Old Jan 8, 2014, 2:22 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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.

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 $6,500 spend in a reward year, you will earn 1% on Everyday Purchases (5% after 6500), 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)

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
First '$6,500' is spend on all purchases.

'Reward year' is the 12 billing periods in a row beginning with the one in which the anniversary of your Card Account occurs.

'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%)].

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 23 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.
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Old Amex Blue (2013-2014)

Old Dec 31, 2013, 4:54 pm
  #136  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 33
I applied and got pending. I called and the Amex office is closed. Hopefully they will be open tomorrow or the 2nd.

Thanks for posting.
Buckaroo123 is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2013, 5:26 pm
  #137  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: AA, SPG, MR, UR, Cash Back!
Posts: 606
I applied today too, mine is pending. I plan to let it stay pending till the 2nd. If approved I will get back dated to January 2012 for my membership versus December 2012.
Fuerza is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2013, 5:37 pm
  #138  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 88
I applied last night, got "pending". Today got a call from Amex: "you have 4 Amex cards already, so you have to cancel one to be approved for this one". From SPG, BCE, bus. Delta and Hilton surpass, I traded in the 11k CL from bus. delta card.
VGCs at supermkt. and VRs at CvS seem the easiest way to go.
guywhocan is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2013, 7:49 pm
  #139  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 139
just applied and was approved instantly. im new to MS though. what do you think the best way to get to the $6500 mark is? amex giftcards? can you do that legitimately with a new CC right away? or will that raise flags
co.miller89 is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2013, 7:58 pm
  #140  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: The Empire State
Programs: CO (RIP), US (RIP), Amtrak. Lots of CC programs.
Posts: 442
Originally Posted by jeam3130
can you do that legitimately with a new CC right away? or will that raise flags
Depends who you ask. Some say start hard, others say ease in. I'm easing in since I have a few months left on the TYP.
cuebert is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2013, 8:02 pm
  #141  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 139
Originally Posted by cuebert
Depends who you ask. Some say start hard, others say ease in. I'm easing in since I have a few months left on the TYP.
im not talking about VR though. it seems like amex giftcards on their website are made to be purchased with a CC. is there a difference in risk?
co.miller89 is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2013, 8:32 pm
  #142  
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: St. Croix
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1k, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, CC Gold
Posts: 521
Applied and approved instantly, thanks for posting OP!
alpen1 is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2013, 11:32 pm
  #143  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: US Airways, SPG
Posts: 14
I just applied a few minutes ago (after the New Year on the East Coast) and was instantly approved. I had an SPG card but canceled a few months ago, and I have an Amex card from my wife's account. Getting into the MS game and figure this is the one to try at CVS and grocery stores. I am not planning to go totally bananas with MS so it's important for me to get a high percentage to make it worthwhile. Thanks, OP!
rhambus is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2014, 12:55 am
  #144  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: AA, SPG, Hyatt
Posts: 92
Is anyone else not seeing the offer now, or is it just me?
rharrigill is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2014, 1:19 am
  #145  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 809
Originally Posted by rharrigill
Is anyone else not seeing the offer now, or is it just me?
Just you.
cashback is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2014, 1:36 am
  #146  
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: Hilton-Gold
Posts: 703
Applied yesterday, got pending message. Got a mail now that card has been shipped
concordian is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2014, 3:47 am
  #147  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 920
Turns out I got somewhat low CL since I reported my true income (preparing for future FR by Amex). Will I be much more likely to be FR'd by going up to CL and paying off 5-7 times per month?

If so, after FR, will I be able to run up the CL as much as possible?
hitman1420 is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2014, 3:50 am
  #148  
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,184
Originally Posted by hitman1420
Turns out I got somewhat low CL since I reported my true income (preparing for future FR by Amex). Will I be much more likely to be FR'd by going up to CL and paying off 5-7 times per month?

If so, after FR, will I be able to run up the CL as much as possible?
Yes. No. And I'd like to point out you should always report your true income, not just because you're scared of FR..
gloreglabert is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2014, 6:58 am
  #149  
Original Member
 
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 1,139
Originally Posted by gloreglabert
Yes. No. And I'd like to point out you should always report your true income, not just because you're scared of FR..
Easier said than done. Some of us have bonuses that vary widely from year to year and have significant legal tax deferred income that does not show up on a tax return. Your economics textbook defines income a lot differently than does the instructions to Form 1040 and your expected economic income for the year you apply for the card (2014) might be a lot different than your gross income as reported on your most recently filed tax return (2012). If they are going to do Financial Reviews based on income as reported on a specific line of Form 1040 why that hell don't they ask for that as part of the application process?
Andy2 is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2014, 9:01 am
  #150  
jyx
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: ORD
Posts: 220
My BC card is now added to my online account. Also confirmed the reward is 5% after $6500.
jyx is offline  

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