Old Jan 8, 14, 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 Mar 28, 14, 9:37 am
  #1636  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
Originally Posted by glocklt4
Yep, I started out with initial disappointment too until I realized I was just barely over $6500 anyway.

I think if they cannot FR they will start saying "we are not able to fulfill requirements to offer this card to you anymore" or whatever more often instead. They won't increase FR staff just for this card and the abuse it might get.
Just think of the BCP. When people started spending more than expected at supermarkets, buying more plastic goods than planned for, Amex announced a $6K cap. They could certainly do a similar thing here. (e.g. Announce the great news that you no longer need to spend $6.5K to start earning 5%, you do it straight away. Then, announce there is a cap on earning!)
silver6054 is offline  
Old Mar 28, 14, 10:12 am
  #1637  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 38
Originally Posted by ChurnNBurn
mine just posted, I was upset at first cause some of the drugstores didnt post @ 5% but then I realized it was the tail end of my 6500 threshold that I was still trying to surpass. So all is good.
Hmm... mine hasn't posted yet.Under rewards summary, does it say Select US Drugstores @ 5%? Does it differentiate the 1% and the 5% ones somehow?
isobro is offline  
Old Mar 28, 14, 10:23 am
  #1638  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 823
My statement posted and I actually received more reward dollars than I had calculated.
exarkun is offline  
Old Mar 28, 14, 10:26 am
  #1639  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 823
Originally Posted by isobro
Hmm... mine hasn't posted yet.Under rewards summary, does it say Select US Drugstores @ 5%? Does it differentiate the 1% and the 5% ones somehow?
It looks like this (I removed actual dollars...)

As of Feb2014 Billing Period QualifiedSpend$ RewardDollars
U.S. Gas Stations $x @5% x
U.S. Gas Stations $x @1% x
U.S. Gas Stations - Lower % $x0 @0.5% x
U.S. Supermarkets $x @1% x
U.S. Supermarkets $x @5% x
Select U.S. Drugstores $x @5% x
Select U.S. Drugstores $x @1% x
Other Eligible Purchases $x @0.5% x
Other Eligible Purchases $x @1% x
Total $x x
Total QualifiedSpendThis Reward Year $x
exarkun is offline  
Old Mar 28, 14, 10:27 am
  #1640  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL DM-1MM HH Diamond
Posts: 361
Originally Posted by isobro
Hmm... mine hasn't posted yet.Under rewards summary, does it say Select US Drugstores @ 5%? Does it differentiate the 1% and the 5% ones somehow?
Yes.

Select US Drug stores ..... @5%
Select US Drug stores ..... @1%

Same for gas stations and supermarkets.
2B or back in coach is offline  
Old Mar 28, 14, 10:35 am
  #1641  
 
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 174
I received my first month's statement on a new BC card. I realize I'm not supposed to see rewards for this billing cycle, but the statement didn't even mention a 5% award category. Instead, the base reward dollars were broken down as follows:

As of Feb2014 Billing Period QualifiedSpend$ RewardDollars
U.S. Gas Stations $0.00 @1% 0.00
U.S. Supermarkets $0.00 @1% 0.00
Select U.S. Drugstores $0.00 @1% 0.00
Other Eligible Purchases $0.00 @0.5% 0.00
Total $0.00 0.00
Total QualifiedSpendThis Reward Year $0.00

On an older BC card I have, the first billing statement didn't mention the reward breakdown at all, but subsequent billing statements listed 5%, 1%, and 0.5%. Has anyone else seen this on their first billing statement, and if so, is it corrected to reflect the 5% category on subsequent billing statements? Or is Amex doing something new here? I don't want to get too concerned at this juncture as the paperwork with the new BC card mentioned 5%, but I am surprised that the initial statement only listed the 1% categories.
fletch512 is offline  
Old Mar 28, 14, 10:35 am
  #1642  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 437
Today, the auditing department at amex is going to work late trying to figure out what the heck caused the huge spike in their CB-payout chart.
vinhboy is offline  
Old Mar 28, 14, 10:36 am
  #1643  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: NYC
Posts: 415
OK, I'm in! Seeing that cashback is posting properly, it is time to unsheath this baby and get to work.

Just hoping that recent developments (no more Amex BP, new language on churning cards) doesn't mean a shorter life for this card.
mittenfingerz is offline  
Old Mar 28, 14, 11:37 am
  #1644  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 908
Originally Posted by mittenfingerz
OK, I'm in! Seeing that cashback is posting properly, it is time to unsheath this baby and get to work.

Just hoping that recent developments (no more Amex BP, new language on churning cards) doesn't mean a shorter life for this card.
Did I miss something? What is "no more Amex BP"?
sosamo is offline  
Old Mar 28, 14, 11:42 am
  #1645  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 437
Originally Posted by sosamo
Did I miss something? What is "no more Amex BP"?
WM used to allow bill paying of Amex. No longer.
vinhboy is offline  
Old Mar 28, 14, 11:42 am
  #1646  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Midwest U.S.A
Programs: Too many to list. Since the early 90's.
Posts: 1,407
Just a friendly reminder to BC folks that the points for your purchase may not show up on a statement for up to 60 days. So, don't freak if you don't see points from February purchases. Some don't have a closing date of the 27th and will have to wait a bit more. If I purchase something now I know I won't see points from it until at least May.

And just a suggestion; if you're worried about maxing out this rare card and getting shut down make sure you're doing some real spending on it too, such as real gas purchases, car repairs, things for the house, department stores, dining and so forth. If you're just doing ms, then that is up to you. Whatever you're comfortable with, but I do hope everyone for the most part will treat it right so we all don't suffer from other people's hyper ms'ing. Wisdom = longevity. Greed and hastiness by few = negative program changes for all.

And please, be careful with the bragging on how much who've run through it in a month. We know you're happy and just wanting to share, but sometimes it's best to keep things general and use private messages. And, these statements are not directed at anyone in particular since I can't think of anyone posting like this off the top of my head, so it's nothing personal. We've all been guilty of it because we don't think it's a big deal, but to some $xxxx spend/month is a lot and to others it's not.

Last edited by Churnman; Mar 28, 14 at 11:51 am
Churnman is offline  
Old Mar 28, 14, 11:49 am
  #1647  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: US/AA, UA, AS, BA, IHG, HGP
Posts: 218
For those interested, i can now confirm that Costco Gas does not count for 5% (this is stated in the T7C, but was posting as a "Gas" purchase in dropdowns). It falls into the the "other category for cashback on your statements (.5/1%)
TMKTakot is offline  
Old Mar 28, 14, 11:55 am
  #1648  
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of the parrots and parrotheads
Programs: Several dozen
Posts: 4,819
So true - I was at the hardware store today looking for wooden stakes, ropes and matches and they told me the guys from the AMEX FR Department had completely stocked them out.

Originally Posted by vinhboy
Today, the auditing department at amex is going to work late trying to figure out what the heck caused the huge spike in their CB-payout chart.
AlohaDaveKennedy is offline  
Old Mar 28, 14, 11:58 am
  #1649  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 58
Originally Posted by Churnman
And just a suggestion; if you're worried about maxing out this rare card and getting shut down make sure you're doing some real spending on it too, such as real gas purchases, car repairs, things for the house, department stores, dining and so forth. If you're just doing ms, then that is up to you. Whatever you're comfortable with, but I do hope everyone for the most part will treat it right so we all don't suffer from other people's hyper ms'ing. Wisdom = longevity. Greed and hastiness by few = negative program changes for all.
This.

I have been using my card for everyday purchases as well. I spend quite a bit MS'ing, but I also spend quite a bit on regular everyday purchases.

It's a win-win for both parties
IBJanky is offline  
Old Mar 28, 14, 12:03 pm
  #1650  
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 359
Hmmm, a little bit of a mess... one supermarket purchase went into Supermarkets 1% even though I'd made sure to wait until my $6500 had posted, and a small CVS purchase went into Other 1% while a larger CVS purchase made the 5%.
Wonko is offline  

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