AMEX Gold Offer

[GaTech]

My first post to the forums!!!

I was approved for the AMEX BCE with 6K limit in December 2012 and received an offer in the mail today to apply for AMEX Gold (not PRG) with a sign up bonus of 25,000 MR points (after spending 1K in first 3 months) and annual fee waived for 1st year. 

Since I have BCE for groceries, should I app (assuming I'm accepted) just for the sign up bonus and cancel before the membership fee hits? I don't really have a need for a charge card but for a free 1yr trial including a sign up bonus I was wondering if y'all thought its worth the hard pull. 

My income is 24,000 (I'm a student) and I pushed 12k with my Wells Fargo Visa (900 limit) and I rarely carry a balance. 

[chnceit]

Welcome to the forums! 

Your BCE will be a nice CL after its 61 days! Just remember  to keep your utilization low and dont let anything unexpected to happen.

If you apply for the Gold and dont get approved then its a SP, its an AMEX thing  which is great!

Most people apply for the PRG because of the higher rewards 3 points for airfare and 2 points for gas & supermarket and no AF. Here is a link for the same offer you got, but for the PRG HERE. 

Good luck and once again welcome to the forums!

[jsucool76]

I would just app for prg (i think it is the same signup bonus) and then you can at least earn a few more bonus points before the AF hits.

[GaTech]

Thanks for the links and insights.  The PRG requires 2K for the first 3 months of spending to get the same sign up bonus, vs 1k for the reg GOLD.  Since I don't really spend much on travel (my dad books any flights home), and I have a great grocery card, I think for my pocketbook the safer/easier method would be just going for the reg. Gold card since the threshold is only 1k vs 2k. 

Guess if I app I'd have to change my avatato from a sliver spade to a seedling again 

[E150GT]

I dont think those cards are worth it for you. I dont think youll spend enough to justify the fee. i dont on mine for the 1 pt per dollar, but I already have it so Im gonna keep it and decide what to do later when the fee is due.

[CribDuchess]

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@GaTech wrote:

Thanks for the links and insights.  The PRG requires 2K for the first 3 months of spending to get the same sign up bonus, vs 1k for the reg GOLD.  Since I don't really spend much on travel (my dad books any flights home), and I have a great grocery card, I think for my pocketbook the safer/easier method would be just going for the reg. Gold card since the threshold is only 1k vs 2k. 

Guess if I app I'd have to change my avatato from a sliver spade to a seedling again 

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If you app'd for your BCE in December, you aren't yet eligible for a silver spade.  I think you have to be 3 months app free for a silver spade.  You should probably be sporting a bronze spade right now. 

Good luck in you decide to app for the Gold - I'm sure you'll have no trouble getting approved!