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 $6,500¹ 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)
Oct 13, 2014, 7:54 am
#3752
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 143
Every person who screws up, incurring late fees, bounced check fees, and interest charges, makes it possible for the rest of us to get paid for opening free checking accounts and to get cash back from our credit cards. The banks are still making big profits.
Unfortunately, every jackhole who commits fraud ruins it for the rest of us.
Unfortunately, every jackhole who commits fraud ruins it for the rest of us.
Oct 13, 2014, 9:39 am
#3753
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 877
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stoughton
Why are people who don't know the difference between income and worth playing this game?
Good question. My income is <25k. My worth is less than 0. My charges this month are > $50k.
What is the point of any of these ?s? Everyone marches to their own beat.
Originally Posted by Stoughton
Why are people who don't know the difference between income and worth playing this game?
Good question. My income is <25k. My worth is less than 0. My charges this month are > $50k.
What is the point of any of these ?s? Everyone marches to their own beat.
Oct 13, 2014, 10:28 am
#3754
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
anyone determined to do what they want will just do it. as long they are prepared for FR knowing they didn't lie in their applications, there's nothing to fear/worry about.
however, it's all up to amex to assign the CLs we get and I'm pretty sure it is all tied up to income we declare in our applications; while some may not be satisfied with their low CL and are determined to spend 2x or more, they are free to do so, as long as one is prepared for FR ~ if it happens, they can deal with it; if not, why worry about it?
however, it's all up to amex to assign the CLs we get and I'm pretty sure it is all tied up to income we declare in our applications; while some may not be satisfied with their low CL and are determined to spend 2x or more, they are free to do so, as long as one is prepared for FR ~ if it happens, they can deal with it; if not, why worry about it?
Oct 13, 2014, 12:42 pm
#3755
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 920
Is this the type of behavior that triggers such FR? Banks aren't dumb... People making $25k a year & spending $50k are obviously risky and will raise concerns. Banks aren't stupid if you provided accurate income information. If you lied in your app, then you're committing fraud.
If I had a legal source that allows me to invest in the 5 to 6 figures range per month and walk away with a profit of >3% of that investment a month later, why wouldn't I use it to my advantage?
Oct 13, 2014, 1:12 pm
#3756
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 639
Is this the type of behavior that triggers such FR? Banks aren't dumb... People making $25k a year & spending $50k are obviously risky and will raise concerns. Banks aren't stupid if you provided accurate income information. If you lied in your app, then you're committing fraud.
Oct 13, 2014, 1:18 pm
#3757
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
I must be missing something as well. I reread your post and reread the other poster's post. I think his argument makes sense. To a bank, it is pretty risky for you to spending twice your annual income in 1 month. However, I know we are all playing the game in some way or another but just a valid observation from the OP.
Oct 13, 2014, 1:41 pm
#3758
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 639
I must be missing something as well. I reread your post and reread the other poster's post. I think his argument makes sense. To a bank, it is pretty risky for you to spending twice your annual income in 1 month. However, I know we are all playing the game in some way or another but just a valid observation from the OP.
My quibble was with the difference between "$50k a year" and "$50k a month"
Oct 13, 2014, 1:46 pm
#3759
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Up In The Cloud
Programs: UA 1K MM; BA S, AA G; AS G; DL | SPG P50, M G, CC G, IHG P, HLT S | Hertz PC, Avis F
Posts: 682
I asked for a 2x CL increase and was sent 4506-T form. Are there any consequences if I do not send it back and live with my current CL? Can I ask for a smaller (1.5x, say) CL increase again now? 60 days later? 6 months later?
Also, I can no longer see transfer CL options on all my Amex cards which were there a couple months ago. Did Amex take away the option online?
Also, I can no longer see transfer CL options on all my Amex cards which were there a couple months ago. Did Amex take away the option online?
Oct 13, 2014, 1:49 pm
#3760
Join Date: May 2013
Location: AZ
Programs: AA, UA, US
Posts: 525
I asked for a 2x CL increase and was sent 4506-T form. Are there any consequences if I do not send it back and live with my current CL? Can I ask for a smaller (1.5x, say) CL increase again now? 60 days later? 6 months later?
Also, I can no longer see transfer CL options on all my Amex cards which were there a couple months ago. Did Amex take away the option online?
Also, I can no longer see transfer CL options on all my Amex cards which were there a couple months ago. Did Amex take away the option online?
Oct 13, 2014, 2:03 pm
#3761
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
I asked for a 2x CL increase and was sent 4506-T form. Are there any consequences if I do not send it back and live with my current CL? Can I ask for a smaller (1.5x, say) CL increase again now? 60 days later? 6 months later?
Also, I can no longer see transfer CL options on all my Amex cards which were there a couple months ago. Did Amex take away the option online?
Also, I can no longer see transfer CL options on all my Amex cards which were there a couple months ago. Did Amex take away the option online?
as long as you didn't lie in your application and your stated income is not very far from the actual, you don't have anything to worry about. as to asking for any CLI, I've read people had success on the 61st day after account opened.
Oct 13, 2014, 2:05 pm
#3762
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist No More..., Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,375
Not quibbling with the OP, just saying that everyone marches to a different beat, and just like the "slow and easy" vs. "the slash and burn" techniques of MS, all are entitled to their own reality and neither is better than the other.
My quibble was with the difference between "$50k a year" and "$50k a month"
My quibble was with the difference between "$50k a year" and "$50k a month"
Oct 13, 2014, 2:09 pm
#3763
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
were you asked to call and was directed to the finance review team? whether or not you called them, you cannot just ignore the request for 4506-T. the consequences of simply ignoring is account closure or if you choose to close the account before they do and re-apply sometime later, I read that people got approved initially but when they tried to activate their cards, the cards were shutdown immediately.
as long as you didn't lie in your application and your stated income is not very far from the actual, you don't have anything to worry about. as to asking for any CLI, I've read people had success on the 61st day after account opened.
as long as you didn't lie in your application and your stated income is not very far from the actual, you don't have anything to worry about. as to asking for any CLI, I've read people had success on the 61st day after account opened.
Oct 13, 2014, 3:18 pm
#3764
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CVG
Programs: Hyatt Giraffe
Posts: 1,664
The solution to that is to never walk around with 15K in GC. Why would someone ever have 15K in gift cards on them at one time. It doesn't make any sense. How hard is it to go straight to your preferred location of liquidation and get rid of the GC immediately after purchase.
Edit: And I don't care if you make 40K or a mil a year, walking around with cash equivalents of that magnitude is just stupid.
Edit: And I don't care if you make 40K or a mil a year, walking around with cash equivalents of that magnitude is just stupid.
Last edited by sam_goh; Oct 14, 2014 at 10:35 pm
Oct 13, 2014, 4:36 pm
#3765
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 502
I dont know why you keep saying that. A FR is about calculating the risk that you present to the bank. Making 50k a year and charging 100k a month, month after month is a risk to the bank. Whether it is a risk the bank wants to take on you is decided by them during the review with whatever algorithms they use. 1 FR isnt always the end of it. If they snag you again they will want bank statements and the like...that gives them a much bigger picture.