topic Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP in Credit Card Applications

Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

Wavester64 — Wed, 27 May 2020 22:56:13 GMT

I have the BCE, and I keep getting an offer to upgrade it.

Was thinking about getting the BCP outright without the upgrade.

When I clicked submit, I got the following preliminary message:

Was wondering if anyone ever got one of these before?

Needless to say I didn't continue. Even though the app SHOULD be an SP if I continued, the way things are going with me lately, I didn't want to risk it.

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

kdm31091 — Wed, 27 May 2020 23:01:12 GMT

Yes, it's a common Amex message - the dreaded "popup". It means you will not get the bonus offer. Obviously you should not submit the app unless you are ok with forfeiting the bonus.

Let time pass, don't close any Amex cards, put spend on existing ones, etc... they do not like to see sockdrawering or frequent downgrading or closing cards (or even doing those at all within a year of opening the card). If you follow these guidelines the popup is likely to disappear (of course, never guaranteed).

I would also consider just holding out for an upgrade offer to the BCP. Why hold both BCE and BCP? You may as well get an upgrade bonus instead when it comes along -- saves you the new account and stops you from having redundant accounts.

As far as SP - rule of thumb when applying for credit you should be prepared for a HP. A SP is never a guarantee. Applying for credit means the issuer has the right to HP you, so just be aware.

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

Wavester64 — Wed, 27 May 2020 23:07:34 GMT

@kdm31091 wrote:
Yes, it's a common Amex message - the dreaded "popup". It means you will not get the bonus offer. Obviously you should not submit the app unless you are ok with forfeiting the bonus.

Let time pass, don't close any Amex cards, put spend on existing ones, etc... they do not like to see sockdrawering or frequent downgrading or closing cards (or even doing those at all within a year of opening the card). If you follow these guidelines the popup is likely to disappear (of course, never guaranteed).

I would also consider just holding out for an upgrade offer to the BCP. Why hold both BCE and BCP? You may as well get an upgrade bonus instead when it comes along -- saves you the new account and stops you from having redundant accounts.

As far as SP - rule of thumb when applying for credit you should be prepared for a HP. A SP is never a guarantee. Applying for credit means the issuer has the right to HP you, so just be aware.

Right now I have the upgrade offer for the BCE to BCP but its only $150. I have read everywhere to wait, the offer will get better, but it never has, been getting this same offer for over a month now. So I started thinking about trying for it anyway, but I got this message, and thats all she rode.

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

M_Smart007 — Wed, 27 May 2020 23:12:12 GMT

@Wavester64, I agree with kdm (solid advice BTW) .. I would wait!

This is the offer I get;

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

M_Smart007 — Wed, 27 May 2020 23:14:47 GMT

@Wavester64, It say's on the dreaded pop up that. "You are not eligible to receive the offer"

If you accept that, you will not get the $150 ..unless I am missing something?

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

Wavester64 — Thu, 28 May 2020 01:21:51 GMT

@M_Smart007 wrote:
@Wavester64, It say's on the dreaded pop up that. "You are not eligible to receive the offer"
If you accept that, you will not get the $150 ..unless I am missing something?

I re-read my message and it does sound confusing lol. I get that pop up message if I try for the BCP outright, not the upgrade. I have the upgrade sitting there for the taking ($150) but I was shooting for the card without the upgrade to try for the $300 and that's when I get the dreaded pop up. Has me thinking now maybe if did do the upgrade that I might still get the pop up.

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Thu, 28 May 2020 01:30:47 GMT

You'll get the pop up with the upgrade too because it's attached to the card, not how you apply.

I believe the offers change every 3-6 months depending on type.

Did you close a card early, or do a bunch of balance transfers? I wonder if you lost the sub on just this card, or if it's across multiple cards.

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

M_Smart007 — Thu, 28 May 2020 01:33:54 GMT

@Wavester64 wrote:
@M_Smart007 wrote:
@Wavester64, It say's on the dreaded pop up that. "You are not eligible to receive the offer"
If you accept that, you will not get the $150 ..unless I am missing something?
I re-read my message and it does sound confusing lol. I get that pop up message if I try for the BCP outright, not the upgrade. I have the upgrade sitting there for the taking ($150) but I was shooting for the card without the upgrade to try for the $300 and that's when I get the dreaded pop up. Has me thinking now maybe if did do the upgrade that I might still get the pop up.

Ok ...Makes more sense now. You can try for the upgrade and always back out if you are not comfortable with it.

Someone who put's a lot of grocery/streaming spend on the BCP .. it makes sense.

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

Wavester64 — Thu, 28 May 2020 14:22:24 GMT

@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
You'll get the pop up with the upgrade too because it's attached to the card, not how you apply.

I believe the offers change every 3-6 months depending on type.

Did you close a card early, or do a bunch of balance transfers? I wonder if you lost the sub on just this card, or if it's across multiple cards.

I closed a card in the 90s (GOLD) but that is the only one I ever closed. I don't recall many balance transfers on my current BCE, maybe one or 2, but nothing extravagant. The BCE is less than 2-years old, maybe that's the issue? I did take advantage of the 0% APR and put a lot of spend on it, but I paid a lot of it every month since and its been 0-balance for over a month now prior to APR offer expiration.

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

Wavester64 — Thu, 28 May 2020 14:23:32 GMT

@M_Smart007 wrote:
@Wavester64 wrote:
@M_Smart007 wrote:
@Wavester64, It say's on the dreaded pop up that. "You are not eligible to receive the offer"
If you accept that, you will not get the $150 ..unless I am missing something?
I re-read my message and it does sound confusing lol. I get that pop up message if I try for the BCP outright, not the upgrade. I have the upgrade sitting there for the taking ($150) but I was shooting for the card without the upgrade to try for the $300 and that's when I get the dreaded pop up. Has me thinking now maybe if did do the upgrade that I might still get the pop up.
Ok ...Makes more sense now. You can try for the upgrade and always back out if you are not comfortable with it.
Someone who put's a lot of grocery/streaming spend on the BCP .. it makes sense.

Have you ever seen the upgrade offer any higher than $150? I might be just waiting for something that never comes.

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

M_Smart007 — Thu, 28 May 2020 15:23:08 GMT

@Wavester64 wrote:
@M_Smart007 wrote:
@Wavester64 wrote:
@M_Smart007 wrote:
@Wavester64, It say's on the dreaded pop up that. "You are not eligible to receive the offer"
If you accept that, you will not get the $150 ..unless I am missing something?
I re-read my message and it does sound confusing lol. I get that pop up message if I try for the BCP outright, not the upgrade. I have the upgrade sitting there for the taking ($150) but I was shooting for the card without the upgrade to try for the $300 and that's when I get the dreaded pop up. Has me thinking now maybe if did do the upgrade that I might still get the pop up.
Ok ...Makes more sense now. You can try for the upgrade and always back out if you are not comfortable with it.
Someone who put's a lot of grocery/streaming spend on the BCP .. it makes sense.
Have you ever seen the upgrade offer any higher than $150? I might be just waiting for something that never comes.

@Wavester64, I personally have never seen the offer higher that $150.

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

Anonymous — Thu, 28 May 2020 15:45:40 GMT

The highest I've ever seen was $200.

How long have you held the BCE and how often is it used? I had had mine (apped 17) for about a year before I started getting the upgrade offer, or maybe veen sooner just didn't pay attention to it. I didn't take the offer until about a year and a half later in 19. It never changed that dramatically, and was always around $150 for me. If you're waiting for the Unicorn $300 it may never come, you'll have to decide how long you want to drag it out losing an extra 3% on grocries meantime. As well as the streaming and other categories.

The $150 will cover the AF for one full year with $55 left over for the next, that's above any rewards earned. So still a good deal IMO.

if it doesn't work out for you in the first year then at least you're not out the $95 AF just for a test drive. As others have commented over the years, if your spend isn't high enough to reimburse the AF as well see a possitive return on in rewards than maybe sticking to the BCE is for right you. This offer is definitely not something to be SUB chasing just to try and net some extra cash though.

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

Wavester64 — Thu, 28 May 2020 16:32:21 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
The highest I've ever seen was $200.

How long have you held the BCE and how often is it used? I had had mine (apped 17) for about a year before I started getting the upgrade offer, or maybe veen sooner just didn't pay attention to it. I didn't take the offer until about a year and a half later in 19. It never changed that dramatically, and was always around $150 for me. If you're waiting for the Unicorn $300 it may never come, you'll have to decide how long you want to drag it out losing an extra 3% on grocries meantime. As well as the streaming and other categories.

The $150 will cover the AF for one full year with $55 left over for the next, that's above any rewards earned. So still a good deal IMO.
if it doesn't work out for you in the first year then at least you're not out the $95 AF just for a test drive. As others have commented over the years, if your spend isn't high enough to reimburse the AF as well see a possitive return on in rewards than maybe sticking to the BCE is for right you. This offer is definitely not something to be SUB chasing just to try and net some extra cash though.

I have had it since Jan. 2019.

I agree with everything you are saying and I believe I will prob. go for it before the May 31st deadline so I can take advantage of the additional 3-months to make the SUB (barring them taking the SUB away for any reason). I can do it in 3-months more than likely, but I am finishing up a SUB on another card still so the extra time would be helpful.

Thanks for your comments and suggestions!

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

FieryDance — Thu, 28 May 2020 21:44:33 GMT

@Wavester64 wrote:
I have the BCE, and I keep getting an offer to upgrade it.

Was thinking about getting the BCP outright without the upgrade.

When I clicked submit, I got the following preliminary message:

Was wondering if anyone ever got one of these before?

Needless to say I didn't continue. Even though the app SHOULD be an SP if I continued, the way things are going with me lately, I didn't want to risk it.

Darn! Sorry about that! That's the infamous dreaded AmEx pop-up and it happens when your SUB/organic spend ratio is too high and AmEx predicts you will be unprofitable.

You can go to the r/churning subreddit to read more about it and about how to get rid of it. The gist is do not close any AmEx cards and put more spend on your existing ones and hopefully the pop-up will go away. Gardening never hurts but more organic spend is the key. AmEx hates it when their cards are SD'ed after MSR.

PS, could you share when you acquired your existing AmEx cards?

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

Meanmchine — Fri, 29 May 2020 00:32:44 GMT

Sorry OP but at least, no damage was done

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

Caught750 — Fri, 29 May 2020 22:11:40 GMT

@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
You'll get the pop up with the upgrade too because it's attached to the card, not how you apply.

This is not accurate. I've gotten pop ups while applying and then gotten the Bonus through an elevated upgrade offer. Yes the Bonus MRs are already there.

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

DaveInAZ — Sat, 30 May 2020 00:02:16 GMT

@M_Smart007 wrote:
@Wavester64 wrote:
@M_Smart007 wrote:
@Wavester64 wrote:
@M_Smart007 wrote:
@Wavester64, It say's on the dreaded pop up that. "You are not eligible to receive the offer"
If you accept that, you will not get the $150 ..unless I am missing something?
I re-read my message and it does sound confusing lol. I get that pop up message if I try for the BCP outright, not the upgrade. I have the upgrade sitting there for the taking ($150) but I was shooting for the card without the upgrade to try for the $300 and that's when I get the dreaded pop up. Has me thinking now maybe if did do the upgrade that I might still get the pop up.
Ok ...Makes more sense now. You can try for the upgrade and always back out if you are not comfortable with it.
Someone who put's a lot of grocery/streaming spend on the BCP .. it makes sense.
Have you ever seen the upgrade offer any higher than $150? I might be just waiting for something that never comes.
@Wavester64, I personally have never seen the offer higher that $150.

I got a BCE-BCP upgrade offer of $250 for $1k spend last June and took it & got it. But Amex seems to be less generous these days, since they're so heavily into travel rewards I imagine they're hit economically then other card issuers. If it were me I'm not sure it would be worth the extra $150 in SUB to take the hit for a new account and potential HP if you didn't have that pop-up But . . .

I got that no goodies for you pop-up when I was going to app for Cash Magnet in Feb. I had the BCP upgrade and then they gave me a fee free Plan It that I put most of my $1k spend for the upgrade on it. And I also had a an Everyday from 2018 that I made full use of the 15 month BT + 0% and then put very little spend on it after the 0% ended. So what I did was call the phone # on their website for app by phone. The rep told me if she got that pop-up I could cancel so I let her app for me. Instant approval with full Welcome Offer & bennies. I did the spend and got the SUB, paid that off and then loaded it with BTs for 15 month 0%.

So you might try a phone app and see if the rep gets around the pop-up.

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

Wavester64 — Sat, 30 May 2020 12:19:59 GMT

@Caught750 wrote:
@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
You'll get the pop up with the upgrade too because it's attached to the card, not how you apply.
This is not accurate. I've gotten pop ups while applying and then gotten the Bonus through an elevated upgrade offer. Yes the Bonus MRs are already there.

You are correct @Caught750 , well at least for my scenario anyways. After getting the pop up going for the card outright, yesterday I clicked on the upgrade offer and poof, I am in, no problems. I wish everything was that simple

Re: Odd Message for attempted app for the Amex BCP

Caught750 — Sat, 30 May 2020 13:13:56 GMT

@Wavester64 wrote:
@Caught750 wrote:
@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
You'll get the pop up with the upgrade too because it's attached to the card, not how you apply.
This is not accurate. I've gotten pop ups while applying and then gotten the Bonus through an elevated upgrade offer. Yes the Bonus MRs are already there.
You are correct @Caught750 , well at least for my scenario anyways. After getting the pop up going for the card outright, yesterday I clicked on the upgrade offer and poof, I am in, no problems. I wish everything was that simple

Glad to hear it! Congrats!