Amex (USA) restricts bonus based on number of accounts opened/closed (June 2018)
#61
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,195
So I just got the "too many cards opened and closed" message from Amex during the online application for an Aspire. I'm not happy, but not surprised either. This will make my 11th card from Amex. My last new card was in May 15... Hilton Business.
Anyway, I went ahead with the card since I'm taking a Hilton trip and want the perks (29x and Diamond is crazy cool!), but there's a data point.
I was subsequently approved for the card.
Anyway, I went ahead with the card since I'm taking a Hilton trip and want the perks (29x and Diamond is crazy cool!), but there's a data point.
I was subsequently approved for the card.
#62
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 272
So I just got the "too many cards opened and closed" message from Amex during the online application for an Aspire. I'm not happy, but not surprised either. This will make my 11th card from Amex. My last new card was in May 15... Hilton Business.
Anyway, I went ahead with the card since I'm taking a Hilton trip and want the perks (29x and Diamond is crazy cool!), but there's a data point.
I was subsequently approved for the card.
Anyway, I went ahead with the card since I'm taking a Hilton trip and want the perks (29x and Diamond is crazy cool!), but there's a data point.
I was subsequently approved for the card.
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
It sounds you're not very familiar with the Aspire card if you think of it as having a $450 annual fee. For many people, it's a near-$0 or even negative "net" annual fee, it they can make use of both the $250 airline credit and/or the $250 resort credit and/or get enough value out of the free night.
In fact, it's quite possible for someone to be more easily be able to afford the Aspire (because of the "net" fee being so low or negative) more than being able to afford the Ascend (which doesn't have any offsets to the $95 AF).
Also, this isn't the first person to get the Aspire with no bonus. Back in January and'or February, several people posted about going for upgrade offers from Surpass->Ascend to Aspire, when there was no upgrade bonus available. Isn't upgrading with no upgrade bonus about the same as signing up with no signup bonus?
In fact, it's quite possible for someone to be more easily be able to afford the Aspire (because of the "net" fee being so low or negative) more than being able to afford the Ascend (which doesn't have any offsets to the $95 AF).
Also, this isn't the first person to get the Aspire with no bonus. Back in January and'or February, several people posted about going for upgrade offers from Surpass->Ascend to Aspire, when there was no upgrade bonus available. Isn't upgrading with no upgrade bonus about the same as signing up with no signup bonus?
#64
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,195
It sounds you're not very familiar with the Aspire card if you think of it as having a $450 annual fee. For many people, it's a near-$0 or even negative "net" annual fee, it they can make use of both the $250 airline credit and/or the $250 resort credit and/or get enough value out of the free night.
In fact, it's quite possible for someone to be more easily be able to afford the Aspire (because of the "net" fee being so low or negative) more than being able to afford the Ascend (which doesn't have any offsets to the $95 AF).
Also, this isn't the first person to get the Aspire with no bonus. Back in January and'or February, several people posted about going for upgrade offers from Surpass->Ascend to Aspire, when there was no upgrade bonus available. Isn't upgrading with no upgrade bonus about the same as signing up with no signup bonus?
In fact, it's quite possible for someone to be more easily be able to afford the Aspire (because of the "net" fee being so low or negative) more than being able to afford the Ascend (which doesn't have any offsets to the $95 AF).
Also, this isn't the first person to get the Aspire with no bonus. Back in January and'or February, several people posted about going for upgrade offers from Surpass->Ascend to Aspire, when there was no upgrade bonus available. Isn't upgrading with no upgrade bonus about the same as signing up with no signup bonus?
I'm well aware of the benefits that accompany the card, thanks.
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,934
So what I meant is that you tying the $450 AF to an "ouch" implied that you were thinking of the card's actual AF only, and not thinking of it's net AF. I know the actual AF is $450, but I think it's misleading to mention it in alone, when so few other cards that have AFs that high have such simple-to-explain ways to lower the net AF to or below $0.
#66
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,857
It was clear to me that the "Ouch" in question referred to the permanent (7+ years) forfeiture of the signup bonus on this $450 AF card. Indeed, that's a painful choice. The need to belabor the benefits of this particular card in this particular thread seems petty at this point. At the very least, it's far off topic.
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,047
American Express Signup Bonus Eligibility is Disclosed on Phone Application
According to the rep I just spoke to, when applying for a card, you are told, before your application is submitted, and before your credit is checked, whether you are eligible for a sign-up bonus or not.
She claims that CSRs have been briefed over the past few days and that this is a new notification in their system as of 8/1/18.
I was clear that I had had the card in question in the past, but that I hadn't closed it; I upgraded it. I applied with her on the phone. I was told there was no problem with me being eligible for the bonus. I'll know in a month or so whether this is really the case.
I didn't not get a chance to ask if this eligibility would be visible in an online application.
She claims that CSRs have been briefed over the past few days and that this is a new notification in their system as of 8/1/18.
I was clear that I had had the card in question in the past, but that I hadn't closed it; I upgraded it. I applied with her on the phone. I was told there was no problem with me being eligible for the bonus. I'll know in a month or so whether this is really the case.
I didn't not get a chance to ask if this eligibility would be visible in an online application.
#69
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Boston
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 272
I was clear that I had had the card in question in the past, but that I hadn't closed it; I upgraded it. I applied with her on the phone. I was told there was no problem with me being eligible for the bonus. I'll know in a month or so whether this is really the case.
PS: in your case, I guess you'll know very soon if the bonus showed up, so please update it here.
#70
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SFO or OAK
Programs: AA 1MM GLD, Hertz #1 Gold, bunch of other programs w/no status
Posts: 1,454
I got popup for Amex Blue Business card application when logged in. Tried again a couple days later without logging in and still got pop-up.
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,047
I have a similar situation. Had Gold many years before (for 1 yr), which I product changed to Plat (got no bonus on upgrading AFAIK), kept it for 2 years, then downgraded it back to Gold, which I kept for further 2 years then cancelled. Before applying, I called Amex and they said they only could see Gold in my card history. So I applied for Plat again earlier this month, with trepidation that I will nevertheless get the "ineligible for welcome bonus" popup. As it turned out, I didn't get that ineligibility message. Will know too in a few weeks if the bonus shows up.
PS: in your case, I guess you'll know very soon if the bonus showed up, so please update it here.
PS: in your case, I guess you'll know very soon if the bonus showed up, so please update it here.
#75
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,536
According to Doctorofcredit, it's supposed to pop up after submitting the application, but before the credit check.
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/ameri...ation-process/
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/ameri...ation-process/