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)
#4262
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MCO
Programs: AA 1MM, BA, UA, HH Dia, CC Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 795
#4263
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: California
Posts: 1,129
I'm so tempted to remove the survey link.
#4265
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,427
Of course, the lesser players aren't safe either, but they're undoubtedly "safer."
#4266
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
#4267
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 34
I was born in October, and cancelled. What month were you guys born?
#4268
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,036
Well, actually, yes. I get the impression that they may not be going after the 15K folks either. In previous shutdowns, it's usually the folks spending more than their monthly credit limits getting shut down. That's a logical way to do it. Otherwise, are they going to shut down anyone who ever bought a gift card? Or 5 gift cards? 10? If I'm AMEX, or any other card issuer, I'm going after the heavy hitters. That's where the big losses are, and that's the behavior they need to stop.
Of course, the lesser players aren't safe either, but they're undoubtedly "safer."
Of course, the lesser players aren't safe either, but they're undoubtedly "safer."
Also plenty of datapoints that it isn't heavy hitters, it is mix of all types.
#4269
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 349
What is the definition of a 'prepaid card' and 'cash equivalent'?
#4270
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
Well, actually, yes. I get the impression that they may not be going after the 15K folks either. In previous shutdowns, it's usually the folks spending more than their monthly credit limits getting shut down. That's a logical way to do it. Otherwise, are they going to shut down anyone who ever bought a gift card? Or 5 gift cards? 10? If I'm AMEX, or any other card issuer, I'm going after the heavy hitters. That's where the big losses are, and that's the behavior they need to stop.
Of course, the lesser players aren't safe either, but they're undoubtedly "safer."
Of course, the lesser players aren't safe either, but they're undoubtedly "safer."
Last edited by TheDapperDon; Oct 23, 2014 at 11:48 am Reason: clarification
#4271
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: UA Premier Gold, AA, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 21
#4272
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
#4273
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: MSP
Programs: DL, BA, AA
Posts: 270
Well, actually, yes. I get the impression that they may not be going after the 15K folks either. In previous shutdowns, it's usually the folks spending more than their monthly credit limits getting shut down. That's a logical way to do it. Otherwise, are they going to shut down anyone who ever bought a gift card? Or 5 gift cards? 10? If I'm AMEX, or any other card issuer, I'm going after the heavy hitters. That's where the big losses are, and that's the behavior they need to stop.
Of course, the lesser players aren't safe either, but they're undoubtedly "safer."
Of course, the lesser players aren't safe either, but they're undoubtedly "safer."
This is a personal card, not a business card, so they set a threshold for personal spending. They then axed the top spenders in bonus categories.
#4274
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 349
It may be cumulative over time, meaning a certain amount of rewards cashed out in a span of x months, that's why some haven't been shut down yet and others have.
#4275
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 174
Don't kid yourself...just because bloggers didn't ruin this deal, doesn't mean that they're not responsible for the early demise of other very valuable opportunities. Anyone that's been doing this hobby for more than one year can point to a multitude of great deals that ended as soon as the circles and arrows crowd tried to monetize other people's discoveries. The only reason the OBC wasn't widespread in the blogosphere is because there was no affiliate kickback to make it worthwhile.
As with all money-making schemes, there comes a tipping point. Since the money you make is the same money some business loses, once there's too many people doing the same thing, there's no recourse for the business but to change the model. What with all the people in this thread bragging and gloating in a public forum about how much money they were making off Amex, I'm surprised this deal lasted as long as it did. I hope people will learn a lesson in discretion from this, but I doubt it. FT...where good deals go to die.
As with all money-making schemes, there comes a tipping point. Since the money you make is the same money some business loses, once there's too many people doing the same thing, there's no recourse for the business but to change the model. What with all the people in this thread bragging and gloating in a public forum about how much money they were making off Amex, I'm surprised this deal lasted as long as it did. I hope people will learn a lesson in discretion from this, but I doubt it. FT...where good deals go to die.