topic AMEX Bonus Offer to upgrade a card I've previously held - jump on or freefall away? in Credit Cards

AMEX Bonus Offer to upgrade a card I've previously held - jump on or freefall away?

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 01:21:59 GMT

In an effort to be ambiguous as to preserve a potentially great offer that *might* not be subject to a clawback...I've received a bonus offer on a card that I've previously held and am curious if it's legitimate. For context, I had a higher tier AMEX travel card then downgraded it. I held the higher tier card for over a year, then the lower tier card for over a year. I have checked my account recently and a new bonus upgrade offer has appeared in my account for the last few days. The bonus offer is better than a publicly available offer. As I already received the SUB when I first opened this account, I'm leery about jumping on this internal offer from AMEX.

The offer terms do not have once in a lifetime language. The pertinent restrictive language is "If we in our sole discretion determine that you have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with the welcome offer in any way or that you intend to do so (for example, if you applied for one or more cards to obtain a welcome offer(s) that we did not intend for you; if you cancel or downgrade your account within 12 months after acquiring it; or if you cancel or return purchases you made to meet the Threshold Amount), we may not credit Bonus Points to your account. "

So my question is, I didn't solicit this offer, so if I re-upgrade and complete the spend requirement will I really get the bonus? Thoughts? Thank you.

Re: AMEX Bonus Offer to upgrade a card I've previously held - jump on or freefall away?

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 01:27:21 GMT

I'm not certain as to the need for all the secrecy. Maybe some details would get you a more definite answer.

Anyhow, if it's a targeted offer, I'd say you're good to go.

Re: AMEX Bonus Offer to upgrade a card I've previously held - jump on or freefall away?

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 01:26:20 GMT

AMEX sends upgrade offers out to people who have downgraded and they're not subject to lifetime language like SUBs are.

Re: AMEX Bonus Offer to upgrade a card I've previously held - jump on or freefall away?

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 01:31:41 GMT

^^ Yes. You'd be good to go for that offer if you choose to upgrade.

Re: AMEX Bonus Offer to upgrade a card I've previously held - jump on or freefall away?

Remedios — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 01:54:52 GMT

Why the secrecy now?

We didn't call Amex when you talked about it in January, ain't gonna start now

Re: AMEX Bonus Offer to upgrade a card I've previously held - jump on or freefall away?

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 02:02:08 GMT

I appreciate the sarcasm, really. I didn't discuss this in January.

Re: AMEX Bonus Offer to upgrade a card I've previously held - jump on or freefall away?

simplynoir — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 02:12:49 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I appreciate the sarcasm, really. I didn't discuss this in January.

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Delta-downgrade-upgrade-question/td-p/5463115

Dunno why the secrecy of it either on your part. Offers with no lifetime language are good with AMEX as long as it's clear it's there. If the pop-up shows otherwise as ineliglble it's not because of the offer itself but your account was...flagged is the best word for not earning SUBs at this time

Re: AMEX Bonus Offer to upgrade a card I've previously held - jump on or freefall away?

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 02:20:27 GMT

@simplynoir wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I appreciate the sarcasm, really. I didn't discuss this in January.
https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Delta-downgrade-upgrade-question/td-p/5463115

Dunno why the secrecy of it either on your part. Offers with no lifetime language are good with AMEX as long as it's clear it's there. If the pop-up shows otherwise as ineliglble it's not because of the offer itself but your account was...flagged is the best word for not earning SUBs at this time

***

This is NOT the card I'm asking the question about. I have 4 AMEX Revolvers and 2 Charge Cards. Your answer on the 2nd response is what I was hoping posters would provide: constructive insight.

To those who have answered my original question: Thank you.

Re: AMEX Bonus Offer to upgrade a card I've previously held - jump on or freefall away?

Remedios — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 02:21:13 GMT

January 🤷‍♀️

Oh well. I'm pretty certain I wouldnt rely on opinion of people who cannot be trusted with names of the cards while posting anonymously. That's next level paranoia.

Ridiculous.

Good luck with your offer.

Re: AMEX Bonus Offer to upgrade a card I've previously held - jump on or freefall away?

wasCB14 — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 02:27:25 GMT

Amex knows what cards you've had, and they sent this offer directly to you. So long as the offer doesn't have any lifetime language, you're fine.

Where people more often get into trouble is in trying to use offers intended for other people.

Re: AMEX Bonus Offer to upgrade a card I've previously held - jump on or freefall away?

K-in-Boston — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 02:30:08 GMT

I'm not sure why there's such a need for cloak and dagger, either. You stated that you held the card for over a year before downgrading, and held the lower card for over a year before getting the upgrade offer. Clearly American Express is incentivizing you to move back to the higher tier card you previously held. It's a valid upgrade offer and not an abuse of the rewards systems.

Re: AMEX Bonus Offer to upgrade a card I've previously held - jump on or freefall away?

FinStar — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 02:44:35 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

@simplynoir wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I appreciate the sarcasm, really. I didn't discuss this in January.
https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Delta-downgrade-upgrade-question/td-p/5463115

Dunno why the secrecy of it either on your part. Offers with no lifetime language are good with AMEX as long as it's clear it's there. If the pop-up shows otherwise as ineliglble it's not because of the offer itself but your account was...flagged is the best word for not earning SUBs at this time

***
This is NOT the card I'm asking the question about. I have 4 AMEX Revolvers and 2 Charge Cards. Your answer on the 2nd response is what I was hoping posters would provide: constructive insight.

To those who have answered my original question: Thank you.

@Anonymous, just as a point of reference. You shared a variety non-cryptic information on your AmEx SPG Luxury approval last February and the other revolvers that you were interested in upgrading/downgrading, such as Hilton Ascend>Aspire and Delta Gold>Blue, for instance. You made mention of the SUBs and a variety of other details as well.

Countless members assisted you when you posted your questions on the pros/cons, strategy, etc. And, it would be no different today.

Being cryptic helps no one. The community helped you with your questions on several threads and it stands to help others on your approach and strategy since DPs help the entire community. No one is reporting you to AmEx. No one is after your upgrade offer or SUB.

So, if you received your targeted offer, enjoy it. We can't control what AmEx will do, but these are kinds of offers are fairly common for members who have had the same card for a long time. So, it's not a secret, including the upgrade SUB - plenty of reported DPs on DoC and FT.