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 $6,500 spend in a reward year, you will earn 1% on Everyday Purchases (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)
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
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%)].
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 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.
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 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)
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
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%)].
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 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.
Old Amex Blue (2013-2014)
#4351
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,584
I respectfully disagree.
Isn't knowing what causes a shutdown entirely relevant to this discussion? IMHO it is very "on-topic" for everyone here to exchange information surrounding the shutdown and try to collectively determine which actions may have contributed/led up to the shutdown.
If that type of discussion is now "off topic", then we may as well just close the thread; this method of MS is done.
Gloob
Isn't knowing what causes a shutdown entirely relevant to this discussion? IMHO it is very "on-topic" for everyone here to exchange information surrounding the shutdown and try to collectively determine which actions may have contributed/led up to the shutdown.
If that type of discussion is now "off topic", then we may as well just close the thread; this method of MS is done.
Gloob
#4352
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MCO
Programs: AA 1MM, BA, UA, HH Dia, CC Gold, SPG Plat
Posts: 795
#4353
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: a hotel room, somewhere...
Posts: 962
my surrogate account which does about 10k/ month just got an email from amex blue... the 2% at whole foods promo. whew. still alive. now just ~3 days from statement end, so laying low in accordance with the golden rule: don't be dumb
that said, was anyone shut down today? if they're doing a purge, they sure did leave a lot of heavy hitters standing...
that said, was anyone shut down today? if they're doing a purge, they sure did leave a lot of heavy hitters standing...
#4354
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 59
My wife and I both have had this card for over 6 months with no issues. We have not spent anything since yesterday. My friend attempted to purchase GCs today and received a cancellation e-mail soon afterwards.
He actually called American Express support and was told the following: "The spending was a violation of purchasing only "personal / family " related items, which was sufficient grounds to cancel the card.
He also requested they provide him the pending cash back and they said because the terms of use were violated the cash back would not be paid.
Background: My friend had this card for about 3 months, about 11,000 CL, spent about 20k to 30k per month with no issues until yesterday.
#4355
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 12
I learned from fw ironically... Didn't know of ft till a while after. I'm a hh but I'm not so sure thus forum killed it...no I believe the real hh did... At one point they will notice, now we know when. It wasn't the small fish but us doing six figure ranges each month in 5% cat...
My card is still open....
Edit: forgot to add...fw would red anyone WHO posted useful advice too...
My card is still open....
Edit: forgot to add...fw would red anyone WHO posted useful advice too...
#4357
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Midwest
Programs: AA LT Gold 1MM ,Hyatt Explorist,Marriott Platinum,HHonors Diamond
Posts: 364
False Alarm!
my surrogate account which does about 10k/ month just got an email from amex blue... the 2% at whole foods promo. whew. still alive. now just ~3 days from statement end, so laying low in accordance with the golden rule: don't be dumb
that said, was anyone shut down today? if they're doing a purge, they sure did leave a lot of heavy hitters standing...
that said, was anyone shut down today? if they're doing a purge, they sure did leave a lot of heavy hitters standing...
Yeah ...I was finally ready to accept my fate and the imminent account closure when I got the AMEX email in my inbox .....about the 2% at whole foods....still breathing.....for now.....I signed up for it just in case my account(s) survive the massacre........they don't sell GC's do they?
#4358
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: UA Premier Gold, AA, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 21
Just confirmed with local reps of AMEX that this was a result of a review of spending behavior and merchants termed an FR. They have no line item data, only high level purchases. They just identified accounts that exhibit behaviors that are typically synonymous with MS and shut them down. They don't truly know if they are MSing or not, but they are calling bluff.
#4359
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 349
You understand a public company like Amex has to explain why certain line items on the financial statements increased QoverQ or YoverY? When the CEO and CFO must sign off on those financials and it is in their face a huge increase in rewards expense, they ask questions and demand changes. It is the total of that expense, not what a few people are doing, but the aggregate $ amount. Several hundred million in additional rewards expense isn't a few people doing 6 figures monthly. Got it?
it had to end sometime, did it not?
Last edited by aGeist; Oct 23, 2014 at 10:49 pm
#4360
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: LAX
Posts: 546
Just confirmed with local reps of AMEX that this was a result of a review of spending behavior and merchants termed an FR. They have no line item data, only high level purchases. They just identified accounts that exhibit behaviors that are typically synonymous with MS and shut them down. They don't truly know if they are MSing or not, but they are calling bluff.
I, too, want to know this. How many people received shutdown notice today?
#4361
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,511
Just confirmed with local reps of AMEX that this was a result of a review of spending behavior and merchants termed an FR. They have no line item data, only high level purchases. They just identified accounts that exhibit behaviors that are typically synonymous with MS and shut them down. They don't truly know if they are MSing or not, but they are calling bluff.
#4363
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
You understand a public company like Amex has to explain why certain line items on the financial statements increased QoverQ or YoverY? When the CEO and CFO must sign off on those financials and it is in their face a huge increase in rewards expense, they ask questions and demand changes. It is the total of that expense, not what a few people are doing, but the aggregate $ amount. Several hundred million in additional rewards expense isn't a few people doing 6 figures monthly. Got it?
#4364
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: UA Premier Gold, AA, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Gold
Posts: 21
...... FR is a financial review. Local means local, reps in India aren't local.
#4365
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 342
Targeting the druggies first, perhaps, but grasping at straws if you don't think more cancellations are soon to follow.
Last edited by sybloc; Oct 24, 2014 at 6:30 am