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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 Mar 19, 2014, 2:21 am
  #1351  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 340
For example,my anniversary date is 10/16 and closing date is 10/28. So when I have the card for second year,does the money spent between 10.16 to 10/28 counted for the 6500 for my 2nd year? Or maybe I have to wait after 10/28 for the second year 6500?
ericliujian is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2014, 7:57 am
  #1352  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 825
Originally Posted by ericliujian
For example,my anniversary date is 10/16 and closing date is 10/28. So when I have the card for second year,does the money spent between 10.16 to 10/28 counted for the 6500 for my 2nd year? Or maybe I have to wait after 10/28 for the second year 6500?
Read the terms. 99.9% of the questions here are answered in the terms.

For your first $6,500 of eligible purchases in the 12 billing periods in a row beginning with the one in which the anniversary of your Card Account occurs (reward year), you will receive a reward of 1% on Everyday Purchases and a reward of 0.5% on all other eligible purchases.
exarkun is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2014, 8:32 am
  #1353  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: AA, SPG, MR, UR, Cash Back!
Posts: 606
Originally Posted by zeppoloveskafka
Similar numbers for me, and I also got 2k. I couldn't transfer from any other cards because their history is not long enough. I waited 60 days to try to get an increase, but I got turned down due to too many recent hard pulls. So stuck at 2K until other cards age some more.
I'm in the same situation, Amex got me good with that starting limit. I guess it could have been worse with a EX hard inquiry and a denial. Lol
Fuerza is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2014, 9:46 am
  #1354  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 139
How many reports of FR's are out there on this card? My buddy has this card and got the FR call yesterday asking all sorts of questions regarding usage and what he was purchasing for $500 at different stores.

I have been very slow to ramp up my usage on this card out of fear that this is a trap card by AMEX. Like others have said I was given a much lower CL on this card than on any of my other cards with other issuers and this is my only card with AMEX.

My question is do we know if FR reports are just isolated or is there a feeling of increased awareness of this card to AMEX and are they using it somewhat of a trap card for MS'ers?
whitey4545 is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2014, 9:56 am
  #1355  
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: AZ
Programs: AA, UA, US
Posts: 525
Originally Posted by whitey4545
How many reports of FR's are out there on this card? My buddy has this card and got the FR call yesterday asking all sorts of questions regarding usage and what he was purchasing for $500 at different stores.

I have been very slow to ramp up my usage on this card out of fear that this is a trap card by AMEX. Like others have said I was given a much lower CL on this card than on any of my other cards with other issuers and this is my only card with AMEX.

My question is do we know if FR reports are just isolated or is there a feeling of increased awareness of this card to AMEX and are they using it somewhat of a trap card for MS'ers?
if you didnt lie on the app, why fear the FR?
oohaahouch is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2014, 10:09 am
  #1356  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,060
Originally Posted by oohaahouch
if you didnt lie on the app, why fear the FR?
Furthermore, if you only have the one card, what do you have to lose if they shut you down? It's not like you're invested in hundreds of thousands of MR points or a portfolio of their cards. MS always implies some risk, and if you aren't planning on MS with the card, why are you worried? FR is usually fairly benign as long as you were truthful on the application.
Majuki is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2014, 10:13 am
  #1357  
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 502
Originally Posted by Majuki
FR is usually fairly benign as long as you were truthful on the application.
They arent just checking to see if you lied on your app. They are checking to see if your spending is supported by your income and / or if you are a large financial risk to them. You dont get brownie points for being truthful in the beginning.
swintec is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2014, 10:23 am
  #1358  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,060
Originally Posted by swintec
They arent just checking to see if you lied on your app. They are checking to see if your spending is supported by your income and / or if you are a large financial risk to them. You dont get brownie points for being truthful in the beginning.
Sure, but you can't spend time worrying about when the ban hammer will drop. Even those who've never engaged in MS, have reasonable spending patterns compared to income, long account tenures, and pay balances in full have been subjected to FRs with unfavorable outcomes. If you're going to get into a situation that might result in an FR, go big and don't tip toe always checking over your shoulder to see if a cardinal is behind you.
Majuki is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2014, 10:28 am
  #1359  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 139
I have read on this thread about AMEX questioning 'what are you purchasing at Grocery Stores and Drug stores for ~500' why would they be making this inquiry? I do not fear a FR. I have a low CL and like I said only the 1 card. I am more worried about potential AA stemming from them identifying MS habits. I get that there is risk and I am fine with it. I am just wondering what their angle is because asking what is being purchased doesn't seem to align with 'Is this person able to repay based on income'.

Thanks
whitey4545 is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2014, 10:32 am
  #1360  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: AA, SPG, MR, UR, Cash Back!
Posts: 606
Originally Posted by Majuki
Sure, but you can't spend time worrying about when the ban hammer will drop. Even those who've never engaged in MS, have reasonable spending patterns compared to income, long account tenures, and pay balances in full have been subjected to FRs with unfavorable outcomes. If you're going to get into a situation that might result in an FR, go big and don't tip toe always checking over your shoulder to see if a cardinal is behind you.
I've been very slow with MS on Amex, I don't know why either. I guess I'm more concerned about closures for adverse actions on my credit report.

How does that look if Amex does shut your account down? For me that would be 4 accounts!
Fuerza is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2014, 10:33 am
  #1361  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 340
Originally Posted by exarkun
Read the terms. 99.9% of the questions here are answered in the terms.
I am sorry I still confused. So in my situation, which is right? Thank you.
ericliujian is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2014, 10:41 am
  #1362  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA, BA, CX, DL, EK, F9, GA, HA, IB, JL, KE, LH, MH, NH, OS, PG, QR, RJ, SA, TG, UA, VN, WN, ZH
Posts: 927
Originally Posted by ericliujian
I am sorry I still confused. So in my situation, which is right? Thank you.
My understanding is the $6500 starts again on the 13th bill (after the 12th closes).
lad2 is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2014, 11:14 am
  #1363  
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: AZ
Programs: AA, UA, US
Posts: 525
Originally Posted by Majuki
Furthermore, if you only have the one card, what do you have to lose if they shut you down? It's not like you're invested in hundreds of thousands of MR points or a portfolio of their cards. MS always implies some risk, and if you aren't planning on MS with the card, why are you worried? FR is usually fairly benign as long as you were truthful on the application.
Inherent risk of MS (hope its temporary)


oohaahouch is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2014, 11:17 am
  #1364  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 190
Originally Posted by ericliujian
For example,my anniversary date is 10/16 and closing date is 10/28. So when I have the card for second year,does the money spent between 10.16 to 10/28 counted for the 6500 for my 2nd year? Or maybe I have to wait after 10/28 for the second year 6500?
The latter.
Henry II is offline  
Old Mar 19, 2014, 12:52 pm
  #1365  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 908
So I checked my SO's Amex card. It was indeed an old AMEX Blue Cash from 2005. I requested a 2nd card for me. This was the first time I saw that they need my SS#,etc to get a 2nd card (AU). Wth. Hopefully if this account get shutdown, it is only her account, not my own personal AMEX account. I have an AMEX PRG.
sosamo is offline  


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