Jan 8, 2014, 2:22 pm
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 $6,500ą spend in a reward year˛, you will earn 1% on Everyday Purchasesł (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)
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
ą 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.
ł '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 $6,500ą spend in a reward year˛, you will earn 1% on Everyday Purchasesł (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)
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
ą 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.
ł '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)
Jun 1, 2014, 5:38 pm
#2401
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 274
I was unable to PC BCP to BC. I had to app for a new card.
Jun 1, 2014, 5:52 pm
#2402
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
IMO it's worth keeping the BCP even with the annual fee if you do any department store shopping. The amount of CB you get for your first $6,000 at grocery stores minus the AF is only $15 bucks less than the CB you'd if you put that $6,000 on the BC. Plus you've got a card that'll give you 3% CB at most of the major department store chains. Especially for someone with kids, that could add up to some good savings. Just a thought.
Jun 1, 2014, 6:52 pm
#2403
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS
Programs: SPG Plat. Marriott Plat. Hilton Diamond. Hyatt Diamond. IHG Plat.
Posts: 2,580
Jun 1, 2014, 8:05 pm
#2404
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 342
Has anyone ever had a bill pay from Blackhawk Network to Amex not go through?
I had 2 bp's from BHN within 24 hours, for identical amounts, on May 1 & 2 and only 1 was received by Amex. After numerous complaints the BHN risk-department CSR claims the problem is on Amex's end. Considering I've never had a missing BP to Amex in my entire life I find the BHN CSR claim dubious if not an outright lie.
I had 2 bp's from BHN within 24 hours, for identical amounts, on May 1 & 2 and only 1 was received by Amex. After numerous complaints the BHN risk-department CSR claims the problem is on Amex's end. Considering I've never had a missing BP to Amex in my entire life I find the BHN CSR claim dubious if not an outright lie.
Jun 1, 2014, 8:07 pm
#2405
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 342
Has anyone ever had a bill pay from Blackhawk Network to Amex not go through?
I had 2 bp's from BHN within 24 hours, for identical amounts, on May 1 & 2 and only 1 was received by Amex. After numerous complaints the BHN risk-department CSR claims the problem is on Amex's end. Considering I've never had a missing BP to Amex in my entire life I find the BHN CSR claim dubious if not an outright lie.
I had 2 bp's from BHN within 24 hours, for identical amounts, on May 1 & 2 and only 1 was received by Amex. After numerous complaints the BHN risk-department CSR claims the problem is on Amex's end. Considering I've never had a missing BP to Amex in my entire life I find the BHN CSR claim dubious if not an outright lie.
Jun 1, 2014, 8:25 pm
#2406
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
IMO it's worth keeping the BCP even with the annual fee if you do any department store shopping. The amount of CB you get for your first $6,000 at grocery stores minus the AF is only $15 bucks less than the CB you'd if you put that $6,000 on the BC. Plus you've got a card that'll give you 3% CB at most of the major department store chains. Especially for someone with kids, that could add up to some good savings. Just a thought.
And then given you can buy giftcards at a discount, e.g. Lord & Taylor giftcards are 8% off at ABC Giftcards, and you can probably get them at 5% off at CVS/grocery store, the BCP discount just doesn't justify the AF.
Jun 1, 2014, 8:51 pm
#2407
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Location: ILG/PHL
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Gold, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 1,075
Well, it depends on a lot, including which other cards you have. So for many here, the initial $6,500 is taken care of with two visits to CVS (or AGC orders etc) so the BCP has no benefit for groceries and obviously none for gas. If you have a 2% card, you would need to spend $7,500 at those select department stores to pay back the AF.
And then given you can buy giftcards at a discount, e.g. Lord & Taylor giftcards are 8% off at ABC Giftcards, and you can probably get them at 5% off at CVS/grocery store, the BCP discount just doesn't justify the AF.
And then given you can buy giftcards at a discount, e.g. Lord & Taylor giftcards are 8% off at ABC Giftcards, and you can probably get them at 5% off at CVS/grocery store, the BCP discount just doesn't justify the AF.
Jun 2, 2014, 5:29 am
#2408
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 757
I was going to keep the BCP, but then I hit the 4 credit card limit and closed it to get an everyday card so I'd have a no AF way to keep my MR points.
Jun 2, 2014, 10:31 am
#2409
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: DL DM Hub Captive, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, PC Plat, and other stuff.
Posts: 904
Has anyone ever had a bill pay from Blackhawk Network to Amex not go through?
I had 2 bp's from BHN within 24 hours, for identical amounts, on May 1 & 2 and only 1 was received by Amex. After numerous complaints the BHN risk-department CSR claims the problem is on Amex's end. Considering I've never had a missing BP to Amex in my entire life I find the BHN CSR claim dubious if not an outright lie.
I had 2 bp's from BHN within 24 hours, for identical amounts, on May 1 & 2 and only 1 was received by Amex. After numerous complaints the BHN risk-department CSR claims the problem is on Amex's end. Considering I've never had a missing BP to Amex in my entire life I find the BHN CSR claim dubious if not an outright lie.
One piece of advice: I make ALL my billpay payments in slightly DIFFERENT amounts. Especially if you're doing any kind of volume, it can be very difficult to confirm multiple payments from multiple sources if they're all for identical amounts. It makes it much, much easier to distinguish payments that are for unique amounts, and it removes any issue of confusion over the possibility of a double-entry.
Jun 2, 2014, 11:00 am
#2410
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
True about department store gift cards. If you know what you're going to get ahead of time I guess it makes sense. I'm personally canceling my BCP now that I have the BC. Anything that I would normally buy in a department store I buy on Amazon or Zappos anyway. Or I shop at my local outlet stores.
Jun 2, 2014, 1:55 pm
#2411
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 198
Was unable to PC BCE to BC. Was told: "This card isnt available in your product upgrade options."
Jun 2, 2014, 2:44 pm
#2412
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Northeast USA
Posts: 300
any issues with doing MS on this card as an AU? for a variety of reasons it makes more sense for me to have my wife get this card with me as an AU, but i would be doing 99% of the spending (including MS) - is that inherently a red flag to amex if all else is done in the usual way?
Jun 2, 2014, 3:18 pm
#2413
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 56
any issues with doing MS on this card as an AU? for a variety of reasons it makes more sense for me to have my wife get this card with me as an AU, but i would be doing 99% of the spending (including MS) - is that inherently a red flag to amex if all else is done in the usual way?
Jun 2, 2014, 3:49 pm
#2414
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Northeast USA
Posts: 300
thanks for the datapoint - anyone out there have the vast majority of the activity on the AU card? eg, i could be doing many thousands per month in MS as the AU while my wife may only spend a hundred or less
Jun 2, 2014, 5:01 pm
#2415
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 908
After a few fraud check at the beginning. I have not had any issues.