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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 Oct 22, 2014, 11:55 am
  #3901  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 511
My account is intact - so I don't think this has anything to do with utilization.

I have an atrocious CL, but turn it over multiple times in a month. My history with AmEx is only a few years, so timeframe was no matter.

I'd rather not get too specific obviously.
hamhead is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2014, 11:58 am
  #3902  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,759
Originally Posted by xp0
from the sounds of it, moderate hitters and light users were affected. Doesnt look like any rhyme or reason.
There might be triggers other than the usage to cause review that leads to AA.

Originally Posted by xp0
Which sucks because thats like 15-20k
You said 15 to 20K lost in the 2 months reward - that hardly is moderate usage.
Happy is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2014, 12:01 pm
  #3903  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 168
Originally Posted by xp0
We should get our rewards for the next 2 months (Upcoming closing and the next months rewards that we earned this month)
No we won't. And although this isn't aimed at you, I can't wait to see the first person mention class action.
thorax is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2014, 12:01 pm
  #3904  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: US Airways Gold, Marriott Platinum, SW A List
Posts: 1,575
Has anyone that got this card before 2014 been shutdown? I know the one poster said member for 10 years, but I am not sure if that meant he had the card for 10 years or just an Amex member for 10 years.
heyeaglefn is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2014, 12:02 pm
  #3905  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 168
Originally Posted by IBJanky
How much were you spending each month on the card?

You can PM me if you're not comfortable posting here.
Usually just x1x2 CL
thorax is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2014, 12:02 pm
  #3906  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,207
Originally Posted by Happy
Try to find common factors that might lead to review / AA.

Any request to increase CL
Frequency of purchase and where
Ratio to your CL (one closure had only 50% utilization)
Amount earned
History with AMEX (does not seem to matter)
History have the card

If you guys could share the info may be we would learn something.
I would also be interested in tracking whether those that got shut down have gone through an account review previously before being suddenly closed down today.
hamokmonky is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2014, 12:02 pm
  #3907  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Down South, The Desert
Programs: Marriot Rewards, Southwest Rapid rewards, Emerald Club, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,871
Lasted 10 months or so after it was trumpted on this forum. I'd be interested to see how many applicants received this card over that timeframe.

I'd also be interested to see if the next card of this quality is trumpeted the same way.
TheDapperDon is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2014, 12:02 pm
  #3908  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 168
Originally Posted by hamokmonky
I would also be interested in tracking whether those that got shut down have gone through an account review previously before being suddenly closed down today.
I didn't.
thorax is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2014, 12:04 pm
  #3909  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 191
Hope not, but very likely this could be just the first wave and it is not done yet.
usalibido is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2014, 12:05 pm
  #3910  
xp0
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 774
Originally Posted by Happy
There might be triggers other than the usage to cause review that leads to AA.



You said 15 to 20K lost in the 2 months reward - that hardly is moderate usage.
I said moderate because there are people doing a lot more then me.
xp0 is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2014, 12:05 pm
  #3911  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
Originally Posted by FindAWay
Could someone post the text of the cancellation email?

TIA.
Log in to Manage Your Account Online



We are contacting you to be sure you do not have any surprises when you try to use your card. We wanted to let you know we have had to make the decision to close your account listed above.

Please tell any Additional Card Members on this account of this change so they do not have an unexpected inconvenience when attempting to use the Card.
You should also destroy the card(s) and any convenience checks you may have for the account(s).
If you have any recurring charges on these accounts such as cell phone charges, please contact that company immediately to ensure your other bills do not go unpaid.
You will also receive this information by letter, but we wanted to be sure you were aware of this change as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

American Express Account Services
silver6054 is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2014, 12:05 pm
  #3912  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
I've been applying RDs to outstanding balance so I've cashed out quite a bit but if I get the axe, 2 months of hard work will probably go down the drain. I have a balance so I'll not initiate payment for now. Will be on wait and see mode until more reports come in. Thanks to those sharing their experiences.
Mamibear is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2014, 12:06 pm
  #3913  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,944
Originally Posted by hamokmonky
I would also be interested in tracking whether those that got shut down have gone through an account review previously before being suddenly closed down today.
I requested (and received) a CLI with a 4506-T a few months ago.
silver6054 is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2014, 12:07 pm
  #3914  
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: All
Posts: 65
Well at least they were polite about it. The email may as well say "it's not you, it's me" it is so nice. Compare that to how chase shut people down with no warning on the Friday afternoon before your statement ended.

The king is dead, long live the king!
SeahawkRaptor is offline  
Old Oct 22, 2014, 12:11 pm
  #3915  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 7
I've had this card for about 10 years. I have another AMEX card which was unaffected.

Most of my MS was at CVS. Anyone have their card cancelled with supermarket MS?

I will probably call their customer service tomorrow and see if they have any answers for me, but probably not. Good while it lasted.
JimR1998 is offline  


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