Jan 8, 14, 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)
Dec 29, 14, 9:18 am
#6301
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 234
At the very least I think its great for actual normal grocery spending. My wife has the Blue Cash Preferred with 6% back on groceries (really groceries, not MS) until $6k. Once that is met, switch to this card for 5% back on real groceries after MSing $6500.
Dec 29, 14, 9:44 am
#6302
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 97
Don't forget the "cost" for MS which subtracts $400-600 from your rewards each year.
Dec 29, 14, 10:06 am
#6303
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 234
You mean if you MS using Visa gift cards? There are other ways without those fees.
Dec 29, 14, 10:53 am
#6304
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 234
I do most of my MS using Redbird. My understanding of the $6500 requirement for the old Blue Cash is that it's any $6500 (which could be fulfilled using Redbird) not $6500 of grocery spending specifically though I could be wrong (please tell me if I am). After meeting the $6500 requirement I just use the old Blue Cash card for regular grocery spending for the 5% cash back. I don't have any other fancy way to MS grocery spending since I'm not sure how AmEx classifies Target spending.
Dec 29, 14, 11:10 am
#6305
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 197
To clarify what I meant here:
I do most of my MS using Redbird. My understanding of the $6500 requirement for the old Blue Cash is that it's any $6500 (which could be fulfilled using Redbird) not $6500 of grocery spending specifically though I could be wrong (please tell me if I am). After meeting the $6500 requirement I just use the old Blue Cash card for regular grocery spending for the 5% cash back. I don't have any other fancy way to MS grocery spending since I'm not sure how AmEx classifies Target spending.
I do most of my MS using Redbird. My understanding of the $6500 requirement for the old Blue Cash is that it's any $6500 (which could be fulfilled using Redbird) not $6500 of grocery spending specifically though I could be wrong (please tell me if I am). After meeting the $6500 requirement I just use the old Blue Cash card for regular grocery spending for the 5% cash back. I don't have any other fancy way to MS grocery spending since I'm not sure how AmEx classifies Target spending.
Dec 29, 14, 11:53 am
#6307
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
To clarify what I meant here:
I do most of my MS using Redbird. My understanding of the $6500 requirement for the old Blue Cash is that it's any $6500 (which could be fulfilled using Redbird) not $6500 of grocery spending specifically though I could be wrong (please tell me if I am). After meeting the $6500 requirement I just use the old Blue Cash card for regular grocery spending for the 5% cash back. I don't have any other fancy way to MS grocery spending since I'm not sure how AmEx classifies Target spending.
I do most of my MS using Redbird. My understanding of the $6500 requirement for the old Blue Cash is that it's any $6500 (which could be fulfilled using Redbird) not $6500 of grocery spending specifically though I could be wrong (please tell me if I am). After meeting the $6500 requirement I just use the old Blue Cash card for regular grocery spending for the 5% cash back. I don't have any other fancy way to MS grocery spending since I'm not sure how AmEx classifies Target spending.
is in reference to the lumangoy's calculation (4.5% cash back). So $400-600 is roughly the cost of MSing $50K. You are basically doing the $6,500 with Redbird, then doing non-MS, which is a different type of thing.
Depending where you shop, 5% on groceries can be got other ways. Obviously at Target you can use the Redbird to get 5% off + whatever bonus you get reloading. For WholeFoods, you can get gift cards at 5% off places like Amazon. So that initial $6,500, where you lose at least $65 compared to using a 2% card, might not always be worthwhile.
Dec 29, 14, 1:00 pm
#6310
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angles
Posts: 2,101
111.66x$5.95 = $665.
2500-665=1835
1835/5 = 3.56%
Not worth taking risk of shut down, points loss, CL lost, victim of fraud activity, and may be bad mark on credit report.......
For some anything is better than nothing.
When they realize being in a circle the justification is at east had fun! If u are not in a circle u can reach somewhere......
Dec 29, 14, 1:14 pm
#6311
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
Sorry, other way round. At Amazon, you can buy WholeFoods gift cards. Wholefoods only sells their own gift cards.
Dec 29, 14, 1:27 pm
#6312
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 197
Ok, for mfg $56500 you need to buy 565500/506=111.66 gift cards
111.66x$5.95 = $665.
2500-665=1835
1835/5 = 3.56%
Not worth taking risk of shut down, points loss, CL lost, victim of fraud activity, and may be bad mark on credit report.......
For some anything is better than nothing. When they realize being in a circle the justification is at east had fun!
If u are not in a circle u can reach somewhere......
111.66x$5.95 = $665.
2500-665=1835
1835/5 = 3.56%
Not worth taking risk of shut down, points loss, CL lost, victim of fraud activity, and may be bad mark on credit report.......
For some anything is better than nothing.
When they realize being in a circle the justification is at east had fun! If u are not in a circle u can reach somewhere......
Also, you should know some people are lucky enough (myself for instance) to be able to MS with this card in a 5% category at no cost to myself whatsoever. That whole YMMV thing.
Dec 29, 14, 2:57 pm
#6313
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1
AMEX Old Blue Cash
hi, it has been my experience that credit card companies usually pay out the rewards in instances like this.
for ex, my statement says i have $300 in rewards but i am unable to redeem them because my account was cancelled.
is there a place for people like me to go to file a formal complaint? or are there any class actions going on for me to tag onto?
i understand cancelling my account, but if you want to do that you should let me cash out my earned rewards.
thanks.
for ex, my statement says i have $300 in rewards but i am unable to redeem them because my account was cancelled.
is there a place for people like me to go to file a formal complaint? or are there any class actions going on for me to tag onto?
i understand cancelling my account, but if you want to do that you should let me cash out my earned rewards.
thanks.
Dec 29, 14, 3:46 pm
#6314
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 151
i understand cancelling my account, but if you want to do that you should let me cash out my earned rewards.
Sure, some card issuers will be gracious and not hold you to the terms you agreed to. And the cancellations are of course unfair when the real reason is that you've exploited the rewards programs but haven't done anything that is ruled out by the terms. But bottom line, the card issuers have every right to void the rewards--says so in the terms, and there's no law that says they can't follow those terms.
