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.
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 $6,500¹ spend in a reward year², you will earn 1% on Everyday Purchases³ (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)
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
¹ First '$6,500' is spend on all purchases.
² 'Reward year' is the 12 billing periods in a row beginning with the one in which the anniversary of your Card Account occurs.
³ '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%)].
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.
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 $6,500¹ spend in a reward year², you will earn 1% on Everyday Purchases³ (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)
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
¹ First '$6,500' is spend on all purchases.
² 'Reward year' is the 12 billing periods in a row beginning with the one in which the anniversary of your Card Account occurs.
³ '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%)].
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 (2013-2014)
#1487
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: DFW
Posts: 454
In my research about getting FR'd (I passed one in Octoberish), I saw that people have gotten FR'd yearly if they're running it hard. If you keep it to 1x credit limit on all cards, you're typically blessed by the cardinals.

#1489
Join Date: May 2013
Location: AZ
Programs: AA, UA, US
Posts: 525
Quote:
Originally Posted by commdiver
Has anyone ever been FRed twice? I have never seen a post about that.
In my research about getting FR'd (I passed one in Octoberish), I saw that people have gotten FR'd yearly if they're running it hard. If you keep it to 1x credit limit on all cards, you're typically blessed by the cardinals.
Originally Posted by commdiver
Has anyone ever been FRed twice? I have never seen a post about that.
In my research about getting FR'd (I passed one in Octoberish), I saw that people have gotten FR'd yearly if they're running it hard. If you keep it to 1x credit limit on all cards, you're typically blessed by the cardinals.

#1491
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,374
Question though - When they do the FR, do they analyze all your spend? Won't they be curious why you have so many $505.95 grocery purchases or $503.95 CVS purchases regardless of if you stay in your yearly income? That's part of the fear of FRs right? (Sorry I am new to this lol so ignore my ignorance.)

#1492
Join Date: May 2013
Location: AZ
Programs: AA, UA, US
Posts: 525
Question though - When they do the FR, do they analyze all your spend? Won't they be curious why you have so many $505.95 grocery purchases or $503.95 CVS purchases regardless of if you stay in your yearly income? That's part of the fear of FRs right? (Sorry I am new to this lol so ignore my ignorance.)


#1493
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,055
Well, I was going to wait to get this card until my Citi 5x card year ran out, but I realized it was silly to wait -- since this AMEX promo isn't actually limited to a year. After your reward year ends, you'd begin a new one (unless they change the terms and conditions, of course)! And I need to get started MSing the $6500 before I can effectively use it anyway. I don't plan to go crazy; I'll start slow and stop at 1x the credit limit. And try to gauge the continuing FR risk through this thread. No reason to get AMEX mad at me. I'd like to keep that relationship going.

#1494
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,374
Have people noticed that most transactions post within a day for Amex? My first statement closes tomorrow (a week after getting card SMDH) and I have MS'd up until today lol. I'm trying to figure out if I should overpay to cover today's expenses or stop at yesterday's expenses which are still pending or just pay the balance.

#1495
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,426
Have people noticed that most transactions post within a day for Amex? My first statement closes tomorrow (a week after getting card SMDH) and I have MS'd up until today lol. I'm trying to figure out if I should overpay to cover today's expenses or stop at yesterday's expenses which are still pending or just pay the balance.
Luckily my pending purchase that I made on 3/24 finally posted today on 3/26 and I am able to pay down the full 3K balance to zero it out this morning. Also in terms of pending transactions appearing within a day on Amex, I disagree. I don't think its any faster than Chase or Citi or BoA. I remember when I bought 3K from CVS sometime ago, it took like 3 days to finally post but it could have been the retailer that was holding it up on their end.
Maybe someone can correct me if I am wrong abuot how it works in general on whether you can overpay via Amex online BP or not but just in my experience if you try to overpay with pending transactions it won't let you. I guess its good to have money spare in your Serve account that you can transfer and zero it out. Either that or just don't make any large purchases or any purchases 3 days before your statement closes to ensure the last few transactions get posted.

#1496
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,374
I learned this yesterday when I was trying to pay down my balance before the statement closed on 3/27 but they don't let you overpay your balance even though you have purchases pending. I had a balance of 3K (including pending charges) that I wanted to pay but my current balanced showed 1.5K. When I tried to enter in "Other Payment Amount" the full 3K balance and submit, it complained saying that the max I could pay is my current outstanding balance which was $1.5K. I was kinda shocked that I couldn't overpay via online. I suppose you can do an pay by phone with a CSR which can override that.
Luckily my pending purchase that I made on 3/24 finally posted today on 3/26 and I am able to pay down the full 3K balance to zero it out. Also in terms of pending transactions appearing within a day on Amex, I disagree. I don't think its any faster than Chase or Citi or BoA. I remember when I bought 3K from CVS sometime ago, it took like 3 days to finally post but it could have been the retailer that was holding it up on their end.
Luckily my pending purchase that I made on 3/24 finally posted today on 3/26 and I am able to pay down the full 3K balance to zero it out. Also in terms of pending transactions appearing within a day on Amex, I disagree. I don't think its any faster than Chase or Citi or BoA. I remember when I bought 3K from CVS sometime ago, it took like 3 days to finally post but it could have been the retailer that was holding it up on their end.

#1497
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,426
Thanks for this info. If nothing else, I think I could overpay through Serve bill pay that would post tomorrow morning. I know that my purchase from CVS on Monday has already posted. Not sure if it was last night or this morning. Seems like your experience and mine were both two days.

#1498
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA, BA, CX, DL, EK, F9, GA, HA, IB, JL, KE, LH, MH, NH, OS, PG, QR, RJ, SA, TG, UA, VN, WN, ZH
Posts: 927
It seems like everybody has the same statment closing date on this card? Mine closes tomorrow as well.

#1500
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA, BA, CX, DL, EK, F9, GA, HA, IB, JL, KE, LH, MH, NH, OS, PG, QR, RJ, SA, TG, UA, VN, WN, ZH
Posts: 927
