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)
#1535
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580

#1538
Join Date: May 2013
Location: AZ
Programs: AA, UA, US
Posts: 525
Here you go, you better read the entire thing, i put in some time to type it all 
Since I got this card 4-5 years ago, I didn’t remember what I had reported as income so after the 1st call, I went online and checked what I had put in. Generally I put ballpark on lower side so was ok, had put in 25k less than what IRS shows so turned out ok I think.
Day1 -
Oohaahouch: Hello
Rep: hello, is it mr oohaahouch
Oohaahouch: yes, who is this
Rep: this is FR Rep from Amex
Oohaahouch: ok, wassup? (though I knew what is up)
Rep: I was reviewing your a/c and had some Q’s for you
Oohaahouch: Sure
Rep: what are these 500x4 charges on your a/c
Oohaahouch: looks like you don’t update notes on a/c, someone from fraud deptt called 2 min before you asking similar question, are you really from AE?
Rep: sorry for the confusion mr oohaahouch, we can verify identity if you provide your security code
Oohaahouch: XXXX (gave incorrect)
Rep: I don’t have that
Oohaahouch: YYYY (correct one)
Rep: yes, your DOB is DDMM and Last 4 are XXXX and a/c ends in *****
Oohaahouch: Yes
Rep: what are these 500x4 charges on your a/c
Oohaahouch: 2 serve cards. Groceries and I don’t remember
Rep: why did u buy serve cards
Oohaahouch: to use
Rep: where would you use serve card
Oohaahouch: I still don’t have my perm card so havent really thought about it, will think of something once I get the cards, may be pay mortgage or give it to wife since she doesn’t have amex card or something else. Isnt serve on sale? Have AE stopped selling serve? I saw some on sale without fee so I bought
Rep: no, we still sell them, I will have to request some financial documents
Oohaahouch: sure, what kind?
Rep: it is called 1099 (or whatever, cant remember) and you fax it to us, we get your tax details from IRS
Oohaahouch: oh ok, I don’t have fax, can I email you
Rep: we don’t take email, only fax or post
Oohaahouch: I don’t have fax
Rep: you can go to fedex store, they can fax for you
Oohaahouch: ok, sure
Rep: ok, you should have email in 10 min and you have 5 days to respond else a/c may be closed permanently and reminder card cannot be used until we finish the review
Oohaahouch: ok sure
Rep: thank you mr oohaahouch
Day2-
Rep—Hello this is Rep’s desk on a recorded line
Oohaahouch: hello rep, I am oohaahouch, we spoke yesterday, you had shut down my cards
Rep: oh yes, mr oohaahouch
Oohaahouch: I never got your email
Rep: lets verify code first
Oohaahouch: XXXX
Rep: thank you, what is your email ID
Oohaahouch: [email protected]
Rep: oh, looks like we missed the last number, I am sending again, your 5 day clock is reset
Oohaahouch: ok bye
Rep: bye
Day3-
Rep—Hello this is Rep’s desk on a recorded line
Oohaahouch: hello rep, I am oohaahouch, we spoke yesterday, you had shut down my cards
Rep: oh yes, mr oohaahouch
Oohaahouch: I faxed you, did you get it?
Rep: lets verify code first
Oohaahouch: XXXX
Rep: thank you, yes we got your doc, should have our review completed in 5 days
Oohaahouch: ok
Rep: pls remember card is not usable in the meantime
Oohaahouch: ok bye
Day5-
Rep: hello mr oohaahouch?
Oohaahouch: yes rep, how r u?
Rep: very good, thank you, I called to tell you that review is over, and cards are usable again and no changes of any type, your CL is same, apologies for inconvenience that card was not usable
Oohaahouch: no problem, glad we got this out of way
Rep: pls call us on 800 XXX XXXX if you have any issues in future
Oohaahouch: bye
oohaahouch thinking in mind - where is the closest CVS

Since I got this card 4-5 years ago, I didn’t remember what I had reported as income so after the 1st call, I went online and checked what I had put in. Generally I put ballpark on lower side so was ok, had put in 25k less than what IRS shows so turned out ok I think.
Day1 -
Oohaahouch: Hello
Rep: hello, is it mr oohaahouch
Oohaahouch: yes, who is this
Rep: this is FR Rep from Amex
Oohaahouch: ok, wassup? (though I knew what is up)
Rep: I was reviewing your a/c and had some Q’s for you
Oohaahouch: Sure
Rep: what are these 500x4 charges on your a/c
Oohaahouch: looks like you don’t update notes on a/c, someone from fraud deptt called 2 min before you asking similar question, are you really from AE?
Rep: sorry for the confusion mr oohaahouch, we can verify identity if you provide your security code
Oohaahouch: XXXX (gave incorrect)
Rep: I don’t have that
Oohaahouch: YYYY (correct one)
Rep: yes, your DOB is DDMM and Last 4 are XXXX and a/c ends in *****
Oohaahouch: Yes
Rep: what are these 500x4 charges on your a/c
Oohaahouch: 2 serve cards. Groceries and I don’t remember
Rep: why did u buy serve cards
Oohaahouch: to use
Rep: where would you use serve card
Oohaahouch: I still don’t have my perm card so havent really thought about it, will think of something once I get the cards, may be pay mortgage or give it to wife since she doesn’t have amex card or something else. Isnt serve on sale? Have AE stopped selling serve? I saw some on sale without fee so I bought
Rep: no, we still sell them, I will have to request some financial documents
Oohaahouch: sure, what kind?
Rep: it is called 1099 (or whatever, cant remember) and you fax it to us, we get your tax details from IRS
Oohaahouch: oh ok, I don’t have fax, can I email you
Rep: we don’t take email, only fax or post
Oohaahouch: I don’t have fax
Rep: you can go to fedex store, they can fax for you
Oohaahouch: ok, sure
Rep: ok, you should have email in 10 min and you have 5 days to respond else a/c may be closed permanently and reminder card cannot be used until we finish the review
Oohaahouch: ok sure
Rep: thank you mr oohaahouch
Day2-
Rep—Hello this is Rep’s desk on a recorded line
Oohaahouch: hello rep, I am oohaahouch, we spoke yesterday, you had shut down my cards
Rep: oh yes, mr oohaahouch
Oohaahouch: I never got your email
Rep: lets verify code first
Oohaahouch: XXXX
Rep: thank you, what is your email ID
Oohaahouch: [email protected]
Rep: oh, looks like we missed the last number, I am sending again, your 5 day clock is reset
Oohaahouch: ok bye
Rep: bye
Day3-
Rep—Hello this is Rep’s desk on a recorded line
Oohaahouch: hello rep, I am oohaahouch, we spoke yesterday, you had shut down my cards
Rep: oh yes, mr oohaahouch
Oohaahouch: I faxed you, did you get it?
Rep: lets verify code first
Oohaahouch: XXXX
Rep: thank you, yes we got your doc, should have our review completed in 5 days
Oohaahouch: ok
Rep: pls remember card is not usable in the meantime
Oohaahouch: ok bye
Day5-
Rep: hello mr oohaahouch?
Oohaahouch: yes rep, how r u?
Rep: very good, thank you, I called to tell you that review is over, and cards are usable again and no changes of any type, your CL is same, apologies for inconvenience that card was not usable
Oohaahouch: no problem, glad we got this out of way
Rep: pls call us on 800 XXX XXXX if you have any issues in future
Oohaahouch: bye
oohaahouch thinking in mind - where is the closest CVS


#1539
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
Looks like I won't be hitting this card hard.
Seems to me they're watching this card very closely...
Seems to me they're watching this card very closely...

#1541
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580

#1542
Join Date: May 2013
Location: AZ
Programs: AA, UA, US
Posts: 525
sure, i respect your feelings. to me i didnt care because the ones who deal see like 10k forms / month and not care. its like when you apply for credit, people access your detailed credit report, look at it, move on.

#1543
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 transactions) that I wanted to pay but my current outstanding balance showed 1.5K. When I tried to enter in "Other Payment Amount" for 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 overpay by phone with a CSR which can override that.

#1544
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,426
The Amex system is a bit wonky. I have had instances where it would let me over pay but it wasn't up to the very last penny. Say for instance if my balance including pending charges is $3000.25. I was able to get the Amex online BP system to let me submit a payment for $3000.24 but when I change it back and try $3000.25, the system then resets and complains about the max I can send is $1.5K.
I mean yes technically it kinda works but if I still have that 1 penny left over its kinda useless since I have to use another source to pay to zero out the balance. In your instance did the Amex online BP system allow you to overpay 100% up to the very last penny?
I mean yes technically it kinda works but if I still have that 1 penny left over its kinda useless since I have to use another source to pay to zero out the balance. In your instance did the Amex online BP system allow you to overpay 100% up to the very last penny?

#1545
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,374
Thanks for providing your story mr. oohaahouch! It's good to know that we can tell them that we are using Serve and exactly what for.
