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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 $6,500¹ spend in a reward year², you will earn 1% on Everyday Purchases³ (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)

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
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%)].

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.
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Old May 27, 2014, 11:26 am
  #2311  
 
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
Originally Posted by f0xx
You're playing with fire.

As for the purchasing GC at drugstores, they're getting level 3 data that tells them exactly what you're buying. No need to look at the specific amount as they already can see the break down.
Care to share your source for this? I can see detail breakdown for Staples under additional information, but not for CVS.
lad2 is offline  
Old May 27, 2014, 11:26 am
  #2312  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
Originally Posted by TTnC4me
Ramping up is MS 101. Scrutiny, whether passing or not, is not a good thing.
Thank you for correcting me. It seems that AMEX could actually be a Level 1 or 2 provider.



https://www209.americanexpress.com/m.../data-security

Last edited by MileageAddict; May 28, 2014 at 11:42 am Reason: image not found - link removed
f0xx is offline  
Old May 27, 2014, 11:38 am
  #2313  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Midwest
Programs: AA LT Gold 1MM ,Hyatt Explorist,Marriott Platinum,HHonors Diamond
Posts: 364
Originally Posted by ttlmmky
Just got a call from Amex. I mentioned previously on this thread that I've been using this card sparingly of late but wanted to use it to get into MS. So I dove right in, first purchasing $5,000 of AGC to get the $6,500 spending requirement out of the way and then getting serveral VGC's from various drugstores.

The call was very courteous - she asked where I worked, address of employment, how long I've been there, whether I own or rent, etc. Then she said she just wanted to verify the nature of the gift card purchases they've been seeing on my account and whether to expect those purchases to continue.

She seemed to know that I was purchasing the gift cards at drugstores, although if you look at my statement and see a bunch of 504.95 charges, it wouldn't be surprising. I told the truth - that I used the AGC to satisfy my spend requirement and then was getting the gift cards for personal use. I told her that I realized I was brushing up against my CL and that in the future I didn't plan to take it nearly that high.

All that seemed to satisfy her. I asked if this was part of some financial review. She made it sound like if she wasn't satisfied that it could head that way. But she was satisfied for the time being. So I guess I'm good for now
Care to share more details about your situation?

Have u been FR'd before by AMEX?
History with AMEX?

Just wondering if this is the new FR process or a new risk management policy and may have nothing to do with MS or GC purchases...
OHijAAzi73 is offline  
Old May 27, 2014, 11:54 am
  #2314  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 415
Originally Posted by OHijAAzi73
Care to share more details about your situation?

Have u been FR'd before by AMEX?
History with AMEX?

Just wondering if this is the new FR process or a new risk management policy and may have nothing to do with MS or GC purchases...
I've had this card since 2010 or so. I only recently staretd MS'ing but did meet the $6,500 purchase requirement one year before deciding it wasn't worth it. Then the card was more or less dormant for a few years, save SBS and other Amex offers. I only recently started using it to MS. No history of FR on the card.
ttlmmky is offline  
Old May 27, 2014, 11:57 am
  #2315  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,059
Originally Posted by ttlmmky
Not going to continue at nearly the same high levels in the future. But maybe 5-10 $500 VGC's is not out of the question
I got a similar call, but I couldn't tell if it was the beginning of an FR or just a fraud alert call. Previously I had gotten notified on the app and was able to clear the alert. This time there was no alert, and the call came a few days after the purchases.

I proactively offered that I was buying some gift cards in conjunction with a weeklong promotion at a local grocery chain. I didn't get asked about employment or income, but I also haven't even reached my credit limit in aggregate including all of my spending since I received the card. It was fairly obvious even without level 3 data when a bunch of $505.95 purchases appeared.
Majuki is offline  
Old May 27, 2014, 6:22 pm
  #2316  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 299
ABC

What they know you are buying can not be true! Years ago I owned an auto diagnostic center. A customer called asking what the 250.00 charge on the CC bill was, back on such and such date. It stated "auto/auto related" He totally forgot he was ever in my shop. I checked my computer and itemized what the charges were for and told him. He then had CC company call me to verify the charges for some reason. They had no idea what the 250 was for. To Amex, it could have been 250. worth of candy. So they don't know what you are buying. All the company knows is a charge for xx was on xxx at XXX. No way for them to know. When you mix in milk or soap or toilet paper, do they get a breakdown on how much was T.P. how much was milk, how much was OV? To play it safe over the last 6 months, I always buy a pack of gum along with the OV or other items I need. Never have a 504.95 charge or a 1009,.90 charge. BYW, anyone need gum?
barrytuneup is offline  
Old May 27, 2014, 6:27 pm
  #2317  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 274
Originally Posted by barrytuneup
What they know you are buying can not be true! Years ago I owned an auto diagnostic center. A customer called asking what the 250.00 charge on the CC bill was, back on such and such date. It stated "auto/auto related" He totally forgot he was ever in my shop. I checked my computer and itemized what the charges were for and told him. He then had CC company call me to verify the charges for some reason. They had no idea what the 250 was for. To Amex, it could have been 250. worth of candy. So they don't know what you are buying. All the company knows is a charge for xx was on xxx at XXX. No way for them to know. When you mix in milk or soap or toilet paper, do they get a breakdown on how much was T.P. how much was milk, how much was OV? To play it safe over the last 6 months, I always buy a pack of gum along with the OV or other items I need. Never have a 504.95 charge or a 1009,.90 charge. BYW, anyone need gum?
What was possible "years ago" and what is possible now are different. I can see on my online AMEX statements for some restaurants how much was for "food" and how much was "tip", but this doesn't show up for all restaurants. It appears it is dependent upon the what info is sent to the CC company, but certainly possible.
bjk497 is offline  
Old May 27, 2014, 6:55 pm
  #2318  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 18
So, I just received this card in the mail, and was excited to get going- only, I opened the envelope to find to my dismay that my credit limit is a paltry $2k! I'm not sure why it's so low- my credit score is 730+. My current Amex lineup is a PRG with a $15k "limit" as well as 2 SPG cards, one personal and one biz. That's it.

Question is, with such a low limit, is this card completely worthless? How long should I wait until I start going through, say, even 6k a month- which is 3x my CL- by paying off mid-statement, or will doing it ever get me shut down? Will they let me close my SPG personal and move the line over to the BlueCash, which I just got? Even that would only bring me to a 6k total CL, which still isn't much.

If anyone has any ideas how I can get around this issue and actually be able to benefit from MS at 5% on this card- I'd appreciate the help. Happy spending to everyone scoring big with this card- it's a great find!
CtownMilesAddict is offline  
Old May 27, 2014, 7:06 pm
  #2319  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: AA, SPG, MR, UR, Cash Back!
Posts: 606
The whole statement behind thing is getting boring to me. I ran $7k through this card last month, my billing cycle closes yesterday. Waiting for rewards... I was only able to run $2k through this billing cycle with an extra $1k pending. So basically $10k in spending with rewards in limbo..... ... over?!?
Fuerza is offline  
Old May 27, 2014, 9:10 pm
  #2320  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,273
Originally Posted by unkinected
I wish I could "like" or "thumbs up" posts. This cracked me up.
Me too!
ZzzzX is offline  
Old May 27, 2014, 9:13 pm
  #2321  
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,273
Originally Posted by vinyalwhl
They gave me 17% of my annual salary, not sure if that helps.
Mine crept up over time. Now it's 26k but I don't use the card.
ZzzzX is offline  
Old May 27, 2014, 11:46 pm
  #2322  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 527
Originally Posted by barrytuneup
To play it safe over the last 6 months, I always buy a pack of gum along with the OV or other items I need. Never have a 504.95 charge or a 1009,.90 charge. BYW, anyone need gum?
I wonder whether we're just fooling ourselves, like putting lipstick on a pig. It wouldn't take much of an algorithm to see beyond the 504.95 / 1009.90 charges.

I think as long as they don't see any individual risk, in the aggregate AMEX benefits from the volume.
Hbax is offline  
Old May 27, 2014, 11:55 pm
  #2323  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 314
i got approved for this card today. It is confusing because about three weeks ago I requested SPG credit line increase and was declined. The CL on that is $1K. Today for this card I got $15K.

8 inquiries in the last 6 months, more like in last 3 months. Today I also applied for Citi AA exec, second one and was declined citing the citi policy of over 6 inquiries in 6 months. Applied to Chase ink plus, probably will be denied too.

My history is probably worser than about 95% of the folks here, essentially my credit cards apping and using started this year, with about 4, 7 year old accounts with a combined CL of $2000. Utilization is probably close to 25% now.

Credit karma 739, Credit sesame 751, barclays fico 748.
su9062 is offline  
Old May 28, 2014, 3:20 am
  #2324  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: DL DM Hub Captive, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, PC Plat, and other stuff.
Posts: 904
Originally Posted by CtownMilesAddict
So, I just received this card in the mail, and was excited to get going- only, I opened the envelope to find to my dismay that my credit limit is a paltry $2k! I'm not sure why it's so low- my credit score is 730+. My current Amex lineup is a PRG with a $15k "limit" as well as 2 SPG cards, one personal and one biz. That's it.

Question is, with such a low limit, is this card completely worthless? How long should I wait until I start going through, say, even 6k a month- which is 3x my CL- by paying off mid-statement, or will doing it ever get me shut down? Will they let me close my SPG personal and move the line over to the BlueCash, which I just got? Even that would only bring me to a 6k total CL, which still isn't much.

If anyone has any ideas how I can get around this issue and actually be able to benefit from MS at 5% on this card- I'd appreciate the help. Happy spending to everyone scoring big with this card- it's a great find!
You can transfer CL from your other Amex cards, assuming your other cards have been open for long enough (they won't transfer CL from new accounts). You can even do it online.
thegasguru is offline  
Old May 28, 2014, 8:15 am
  #2325  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 18
Originally Posted by thegasguru
You can transfer CL from your other Amex cards, assuming your other cards have been open for long enough (they won't transfer CL from new accounts). You can even do it online.
Thanks for the tip. I assume I can only do this with personal credit cards, which would rule out my PRG and Starwood Biz, leaving my 4k Starwood personal as my only option. At least with 6k total I can get started a little.

Do the cards have to be under the same online login to do it online? Also how long does a card have to be open for until you can transfer CL from it? My SPG is going on 10 months.
CtownMilesAddict is offline  


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