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Old Jan 8, 2014, 2:22 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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.

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 6500), 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%)].

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.
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Old Amex Blue (2013-2014)

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Old Jan 28, 2014, 4:46 pm
  #676  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 202
Originally Posted by mittenfingerz
These Amex Blue products require you to wait an extra statement before your cash back posts. For example, cash back for purchases made in January won't post until the March statement closes.

So, relative to most other programs, this really does feel like a long time.
Indeed, but once you get going and are steady at it, it runs smoothly
Rick471 is offline  
Old Jan 28, 2014, 5:11 pm
  #677  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 486
I applied for this card three weeks ago. Application was cancelled as a duplicate due to my November BCE. Called the same day or the next day and got them to put my application in for review. Not a peep since, and on the online status checker still says "in progress." Should I call, or be patient a bit longer?
itchyfeet123 is offline  
Old Jan 28, 2014, 6:10 pm
  #678  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: JFK
Programs: *$ Gold :)
Posts: 1,061
Originally Posted by itchyfeet123
I applied for this card three weeks ago. Application was cancelled as a duplicate due to my November BCE. Called the same day or the next day and got them to put my application in for review. Not a peep since, and on the online status checker still says "in progress." Should I call, or be patient a bit longer?
I'd call in this case. What harm it will do?.. Worst they will ask to wait more...
pier11 is offline  
Old Jan 28, 2014, 8:59 pm
  #679  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 970
Originally Posted by sam_goh
Do you have a source for the BCP issues? I'm noticing problems starting last nov/dec here, totals aren't adding up.

Still waiting on my first BC statement to clear to see how CVS goes. I remember that screwup.
I had no bonus points awarded on Surpass and PRG at Safeway in December. Others have had problems as well.

Called in about the missing Surpass points, but didn't want eyeballs on my PRG which had significantly higher MS. Some people rec'd letters from Amex saying there was an error in December and that points would be fixed on the next statement, but are reporting the new statements aren't showing any missing points.

Starting to look like Amex may have figured out how to code gift card purchases at Safeway?
farwest101 is offline  
Old Jan 28, 2014, 9:09 pm
  #680  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SFO
Posts: 46
Originally Posted by farwest101
I had no bonus points awarded on Surpass and PRG at Safeway in December. Others have had problems as well.

Called in about the missing Surpass points, but didn't want eyeballs on my PRG which had significantly higher MS. Some people rec'd letters from Amex saying there was an error in December and that points would be fixed on the next statement, but are reporting the new statements aren't showing any missing points.

Starting to look like Amex may have figured out how to code gift card purchases at Safeway?
When you went to safeway did you only buy gift cards? Next time add a pack of gum or ten bottles of rum and see if you get points for those.
flowfaster is offline  
Old Jan 28, 2014, 11:24 pm
  #681  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 131
Originally Posted by farwest101
I had no bonus points awarded on Surpass and PRG at Safeway in December. Others have had problems as well.

Called in about the missing Surpass points, but didn't want eyeballs on my PRG which had significantly higher MS. Some people rec'd letters from Amex saying there was an error in December and that points would be fixed on the next statement, but are reporting the new statements aren't showing any missing points.

Starting to look like Amex may have figured out how to code gift card purchases at Safeway?
how about drug store?
I did chat online asking about my pending reward for Jan., seems I have to wait 5-7 days and then they can tell me.
Johnnycomeslater is offline  
Old Jan 29, 2014, 8:06 am
  #682  
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,153
Originally Posted by sam_goh
Do you have a source for the BCP issues? I'm noticing problems starting last nov/dec here, totals aren't adding up.

Still waiting on my first BC statement to clear to see how CVS goes. I remember that screwup.
The source is me. My statement was produced a couple day ago for the BCP. I got a statement for the BC. Not categorizing correctly for the Supermarket..."NONE" (mostly Kroger, a couple of Meijer purchase) were counted toward the grocery category.

CVS is categorized as drugstore. Gas station category is fine as well. All I was saying was AMEX will take an action to screw things if people go crazy on this card. CVS mis-categorization was just an example of what happened in the recent past.

Last edited by vagrants; Jan 29, 2014 at 8:13 am
vagrants is offline  
Old Jan 29, 2014, 8:15 am
  #683  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,036
Originally Posted by farwest101
I had no bonus points awarded on Surpass and PRG at Safeway in December. Others have had problems as well.

Called in about the missing Surpass points, but didn't want eyeballs on my PRG which had significantly higher MS. Some people rec'd letters from Amex saying there was an error in December and that points would be fixed on the next statement, but are reporting the new statements aren't showing any missing points.

Starting to look like Amex may have figured out how to code gift card purchases at Safeway?
Happened to me as well in December on Surpass. They opened an investigation and awarded the missing points on the January statement. They didn't figure anything out. I don't buy anything besides GC at Safeway/Giant.
ibleed0range is offline  
Old Jan 29, 2014, 8:18 am
  #684  
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,153
Originally Posted by ibleed0range
Happened to me as well in December on Surpass. They opened an investigation and awarded the missing points on the January statement. They didn't figure anything out. I don't buy anything besides GC at Safeway/Giant.
Glad you called. Many are "afraid" of AMEX finding their MS that they are not willing to call. I do not like these people. I've already called for the BCP. Now I need to call for the BC & CR cards.
vagrants is offline  
Old Jan 29, 2014, 8:33 am
  #685  
wcj
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 784
deleted

Last edited by wcj; Jun 29, 2014 at 3:32 pm Reason: dead
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Old Jan 29, 2014, 8:35 am
  #686  
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,153
Originally Posted by wcj
Vagrants- follow up on Meijer miscoding. Online or in store? Other items added? My statement just says refer to receipt. Given that this is my first Amex grocery card, it will be two months before I would know. Would appreciate any insight you were willing to share.
In-store. I assumed online would not count, thus, I never have done. They were real spending. < $30/purchase. @ Meijer, it's not worth MSing since their higherst dom is $100 (YMMV...here that's the highest and can't buy reloads with CCs).
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Old Jan 29, 2014, 9:08 am
  #687  
wcj
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 784
deleted

Last edited by wcj; Jun 29, 2014 at 3:33 pm Reason: dead
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Old Jan 29, 2014, 10:53 am
  #688  
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: IAD/DCA
Programs: Bunch of mid-tiers
Posts: 1,034
I also did not get 2x grocery bonus on my PRG for my December statement. It was multiple grocery stores - Safeway, Giant, Food Lion, etc. I noticed the following, which someone else also posted:

Just grocery purchase: 2x
Grocery+GC: 1x
Just GC: 1x

My January statement closed last week and it appears I got 2x on all grocery (gift cards included) for January, but we'll see when the points formally post.

Note I had a similar problem with gas stations (7-11) one month this past summer. One month was 1x, but the other months before and after at the same locations were 2x.
ctbarron is offline  
Old Jan 29, 2014, 11:17 am
  #689  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
Originally Posted by ctbarron
I also did not get 2x grocery bonus on my PRG for my December statement. It was multiple grocery stores - Safeway, Giant, Food Lion, etc. I noticed the following, which someone else also posted:

Just grocery purchase: 2x
Grocery+GC: 1x
Just GC: 1x

My January statement closed last week and it appears I got 2x on all grocery (gift cards included) for January, but we'll see when the points formally post.

Note I had a similar problem with gas stations (7-11) one month this past summer. One month was 1x, but the other months before and after at the same locations were 2x.
I have been getting letters from Amex stating that they were not able to add my points properly. This is for my PRG. I then show that they add them.

I may start putting something in with my purchases at CVS. I normally do this at grocery stores, but I haven't so far at our favorite drug store.
TheDapperDon is offline  
Old Jan 31, 2014, 12:54 pm
  #690  
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CVG
Programs: Hyatt Giraffe
Posts: 1,664
Originally Posted by itchyfeet123
I applied for this card three weeks ago. Application was cancelled as a duplicate due to my November BCE. Called the same day or the next day and got them to put my application in for review. Not a peep since, and on the online status checker still says "in progress." Should I call, or be patient a bit longer?
Same situation here, but my app today was denied. Tried calling recon and they said to wait for reject letter.
sam_goh is offline  


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