. I'll update after the 2k spend is completed and I get the bonus.
Sep 6, 2019, 6:45 pm
#365
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 8
Interestingly, the pop up has gone away TWICE now for my wife during different points in 2019, and during each "cool off" period, she had almost no spend. So TIME was the "magic factor" for her.
Like yourself (Leng), she got approved for a Delta card. It was a targeted offer through the Delta website.
Like yourself (Leng), she got approved for a Delta card. It was a targeted offer through the Delta website.
Sep 6, 2019, 7:30 pm
#366
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 315
Sep 9, 2019, 11:31 am
#367
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sacramento
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Amtrak Select
Posts: 1,341
Ran into this today. Expected to get approved for something. But on all trys (Platinum, Gold, Marriott Brilliant) got the "not eligible for welcome bonus" pop-up.
Have the no-fee Hilton and have had the BCP card for 7 years. Frankly I'd close the BCP, but have always gotten enough value to offset fee, and it's my longest open card.
I typically close cards right as AF is coming due, but also typically won't spend on them once I meet the minimum for the bonus. And I've never paid a penny of interest to Amex (or any major card issuer for that matter), so I'm sure that could have something to do with it all.
Will sign up for a couple Citi cards, and hopefully by mid next year I can qualify for something.
Have had: SPG Personal and Business. Have the Amex Hilton by conversion from Citi Hilton, and cancelled the Surpass card, which was a conversion from Citi Reserve.
I am getting the offer to upgrade my Hilton to an Aspire. Might take advantage of that.
Have the no-fee Hilton and have had the BCP card for 7 years. Frankly I'd close the BCP, but have always gotten enough value to offset fee, and it's my longest open card.
I typically close cards right as AF is coming due, but also typically won't spend on them once I meet the minimum for the bonus. And I've never paid a penny of interest to Amex (or any major card issuer for that matter), so I'm sure that could have something to do with it all.
Will sign up for a couple Citi cards, and hopefully by mid next year I can qualify for something.
Have had: SPG Personal and Business. Have the Amex Hilton by conversion from Citi Hilton, and cancelled the Surpass card, which was a conversion from Citi Reserve.
I am getting the offer to upgrade my Hilton to an Aspire. Might take advantage of that.
Sep 9, 2019, 10:36 pm
#368
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,970
I'd say their algorithm is working properly: With that usage pattern, they probably lose hundreds of dollars every time you open an account.
Sep 12, 2019, 12:49 pm
#369
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 8
Oct 8, 2019, 1:13 pm
#370
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 2
Has anyone had any success lobbying AMEX to award the points after the fact? I applied and received the Delta Reserve card which has a $450 annual fee. I did not get a pop up. Spent my minimum spend but didn't see any bonus points post. Contacted them and they tell me I'm not eligible but of course won't say why. I have one other AMEX card which I've had for years. Admittedly, I don't use it much - it's a Hilton card and Hilton points aren't very useful to me. I do have other Airlines cards which I did received sign up bonuses for, but I don't have a lot of them and I've kept them and used them frequently, so I'm not gaming the system by opening lots of points cards. Regardless, I'm not sure I would have spent $450 on this card if I had known I wouldn't get the bonus points. Any recourse?
Oct 8, 2019, 6:54 pm
#371
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 8
Laura Young, wow, that's terrible of them to do business in such a way. Doesn't seem right/fair at all. Amex always has that clever clause in the terms of every account that they, at their sole discretion, can mess with your points whenever they feel like it. Recommend calling the Executive Office at (212) 640-2000. If *anyone* can help, it's them.
Oct 8, 2019, 7:01 pm
#372
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,944
Has anyone had any success lobbying AMEX to award the points after the fact? I applied and received the Delta Reserve card which has a $450 annual fee. I did not get a pop up. Spent my minimum spend but didn't see any bonus points post. Contacted them and they tell me I'm not eligible but of course won't say why. I have one other AMEX card which I've had for years. Admittedly, I don't use it much - it's a Hilton card and Hilton points aren't very useful to me. I do have other Airlines cards which I did received sign up bonuses for, but I don't have a lot of them and I've kept them and used them frequently, so I'm not gaming the system by opening lots of points cards. Regardless, I'm not sure I would have spent $450 on this card if I had known I wouldn't get the bonus points. Any recourse?
Oct 8, 2019, 7:13 pm
#373
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 2
Laura Young, wow, that's terrible of them to do business in such a way. Doesn't seem right/fair at all. Amex always has that clever clause in the terms of every account that they, at their sole discretion, can mess with your points whenever they feel like it. Recommend calling the Executive Office at (212) 640-2000. If *anyone* can help, it's them.
Oct 8, 2019, 8:04 pm
#374
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 58
Update: One can get out of the penalty box with consistent spend across all cards with Amex.
I applied for the Gold card Corporate Advantage Program (link above)today and did not get the pop up today. I had to call in to the reconsideration line because of a credit freeze on my file. I verified my information, and I confirmed the T&C (above) before proceeding. Agent confirmed what I had during the application process and then told me I was approved. I'll update after the 2k spend is completed and I get the bonus.
I applied for the Gold card Corporate Advantage Program (link above)today and did not get the pop up today. I had to call in to the reconsideration line because of a credit freeze on my file. I verified my information, and I confirmed the T&C (above) before proceeding. Agent confirmed what I had during the application process and then told me I was approved. I'll update after the 2k spend is completed and I get the bonus.
Oct 9, 2019, 7:41 am
#375
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
Are you sure? Paying the annual fee or buying certain types of gift cards do not count.
Front line customer service agents seldom know why a bonus is denied. If you work your way up the supervisory chain you will find someone who will offer an explanation. The challenge is to work out if it is the real reason, or something invented to make you go away.
Front line customer service agents seldom know why a bonus is denied. If you work your way up the supervisory chain you will find someone who will offer an explanation. The challenge is to work out if it is the real reason, or something invented to make you go away.