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)
#1111
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
And it's really not the 2012 wisdom, it's Jan 2014 experience. Many (including me) attempted several times to PC and were told "No". We now have a few who did succeed (from BCE and SPG), but it's not clear if there has been a change in policy, or if the lucky few had a rep who interpreted/misinterpreted the policy, or were more skillful, or if there are some criteria that make this possible for an individual. (For many of use, we were told that the BC didn't come up as on option)
#1112
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CMH
Programs: DL Silver Medallion, UA, Chase UR, AMEX MR
Posts: 198
Best way to redeem cash back?
I just received my first cash back rewards in my account. Just wondering how ppl are typically redeeming these rewards? Is cash back as a statement credit the best value? or any better options available?
#1113
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 632
Its cash. You need a better value on cash? What are you looking for here, Bitcoins? Gold Dubloons?
#1116
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: Marriott Platinum
Posts: 274
Thanks OP. I just applied for this card and got an instant approval. Is it still the case that you can have only 3 American Express cards at a time? I really want to apply for the new card they announced today (available in a month)...
#1119
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Minneapolis/St. Paul
Posts: 271
So, did you get the BC yet?
And it's really not the 2012 wisdom, it's Jan 2014 experience. Many (including me) attempted several times to PC and were told "No". We now have a few who did succeed (from BCE and SPG), but it's not clear if there has been a change in policy, or if the lucky few had a rep who interpreted/misinterpreted the policy, or were more skillful, or if there are some criteria that make this possible for an individual. (For many of use, we were told that the BC didn't come up as on option)
And it's really not the 2012 wisdom, it's Jan 2014 experience. Many (including me) attempted several times to PC and were told "No". We now have a few who did succeed (from BCE and SPG), but it's not clear if there has been a change in policy, or if the lucky few had a rep who interpreted/misinterpreted the policy, or were more skillful, or if there are some criteria that make this possible for an individual. (For many of use, we were told that the BC didn't come up as on option)
For me, I will be asking to PC my BCP to BC on day 91. If that doesn't work I will be apping. Im currently debating whether to cancel my PRG before apping to maximizing the chance for maximum CL.
So yes, it is possible to PC.
Your result may vary based on timing and presentation.
#1122
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 190
My wife was able to PC her BCE to BC a month ago. She has had the BCE since 10/2013.
For me, I will be asking to PC my BCP to BC on day 91. If that doesn't work I will be apping. Im currently debating whether to cancel my PRG before apping to maximizing the chance for maximum CL.
So yes, it is possible to PC.
Your result may vary based on timing and presentation.
For me, I will be asking to PC my BCP to BC on day 91. If that doesn't work I will be apping. Im currently debating whether to cancel my PRG before apping to maximizing the chance for maximum CL.
So yes, it is possible to PC.
Your result may vary based on timing and presentation.
Just go ahead and apply and get a credit line reallocation from existing BCE/BCP/etc..
#1123
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Minneapolis/St. Paul
Posts: 271
I've been told that Credit line reallocation requires 12 month seasoning on the transferring account. The receiving acct can be new.
On my recent conversation with AMEX I was offered and approved to PC my BCP to BCE/Blue no problem. I was advised to try PCing to the BC in a couple months. I called a second time and was advised to wait until the BCP has aged 90 days. I called a third time and was again confirmed that I needed to wait 90 days before i could PC to BC.
So we'll see what happens.
I currently have a NPSL on the prg and might cancel it to make room for the BC creditline.
btw I did mention that my wife was able to PC her BCE to BC.
#1124
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 437
I am having an odd problem with my BC I hope someone can help me with.
I been charging $400/day Realoadit packs on my card at Safeway for about a week.
Suddenly the last three days, I always get "TRANS NOT APPROVED"
It only happens to my BC because when I switch to my AmexPlat, it works fine.
The odd thing is, my BC still works elsewhere, including Safeway, if I am not buying a reloadit....
Not even close to maxing my credit limit...
I can't figure out what it doesn't like. The high dollar amount? the reloadit packs? is the card just banned from making large purchases at the retailer? or has the retailer banned me from making large purchases...
I don't want to have to escalate this to Amex, so if anyone have had a similar experience, please educate me.
PS. Before you go screaming your head off about how I should go test it myself... Yes, I will. But I would like to learn from other's experience if possible.
I been charging $400/day Realoadit packs on my card at Safeway for about a week.
Suddenly the last three days, I always get "TRANS NOT APPROVED"
It only happens to my BC because when I switch to my AmexPlat, it works fine.
The odd thing is, my BC still works elsewhere, including Safeway, if I am not buying a reloadit....
Not even close to maxing my credit limit...
I can't figure out what it doesn't like. The high dollar amount? the reloadit packs? is the card just banned from making large purchases at the retailer? or has the retailer banned me from making large purchases...
I don't want to have to escalate this to Amex, so if anyone have had a similar experience, please educate me.
PS. Before you go screaming your head off about how I should go test it myself... Yes, I will. But I would like to learn from other's experience if possible.
Last edited by vinhboy; Mar 3, 2014 at 1:59 pm
#1125
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 920
I've been using my BC to do the same thing, but have not seen this issue arise at all... That sounds very strange indeed...