AMEX doing "mass" shutdowns.
Nov 4, 2019, 2:32 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 194
AMEX doing "mass" shutdowns.
I found out when I logged on and saw 10+ cards suddenly shut down.
Not sure what is happening. I barely MS and only lost 55K in the self-referrals.
I just called them, and the reason isn't listed on the account yet. They said to call within 72 hours.
/r/churning is getting a flood of data points from people who have experienced the same thing today.
Not sure what is happening. I barely MS and only lost 55K in the self-referrals.
I just called them, and the reason isn't listed on the account yet. They said to call within 72 hours.
/r/churning is getting a flood of data points from people who have experienced the same thing today.
Nov 4, 2019, 3:10 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Self-referrals? Meaning getting points for referring yourself for a new Amex card using a pre-existing Amex account? I would have thought that the referral points arrangement was designed for existing customers getting actual new customers.
Nov 4, 2019, 4:47 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,610
The consensus seems to be that self-referrals might've been orat-least one filter for shutdowns.
But there are people who did self refer and didn't get the shutdown - so perhaps there was an extra filter like your MR being negative? OP were your MR negative also, or did you do any refund abuses (e.g. signed up for amex offer, got the benefit, but then refunded).
But there are people who did self refer and didn't get the shutdown - so perhaps there was an extra filter like your MR being negative? OP were your MR negative also, or did you do any refund abuses (e.g. signed up for amex offer, got the benefit, but then refunded).
Nov 4, 2019, 4:58 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: EWR
Programs: World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, UA Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,255
The consensus seems to be that self-referrals might've been orat-least one filter for shutdowns.
But there are people who did self refer and didn't get the shutdown - so perhaps there was an extra filter like your MR being negative? OP were your MR negative also, or did you do any refund abuses (e.g. signed up for amex offer, got the benefit, but then refunded).
But there are people who did self refer and didn't get the shutdown - so perhaps there was an extra filter like your MR being negative? OP were your MR negative also, or did you do any refund abuses (e.g. signed up for amex offer, got the benefit, but then refunded).
Nov 4, 2019, 5:15 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 194
The consensus seems to be that self-referrals might've been orat-least one filter for shutdowns.
But there are people who did self refer and didn't get the shutdown - so perhaps there was an extra filter like your MR being negative? OP were your MR negative also, or did you do any refund abuses (e.g. signed up for amex offer, got the benefit, but then refunded).
But there are people who did self refer and didn't get the shutdown - so perhaps there was an extra filter like your MR being negative? OP were your MR negative also, or did you do any refund abuses (e.g. signed up for amex offer, got the benefit, but then refunded).
They obviously had no problem collecting all the annual fee payments, so I don't think this is the reason.
Last edited by mia; Nov 5, 2019 at 4:16 am Reason: Combine consecutive replies
Nov 4, 2019, 5:33 pm
#11
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
I daresay the median number of American Express cards per customer is one, and an algorithm designed to identify unprofitable customers could look at ten cards as a strong negative factor, but there would be other factors, such as spend beyond the sign-up bonus requirement, paying renewal fees, etc.
Nov 4, 2019, 5:34 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,610
Amex allowed one to refer oneself until recently (only last week did they update their terms to disallow it), they allow having multiple cards, they allow exclusively bonused spending and so on. If amex doesn't want us to do something - their team of lawyers should add it to their terms.
Nov 4, 2019, 5:40 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,028
This is not fair to OP or others who as you say "game the system". Using all benefits available up to the legal terms and conditions is simply following the terms and laws, it is not gaming.
Amex allowed one to refer oneself until recently (only last week did they update their terms to disallow it), they allow having multiple cards, they allow exclusively bonused spending and so on. If amex doesn't want us to do something - their team of lawyers should add it to their terms.
Amex allowed one to refer oneself until recently (only last week did they update their terms to disallow it), they allow having multiple cards, they allow exclusively bonused spending and so on. If amex doesn't want us to do something - their team of lawyers should add it to their terms.
Nov 4, 2019, 5:52 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,421
I do think that punishing people for self-referrals is stupid since it wasn't in the T&C. I never did it but I had considered it for a Gold card.