Amex not eligible for welcome bonus even though I should be eligible

[rgd51]

I have had the cash magnet card for 11 months now and received the welcome bonus on it. I want to get the blue cash every day card as well. It did a soft inquiry and said I'm not eligible for the welcome bonus because I have had or have the cash magnet, BCE, BCP card at some point I am not eligible for the welcome bonus on the BCE. The cash magnet is the only card I've ever had with them and I thought the once in a lifetime rule was per card not once ever?

[Beefy1212]

Amex changed their sub rules not long ago, likely because they were tired of being churned.

[rgd51]

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@Beefy1212 wrote:

Amex changed their sub rules not long ago, likely because they were tired of being churned.

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What were the changes that they made? Does this mean I am permanently barred from getting that SUB. I thought I'd for sure be eligible for the SUB since I've never had that card?

[JoeRockhead]

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@rgd51 wrote:

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@Beefy1212 wrote:

Amex changed their sub rules not long ago, likely because they were tired of being churned.

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What were the changes that they made? Does this mean I am permanently barred from getting that SUB. I thought I'd for sure be eligible for the SUB since I've never had that card?

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Amex started these changes back in 2014 and have modified them over the years, primarily, as was mentioned to prevent people from signing up for new cards just to get the SUBs. They've been known to group them in "families" of cards such as "cash back", or "rewards" categories but they generally don't apply to both business and personal cards. The BCE, BCP and Cash Magnet would all be considered within the same family of cash back cards which is likely the reason they told you you're not eligible for a SUB on the BCE.

I'm sure there are people who have gotten past this rule, but it would come with either the passage of a certain time frame and/or perhaps getting a special offer directly from Amex with varying levels of SUBs.  

[GZG]

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@rgd51 wrote:

I have had the cash magnet card for 11 months now and received the welcome bonus on it. I want to get the blue cash every day card as well. It did a soft inquiry and said I'm not eligible for the welcome bonus because I have had or have the cash magnet, BCE, BCP card at some point I am not eligible for the welcome bonus on the BCE. The cash magnet is the only card I've ever had with them and I thought the once in a lifetime rule was per card not once ever?

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it's a recent change: 

if it helps you feel any better, amex currently probably would have denied you SUB for their automated 'just because' reason if they didn't add this new language to the terms anyway 

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@rgd51 wrote:

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@Beefy1212 wrote:

Amex changed their sub rules not long ago, likely because they were tired of being churned.

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What were the changes that they made? Does this mean I am permanently barred from getting that SUB. I thought I'd for sure be eligible for the SUB since I've never had that card?

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it's up to the great amex computer in the sky because the actual terms say 'may not be'

but, I would assume yes, but nobody knows for sure.

[CreditCuriosity]

Right..  They are grouping a lot more cards into one bucket so less bonus/churning people.  Such as all delta cards I believe use to be treated seperately for bonuses are now considered one and now the BCE/BCP and cash magnet use to be all able to get bonuses are all one family of cards, etc.  This has been happening for the last few months and gotten more strict each week basically.  It isn't a FIRM rule that I know of, but likely depends on your relationship with AMEX and if they think you are gaming them and how much spend you have put on different cards or lack of spend and deem you unprofitable.  Least they tell you and you can choose if you want the card for the actual benefits of the card or well just for the bonus.

See this article gives you a general idea as other posts exists as well.. Same concept though

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/american-express-adds-family-language-to-personal-gold-card/

[rgd51]

Makes me wonder if to get the BCE now or to wait a bit and see if I am eligible for the SUB in the near future?

[coldfusion]

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@CreditCuriosity wrote:

 Such as all delta cards I believe use to be treated seperately for bonuses

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I know that they were ;-)

[CreditCuriosity]

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@rgd51 wrote:

Makes me wonder if to get the BCE now or to wait a bit and see if I am eligible for the SUB in the near future?

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If your spend is tiny(few hundred a month) on cash magnet I doubt it will matter if several thousand a month then possibly wait type of scenario.

[rgd51]

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@CreditCuriosity wrote:

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@rgd51 wrote:

Makes me wonder if to get the BCE now or to wait a bit and see if I am eligible for the SUB in the near future?

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If your spend is tiny(few hundred a month) on cash magnet I doubt it will matter if several thousand a month then possibly wait type of scenario.

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My spend on the cash magnet is lower since I only use it for non category spend that would only get 1% on my other cards. You're saying you do or don't think I should wait to see if Amex changes their SUB rules? Not bring able to get the SUB on the BCE just because I have the cash magnet seems extreme to me but then again I didn't get a HP so it's not as big of a deal.