Opinions/reviews on bread Amex

[SRT4kid93]

Got an invitation for the bread financial Amex card for the first time ever and I was curious what everyone here thinks of this card?

 It would be my only card with 2% catch all, which is tempting, but When I looked up reviews of it there were a good number of bad stories, so I'm wondering if it's worth it, I have the freedom unlimited for 1.5% catch all so it would only be an extra 1/2%.

it seems like a lot of people here have either 

1) had this card at one point

2) still have this card

some of the horror stories included accounts being closed out of no where, bad customer service, stuff like that. Can anyone share their experience with this card? Good or bad?

[ptatohed]

I do think you should get a 2% card if you only have a 1.5% card now. But if you are going to do so, pick a 2% card with a nice welcome offer. $200 all at once is equal to a lot of spend and a lot of time earning 0.5% more CB.

[coldfusion]

Comenity is quick to pull the plug on you if their metrics show you becoming what they view as being at elevated risk of defaulting.   Behavior like going on an app spree, having a handful of successful CLI requests within a short period of time,  a big jump in utilization on several cards, or having a late payment report gets their attention and puts you at risk of Adverse Action.   Put another way, they behave a lot like Synchrony does when the overall outlook of financial markets turns cloudy. 

Insofar as the card itself it isn't a bad card if you're OK with it using the AMEX payment network. 

[pauldc73]

If you apply for another card. this will spread out your purchases a little more, meaning less average spend on each card?  I get the impression you are trying to grow your credit limits, but less average spend on cards may result in lower CL increases if they are granted?

[Jnbmom]

I have this card they are very generous with CLIs that is for sure .

Nothing too special,  and I know how Comenity and Synch work so always prepared for that.

But overall no complaints , straight 2% no AF and line up to 21K now .

[SRT4kid93]

@Jnbmom 

I have heard they are generous with CLi.

@pauldc73 

yes it will certainly spread out my spend especially spend that doesn't fall under my elevated cash back already, for example, bcp gives me 3% on gas, multiple cards give me 3% on restaurants and groceries, so in these cases the bread wouldn't steal any spend from my other cards. 

but all the 1% other transactions, bread would be the vast majority of those transactions. I do think I would continue growing my current cards to get them where I want to be, and the best way to do that is more spend. But eventually, my current cards will start to plateau, and that's when I can add a couple more cards that fill in some of the gaps I may have. 

@coldfusion 

the only thing that would fit my profile would be the successful cli's. I have gotten a lot of increases recently. 

@ptatohed 

I do think a 2% card is on my horizon at some point. I just don't know if it should be bread or not. 

[NoHardLimits]

I've never had the Bread Amex, so I have no feedback for you there.  However, I do know that there are many other 2% cards available which have much better reputations (e.g. Fidelity Rewards, Citi Double Cash, Wells Fargo Active Cash, Navy Federal cashRewards Plus, etc.).  If you are asking for opinions about your situation, I'd say that you should garden for a little while longer.  Once you are 0/12, just about all of the better 2% cards I named above should be within reach.

[ptatohed]

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@SRT4kid93 wrote:

@Jnbmom 

I have heard they are generous with CLi.

@pauldc73 

yes it will certainly spread out my spend especially spend that doesn't fall under my elevated cash back already, for example, bcp gives me 3% on gas, multiple cards give me 3% on restaurants and groceries, so in these cases the bread wouldn't steal any spend from my other cards. 

but all the 1% other transactions, bread would be the vast majority of those transactions. I do think I would continue growing my current cards to get them where I want to be, and the best way to do that is more spend. But eventually, my current cards will start to plateau, and that's when I can add a couple more cards that fill in some of the gaps I may have. 

@coldfusion 

the only thing that would fit my profile would be the successful cli's. I have gotten a lot of increases recently. 

@ptatohed 

I do think a 2% card is on my horizon at some point. I just don't know if it should be bread or not. 

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That's good, but my point was to pick a 2% card with a nice welcome offer.  The bread does not have one.  

[FicoMike0]

Ditto @ptatohed 

I have the Wells active cash. 2% on everything, $200 sub for $500 spend.

https://creditcards.wellsfargo.com/active-cash-credit-card/?FPID=0126D7I6F40000&product_code=CC&subp...

They were my highest initial CL at $8500, until this month, chase went  $9,000 on prime .

They also have a $325 sub on checking.

Edit. Their app works well, give you free ex fico9, also your dti.

Some shopping deals, I got 10% at Kroger's.

[Kforce]

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@NoHardLimits wrote:

I've never had the Bread Amex, so I have no feedback for you there.  However, I do know that there are many other 2% cards available which have much better reputations (e.g. Fidelity Rewards, Citi Double Cash, Wells Fargo Active Cash, Navy Federal cashRewards Plus, etc.).  If you are asking for opinions about your situation, I'd say that you should garden for a little while longer.  Once you are 0/12, just about all of the better 2% cards I named above should be within reach.

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^^^^ This

I would pass on the "Bread", get a Visa or Master Card..

Need to pick a card with either no FTF or go for welcome bonus.

Don't know of any that give both welcome and No FTF.

STFCU, Fidelity, Navy have No FTF, but no extra $.

USAlliant, WF, City DC, and a lot of others, some with welcome offers and normal FTF charges.

Depends on where you spend, how much, and what you find more important.