topic Re: Can I Avoid AMEX Claw Back Of SUB Doing Card Consolidation? in Credit Cards

Can I Avoid AMEX Claw Back Of SUB Doing Card Consolidation?

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 16:25:20 GMT

I have six AMEX Cards:

EveryDay
Blue Cash ED
Hilton Ascend
SkyMiles Gold
SkyMiles Platinum
PRG

Over the last several months I have learned which cards get the most traffic. Those are my SkyMiles Platinum, Hilton Ascend, Blue Cash and PRG. One daughter is on my SkyMiles Gold and another is on my PRG, but I can put them on any other card without too much trouble. ALL of the above cards are less than one year old.

I want to transfer the available credit on my SkyMiles Gold and my EveryDay to my Blue Cash card and then close those two cards. Here are my questions:

Would transferring the available credit look like a CLD or AA?
Would AMEX deem the closure (being under one year) as churning and claw back the subs?
Would it hurt my relationship with AMEX in ANY way (they are my top 3 favorite creditor)?
Is there anything I'm not thinking of that I should be?

Another person discussed recently closing an account in less than a year and I cautioned of the claw back, but I was alone in my concern. It was that post that got me thinking that maybe I should do some consolidation.

I can easily leave everything the way it is for 2 or 3 years and then consolidate if it's going to hurt me in any way. All of the cards are used regularly as it stands today.

Any advice?

Edit: I know I'm not eligible for anymore SUB in each category for life unless given a special upgrade offer by AMEX.

Re: Can I Avoid AMEX Claw Back Of SUB Doing Card Consolidation?

Shadowfactor — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 02:10:21 GMT

It’s normally advised to wait atleast a year before closing any Amex card that you received a SUB on.

If you continuously do it you may end up on the phone with Amex RAT during an account closure.

And yes closing a bunch of cards you received SUBs on during the first year will look like churning to Amex.

Will they claw back SUB’s ? Your guess is as good as mine. It would be hard for them to claw back 3rd party Miles/points (Delta/Hilton) but it’s probably not impossible.

Re: Can I Avoid AMEX Claw Back Of SUB Doing Card Consolidation?

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 02:17:21 GMT

@Shadowfactor wrote:
It’s normally advised to wait atleast a year before closing any Amex card that you received a SUB on.

If you continuously do it you may end up on the phone with Amex RAT during an account closure.

And yes closing a bunch of cards you received SUBs on during the first year will look like churning to Amex.

Will they claw back SUB’s ? Your guess is as good as mine. It would be hard for them to claw back 3rd party Miles/points (Delta/Hilton) but it’s probably not impossible.

My guess is that the risk of AA is higher with cards with an AF, but that's just a guess, based on the idea that getting a bonus AND avoiding the AF, is a little worse than just getting a bonus!

Re: Can I Avoid AMEX Claw Back Of SUB Doing Card Consolidation?

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 02:30:04 GMT

Thanks for the advice.

I don't want to have problems with AMEX.

Re: Can I Avoid AMEX Claw Back Of SUB Doing Card Consolidation?

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 02:40:16 GMT

Yup...scary stuff. I don't want AMEX to mistake me as a churner and I don't want an AA.

I think I'll leave well enough alone for a (long) while.

Re: Can I Avoid AMEX Claw Back Of SUB Doing Card Consolidation?

SouthJamaica — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 03:10:01 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I have six AMEX Cards:
EveryDay
Blue Cash ED
Hilton Ascend
SkyMiles Gold
SkyMiles Platinum
PRG
Over the last several months I have learned which cards get the most traffic. Those are my SkyMiles Platinum, Hilton Ascend, Blue Cash and PRG. One daughter is on my SkyMiles Gold and another is on my PRG, but I can put them on any other card without too much trouble. ALL of the above cards are less than one year old.

I want to transfer the available credit on my SkyMiles Gold and my EveryDay to my Blue Cash card and then close those two cards. Here are my questions:
Would transferring the available credit look like a CLD or AA?
Would AMEX deem the closure (being under one year) as churning and claw back the subs?
Would it hurt my relationship with AMEX in ANY way (they are my top 3 favorite creditor)?
Is there anything I'm not thinking of that I should be?
Another person discussed recently closing an account in less than a year and I cautioned of the claw back, but I was alone in my concern. It was that post that got me thinking that maybe I should do some consolidation.

I can easily leave everything the way it is for 2 or 3 years and then consolidate if it's going to hurt me in any way. All of the cards are used regularly as it stands today.

Any advice?

Edit: I know I'm not eligible for anymore SUB in each category for life unless given a special upgrade offer by AMEX.

Interesting that you have 6 Amex cards. Amex limits me to 5 cards.

Re: Can I Avoid AMEX Claw Back Of SUB Doing Card Consolidation?

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 03:40:33 GMT

The PRG is the “Premier Rewards Gold” a charge card. So 5 revolvers and one charge.

When I go to the “Cards” section of AmericanExpress.com now it says “expand your relationship” rather than “pre approved.” I’ve hit the max. I have the cards I want at this time.

Edit: Spelling mistake

Re: Can I Avoid AMEX Claw Back Of SUB Doing Card Consolidation?

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 04:15:08 GMT

I am not sure what you have to gain with your plan. You can transfer limits between cards while leaving cards open. You cannot churn Amex cards as all bonus are once in a lifetime. If you don't think you will keep a card then transfer all but 1k of credit limit to another card. When the anniversary date hits and annual fee posts cancel the card.

Re: Can I Avoid AMEX Claw Back Of SUB Doing Card Consolidation?

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 04:36:07 GMT

Humm...I just combined my limits from BCP to BCE and closed BCP before the AF (waived for 1st year) is suppose to post on 9/28/18 based on advice I got on a different thread, this was all done over the phone and the CSR had no objections. Should I have let the AF post and pay the prorated AF for the 1st month before closing? Do I have anything to worry about?