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)
#92
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 809
I got my first blue student card back in 90s. Then, there was an Offer For You deal I could not pass up years ago. When I called, they said it was for Blue Cash card only. So, I asked to switch to it. Used it sporadically thinking, there's no freakin' way I can use $6500 to reach threshold and earn 5%. Didn't even realize what I was holding until last year. MS has opened my eyes.
Am worried about "shutdown" everyone's speculating. That'd be tragic.
Am worried about "shutdown" everyone's speculating. That'd be tragic.

#94
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Somewhere above the Mason-Dixon
Programs: DL Ham Samich
Posts: 1,628

#95
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX, SNA
Posts: 359
I just applied for this card and got instant approval. I need a replacement for the Citi card since the bonus period is expiring for me in a matter of days. I did an AOR recently and got denied for a Fidelity Amex so I was pleasantly surprised to get instant approval for this card.
This is my third Amex card. I hope to get a decent limit. I actually had this card previously from my college days, but cancelled it well before the MS opportunities became available. The nice thing about a new Amex card is that it is backdated to when you first had an account with them so this should help with the average age of my accounts.
I hope there won't be a thread in a few months or even weeks titled "Amex Blue Cash Shutdown," but it wouldn't surprise me if there is one.
This is my third Amex card. I hope to get a decent limit. I actually had this card previously from my college days, but cancelled it well before the MS opportunities became available. The nice thing about a new Amex card is that it is backdated to when you first had an account with them so this should help with the average age of my accounts.
I hope there won't be a thread in a few months or even weeks titled "Amex Blue Cash Shutdown," but it wouldn't surprise me if there is one.
Last edited by dogbyte; Dec 30, 13 at 7:38 pm

#96
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: The Empire State
Programs: CO (RIP), US (RIP), Amtrak. Lots of CC programs.
Posts: 442

#97
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
In http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...alents-10.html, several reports of purchases at CVS not getting 5% on Blue Cash, along with various theories (including their pharmacy filter not being correct for all CVS names).
Are people still experiencing this or did it get fixed?
Are people still experiencing this or did it get fixed?

#98
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BOS, MHT
Programs: AA ltg, B6, DL, UA, AS, SPG/Marriott Plt, HH, Hyatt
Posts: 10,044
I have the one that used to be unlimited for a year and now is only good for max $6500 so a quicky in Jan. I dont have it with me where i am now so I decided to apply for this one outright and risk the hit. Just recently closed and applied for other ccs though, including another amex cc so i got this:
Your application is pending further review.Print this page
Thank you for applying for the Blue Cash® from American Express. Your application has been received and will be processed as soon as possible and we will notify you of the decision by mail within 14 days.
Thank you for applying.
We shall see! But thanks OP for posting this!
If i get the card with a decent cr line, I think I can kill it in a good way lol
mm
Your application is pending further review.Print this page
Thank you for applying for the Blue Cash® from American Express. Your application has been received and will be processed as soon as possible and we will notify you of the decision by mail within 14 days.
Thank you for applying.
We shall see! But thanks OP for posting this!
If i get the card with a decent cr line, I think I can kill it in a good way lol


#99
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Warm, sunny Florida
Posts: 251
Son of a biscuit. This better be available in 18 days when my next AoR is ready to fire.

#100
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: ORD
Posts: 687
I have the one that used to be unlimited for a year and now is only good for max $6500 so a quicky in Jan. I dont have it with me where i am now so I decided to apply for this one outright and risk the hit. Just recently closed and applied for other ccs though, including another amex cc so i got this:
Your application is pending further review.Print this page
Thank you for applying for the Blue Cash® from American Express. Your application has been received and will be processed as soon as possible and we will notify you of the decision by mail within 14 days.
Thank you for applying.
We shall see! But thanks OP for posting this!
If i get the card with a decent cr line, I think I can kill it in a good way lol
mm
Your application is pending further review.Print this page
Thank you for applying for the Blue Cash® from American Express. Your application has been received and will be processed as soon as possible and we will notify you of the decision by mail within 14 days.
Thank you for applying.
We shall see! But thanks OP for posting this!
If i get the card with a decent cr line, I think I can kill it in a good way lol


#101
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: PHL based
Programs: USAir, UA, AA, BA, Hyatt, HHonors, SPG, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 356
And I'm an auditor for my day job, so I don't really fear any document review, since typically I'm the one initiating them


#102
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: ORD
Posts: 220
What would they ask during FR? What to do to avoid if possible?

#103
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 774
They ask for last years tax returns and some other info. Failure to compile results in all accounts being shut down.

#105
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
I tried to get a temp account number to make a purchase before receiving the card (e.g. Amex gift cards via TopCashBack) but was told that Blue Cash doesn't support temp accounts, and I have to wait for the card.
